United Chambers Gives Service Awards

A businessman and a former legislative aide were honored for their community service in 1994 by the United Chambers of Commerce of the San Fernando Valley recently.

The United Chambers, which represents 21 Valley chambers, also named a public relations firm in Woodland Hills as small business of the year and Smith’s Food and Drug Centers as large business of year in a recognition ceremony held this month at the Airtel Plaza Hotel in Van Nuys.

“This is the first year we presented these awards,� said Jerry Curry, president of the United Chambers of Commerce. “We want to inspire community service, and we want to recognize the people who spend their time serving the community.�

Arthur Sweet, an Encino real estate developer and head of Goremotive Industries, was honored for his community service in Sun Valley, Universal City and North Hollywood. Goremotive Industries promotes the use and development of vehicles that run on clean burning natural gas.

Sweet also has been active in small-business legislative issues through Small Business United.

The other individual honoree, Frankye Schneider, was recognized for two decades as deputy to former Los Angeles County Supervisor Ed Edelman. While working for Edelman, Schneider helped found New Directions for Youth and worked on other projects such as creating children’s exhibits at the Hollywood Bowl Museum.

“A lot of what she was honored for was her work for children,� Curry said.

Cooper Communications Inc., named small business of the year, is headed by Martin M. Cooper and specializes in health care, nonprofit, consumer goods and public-affairs issues.

Smith’s Food and Drug Centers was named large business of the year because employees at its Arleta store made a great effort to help the surrounding community after the Northridge earthquake, from making sure a mother got baby formula to handing out water and other supplies in the wake of the disaster.

Curry said the group plans to hold the awards annually.