Chamber Announces 2014 Annual Awards
The Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture announced the 2014 Annual Awards recipients. We would like to thank the community for sending in nominations over the last two months. The Selection Committee is comprised of Award recipients from the last five years and they have had the honor (and challenge) of selecting the following individuals, organizations and business from the nominations that were received.
The Chamber serves only as a facilitator of this exciting annual process. However, the Executive Committee of the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture has the honor of selecting the Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.
Please join the Chamber at our Annual Awards Dinner on Saturday, January 24, 2015, to honor these recipients. We will be celebrating “Agriculture: The Heart of the Pajaro Valley”.
Man of the Year – Gary Manfre
Erica Manfre says of Gary, “He’s knowledgeable, strong, caring and above all, humble. He doesn’t need to be in the limelight to prove any of his accomplishments; actually, he prefers not to be. He is never too busy for his staff and always makes himself available to offer words of wisdom or to offer perspective. I feel very fortunate that he has allowed me the opportunity to work so closely with him and learn as much as I can. He is extremely deserving to be recognized for his personal and professional achievements and it makes me even more proud to work at Watsonville Coast Produce, Inc.”
Gary has made sure that Watsonville Coast Produce has taken leaps with sustainability including going solar and using local banks (Santa Cruz County Bank) for funding. He has also transitioned the entire WCPI fleet to bio-fuel with local producer, North Star Biodiesel. Gary is creative when it comes to recycling anything and everything they can at WCPI. He makes donations on a regular basis to Second Harvest Food Bank and Pajaro Valley Loaves and Fishes.
If there’s a cause that is important to one or more of his staff, Gary supports it. Some of these include Relay for Life, Watsonville PAL, Diabetic Youth, DARE, YMCA sports, Future Farmers of America, Jacob’s Heart, PVUSD, Toys for Tots, the Rod and Gun Club, Santa Cruz County Fair, Little League and Pop Warner football teams and all Cabrillo College sports. Gary’s kindness and generosity have been far-reaching in our community.
Diane Severin states, “Through the years that I have known Gary, he has always adopted one or more families at Christmas time and saw that the families had all the things that would make their holiday wonderful with food and gifts for all.” It is people like Gary who make the Pajaro Valley a better place.
Woman of the Year – Nancy Bilicich, Ed.D.
Nancy began her career in the Oak Grove School District in San Jose and then made the move to the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District in 1985. She then came to the Pajaro Valley Unified School District in 1987 as the Assistant Principal at Aptos Junior High School. This was the beginning of an extremely successful career with the PVUSD which includes four years as the Principal of Aptos Junior High School and three years as Principal of Watsonville High School. Nancy has been the Director of Watsonville/Aptos Adult Education since 2008, and truly enjoys making a positive difference in the lives of students by encouraging them to pursue excellence.
The organizations in which Nancy has been involved are vast. Some of the Boards she has served on and is continuing to serve on include the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture, Watsonville Community Hospital, Watsonville High School Foundation Executive Board, and Soroptimist International of Watsonville. She has received countless awards from very prestigious organizations that have recognized her leadership.
Nancy attributes her success to her outstanding parents, also community leaders. Her father, Louis was the Head Custodian of Watsonville High School for 47 years and a member of the Watsonville Elks Lodge. Her mother, Louise taught at Watsonville High School for 38 years and thoroughly enjoyed students and giving back to the community. Nancy says her parents were always extremely supportive of her endeavors and would be so proud of her achieving the Chamber’s Woman of the Year award. Nancy is sad that her parents will not be able to share this wonderful day with her, but knows they will be with her in spirit.
In 2009, Nancy served as Mayor Pro Tempore, elected by council members and in 2010, was elected to represent District 7, and is still serving in that position. . Nancy is also chair of the County of Santa Cruz Flood Control and Water Conservation District, Zone 7, working in collaboration with the Board of Supervisors. As a public official, she listens to her constituents and votes accordingly, even if it is not popular with the rest of the members. Nancy is also chair of the County of Santa Cruz Flood Control and Water Conservation District, Zone 7, working in collaboration with the Board of Supervisors. She has an unwavering dedication to building bridges in the community and has given countless hours to improving the Pajaro Valley.
