Service has its rewards

Bill Geist of Glendale generates so much power through his volunteer commitments it’s sparked his receiving the Volunteer of the Year from the La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce. The honor was presented in January, but Geist received the added bonus that went with it, riding in a special car during the La Cañada Flintridge Memorial Day Parade down Foothill Boulevard on Monday.

Geist is the owner and creator of Event Power Associates, and donates his time and equipment to community events such as the 33rd annual Crescenta-Cañada YMCA Fiesta Days Run at Descanso Gardens, Crescenta Valley High School’s Prom Plus at Crescenta-Cañada Family YMCA and Healthy Kids at Verdugo Hills Hospital.

His specialty is problem solving, he said.

“If you’ve got a problem I’m interested in finding a solution to that problem,” the 80-year-old Geist said.

He is totally hands-on when it comes to the lighting or sound for an event, he said.

“I’m there before [the event] starts, as it sets up, during and afterwards,” Geist said. “This is not a desk job. I do a lot of running around.”

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology alumnus moved from Lakewood, Ohio, to Glendale in 1956 and began his own business supplying energy equipment for events. After his move, he became involved in the Glendale, La Crescenta and La Cañada Flintridge communities.

The La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce recognized Geist in January for his support of community events, said Pat Anderson, president and CEO of the Chamber.

“He’s just an amazing volunteer, always willing to share his knowledge and expertise to support a community event,” Anderson said.

“We value his gift to us. It’s a precious thing and he is just a great volunteer.”

Geist received the honor from the Chamber for helping at several community events, he said.

“They complimented me on providing many hours of public service, for instance doing the sound systems for the events that I didn’t charge them for — specifically, Fiesta Days Run and Healthy Kids,” he said.

Geist has volunteered at all 33 of the Fiesta Days Runs, he said.

He is a rare member of the community, said Crescenta-Cañada YMCA Executive Director Rosanne Malogolowkin, who is one of the main organizers of the Fiesta Run.

“If he was not here to do what he does, nobody else knows how to do [it],” she said. “The history that he has on this event is outstanding.”

Malogolowkin laughed at how busy Geist is when he’s contributing to an event.

She explained that last weekend he worked on the Fiesta Run while organizing the lighting and sound at Prom Plus, an alternative after-prom party at the Crescenta-Cañada YMCA for Crescenta Valley High School.

This volunteer is always interested in planning events, he said.

Geist is someone you can depend on, said Kim Beattie, director of Communications and Public Relations at the Crescenta-Cañada Family YMCA.

“I’ve worked with him for about 15 years,” Beattie said. Any time you need him, he’s there.”

“I asked him the other day ‘when are you going to retire?’ He looked at me and said ‘Why?’” she said.