Chamber’s list includes three residents, five businesses
This year’s list of businesses and citizens of the year has been
announced by the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce.
The woman of the year is Velma Tiffany. Man of the year is Larry
Cain. And the ambassador of the year for the chamber is Toni
Rovella.
Chamber’s list includes three residents, five businesses
This year’s list of businesses and citizens of the year has been announced by the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce.
The woman of the year is Velma Tiffany. Man of the year is Larry Cain. And the ambassador of the year for the chamber is Toni Rovella.
Five businesses, meanwhile, will take home honors as well. Serene Home won retail business of the year. RaboBank won service business of the year. The Inn at Tres Pinos won hospitality business of the year. Lombardo & Gilles took home professional service business of the year. And Tiffany Motor Co. gets the distinction as business of the millennium.
Annually, the chamber recognizes citizens and businesses of the year and then honors them at the dinner dance and awards event, which is set for Jan. 16 at San Juan Oaks Golf Club. The chamber each year accepts nominees for the awards. For citizens of the year, past winners of the awards choose the honorees. For businesses of the year, they are nominated and the chamber board selects the winners, said Jessica French, the president/CEO of the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce.
“The goal is to honor the outstanding businesses and citizens of the year who go above and beyond to give back to the community,” she said.
This year’s winners fit the bill. Velma Tiffany’s list of volunteer efforts is broad, but she has been active with two organizations in particular for 52 years – the hospital auxiliary and the Kinship Center, which started around the same year she moved to Hollister, in 1956.
“I just feel kind of overwhelmed because I just didn’t feel like I deserved it,” Tiffany said, of getting named woman of the year. “I know so many women who are doing so much for our city.”
Cain described himself as “retired sort of,” but he is staying active by volunteering as editor of the San Juan Star newspaper. He also volunteers for such organizations as the Community Action Board, the YMCA, Mission San Juan Bautista and the Anzar Community Schools Foundation.
Cain also said he’s “overwhelmed” by the recognition.
“I just like to help and pitch in where I can,” he said.
The following are excerpts from biographical information provided by the chamber:
Woman of the Year
Velma Tiffany was born on May 5, 1926 in San Francisco. Her father was a career officer in the military so she attended schools in San Francisco, Manila and San Antonio. She then attended Stephens College in Columbia, Mo. in 1945 and from there went on to Stanford where she met her soon-to-be husband Charlie Tiffany. They both graduated from Stanford in 1948 and were married the next year. Their first home was in San Francisco where she worked in the Pharmacology Department at Stanford Lane Hospital doing cancer research. They moved to San Mateo before the birth of their first child and subsequently she became a stay-at-home Mom for their three children Bill, Susan and Bob. In 1956, they moved to Hollister so that Charlie could work for his Dad at the family Ford dealership. Velma immediately began contributing to the community monetarily and by volunteering her time with Girl Scouts, Community Foundation, Hazel Hawkins Hospital Foundation, Community Pantry, R.O. Hardin School, Presbyterian Church and she was a charter member of “Pink Lady” volunteers at the community hospital. She has been a volunteer with the Hazel Hawkins Hospital Auxiliary and Children’s Home Society-Kinship Center for 52 years; she served in the capacity of president for each organization.
Man of the Year
Larry Cain was born in Salinas in 1938 and moved to Tres Pinos in 1941. He attended Tres Pinos School and San Benito County High School. He graduated from the University of San Francisco in 1963 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. While he was attending USF he started a movement to solve water issues in Tres Pinos, which resulted in the formation of the Tres Pinos Water District. He was elected to serve as its first chairman. On June 22, 1963, he married Judith Ann Botelho at Mission San Juan Bautista and they had five children and now have eight grandchildren. Larry worked in ocean transportation for 13 years and during that time, the family moved to New Orleans and Belize after that he started his own business. Larry also was the general manager and later the editor of the Pinnacle newspaper. After that he became city manager for the City of San Juan Bautista and later served as the general manager of the Aromas Water District. Larry has been very active in politics serving on the San Juan City Council as mayor, the Council of Governments, Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control Board and the California League of Cities. He donates his time to many organizations including The San Juan Star Newspaper, San Juan Bautista Rotary, Community Action Board, YMCA, Mission San Juan Bautista and the Anzar Community Schools Foundation.
