Carol Tanner, Sam Perrotti: Woman, Man of the Year

Longtime Hermosa Beach residents Carol Tanner and Sam Perrotti will be honored Tuesday night as the Man and Woman of the Year by the Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau.

The awards gala, at which chamber board members will be installed, costs $50 per person and includes cocktail hour, sit-down dinner and awards ceremony at Abigaile. The evening begins at 5:30 p.m.

Tanner, who moved to Hermosa in 1958, has definitely seen the city grow and change. A native of Chicago, she has a link to the HB Chamber dating back to 1970 when she and Joanne Purpus, received a letter of commendation from the chamber for their work on Hermosa Nueva, city hall billboard displays and the Vetter Windmill Preservation and relocation.

About the same time, in 1969, Perrotti, a native of Providence, RI, moved to the South Bay, settling in Hermosa in 1976.

In 1970, he began his career as an Associate Right of Way Agent for the Department of Transportation and Deputy Commissioner with the Department of Real Estate.

Perrotti has served as planning commissioner for the City of Hermosa Beach since 1995, and during his tenure has helped with major development projects, including the Beach House Hotel and parking garage, the refurbishment of Pier Plaza, the Sunrise Senior Center, an assisted care living facility, and several hotels on Pacific Coast Highway.

Tanner's reach in the city has been wide. 

Her involvement has included work as a founding member of the Hermosa Beach Friends of the Library and serving as a North School PTA Board member, a Cub Scout Den Mother, a board member for the Hermosa Garden Club, the Hermosa Beach Historical Society and Hermosa Five-O and a member of the Woman's Club of Hermosa Beach.

She worked at the Hermosa library for 30 years, served as a County of Los Angeles precinct officer, co-founded (with Kathy Bergstrom) Si Hermosa Si, a booster group, and was also involved with the Palos Verdes Art Association, The Anchors of Children’s Hospital, and worked as a volunteer at the Natural History Museum. 

In addition, she served as the Hermosa Beach Improvement Commissioner from 1968-1977, and as part of the Improvement Commission helped start the “Arts and Crafts show,” which eventually became Fiesta Hermosa.

Tanner is an honorary life member of the American Congress of Parents and Teachers and the Hermosa Beach Lawn Bowling Club, where she served as secretary.

Perrotti has been a member of the Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce since 1991.

Prior to moving to Hermosa Beach in 1976, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Providence College and a law degree from the College of William and Mary.  After law school, Perrotti served as a captain in the United States Army for two years.

Years afterward, he served as manager of the Subdivision Department for Lawyers Title Insurance and spent 20 years as supervising appraiser for the Department of Real Estate.

Beginning in 2000, he spent three years as assistant commissioner, Subdivisions, for the Department of Real Estate, where he advised the commissioner of DRE on subdivision issues, and managed a staff of 55 employees and a $5 million budget.

Perrotti is a member of the current PCH-Aviation Improvement Committee. As a member of the Hermosa Beach Response Planning Team, he helped update the City’s Emergency Operations Plan in 2005.

Perrotti, who enjoys hobbies such as ballroom dancing, which he took up 8 years ago as a fun way to exercise and meet new and interesting people, has been very active in the local art scene, serving as treasurer and board member for the Hermosa Beach Art Walk for the past 10 years. 

He is also a board member for the Hermosa Beach Arts Foundation as well as a member of the Arts For All committee of the Hermosa Beach School District.

Perrotti likes Hermosa Beach's friendly people, cultural activities, great weather and outstanding beach. 

Tanner, who loves to read, also enjoys gardening and tennis. She loves Hermosa Beach for its friendly, small beach community feel.

Tanner has two sons: Scott and Don Funk.

RSVPs can be made to the Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce office by calling (310) 376-0951 or visiting the Chamber’s website at www.HBChamber.net. RSVPs were due by Jan. 25.

The newly elected and re-elected Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors members to be installed are: 

• Brittny Burford, Shorewood Realtors
• Susan Burden, Beach Cities Health District
• Steve Francis, Pinkie's BBQ
• Kathleen Knoll, Uncorked The Wine Shop
• Ron Newman, Baja Sharkeez
• Adrienne Slaughter, Easy Reader