Poinsettia Awards

The Ventura Chamber of Commerce hosts this exciting event to come together and celebrate the best in our community; the best in business, the best in education, the best in public service, and the best community leaders. The Poinsettia Awards provides the Chamber with the opportunity to recognize the hard work and contributions that make Ventura a truly special place to live and work.

Nominations are sought from the community and through the City of Ventura, Ventura Police and Fire Departments.

We also support the Ventura Firefighters’ “Spark of Love” Holiday Toy Drive by inviting attendees to bring in a new, unwrapped toy or piece of sports equipment to the luncheon.

Sponsorships are available each year which give businesses the opportunity to show support of the community’s effort. Interested organizations may contact the Chamber by email at info@ventura-chamber.org. For more information at or call (805) 643-7222.

Past Award Winners

SMALL BUSINESS

2018   Dyer Sheehan Group, Inc.
2017    Sunset Dental
2016    MortgageCouch
2015    Axxess Ventura
2014    RedBrick Pizza
2013    ZestNet, Inc.
2012    RH Wealth Advisors
2011    Ventura Breeze
2010    FASTSIGNS Ventura
2009    Consortium Media Services
2008    Ventura Limoncello
2007    Weaver Wines
2006    Bamieh & Erickson, PLC
2005    Window Products Management
2004    Signs of Distinction
2003    Victoria Village Cleaners
2002    Anchor Printing & Graphics Co.
2001    The Greek at the Harbor
2000    Gold Coast Security
1999    Villa Tasca
1998    451 Advertising
1997    Lyon Staffing & Training Services

MID-SIZE BUSINESS
2018    Grocery Outlet
2017    Aloha Steakhouse
2016    Gold Coast Acura
2015    Sespe Consulting
2014    Ohana Pet Hospital
2013    Pacific Coast Business Times
2012    Ventura Rental Inc.
2011    Service Master by T.A. Russell
2010    PODS Moving & Storage
2009    Island Packers
2008    Margarita Villa
2007    Central Courier
2006    County Commerce Bank
2005    Sheeler Moving & Storage

LARGE BUSINESS
2018    Aera Energy LLC
2017    Kirby Auto Group
2016    Patagonia, Inc.
2015    EJ Harrison & Sons
2014    Ventura County Credit Union
2013    Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association
2012    Ventura Townehouse
2011    The Players Club
2010    Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach
2009    Four Points Sheraton -Ventura Harbor
2008    Domino’s Pizza/Hishmeh Enterprises
2007    Brooks Institute
2006    Cypress Place Senior Living
2005    Community Memorial Hospital
2004    Hilford Moving & Storage
2003    Barber Ford
2002    Affinity Bank
2001    Buenaventura Medical Group
2000    The Pierpont Inn & Racquet Club
1999    Affinity Group Inc.
1998    Crown Dodge
1997    Gold Coast Recycling

NON-PROFIT
2018    Bike Ventura
2017    Diversity Collective
2016    Ventura Education Partnership
2015    Project Understanding
2014    Downtown Ventura Partners
2013    San Buenaventura Friends of the Library
2012    Rubicon Theatre
2011    Turning Point Foundation
2010    Ventura Police Activities League
2009    Tri-County Teen Challenge
2008    Bell Arts Factory
2007    Boys & Girls Club of Ventura
2006    Ventura County Family-to-Family
2005    FOODShare
2004    Project Understanding
2003    Ventura Kiwanis
2002    Assistance League of Ventura County
2001    Rotary Club of Ventura
2000    Ventura Family YMCA
1999    The Rotary Club of Ventura – East
1998    Ventura Downtown Lions Club

CITIZEN
2018    Jim Monahan
2017    Nan Drake
2016    Tom Spence
2015    Leo Tauber, MD
2014    Roy Schneider
2013    Joseph D. Kreutz
2012    Trudy Tuttle-Arriaga
2011    Marie Lakin
2009    Jim Duran
2008    Karl B. Keller
2007    Mike Merewether
2006    Lynn Mikelatos
2005    Mark Judson
2004    Myra Harrison
2003    Fred Robinson
2002    Mel Sheeler
2001    Doug Halter
2000    Loretta Merewether
1999    Edna Mills
1998    Donna DePaola

