The
”
stars of San Benito County
”
enjoyed their time to shine at the San Benito County Chamber of
Commerce Dinner Dance on Saturday night.
The event honored the Chamber’s Man and Woman of the Year as
well as service, hospitality and retail businesses of the year.
Dignitaries including U.S. Rep. Sam Farr, State Assemblyman Simon
Salinas, a representative for State Sen. Jeff Denham, Hollister
Mayor Tony Bruscia and County Supervisor Ruth Kesler presented
awards to the five winners, who all received standing ovations from
the audience.
The “stars of San Benito County” enjoyed their time to shine at the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce Dinner Dance on Saturday night.
The event honored the Chamber’s Man and Woman of the Year as well as service, hospitality and retail businesses of the year. Dignitaries including U.S. Rep. Sam Farr, State Assemblyman Simon Salinas, a representative for State Sen. Jeff Denham, Hollister Mayor Tony Bruscia and County Supervisor Ruth Kesler presented awards to the five winners, who all received standing ovations from the audience.
“This is a time for us to honor the businesses and individuals that do so much for this community we call home,” said Katherine Vais, president of the Chamber. “We face challenging times. They have met the challenge of making this county a better place to live, work and play.”
First acknowledged was Woman of the Year, Denise Cauthen-Wright, advertising director at the Free Lance. She’s been involved with the Hollister Downtown Association for the past 14 years as well as Farmers Market, the Street Festival, the Lights On Celebration, the Saddle Horse Parade, Spotlight on Hollister, Relay for Life and the Hollister Independence Rally.
During her speech, Cauthen-Wright thanked the Chamber, her family and her employer for allowing her to be so involved in the community.
“My husband never fussed when I said, ‘Oh, by the way, we’re setting up barricades tomorrow and you get to help,’ ” she said. “My daughter Danika is always asking how she can help.”
Cauthen-Wright also thanked other volunteers, saying that their work “helps our community grow into what it is today.”
Next, Man of the Year Kurt Bridwell was escorted to the podium by four former Boy Scouts whom he helped achieve Eagle Scout status through his 16-year involvement with the organization. Other organizations that receive Bridwell’s time and energy include the Kiwanis Club, the Special Olympics, Relay for Life, National Night Out, the Bertha Briggs Youth Center and the Hollister Downtown Association.
Extemporaneously, Bridwell thanked his family, especially his mother who raised him to be involved in the community. Thirty years ago, she was honored as woman of the year by the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce.
“I remember helping her a lot. That’s kinda how all this started,” said Bridwell, who is a building inspector with the City of Hollister.
Bridwell also thanked his wife Norma who also helps with his activities, the Boy Scouts, which he said he’s learned so much from, and the Kiwanis Club.
Accepting the Service Business of the Year Award for San Benito Bank were Ed Stevenson, Jack Hance and Will Sutton. With more than 60 employees, the bank is known for filling the gap between community banking and the reduced personal service major banks offer. Twenty-nine organizations benefit from San Benito Bank, and 22 employees are involved in more than 40 organizations.
“We’re honored to be recognized as Service Business of the Year,” Stevenson said. “… We’re glad we can do what we can and we know that you’re not honoring the bricks and mortar of this institution, you’re honoring the people.”
Main Street Bistro received the Hospitality Business of the Year Award with less than two years in existence. The store is recognized for its daily attention to food quality, presentation and service. Organizations benefiting from owner Megan Guerra’s generosity are the Kinship Food and Wine Tasting and the Breast Cancer Awareness Fashion Show.
Guerra thanked her family and customers for their support and her employees for all their hard work.
“People warned me that my biggest nightmare would be my employees – they’d be a constant hurdle to overcome. But, my greatest blessing has been my employees,” she said.
Sheila Stevens, owner of She’s, thanked her customers and employees during her acceptance of the Chamber’s Retail Business of the Year Award. Although the clothing store was opened on a whim decision, Stevens said she has been lucky and thrived because of her customers and employees.
“It’s more of a party (working there) than anything else,” she said.
She’s sponsors a fashion show the first Friday of each month at Paine’s Restaurant and supports fashion shows for organizations including the County Republican Women Federated, Hollister Elks’ Lodge and breast cancer awareness events.
After the awards and dinner, more than 15 silent-auction themed packages were up for grabs, including car care, Valentine’s Day, 49ers tickets, glider rides, Oldies 93.5 FM advertising and Bette Midler concert ticket packages. DJ Robin Renee also provided dancing.
The 83rd annual dinner dance was held at San Juan Oaks Golf Club with a few hundred attendees.