Retail Business of the Year
Serene Home Inc. was established in May of 2007. They carry a full line of products for every room in the home and gift items for all ages. They also deliver when needed and special order items. Their mission statement is to provide excellent customer service and create a stronger retail environment within our local community. Serene Home puts their mission statement into practice by giving each and every customer a warm welcome and assisting them with all their needs. They support many community organizations monetarily and through donations such as the Saddle Horse Association, Hollister Downtown Association, the chamber, CASA, the hospital auxiliary, local schools, San Benito County Realtor’s Association, Hollister Elks, Hollister Exchange Club and FFA Boosters.
Service Business of the Year
Rabobank’s mission statement is to create value for their customers, employees and to the communities in which they do business. It was first established in 1982 as Bank of Salinas, founded for the purpose of providing service to local farmers and merchants. Later it changed its name to Community Bank of Central California to more accurately represent its market and was acquired in 2006 by Rabobank, N.A. The Hollister branch has been in San Benito County since October 2000. It has a long-standing commitment of giving back in the form of sponsorships and donations to nonprofit groups. They support many nonprofits such as the Hollister Downtown Association, San Benito County Fair, the chamber, YMCA, Hollister Little League, EDC, Saddle Horse Show Association, Habitat for Humanity, Homeless Task Force, SBC Farm Bureau plus countless others.
Hospitality Business of the Year
The Inn at Tres Pinos was established in December 1991 by Hollister natives Mike Howard and Rob Stevens. The Inn opened with only Mike and Rob and one employee. The Inn now employs 23 people all of whom are residents of San Benito County. It is an upscale full-service restaurant and bar catering to local residents and a small but increasing out-of-town clientele. They provide fine continental cuisine with an Italian flair. The company is involved in many areas of the community including Rotary, Kinship Center, Aids Awareness, Teen Suicide Prevention, Friday Nite Live, San Benito High School Career Day, San Benito County Restaurant Management classes, Sacred Heart School Foundation, Hazel Hawkins Hospital Foundation, San Benito County Horse Show & Rodeo, San Benito County Fair, United Way and the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce.
Professional Service Business of the Year
Lombardo & Gilles, LLP was founded in 1998 in Salinas, when Anthony L. Lombardo and Jeffery R. Gilles merged their two separate law firms. At that time they had 30 employees and focused on agribusiness and land use. They later expanded into San Benito County in 2004. Lombardo & Gilles has worked with organizations such as the San Benito County Farm Bureau on making specialized legal services more affordable. They are also involved with YMCA Strong Communities Campaign, Culinary & Hospitality Foundation of San Benito County, San Benito County Farm Bureau, San Benito County Chamber of Commerce, Hollister Downtown Association, San Benito County Cattlemen’s Association and the San Benito County Fair.
Business of the Millennium
Tiffany Motor Company was established in 1910 by E.W. Tiffany. He was originally a real-estate man, after coming to Hollister from Wisconsin. He purchased a Model “T” to get around town. One thing led to another and he soon after became a Ford dealer. Ford Motor Co. has remained a family-owned and operated business since then. Their mission is to provide their customers with a positive experience based on mutual trust and respect, to completely satisfy each individual’s needs, while exceeding their expectations in a comfortable and supportive environment. It is the oldest Ford dealership in California and the sixth oldest in the country (and world). Tiffany will be celebrating its 100th anniversary this year and has a long history of giving back to San Benito County through various sponsorships and donations of time. Some groups include San Benito High School, YMCA, SBC Business Council, Community Pantry, Hollister Rotary, Community Foundation, Hazel Hawkins Hospital, SBC Cattlewomen’s, Kinship, Saddle Horse Association and Baler Backers.
Ambassador of the Year
Toni Rovella was born and raised in Hollister where she attended local schools. She has been in the title business for 35 years and with Chicago Title for 28 of them. She has managed the local Chicago Title branch for the past eight years. Toni has received the Chicago Title President’s Award for a period of 10 years and she was the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce National Philanthropy Day recipient. She volunteers her time to many organizations, including the Hollister Downtown Association, the Grimsley Rally, Class Act Promotions, Small Steps and has sponsored the Sacred Heart School Relay for Life team. She supports the San Benito County chamber through her personal raffle donations and her countless hours of volunteer time. You will always see her smiling face as the greeter at the chamber’s monthly mixers.
Dinner Dance & Awards
WHEN: 6 p.m. Jan. 16, a Saturday
WHERE: San Juan Oaks Golf Club
WHY: Honor citizens and businesses of the year
COST: $50/person
INFORMATION: 637-5315