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL
2018    Josh Damigo
2017    Jennifer Caldwell
2016    Jordan Olaes
2015    Caitlin Beavers
2014    Nadia Chapman
2013    Natalie Bradley
2012    Diana Trinh

AMBASSADOR
2018    Pat Pothier
2017    Kris Hansen
2016    Buzz Noe
2015    Jann Huling
2014    Jann Huling
2013    Stephen Joyce
2012    Yvonne Knepper
2011    Yvonne Knepper
2010    Stephen Joyce
2009    Stephen Joyce
2008    Michele Olsen
2007    Stephen Joyce
2006    Debra Frazier
2005    Alison Mizraji
2004    Jim Duran
2003    Lynn Weeks
2002    Don Williams
2001    Paul Shinn
2000    Saundra Zagaria
1999    Denise Stumbough
1998    Suz Montgomery
1997    James C. Nicoll

VOLUNTEER
2017    Shannon Hillygus
2016    Diane Myers-Baugh
2015    Hope Deck
2014    Lola Herrera
2013    Jann Huling
2012    Pattie Braga
2011    Matthew Graczyk
2010    Diane Meyers
2009    Barbara Hinton
2008    Sam Benner
2007    Bart Bleuel
2006    Robert Duarte
2005    Joan Phelps
2004    Lynn Mikelatos
2003    Susan Graham
2002    Betty McCollum
2001    Steve Doll
2000    Erik Burrow
1999    James C. Nicoll
1998    Michael Carney

ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE AWARD
Nominated by the City of Ventura
2018   Leashless Brewing
2017    Patagonia
2016    BōKU Superfood
2015    Shine Supply
2014    The Refill Shoppe
2013    Ohana Pet Hospital
2012    EJ Harrison & Sons
2011    Auto Lube Care
2010    AWS Automotive
2010    Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach
2009    Cypress Place Senior Living
2009    Tangerenz
2008    Betty Belts
2007    Allen Associates
2007    California Mushroom Farm
2006    Agomin
2006    Stewart + Brown
2005    arketype architects inc.
2005    Weaver Wines, Inc.
2004    The Sidecar Restaurant
2003    Gold Coast Recycling

CITY EMPLOYEE
Nominated by the City of Ventura
2017    Tracey Coert(VPD)
2016    Keith Fowler
2015    Kathryn Dippong-Lawson
2014    Courtney Lindberg
2013    Anne Simmons
2012    Joe Salsedo
2011    Anita Diaz
2010    Teresa Huber
2008    Kelly Flanders
2007    Renee Richards
2006    Veronica Ledesma
2005    Gene Hibberd
2004    Hilda Chavez de Marques
2003    Terri Vujea
2002    Steve Evans
2001    Ramiro Betancourt & Robert “Bob” MacInnes
2000    Greg Abille & Warren Gaston
1999    Will Santoyo
1998    Veronica Alvarado

CITY SUPERVISOR
Nominated by the City of Ventura
2017    Thomas Hoffman (VFD)
2016    Kevin Cook

FIREFIGHTER
Nominated by the Ventura Fire Department
2018    Colby Morrison
2017    Brandyn Johnson
2016    Michael Westbrook
2015    Drew DeRousseau
2014    Jeremy Henderson
2013    Mark Nielsen
2012    Captain Ben Davis
2011    Luis Manzano
2010    Captain Jason Kay
2009    John Toll
2008    Tony Hill
2007    Trevor Towner
2005    Eric Mukes
2004    Vern Alstot
2003    Don Saunders
2002    Dennis Robinson
2001    Steve Wilkins
2000    Tamara Crudo
1999    Myles Smith
1998    Jack Merrill Hansen II
1997    Jeff Wiens

POLICE OFFICER
Nominated by the Ventura
Police Department
2018    James Brittle
2017    Dean Cole
2016    Craig Kelly
2015    Fabian Gutierrez
2014    Jamie MacLellan
2013    Frank Padilla
2012    Corporal Dave Ruggiero
2011    Derek Donswyk
2010    Corporal Alfonso Gomez
2009    Adam Delgado
2008    Officer Jack Ortega
2007    Corporal Paul Walsh
2005    Sergeant Rick Murray
2004    Jim Brittle
2003    Pat Stevens
2002    Russ Ronbinson
2001    Bob MacInnes
2000    Jerry Foreman
1999    Skip Young
1998    Glenn Utter
1997    Sean Conroy

