An Inspired Evening at the Installation Awards
Recap of the 2025 Installation Awards celebrating EBLC’s legacy of leadership
EBLC President & CEO, Mark Orcutt, shares opening remarks at the 2025 Installation Awards.
Nearly 200 leaders gathered at the Pleasant Hill Community Center for EBLC’s 2025 Installation Awards, a sold-out celebration of leadership and connection. A live jazz band set the tone during the cocktail hour as business, nonprofit, and civic leaders mingled and welcomed new faces to the EBLC community.
The program began with opening remarks from EBLC President & CEO, Mark Orcutt lauding the organizations wins in the last year including a record-breaking attendance at our Leadership Series, the long term impact of our candidate training program, and policy advocacy aimed at shaping a thriving East Bay.
Chadi Chazbek shares his first remarks as EBLC Board Chair.
The focus then shifted to the future when, in one of the most memorable moments of the evening, Chadi Chazbek (Kimley-Horn) took the stage to share his vision as the incoming Chair of the Board. He emphasized the East Bay’s opportunities and challenges—from transportation to workforce development—before calling on leaders across sectors to “find one business or nonprofit that is not in your usual circle” and help them overcome a challenge.
That spirit of collaboration was equally reflected in the evening’s honorees. Advocate of the Year went to Rebecca Rozen for championing healthcare reform, while the Ellen O. Tauscher Distinguished Service Award recognized Tamia Brown for her dedication to workforce empowerment. The final award of the evening, EBLC’s highest honor, the East Bay Leadership Medal, went to AssetMark for community leadership and sustained investment in the region’s future.
“Their commitment to philanthropy and civic engagement sets a powerful example for what it means to lead with purpose,” Chazbek said.
The program included an unexpected and heartfelt tribute honoring EBLC President & CEO Mark Orcutt for his ten years of service to the organization. Outgoing Board Chair and CSAA Insurance executive Danielle Cagan reflected on his decade of steady, strategic, and values-driven leadership. Under his guidance, EBLC has expanded its reach and regional partnerships, strengthened its policy influence, and invested in regional leadership through the impactful Build the Bench candidate training program.
The evening also featured the ceremonial passing of the gavel from Danielle Cagan to Chadi Chazbek, along with the induction of new Board members and recognition of those completing their service. Stepping into the role of chair-elect, Kaiser Permanente’s Deneen Wohlford spoke to the power of partnership, noting that “by working together through the East Bay Leadership Council, we can take on tough challenges with more creativity, more resources, and a shared sense of purpose.”
At the end of the event, guests were left with a vision to carry forward; the belief that the East Bay’s diversity can be its greatest strength. In Chazbek’s words, “we are a microcosm of what the world should be: collaborative, inclusive and stubbornly hopeful.”
It’s a vision that challenges leaders to listen with open minds, work to improve the lives of all residents, and in doing so, offer a model for inclusive economic growth that others can follow.
