The Aptos Chamber of Commerce announced the 2013 People of the Year awards and will be handing them out at the annual chamber dinner on Friday, Oct. 25 at the Seascape Beach Resort. This year’s honorees are:
Men of the Year
Rob Morse – PG&E ● Bob Wall – Grunsky, Ebey, Farrar & Howell Law Firm
Woman of the Year
Mary Russell – Mortgage Result
Business of the Year
Driscoll’s
Organization of the Year
Caroline’s Thrift Shop
Aptos Chamber Annual Dinner and Awards Night, Friday, October 25, 2013 at the Seascape Beach Resort. Please call (831) 688-1467 for reservations.
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Men of the Year
Rob Morse: PG&E — Rob Morse is a manager of Service and Sales in the Central Coast at PG&E. His team is responsible for promoting energy-efficiency programs and advocating for business customers in the Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito counties. Rob began his career with PG&E in 1991 as a marketing associate.
Rob serves on the board of directors for several non-profit organizations. He is an Aptos Chamber of Commerce past president and executive board member; Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary Club president elect: Santa Cruz County National Red Cross board member; appointed to the Santa Cruz County Work Investment Board and he led the development of the Mountain Bike Search and Rescue Team with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Department. Rob has also been a member of the 2011 Tour of California Organizing Committee and served as the Vice President of Aptos Soccer for 8 years.
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Robert (Bob) Wall: Grunsky, Ebey, Farrar & Howell Law Firm — Robert Wall received his law degree in 1982 from the University of San Diego after graduating from UCLA with a degree in History. In 1985 he moved to Aptos and began working at the Grunsky, Ebey, Farrar & Howell law firm where he is now a shareholder. Earlier this year he received the Roland K. Hall Award from the Santa Cruz County Bar Association for his public service to the community. He has been married for 32 years to his wife, Nancy, and has two grown children, Robert and Meredith.
Through his children Bob became involved with local soccer and baseball teams for which he has served as manager, coach, board member, volunteer, and legal advisor. He has been a member of the Cabrillo Host Lions Club for 27 years. His projects include the Student Speaker contest and organizing the Lion’s scholarship program for Aptos High and Soquel High. Bob helped establish the Travis Doherty Foundation as a 501c3, and continues to be a board member. The Foundation provides scholarships and academic assistance to local students, many of whom have learning disabilities. His current passions are the Aptos History Museum, the Elementary Law Program for 5th graders and the Watsonville High Mock Trial Team.
Bob has taken Sandy Lydon’s two-semester class on the History of the Monterey Bay and is a “Certified Local Historian.” He has completed two “bay walks” lead by Sandy and Gary Griggs that start at New Brighton State Beach and end in Monterey. He is a founding steering committee member of the Aptos History Museum where he serves as a fundraiser, event planner, lecturer and narrates bus tours on local history to senior facilities.
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Woman of the Year
Mary Russell: Mortgage Results — Mary Russell is a professional Mortgage Broker specializing in purchases and refinances for homes in California. She has 20 years experience and Mortgage Results is a top independent mortgage brokerage firm based in Aptos, Calif.
As the company’s principal and founder, Mary says “success is due to one simple idea: you matter, your values, your family, and your dreams for the future.” An entrepreneur by nature, finding creative solutions for people is what Mary loves to do.
She has lived on the Central Coast since the 1970s, so she knows the neighborhoods Her moniker is “Mer” for her name, Mary Elaine Russell. Mer also means “the sea” in French.
Mary is always the first person to say “good job” after an event is over and is a positive influence for the Santa Cruz County Community. She has been a part of the Aptos History Museum board and has been an instrumental part of planning and putting on their biggest fundraiser, A Night to Rally. She gathers auction items, sells tickets, and goes above and beyond to ensure the success of the event. With her help, the Aptos History Museum has raised enough money to pay rent for the last 6 years.
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Business of the Year
Driscoll’s — The Driscoll’s story begins in 1904, when friends Joseph “Ed” Reiter and R.O. Driscoll began producing flavorful Sweet Briar strawberries in California’s Pajaro Valley. More than a century later, the Driscoll’s tradition of family farming endures. Today Miles Reiter, berry farmer and grandson of Joseph “Ed” Reiter, is at the helm of Driscoll’s.
Driscoll’s is passionate about providing only the finest berries. For them, growing the best strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and organic berries is much more than a job: it’s a passion. For more than 100 years, they have been family-owned and operated. Their berries and plants are not genetically modified and they undergo strict quality inspections. Driscoll’s is the leader in fresh berries, growing the finest organic berries in the world. They take pride in protecting the land for generations to come, which is both an art and a science requiring care, commitment, and dedication.
Driscoll’s philanthropy is based on the idea that they everyone is all a part of something much larger than ourselves. It’s about inspiring each one of us to do more, to foster our care for each other, and in that way contribute positively to the world around us.
They offer berry donations to local food banks, schools and neighborhood festivals, match employee donations and volunteer time to community projects and nonprofit organizations. In 2012, they partnered with their employees in over 90 employee-led community action projects. Driscoll’s has a Grants Program that was proud to support 178 programs benefiting farm workers and their families, in 2012.
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Organization of the Year
Caroline’s — Caroline’s is a nonprofit thrift shop whose primary focus is to raise money for Santa Cruz County nonprofits that have programs and/or services for children with special medical, developmental or psychological needs. Christy Licker opened Caroline’s in July of 2011 as a way to celebrate her daughter, Caroline.
Caroline, a child with special needs, underwent surgery and never recovered. She received services from Children’s Hospice and Palliative Care, Hospice of Santa Cruz County, Jacob’s Heart and Special Parents Information Network. During a ceremony in January, Caroline’s presented checks totaling in $120,000 to a dozen nonprofits working with children who have special needs, up from $40,000 in grants the previous year.
Children’s Hospice and Palliative Coalition, Hospice of Santa Cruz County and Jacob’s Heart each received $20,000. CASA, or Court Appointed Special Advocates, received $13,500, enough to train 60 new advocates. Easter Seals Central California got $10,000, Survivors Healing Network $4,500, For Kids Monterey Bay $4,000, Adaptive Yoga Program $2,500, Nourishing Generations $2,000, Building Rhythm $2,000, and Dragon Slayers $1,000. The money was raised during last year’s operations of Caroline’s. “No way could I do this by myself,” says Christy Licker, citing help from 28 volunteers.
Something about Caroline’s inspires generosity. Licker recalled a young woman who came in and took notice of four wedding dresses. A graduate student, she had gotten engaged to a fellow student but didn’t have means to think about a bridal gown. One gown, retailing $2,000, was a perfect fit. Licker told her she could have it for $100, and she put $20 down, promising to return to volunteer and pay the rest on time. As Licker steamed the dress, a curious shopper asked her about it, then gave her $20 towards the bride’s bill. When the bride-to-be showed up for her shift, she discovered the dress was fully paid for.