At the recent Team Member Appreciation dinner at Universal Studios Hollywood, staff from across the Association came together to dine under the stars, catch-up with friends and celebrate the accomplishments of our collective team as well as the individuals who make an impact every day at the LA Y. If you attended the dinner, you probably remember the talented individuals who helped pull the evening together by presenting awards, videos and other event elements.
To get to know this talented and hard-working team of presenters a bit more, we asked them a few questions about the evening! Let's hear what Juan Alcala, Harry Van, Alicia Hagen, Erin Weiss, Jennifer Sullivan, Jenny Chan, Rae Jin, Nevin Stanton-Trehan, Aaron Hall and Dianne Chaves had to say!
Q: What was your favorite moment of the evening?
JA: Recognizing team members for their work! HV: Winning Team Member of the Year 🙂 - All kidding aside, I think my favorite part of the evening was the fashion show as it got the Centers all involved AH: Watching all the centers give out their awards! EW: Socializing and dancing! JS: The excitement exhibited for all of the staff acknowledged for all their hard work! JC: I loved the award recognition part – seeing all these surprised looks from the winners as they were handed an award, the hugs all around… and then seeing them all come up for a group photo – team members from all across our association, varying years of service, intergenerational, different departments and roles… that’s what makes our Y the Center for Community Well-Being RJ: Giving Staff Awards!
NST: The joy of watching people receiving their award...watching the hard work pay off in a single moment
AH: Mark's tribute video!
DC: Seeing folks embrace the theme and the awards...letting everyone shine...and cohosting with Aaron!
Q: What was your favorite song that was played?
JA: All of it! HV: The Cha Cha Slide AH: Although they are corny and not objectively my favorite, I love the energy of group dances (wobble, cupid shuffle, etc) EW: I liked the songs like The Cupid Shuffle and Wobble. JS: Too many to name. I always like the cha cha slide. Fan favorite! JC: Kendrick Lamar – Not Like Us My 2.5 year old Cameron heard it during the Super Bowl and it’s her favorite song and mine too now!! RJ: Apple Bottom Jeans by Flo Rida
NST: Tweaker by Gelo
DC: I didn't hear any Rick James so I don't know what to say! Lol. I loved seeing Chris in the middle of the dance floor.
Q: What song would be on your request list for next year?
JA: Long Cool Woman - The Hollies AH: Maybe some pop punk throwbacks? Good Charlotte or Blink-182? JC: Love all the old school classic party songs.. but our young team members probably know best what’s cool…A.P.T. by Rosie is pretty fun right now though.
RJ: Anything from Britney Spears. I'm still a fan. Go 2000's!
NST: More 90s pop...sing-a-long songs!
DC: Any songs that make people dance. I like the idea of a themed playlist maybe?!
Q: Any theme ideas for next year that immediately stand out?
JA: Not at the moment always enjoyed a country/western theme setting.🤠 HV: 80's would be fun
AH: Maybe a luau with AAPI ERN?
EW: Vintage Vegas JS: Location helps drives that theme. I think staff enjoy dressing up so I like the idea of a y2k theme
JC: I’ll leave those theme ideas to the hip and cool planning committee
RJ: Luau
NST: Miami Vice!
AH: Something fun and self-deprecating
DC: LA icons? Dress as an icon? I'm also not going to be upset about a disco theme. Beyonce style/Wild Wild West?
Thank you so much to our planning committee, presenters and emcees for everything they did to help pull together such an amazing event!
What theme would YOU like to see next year? Vote below!
Did you miss this year's dinner? Check out the fantastic Vintage Hollywood-themed fashion show this week on our Instagram account (@people_ymcala)!
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