Chamber CEO Maryam Zar Speaks at Connections Breakfast
By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
The Malibu Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce will host a Recovery Expo on Sunday, November 23, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. outdoors near La Cruz and Alma Real drives.
“The public is invited to attend this free family-friendly Recovery Expo,” the chamber said.
The expo will feature dozens of booths, including insurance adjusters, structural engineers, plan and permit, remediators, expediters, public agencies, architects, mental health specialists, general contractors, and fire-hardening suppliers.
There will also be a bounce house, food trucks and family-friendly activities for those who attend, designed to give the expo a “community street fair” vibe.
“The Palibu Chamber Recovery Expo is all about bringing our community together to rebuild stronger after the Palisades fire,” according to the chamber. “Homeowners and business owners will be connecting directly with a variety of trusted rebuild service providers who can help them move forward.”
The expo was originally planned to take place on November 16, but was delayed one week due to rain. RSVP to attend here.
Recently appointed Malibu Pacific Palisades Chamber of Commerce CEO Maryam Zar addressed dozens of attendees during a Connections Breakfast, which took place Thursday morning, November 13, at Palisades Recovery Coalition’s Sunset Boulevard headquarters.
First to speak was Chamber Connections Director Anthony McDemas, who welcomed those in attendance and explained that he’s been with the chamber for about 10 years—pre-dating the merger between the two chambers.
Chamber Board of Directors Chairman Ramis Sadrieh spoke next, acknowledging the chamber’s “great board.”
Those in attendance dined on food and beverages from Palisades Garden Cafe, as each person in the room was given 30 seconds to introduce themselves and the business they were representing.
When introductions were complete, Sadrieh returned to introduce Zar as the chamber’s new CEO, as of November 1, saying it was a “privilege” and “honor” to welcome her. He said she is an “amazing woman,” noting that she has chaired several area boards, including Pacific Palisades Community Council and Palisades-Malibu YMCA.
Zar spoke on her decade of service in the Palisades, with two terms as PPCC chair, a founding member of pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness, and a member of Pacific Palisades Recreation Center Park Advisory Board and Pacific Palisades Design Review Board.
She also founded and serves as president of Palisades Recovery Coalition, which was launched after the Palisades fire. Its mission is to “create lasting solutions for fire recovery and rebuilding in Pacific Palisades and other affected communities.”
“Quite a network I have built and nurtured,” Zar said of her time serving the community, noting her relationships with officials in both the City and County of Los Angeles.
She said she comes to the position with a “commitment to community,” highlighting the importance of networking events for the chamber, including the breakfasts and ribbon cuttings.
As fire recovery efforts are underway in Malibu and the Palisades, Zar shared plans of being involved: “I want us to be at that table.” She described the recovery as “challenging” and “long,” but that it will be “successful.”











