Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce | Santa Cruz, CA
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  • About Us
    • Membership
    • Board of Directors
    • Ambassador Program
    • Contact Us
  • Events & News
    • Chamber Events Calendar >
      • Business After Hours
      • Ribbon Cutting
      • Annual Membership Meeting
      • Women in Business
      • Recognition Awards Gala >
        • Awards: Awards Gala
        • Sponsors: Awards Gala
        • Entertainment: Awards Gala
      • Community Leadership Visits
      • Golf Tournament
    • Community Calendar
    • Chamber News
  • Visit & Live
    • Annual Events
    • Local Events
    • Community Services
  • Resources
    • Emergency Resources
    • Inflation Reduction Act
    • Black Owned Santa Cruz
    • Business Intelligence
    • Learning & Consulting Resources
    • Employment/Intern Opportunities
    • Business & Project Startups
    • Starting Your Business
    • Employment Stats
  • Advocacy
    • Racial Equality Statement
    • Chamber Action
    • 2024 Candidate Interviews
    • Community Leadership Visits
    • Core Economic Issues
    • Projects & Policies
    • Santa Cruz County Governments
  • Directory
  • Login

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2024
Person of the Year:  Matt Wetstein, President, Cabrillo College
Business of the Year: David Lyng Real Estate
Organization of the Year:  United Way of Santa Cruz County
Small Business - Startup of the Year: Allterra Solar
Lifetime (Legacy) Award: Bruce McPherson, Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors​

2023
Persons of the Year: Chris Murphy, Santa Cruz Warriors
Business of the Year: Joby Aviation, Inc.
Organization of the Year: Pajaro Valley Healthcare District & Pajaro Valley Healthcare District Project
Small Business - Startup of the Year: Lookout Santa Cruz
Legacy Achievement Award: Chris Maffia, Santa Cruz County Bank (Retired)

2022
Persons of the Year: Bonnie Lipscomb, Director of the City of Santa Cruz Economic Development Department
Businesses of the Year: 1st Capital Bank, Bay Federal Credit Union, Santa Cruz Community Credit Union, Santa Cruz County Bank
Organization of the Year: Dientes Community Dental Care
Legacy Achievement Award: Willy Elliott-McCrea, Chief Executive Officer, Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County

2021
Persons of the Year: Susan True, Chief Deputy Chris Clark and Fire Chief Ian Larkin
Business of the Year: Dignity Health/Dominican Hospital, Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health/PAMF
Organization of the Year: Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds / Fairgrounds Foundation / AgHistory Project
Legacy Achievement Award: Gail Pellerin

2019
Woman of the Year: Martine Watkins
Men of the Year: Frank Bien and Lloyd Tabb
Business of the Year: Dream Inn
Organization of the Year: Monterey Bay Community Power
Legacy Achievement Award: Cynthia Mathews

​2018
Man of the Year: Duf Fischer, Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce
Woman of the Year: Carrie Birkhofer, Bay Federal Credit Union
Business of the Year: Santa Cruz County Bank
Organization of the Year: The Downtown Streets Team
Lifetime Achievement: Dan Haifley and Gary Griggs

2017
Man of the Year: Rene Schlaepfer, Twin Lakes Church
Woman of the Year: Nina Simon, Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
Business of the Year: Plantronics
Organization of the Year: Second Harvest Food Bank
Lifetime Achievement: Lance, Linares

​2016
Man of the Year: Charles Eadie, Eadie Consultants
Woman of the Year: Teresa Thomae, Small Business Development Center
Business of the Year: Santa Cruz Warriors
Entrepreneur of the Year: Calliope Waterworks
Organization of the Year: Santa Cruz Shakespeare
Lifetime Achievement: Sam Farr, Former Congressman
PHOTOS/VIDEOS

2015
Man of the Year: Dr. Larry deGhetaldi, Sutter Health/Palo Alto Medical Foundation Santa Cruz
Woman of the Year: Mary Lou Goeke, United Way of Santa Cruz 
Lifetime Achievement: Bob Lee, Santa Cruz County District Attorney
Organization of the Year: University of California Santa Cruz
Business of the Year: Shadowbrook Restaurant
Entrepreneur of the Year: Jacob Martinez, Digital Nest