FEMALE STUDENT
Nominated by the Ventura Unified
School District
2018    Tea Cobey
2017    Genevieve Werner
2016    Aaliyah Staples-West
2015    Fidelity Ballmer
2014    Amber Walton
2013    Glenda Marshall
2012    Maria Espinoza
2011    Jessica Bustamonte
2010    Hannah Maryanski
2009    Beth Brooks
2008    Jannette Quintero
2007    Heather Heiss
2006    Amelia Mathis
2005    Leslie Tong
2004    Vanessa Sousa
2003    Kelly Hewitt
2002    Diana Essex
2001    Megan Holbrook
2000    Ariele Keats
1999    Ailene Sankur
1998    Melissa Niednagel

MALE STUDENT
Nominated by the Ventura
Unified School District
2018   Ryan Sequeira
2017   Kiernan Rickard
2016    Jesus Lara
2015    Justin Lucio
2014    Austin Becker
2013    Mark Magana
2012    Conley Schroepfer
2011    Guillermo Rosales
2010    Sam O’Donnell
2009    Charith Samaresena
2008    Brian Pazen
2007    Greg Woodburn
2006    Raul Hernandez
2005    Ben Horowitz
2004    Jeff Cordial
2003    Ricky Medrano
2002    Kyle Lawrence
2001    Skylar Fordahl
2000    Paul Johnsonbaugh
1999    John Hughes
1998    John Muldoon

EDUCATOR
Nominated by the Ventura Unified
School District
2018    Michael Gennaro
2017    Annie McGavren
2016    Alma Quezada
2015    Mandi de Witte
2014    Kathy Asher
2013    Kathy Lewis
2012    Sebastien DeClerck
2011    Linda Brug
2010    Dr. Amanda Lynch
2009    Kristine Guzman
2008    Jean Stiles
2007    Anne Meritt
2006    Rich Underhill
2005    EP Foster Fifth Grade – Tamara Mann, Logan Culp, Nancy Escamilla
2004    Cal Houston
2003    Peggy Maxick
2002    Loretta Galaviz
2001    Ken Coffey
2000    Dianne Hammond
1999    Dr. Beth Fruchey
1998    Diane Dowler
1997    Dr. Joseph Spirito

JEWEL KEY AWARD
2018   Chad Caldwell
2017   Leashless Brewing
2016    Tolman & Wiker Insurance Services, LLC
2015    Topa Topa Brewing Company
2014    Discovery Ventura
2013    Ventura College Performing Arts Center
2012    Top Hat Burger Palace
2011    Draganchuk Security Systems
2010    Museum of Ventura County
2009    Ventura Port District
2008    Watermark on Main
2007    VC Reporter
2006    Bunnin of Ventura
2005    CSP Partners
2004    The Sidecar Restaurant
2003    Marriott Ventura Beach Hotel
2002    Mavericks Gym
2001    The Pierpont – Inn & Racquet Club
2000    Celtic Carma Salon
1999    Pacific View Mall
1998    The Becker Group
1997    Green Thumb

HOMETOWN HERO AWARD
2017    Bonnie and Richard Atmore
2011    Mel Sheeler
2010    Jim Duran

PHILANTHROPIST AWARD
2011    Ann Deal
2010    Mark Hartley

INNOVATION AWARD
2018   Waypoint Ventura
2017   Ventura Visitors and Convention Bureau
2015    FreshRealm
2014    “VC Innovates”
2013    The DuPuis Group
2012    Ventura Botanical Gardens
2011    The Greek at the Harb
2010    Ventura Ventures Technology Center V2TC
1997    Clark Owens

SHINING STAR AWARD
2015    Matthew Graczyk
2011    Lynn Mikelatos
2010    Andi Malone
2004    Mike Tracy
2001    Bart Bleuel
2000    Sandra and Jordan Laby
1999    Barbara and Larry Meister
1998    Diana Hofmann