La Cañada Flintridge residents Patricia Blanche and Marilyn Yang were among the honorees at the annual Women in Business Legislative Update & Awards Luncheon hosted by state Sen. Anthony Portantino on Dec. 6 at Castaway Restaurant in Burbank.
Portantino recognized 41 women from his state senate district “whose professional skills and commitment to their community have made them outstanding leaders and role models.” Honorees’ credentials and achievements spanned a broad spectrum of professions, including science and technology, environment and sustainability, and nonprofit organizations.
“It is my privilege to recognize the accomplished women of the great 25th Senate District,” Portantino said in a statement. “I look forward to honoring our deserving honorees for their successful service that touches all of us in such a positive way.”
Blanche is a lifelong resident of Southern California, a cum laude graduate of USC, and a four-decade veteran of the luxury travel industry, including LCF Custom Travel. A specialist in concierge-style, fully independent holidays for luxury and high-net-worth clients, she creates itineraries catering to her clients’ individual interests and style. Having visited more than 120 countries and territories, and all seven continents, Blanche possesses a wealth of firsthand knowledge and personal relationships that have earned her a devoted clientele. Blanche’s company is affiliated with MVT, Virtuoso and Forbes Travel Guide.
Yang has served as the LCF Educational Foundation’s executive director for eight years. The foundation has consistently brought in more than $2 million annually during her tenure to support students’ programs across the La Cañada Unified School District. Before joining LCFEF, she enjoyed a career in investment banking and corporate finance. Yang is also dedicated by providing the tools necessary for LCUSD to continually enhance its quality of instruction and extracurricular activities that lead to well-rounded students.
In addition to the awards portion of the program, Portantino gave a legislative update of the 25th district while keynote speaker Laurie Leshin shared about the unexpected career opportunities which led her to become the first female director at Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
First published in the December 14 print issue of the Outlook Valley Sun.