2014
Man of the Year: Erik Johnson, Erik's DeliCafe 
Woman of the Year: Martina O'Sullivan, Dignity Health Dominican Hospital 
Business of the Year: The Glass Jar featuring Kendra Baker and Zach Davis 
Organization of the Year: Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau 
Entrepreneur of the Year: Lloyd Tabb-- Looker 
Lifetime Achievement:: Neal Coonerty

2013
Man of Year: David Haussler
Woman of the Year: Laura Brown
Business of the Year: Ow Family Properties
Organization of the Year: City of Santa Cruz Police Department
Entrepreneurs of the Year: Jeremy Neuner, Ryan Coonerty, and Caleb Baskin, NextSpace
Lifetime Achievement: Jack O’Neill

2012
Man of the Year: Peter Prindle
Woman of the Year: Donna Murphy
Business of the Year: Cruzio Internet
Organization of the Year: The Tannery Arts Center Project
Entrepreneur of the Year: Five3 Genomics
Lifetime Achievement Award: Bruce Woolpert

2011
Man of the Year: Michael J. Paul
Woman of the Year: Cathy Schlumbrecht
Business of the Year: Barry Swenson Builder
Organization of the Year: Sutter Maternity and Surgery Center
Lifetime Achievement Award: Geoffrey Dunn

2010
Man of the Year: Howard Sherer
Woman of the Year: Virginia Johnson
Business of the Year: Bay Federal Credit Union
Organization of the Year: Dominican Hospital

2009
Men of the Year: John Sisk and Ken Whiting
Woman of the Year: Hillary Bryant
Business of the Year: Sun Shops
Organization of the Year: Santa Cruz Neighbors

2008
Man of the Year: Michael Bethke
Woman of the Year: Linda Burroughs
Business of the Year: Redtree Properties
Organization of the Year: UCSC / City of Santa Cruz

 2007 
Man of the Year: Larry Pearson
Woman of the Year: Lori Butterworth/Devin Dobbs
Business of the Year: Lifespan
Organization of the Year: Cabrillo Foundation

2006
Man of the Year: Neal Coonerty
Woman of the Year: Annie Morhauser
Business of the Year: Good Times
Organization of the Year: Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music
Volunteer of the Year: Kathleen Middleton

2005
Man of the Year: Rowland Rebele
Woman of the Year: Lorette Wood
Business of the Year: Ocean-Honda Chevrolet
Organization of the Year: Central Coast Small Business
Lifetime Achievement Award: David Regan

2004
Man of the Year: Ken Kannappan
Woman of the Year: Colleen Cosby
Business of the Year: Comerica
Organization of the Year: Santa Cruz Community Counseling

2003
Man of the Year: Harvey Nickelson
Woman of the Year: Sister Julie Hyer
Business of the Year: Equitex Financial
Organization of the Year: Omega Nu
Volunteer of the Year: Annette McGarity

2002
Man of the Year: Roy Nelson
Woman of the Year: Maggie Ivy
Business of the Year: Seaside Company
Organization of the Year: SC Sunrise Rotary
Volunteer of the Year: Annette McGarity

2001
Man of the Year: Norm Lezin
Woman of the Year: Peggy Dolgenes
Business of the Year: Graniterock
Organization of the Year: SC Fire Department

2000
Man of the Year: John Hurd
Woman of the Year: Cynthia Mathews
Business of the Year: Big Creek Lumber
Organization of the Year: Skills Center

1999
Man of the Year: Robert Stephens
Woman of the Year: Julie Packard
Business of the Year: O'Neill
Organization of the Year: Santa Cruz Police Department

1998
Man of the Year: Scott Kennedy
Woman of the Year: MRC Greenwood
Business of the Year: Channel 46
Organization of the Year: SC County Symphony

1997
Man of the Year: Bruce McPherson
Woman of the Year: Hulda Hoover McClean
Business of the Year: System Studies
Organization of the Year: Delta School

1996
Man of the Year: Bob Scrivener
Woman of the Year: Linda Steinau
Business of the Year: Barry Swenson
Organization of the Year: SC Rotary

1995
Man of the Year: Dick Wilson
Woman of the Year: Karen Gillette
Business of the Year: Santa Cruz Sentinel
Organization of the Year: Downtown Association

