WATSONVILLE — The Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture has announced its 2026 annual award recipients, honoring individuals, businesses and organizations whose work has shaped the Pajaro Valley’s economy, culture and civic life.
Kirk Schmidt is Man of the Year, Michell Bassi is Woman of the Year, C&N Tractors is the Business of the Year, the Slavic American Cultural Organization is the Organization of the Year, Cal-Giant’s Skirt Steak Barbecue is the Event of the Year, and Dominic and Martha Muzzi will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
“We are absolutely thrilled to announce this year’s awardees. These folks have done so much in our community,” said Shaz Roth, president and CEO of the chamber.
The honorees will be recognized at the chamber’s Annual Dinner on Saturday, July 18, at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. Tickets for the event will be available on Eventbrite.
Bassi, named Woman of the Year, was recognized for her financial leadership and commitment to nonprofit service in Santa Cruz County. Bassi spent more than three decades in banking, including 22 years with Wells Fargo and a senior vice president role at 1st Capital Bank, before transitioning to the nonprofit sector.
She now serves as chief development officer for Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County, where she leads fundraising efforts that have reached record levels. Her work supports programs aimed at addressing food insecurity across the region.
She has also served as board president of the Cabrillo College Foundation and the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation, as well as a board member of Nonprofit Connection Santa Cruz. She is also a past president of Capitola Aptos Rotary and has held leadership roles with Second Harvest and Digital NEST, a workforce development nonprofit.
Her contributions have been recognized with multiple honors, including a previous Woman of the Year award from the Aptos Chamber of Commerce, the Be The Difference Award from the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County and the Community Champion Award from Meals on Wheels. In 2025, she was also named among the “15 Women to Know” in Santa Cruz County.
Schmidt, Man of the Year, was honored for decades of leadership in agriculture, and nonprofits. His work on water issues is not only felt locally, but internationally. Schmidt has been deeply involved with the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau, where he served as president and was named Farmer of the Year twice. He has also held leadership roles with the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County, including serving as treasurer, and continues to serve on the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation board.
His public service includes time on the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council, where he served as chair. He has also served on the University of California, Santa Cruz Foundation Board of Trustees.
In addition to his local work, Schmidt has supported agricultural development projects in countries including Uganda, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, Thailand and Georgia. Through training, mentorship and infrastructure projects, he has worked to improve farming practices for small communities around the globe.
Dominic and Martha Muzzi
The Muzzis, recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award, were their deep agricultural roots in Watsonville and for their longstanding commitment to the community.
Dominic emigrated from Calabria, Italy, in 1950 with his family, eventually settling in California. He met Martha in Pescadero, and the two married in 1962. They began farming in the 1960s, growing vegetables along the Central Coast while raising their children.
In 1975, the couple opened a roadside produce stand that became a familiar stop for local residents. Their business expanded over time, leading to the establishment of Watsonville Produce in 1984, which added cooling, sales and shipping operations. The family later expanded into processing facilities in Moss Landing and Yuma, Arizona, and became managing partners of Blue Ribbon Frozen Foods in 2007. In 2012, they launched Muzzi Family Farms to oversee sales of both fresh and frozen products.
Proceeds from the barbecue support the California Giant Foundation, with funds distributed to a variety of nonprofit organizations serving the region. The event raised nearly $50,000 in its most recent iteration, with all donations matched by company founder Bill Moncovich.
The business provides equipment sales, parts, repairs, rentals and specialized services, positioning itself as a comprehensive resource for farmers and contractors. In addition to its business operations, C&N Tractors is active in community events and organizations, including county fairs, farm bureaus and educational programs.
Founded in 1979 as the Yugoslav American Cultural Organization, the group was created to bring together members of the local Slavic community and share their traditions, language and history. It later became SACO following the dissolution of Yugoslavia in the 1990s.
Today, the organization has more than 400 members across California and the United States. It hosts cultural events, fundraisers and educational programs, including a student ambassador and exchange program that allows participants to travel to countries in the former Yugoslavia to connect with their heritage.
SACO also provides scholarships to local high school students, awarding more than $240,000 since its founding. Its activities include community events, cultural performances and partnerships with other organizations aimed at preserving and sharing cultural traditions.
TOP PHOTO: Woman of the Year Michell Bassi (left) and Man of the Year Kirk Schmidt