Glendale-based IHOP Corp. asked 15 states to change their Feb. 5 presidential primaries, because the pancake chain was planning its National Pancake Day, a charity event the company puts on with the Children’s Miracle Network, on that date.

Patrick Lenow, director of communications for IHOP, said his company’s request was meant to be taken lightheartedly, but Utah was serious.

“They were deeply apologetic, they said it was impossible to move the primary at this late date,” said Lenow. He didn’t expect any of the states including California to change their primaries.

The chain later decided to postpone National Pancake Day one week and has rescheduled the event for Feb. 12.

New VICA Chair

On Dec. 13, Greg Lippe was selected as the new chair of the board of directors for the Valley Industry & Commerce Association.

Lippe, a CPA and managing partner of Lippe Hellie Hoffer & Allison LLP in Woodland Hills, takes over for former chair Bob Scott, who had some advice for Lippe.

“He said to remember that two years go by real fast,” said Lippe.

Lippe added that he’d like his organization, which is an advocate for business concerns, to create a better dialogue with organized labor.

“We seem to wind up on the opposite side of labor and we don’t ever seem to talk to them,” he said.

Elite Honor

Napoleon Bonaparte buff Dr. Namir Katkhouda received an honor Dec. 17 that was created by the diminutive French ruler himself.

Katkhouda was inducted into France’s elite Legion of Honor for his pioneering work in the field of laparoscopic surgery. Katkhouda, a French citizen who in 1993 began teaching at USC’s Keck School of Medicine, said it’s wonderful to receive an honor created by Bonaparte.

“He intended it to be an honor that would spur the imagination,” said Katkhouda, a French history enthusiast. “For me it is unbelievable to be associated with Napoleon. It’s just humbling.”

The honor is meant to recognize significant military, cultural and social contributions.

He received the honor, which comes with a red ribbon and Cross of Malta, in a ceremony at USC attended by French Ambassador to the United States Pierre Vimont.

Katkhouda, 52, will now wear on his jacket lapel a thread of red ribbon that is meant to symbolize the honor.

The doctor is in good company luminaries like Victor Hugo, Clint Eastwood and President Ronald Reagan have also been inducted into the Legion of Honor.

Katkhouda did his medical training in France and performed several firsts in the field of laparoscopic surgery, including Europe’s first laparoscopic hernia surgery in 1990 and USC’s first laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery in 2002.

Daniel Miller can be reached at [email protected]