1994
Man of the Year: Tony Hill
Woman of the Year: Carol Canaris
Business of the Year: New Leaf Markets
Organization of the Year: Barrios Unidos

1993
Man of the Year: Harvey Nichelson
Woman of the Year: Esther Bradley-Delgado
Business of the Year: Coast Commercial Bank
Organization of the Year: Shakespeare Santa Cruz

1992
Man of the Year: John Lisher
Woman of the Year: Ceil Cirillo
Business of the Year: UA Cable
Organization of the Year: Goodwill

1991
Man of the Year: Ted Whiting III
Woman of the Year: Bonnie Burns
Business of the Year: Habers
Organization of the Year: United Way

1990
Man of the Year: Jim Pepper
Woman of the Year: Harriet Deck
Business of the Year: Zoccoli's
Organization of the Year: Community Foundation

1989
Man of the Year: Ron Rhodes
Woman of the Year: Judy Primavera
Business of the Year: Seaside Company
Organization of the Year: Cultural Council

1988
Man of the Year: Norman Lezin
Woman of the Year: Margaret Lezin

1987
Man of the Year: George Ow Jr&Sr
Woman of the Year: Betty Elward

1986
Man of the Year: Reece Davis
Woman of the Year: Karen Sinsheimer

1985
Man of the Year: Jack Baskin
Woman of the Year: Elena Baskin

1984
Organization of the Year: Omega Nu

1983
Man of the Year: Spiro Mellis
Woman of the Year: Judy Sadlier

1982
Man of the Year: Al Castagnola
Woman of the Year: Harriet Mainis

1981
Man of the Year: Ralph Bargetto
Woman of the Year: Colette Murray

1980
Man of the Year: Lionel Stolorr
Woman of the Year: Ann Leonard

1979
Man of the Year: Frank Gallagher
Woman of the Year: Lorette Wood

1978
Man of the Year: Harvey West
Woman of the Year: Katherine (Kay) Dillon

1977
Man of the Year: James E. Hammond
Woman of the Year: Evelyn Morris

1976
Man of the Year: Donald L. Grunsky 
Woman of the Year: Renie Leaman

1975
Man of the Year: Marshall Cheney
Woman of the Year: Kristina Maillard

1974
Man of the Year: James H. Hammond
Woman of the Year: Miss Annie McCaskill

1973
Man of the Year: Dr. Robert E. Swenson
Woman of the Year: Mrs. Yolanda Dybdahl

1972
Man of the Year: Dr. Carl Nelson
Woman of the Year: Mrs. Phil (Kay) Harry

1971
Man of the Year: Keith Shaffer
Woman of the Year: Mayor Lorette Wood

1970
Man of the Year: Davenport Volunteer Fire Department
Woman of the Year: Mrs. Lewis "Peg" Nelson"

1969
Man of the Year: Sam Leask
Woman of the Year: Mrs. Thomas Schnoor

1968
Man of the Year: Norman Walters
Woman of the Year: Kathryn Merriam

1967
Man of the Year: RADM Robert E. Ward (retired)
Woman of the Year: Mrs. Lela Swasey

1966
Man of the Year: Kenneth Wenzel
Woman of the Year: Mrs. Alice Earl Wilder

1965
Man of the Year: Chuck Abbott
Woman of the Year: Mrs. Chuck Abbott

1964
Man of the Year: Ernest W. Dillon
Woman of the Year: Ada Jane Leamy

1963
Man of the Year: C. E. "Doc" Fehliman
Woman of the Year: Mrs. Margaret C. Franks

1962
Man of the Year: Ernest Damkroger
Woman of the Year: Mrs. Sam McNeely

1961
Man of the Year: Louis L. Haber
Woman of the Year: Mrs. Charles Brunjes

1960
Man of the Year: Gordon Sinclair
Woman of the Year: Miss Rita Mattei

1959
Man of the Year: Fred McPherson Jr.
Woman of the Year: Major Matilda Dedrick

1958
Men of the Year: Carl Conelly & Worth Brown
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Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce
Mailing Address: 7960 Soquel Drive, Suite B112, Aptos CA 95003
Phone: (831) 457-3713

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