Organization of the Year – Hospice of Santa Cruz County, Michael Milward
HSCC has been in operation for over 36 years and have assisted thousands of individuals and their families in the last months and days of their life, offering expertise and support so that they may live and die in comfort and with dignity. Over 125 staff and nearly 300 volunteers share a commitment to the agency’s mission and values of being truly present to serve when support is needed most.
In 2013, HSCC expanded its capabilities to meet the growing need for hospice care and grief support in our community by opening a second office in Watsonville. Recently named the Borina Family Center for Compassionate Care, the center is home to physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, Hospice aides and staff that support patients and families living in the southern part of our community and the Pajaro Valley.
The center is also a place that any adult, child or teen grieving the loss of someone special can receive compassionate bereavement services. A special children’s room is furnished with the latest therapeutic tools to help children process their grief in a healthy manner. HSCC’s grief support services extend past the walls of their physical offices. Grief education and individual and group support is provided to children and teens in over 40 schools including 14 elementary, middle and high schools in the Pajaro Valley.
HSCC is committed to ensuring that compassionate hospice care and vital grief support services are available to all members of our community today and in the future. All of the services are available in both English and Spanish. Their presence in the Pajaro Valley as well as the entire community helps to ensure that everyone who needs hospice care has access to the services.
Event of the Year – Kidrageous
The event has been held in the Watsonville Plaza for the past nine years and has become a meaningful and positive family event providing an opportunity for local residents, businesses and groups from businesses and high schools to do something positive. This year’s event broke records and was spearheaded by, Jennifer Watson, a local mother whose own 2 1/2 year old daughter is battling cancer.
At this year’s event, 120 local families of children with cancer, 240 volunteers (2,000 volunteer hours) and more than 1,000 community members representing all walks of life in the Pajaro Valley united to honor local children with cancer and celebrate hope, community and family. The event began with the Watsonville Community Band in opening ceremonies. The most heartwarming part of the day was when the community gathered to surround families with love and sing, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
Business of the Year – California Grill
The California Grill proudly serves locally grown, healthy, organic food serviced by community-minded friendly staff. Some of the local foods you’ll find being served at the California Grill are from Freedom Meat Lockers, Corralitos Market, Gizdich Ranch, Golden Sheaf Bread Company, Martinelli’s, Alfaro Winery and Storrs Winery. Even the orchids, which provide a beautiful décor, are grown locally by Enright Orchids. Dining at the California Grill is always a pleasurable experience and you’ll typically find Dick and Ashley greeting customers and welcoming them like family.
The California Grill’s generosity in the community is without compare. One day per year, they have donated 100% of sales from breakfast, lunch and dinner. This is not a percentage of your bill, but 100% donated to two local cancer organizations: Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services and Katz Cancer Center at Dominican. They have also generously donated to Coats for Kids and the Children’s Miracle Network. Lori Butterworth sums it up best by saying, “The California Grill reflects the values we hold dear here in our Pajaro Valley.”
Lifetime Achievement – Jean and Ed Kelly
Jean and Ed have been married for 49 years and it’s evident that there is nothing more important to them than family. They have instilled in their children and grandchildren the importance of giving back to their community. Jean was a long-time teacher and principal at Moreland Notre Dame where she was well respected and loved by students and parents for over 20 years. Ed has a deep history with the Special Olympics of Santa Cruz, having been involved for over 28 years. He has also been “The Voice of Watsonville High School Football” for over 50 years.
In 1996, the Jean and Ed Kelly Foundation was formed with the single intention to serve our local youth. Through the support of many local businesses and individuals, along with the dedication of an incredibly talented board, over $2 million has been raised for over 65 local sports, youth clubs, camps and charities right here in the Pajaro Valley. The Jean and Ed Kelly Foundation is solely run by an entirely volunteer Board of Directors and with no overhead of any kind, 100% of money raised by the Foundation is used for their primary mission; “Serving our youth today to make the future brighter for all of us.” The Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture is pleased to have selected Jean and Ed Kelly to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.