Bill Ukropina, a commercial real estate broker who has spent more than 40 years closing deals across Pasadena, was installed as board chair of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association on Friday, June 26, at the Langham Huntington Hotel.

Ukropina, managing director of Coldwell Banker Commercial at 388 South Lake Avenue, takes the helm of the 138-year-old organization and its more than 1,150 member businesses as the city continues recovering from the January 2025 Eaton Fire. That blaze destroyed 9,418 structures and burned 14,021 acres, with the heaviest damage in neighboring Altadena, according to figures cited in the Chamber's Pasadena Perspectives magazine. Ukropina said Pasadena itself lost a little more than 200 structures.

He brings a broker's optimism to the post. "We've seen a tremendous rebirth," Ukropina told Pasadena Now, citing housing starts and construction jobs. He described demand to lease and buy commercial property in the city as "brisk," naming Caltech, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the Rose Bowl, and the Rose Parade among the draws for companies seeking a Pasadena address.

After the fire, the Chamber extended free memberships to businesses in Altadena's hardest-hit 91001 ZIP code. Ukropina cast the gesture as a statement of identity, saying it shows Pasadena is "a community that cares about each other."

Ukropina served as the Chamber board's treasurer during the 2025–2026 term and joined the board in 2023. His résumé includes landmark transactions such as the 13.36-acre St. Luke Hospital site, the 7.88-acre World Vision property, and more than 500 commercial lease deals. Coldwell Banker Commercial named him to its 1906 Club in February 2026, a distinction reserved for the firm's top 2% of brokers nationally.

Off the clock, he has served on the City of Pasadena Parks and Recreation Commission, twice led the Pasadena American Little League as president, and coached AYSO soccer for 11 years.

The gala also honored outgoing chair Frank Girardot of BYD|RIDE and awarded Bill Bogaard Scholarships to emancipated foster youth. Paul Little, the Chamber's president and CEO since 2007, remains the organization's top staff executive.

The Chamber's next After Hours Mixer is scheduled for July 2026 at Kulturas, with monthly Networking Breakfasts held the third Wednesday of each month at Villa Gardens.