Dennis Erokan of Placemaking Group to deliver keynote at May 9 event in Concord
CONCORD, CA., April 25, 2014—Fourteen outstanding small-business owners, selected by Contra Costa County and Tri-Valley Chambers of Commerce, will be honored at the East Bay Leadership Council’s 14th Annual Small Business Awards Luncheon on Friday, May 9, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Concord Hilton, 1970 Diamond Boulevard. The event is hosted each year by the Council’s Small Business/Entrepreneur Task Force, which is co-chaired by Angela De La Housaye and Jenny Kohler.
Delivering the luncheon keynote will be Dennis Erokan, CEO of Placemaking Group, a public relations and website development and marketing firm headquartered in Oakland. An accomplished actor, blues musician and producer, Erokan is a pioneer in niche market publishing and founded a CEO think tank and the Bay Area Music Awards, known as the “Bammies,” which he produced for 24 years. Dan Ashley, evening reporter for ABC7 News, will be master of ceremonies.
The luncheon coincides with the U.S. Small Business Administration’s National Small Business Week, May 12-16, 2014, when business owners across the nation are saluted for their entrepreneurial achievements and community spirit.
The 2014 honorees and their respective chambers include the following:
Antioch Chamber: Michele Ternes, director of community relations, and Tracy Butler, program coordinator, Commercial Support Services, an operation of Contra Costa ARC that serves children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. ARC operates three production centers in Concord, Richmond and Antioch. CSS Antioch employs approximately 100 people at its production center and through its supported employment program, which assists these individuals in finding and succeeding in long-term employment.
Concord Chamber: Kevin Hennessy, Farmers Insurance agent, has owned his business for 12 years and is active in the community. Hennessy has been president of the Mt. Diablo Athletic Foundation, treasurer of Boy Scout Troop 239, co-founder of the Valhalla Elementary School Dads Network and a member of the chamber’s board and several committees.
Danville Area Chamber: Lisa Waldman, general manager, and Randy Negi, owner, Bridges Restaurant & Bar, are generous supporters of local nonprofits, schools and charities.
Hispanic Chamber (Walnut Creek): Douglas Lezameta, owner, Radio Fusion Latina, an online television/radio station serving the Hispanic community. Lezameta’s station helps businesses to become better known through a weekly talk show hosted by the chamber.
Lafayette Chamber: Jeff Assadi, owner/chef, La Finestra Ristorante, supports local schools and participates in Taste of Lafayette events, the Loaves and Fishes fundraiser and other events.
Martinez Chamber: Paul Gabbard, general manager, Shell Martinez Refinery, inspires employees to continue the refinery’s long tradition of community service. Some 50 volunteer projects in 2013 included the Mount Diablo Beacon Restoration Project, refurbishing the Martinez Veterans Hall kitchen, installing moulding at the Martinez Library and hosting the 11th Annual Run for Education benefiting schools.
Moraga Chamber: Kimberley Winter, director, Total Clean, a Moraga housecleaning service since 1974. Winter has grown her company to 23 employees over the past 30 years and gives generously to the town and the chamber.
Orinda Chamber: Cyndi Hilton, owner, Hilton House Consign/Design & Estate Liquidations, Inc., a high-quality consignment store offering home furnishings, fine jewelry, gifts and estate liquidation services. Hilton started with an idea that has grown into one of the most successful consignment shops in the Bay Area.
Pleasant Hill Chamber: Jennifer and TJ Grossi, owners, and Elizabeth Chapple, chief operations officer, Pleasant Hill Coin & Jewelry Exchange, which buys and sells gold, silver and platinum jewelry and coins, and offers short-term collateral lending. The principals are active in many community organizations and events, including the Pleasant Hill Fourth of July Commission, the Irvin Deutscher Family YMCA, Youth Homes, Rotary Club and Rotary Youth Exchange.
Pleasanton Chamber: Eric “Otis” Nostrand, owner, The Hop Yard American Alehouse & Grill, which sponsors a three-stick golf tournament benefiting First Tee of the Tri-Valley, a youth development program. Nostrand’s business also hosts the Hop Yard American Alehouse Golf Tournament, which benefits the Ryan Corner Cancer Research Library and Eric’s Corner at Valley Care Hospital, supporting epilepsy research.
Richmond Chamber: James Hammack, owner, Nerd Crossing, an El Sobrante customer-oriented technology services provider serving homeowners and small businesses that don’t have the luxury of their own IT departments.
San Pablo Chamber: Frank and Christina Quattro, Moler Barber College, a 1,500-hour credentialed program offering barbering and cosmetology skills. Through the college, the Quattros have expanded opportunities for successful entrepreneurship and employment in a community of high unemployment.
San Ramon Chamber: Ian Schuster, owner, Schubros Brewery, believes in hiring locally, invests in green technology and gives a percentage of sales back to the community via donations to schools, parks and environmental causes.
Walnut Creek Chamber: Claudia Wentworth, founder and CEO, Quick Mount PV, an industry leader in solar roof attachment systems. Quick Mount has grown from 36 to 90 employees, works closely with the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County in hiring, and earned ISO 9001:2008 certification for excellence in manufacturing.
Event presenting sponsors are Wells Fargo and Chevron. Visit eblcsba.eventbrite.com to register. For questions, contact Sherri Boyle or Terry Shoaff at the East Bay Leadership Council at 925.246.1880.
About the East Bay Leadership Council (formerly the Contra Costa Council): The Council, also referred to as the EBLC, is a private sector, public policy organization with a membership that includes business, nonprofit organizations, government, education and labor. The mission of the Council is to provide advocacy on public policy issues affecting the economic vitality and quality of life in the Greater East Bay region. For more information, see www.eastbayleadershipcouncil.com and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
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For more information, please contact:
Terry Shoaff, tshoaff@eblcmail.org, 925.246.1880
Molly Walker, mwalkercom@yahoo.com, 510.428.9291