Small Business Advocates of the Year
Each year since 1996, the California Chamber of Commerce has recognized several small business owners who have done an exceptional job with their local, state and national advocacy efforts on behalf of small businesses. Honorees are nominated by local chamber of commerce executives.
The criteria used in the selection process include taking leadership roles in or working on federal, state or local ballot measures, testifying before the state Legislature and representing a local chamber of commerce before local government.
2023 Winners
CalChamber Recognizes Corona, Chino Business Leaders
Palbinder Badesha, owner of Express Employment Professionals in Corona and chair of the Corona Chamber Board of Directors in 2022, worked with leaders from both sides of the aisle to help encourage state-assisted development of job training programs at a local community college. As a result of these programs, numerous veterans have received career building work opportunities. Moreover, the U.S. Navy has been encouraged to maintain high tech investments at the Corona Norco Naval Surface Weapons Center, which is responsible for more than $100 million a year in local economic activity.
Seeing the need to bring employers and job seekers together, Badesha chaired a job fair for the community through the Corona Chamber in July 2022. The success of the 2022 job fair led to a repeat performance and employer spaces for the May 20, 2023 job fair were sold out.
As a business advocate, Badesha has appeared before her city council and county board of supervisors, and embarked on numerous trips to Sacramento and the nation’s capital.
Jeff Vaka, owner of Ultimate Source and All-Marketing in Chino, and a member of the Chino Valley Chamber Board of Directors, helped kick off the Chino Valley Chamber’s legislative advocacy program as the community emerged from the COVID pandemic.
Vaka worked closely with the chamber to identify legislation that could affect businesses and to rally support for the chamber’s Appetite for Advocacy program.
Vaca guided the Chino Valley Chamber on state, local and federal issues, including a push for state agencies to extend the time for taking comments on a map of fire hazard zones in the state, and requesting federal funds to replace the Chino Creek Bridge, which is located in a floodplain and doesn’t have the capacity to accommodate a 100-year storm
2022 Winner
Corona Manufacturer Helps Get Employees Back to Work Safely
Chad Miller, a Corona manufacturer, is the 2022 recipient of the California Chamber of Commerce Small Business Advocate of the Year Award.
Miller, director of contract manufacturing at American National Manufacturing in Corona, was recognized as an outstanding advocate for small business during the CalChamber Capitol Summit on June 1, 2022 in Sacramento.
Miller worked with the Corona Chamber and dozens of leaders weekly to communicate directly with the offices of legislators in the state Senate and Assembly about the importance of opposing legislation such as CalChamber Job Klller bills.
2021 Winner
Torrance Bakery Owner Speaks Out for Businesses During Pandemic
Kirk Rossberg, president/owner of Torrance Bakery, is the 2021 recipient of the California Chamber of Commerce Small Business Advocate of the Year Award.
Rossberg was recognized for his outstanding efforts on behalf of small businesses on May 12, 2021 during the CalChamber Virtual Capitol Summit, which attracted more than 600 registrants, more than double attendance at the last in-person summit held in 2019.
Also chairman of the board of the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce, Rossberg has been active on state, local and federal issues.
Past Winners
2019
2019 Winners
Two Receive CalChamber Small Business Advocate of the Year Award
The CalChamber announced the awards in Sacramento before more than 200 attendees at the CalChamber Capitol Summit.
This year’s Small Business Advocate of the Year Award recipients are:
- Christopher Miller, President and Owner, Thomas Miller Mortuary & Crematory, Corona; and
- Bryan Olson, Co-Founder, 8one8 Brewing, LLC, Canoga Park.
2018
2018 Winners
Three Receive CalChamber Small Business Advocate of the Year Award
The California Chamber of Commerce honored business executives from Chico and Torrance with its 2018 Small Business Advocate of the Year Award, recognizing them for outstanding advocacy on behalf of small businesses.
The CalChamber announced the awards in Sacramento before more than 200 attendees at the CalChamber Capitol Summit.
The 2018 Small Business Advocate of the Year Award recipients are:
- Mark Francis, president and CEO, Golden Valley Bank, Chico;
- Tom Lando, principal, Tom Lando Consulting, Chico; and
- Michael Shafer, owner, The Depot Restaurant, Torrance.
