The Antelope Valley Board of Trade installed its new officers and directors at a dinner taking place at the Cascades in Palmdale. Cathy Hart was sworn in July 9 as the new president, replacing Jackie Fisher, president of Antelope Valley College. Hart is a former executive director of the Board of Trade and currently works for Southern California Edison. Fisher praised Hart as “smart, intuitive and dedicated to the success of the community.” The Board of Trade promotes and encourages business development in Palmdale, Lancaster and other cities in the Antelope Valley and acts on behalf of its membership before local, state and federal lawmakers. Hart was instrumental in the Board of Trade’s annual conference in February that had an emphasis on sustainable energy and business practices. With a growing clean energy industry in solar and wind power, aerospace companies, an unrestricted airspace and manufacturing, the Antelope Valley has much to offer the state and the country, Hart said. “We have so much that is positive here when the news across the country is negative,” Hart said. Also sworn is as officers were President elect Dianne Knippel; Vice President Jack Stewart; Secretary Richard Cook; Treasurer Mark Hemstreet; Past President Jackie Fisher; and directors at large Ingrid Chapman and Richard Caulkins. Sworn is a directors with terms expiring in 2012 were John Alesso, Irene Cardwell, Susan Champion, Rob Duchow, Jeff Flores, Russell Fuller, Al Hoffman, Harvey Holloway, Bob Johnstone, Drew Mercy and Rhonda Nelson. —Mark R. Madler