Five awards for the 2004 Citizens and Businesses of the Year
were announced Wednesday by the San Benito County Chamber of
Commerce.
Kurt Bridwell was awarded Man of the Year and Denise
Cauthen-Wright Woman of the Year. Three businesses received
recognition
– She’s is Retail Business of the Year, Main Street Bistro
earned Hospitality Business of the Year and Service Business of the
Year went to San Benito Bank.
Five awards for the 2004 Citizens and Businesses of the Year were announced Wednesday by the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce.
Kurt Bridwell was awarded Man of the Year and Denise Cauthen-Wright Woman of the Year. Three businesses received recognition – She’s is Retail Business of the Year, Main Street Bistro earned Hospitality Business of the Year and Service Business of the Year went to San Benito Bank.
The goal of the awards is to “recognize that everyone does a really fabulous job of supporting those things they have a passion about,” said Theresa Kiernan, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce.
Marland Holte served on the selection committee for the Man and Woman of the Year. He said Bridwell and Cauthen-Wright are both “outstanding people who do a lot for the community.”
“They give of themselves outside of work,” Holte said. “To be selected among all those nominees is really an honor.”
Bridwell, a code-enforcement officer with the City of Hollister, has lived in the county since 1981 and is an active member of the Kiwanis Club, holding each executive officer position and is involved in each of the club’s activities. He also serves as a leader with the Boy Scouts of America.
Bridwell stood out because of the time he gives to the community outside of the organizations he’s involved in, said Mary Damm, chairperson of the selection committee.
While he was surprised to hear he came out on top, Bridwell said he never realized all he does in his spare time.
“I said I’d be honored to do it,” he said when he got the call from Kiernan. “I never thought about it. I’ve been doing it a long time. People ask you for help and you just do it.”
To top it off, Bridwell’s mother won the Citizen of the Year Award from Morgan Hill’s Chamber of Commerce exactly 30 years ago.
For 14 years, Cauthen-Wright has been involved with the Hollister Downtown Association, serving on various committees. Cauthen-Wright, advertising director at the Free Lance, has been referred to as one of the county’s top volunteer icons, Kiernan said.
“I try to volunteer for as many things as I am able to considering I have a family and a full-time job,” Cauthen-Wright said. “I’m fortunate to have a company that allows me to do this.
“To me, it’s a no-brainer. People have to invest in their community in order for it to strive.”
Damm cited Cauthen-Wright’s length of service, her type of service and her innovative ideas as reasons she rose to the top of nominations.
San Benito Bank has a long list of community programs it supports as a result of civic responsibility and personal interest. Employees give their time and talent to nonprofit, sport and school entities, including the county Association of Realtors, the Rancho-Maze Band, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Hollister Pop Warner.
She’s was opened by Sheila Stevens 10 years ago. As Retail Business of the Year, Stevens and her staff are known for creating an atmosphere of personal service. Both the Chamber of Commerce and Hazel Hawkins Hospital Auxiliary benefit from the generosity of She’s.
Because of its small size, Stevens didn’t think her business had a chance. Stevens said she thinks she was nominated because of her strong commitment to downtown Hollister.
Only open for one year, Main Street Bistro is the Hospitality Business of 2004. Organizations benefiting from the bistro’s involvement include the Kinship Wine Tasting, the Hollister Downtown Association, the county Winegrowers Association and the Breast Cancer Awareness Fashion Show.
The community at large turns in nominations for the awards by Oct. 31. People are then notified of the nomination and asked to fill out an application due Dec. 1. Then, a selection committee reviews the businesses, and past winners review the man and woman nominees.
This year, 14 businesses were nominated with 12 returning applications. Ten women and 11 men were nominated with seven and six, respectively, turning in the applications.
San Benito Bank was the only past recipient of the bunch.
Awards for Citizen of the Year have been handed out since 1978 and businesses have been recognized since 1996. Past citizens and businesses include Milgard Manufacturing, Hazel Hawkins Hospital, Pride of San Juan, Howard Harris, Al Martinez, Pauline Valdivia, Marland Holte and Robert Baumgartner.
The five people and organizations will be honored at the 83rd Annual Dinner and Dance Jan. 17 at San Juan Oaks. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased at the chamber’s office at 650 San Benito St., 637-5315.