2017
2017 Winners
Three Receive CalChamber Small Business Advocate of the Year Award
The California Chamber of Commerce honored business executives from Corona, Oxnard, and San Rafael with its 2017 Small Business Advocate of the Year Award, recognizing them for outstanding advocacy on behalf of small businesses.
The CalChamber announced the awards in Sacramento before more than 200 attendees at the CalChamber Capitol Summit.
The 2017 Small Business Advocate of the Year Award recipients are:
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- Dean Seif, owner, AllStar Collision, Inc., Corona;
- Michael Wynn Song, community relations—general affairs, Glovis America Inc., Oxnard
- Timothy Long, agent, Tim Long State Farm Insurance, San Rafael.
2016
Three Receive CalChamber Small Business Advocate of the Year Award
The California Chamber of Commerce honored business executives from Corona, Fresno, and Ripon with its 2016 Small Business Advocate of the Year award, recognizing them for outstanding advocacy on behalf of small businesses.
The CalChamber announced the awards in Sacramento before more than 200 attendees at the CalChamber Capitol Summit.
The 2016 Small Business Advocate of the Year Award recipients are:
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- Yolanda Carrillo, executive director/CEO, Corona-Norco Family YMCA, Corona;
- Lydia Zabrycki, director of operations/business development, Precision Civil Engineering Inc., Fresno;
- Lucille Harris, owner, Tuff Boys and W&L Harris Ranches, LLC; Ripon.
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2015
Two Receive CalChamber Small Business Advocate of the Year Award
The California Chamber of Commerce honored business owners from Lodi and Torrance with its “2015 Small Business Advocate of the Year” award, recognizing them for outstanding advocacy on behalf of small businesses. The CalChamber announced the awards in Sacramento before more than 200 attendees at the CalChamber Legislative Briefing.
The 2015 Small Business Advocate of the Year Award recipients are:
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- Tiffany Gomes, owner, Classic Design Floor to Ceiling, Lodi;
- Rob Van Lingen, president, Van Lingen Towing and Public Service Impound, Torrance.
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2014
(May 20, 2014) The California Chamber of Commerce honored business executives from Fresno, Redondo Beach, San Francisco and Turlock today with its “2014 Small Business Advocate of the Year” award, recognizing them for outstanding advocacy on behalf of small businesses.
The CalChamber announced the awards in Sacramento before more than 200 attendees at the CalChamber Legislative Briefing.
The 2014 Small Business Advocate of the Year Award recipients are:
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- Scott Miller, owner, Gazebo Gardens Nursery and Miller-Clark Landscaping, Fresno;
- Michael Jackson, chairman of the board, The Dardanelle Group, Inc, Redondo Beach;
- Michael Lynch, owner, Mike Lynch Consulting, Turlock; and
- Mark Dwight, owner, Rickshaw Bags, San Francisco.
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Read about each winner in the May 20, 2014 Press Release.
2013
(May 21, 2013) The California Chamber of Commerce honored business executives from Modesto, Riverside and Simi Valley today with its 2013 Small Business Advocate of the Year award, recognizing them for outstanding advocacy on behalf of small businesses.
The 2013 Small Business Advocate of the Year Award recipients are:
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- Craig Lewis, president, California Prudential Realty, Modesto;
- Robert Stockton, principal, Rick Engineering Company, Riverside; and
- Jim Vigdor, operations/environmental health and safety manager, Alcoa Fastening Systems, Simi Valley.
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2012
(June 22, 2012) The California Chamber of Commerce has named business owners from Oxnard and San Jose as recipients of the 2012 Small Business Advocate of the Year Award, recognizing them for their advocacy efforts on behalf of small businesses.
The 2012 Small Business Advocate of the Year Award recipients are:
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- Suzanne Scar, owner, Central Coast Imaging Solutions, Oxnard; and
- Janis Schneider, owner, R&J Jewelry and Loan, San Jose.
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2011
(June 7, 2011) The California Chamber of Commerce honored four small business executives last week with its “2011 Small Business Advocate of the Year” award, recognizing recipients for their advocacy efforts on behalf of small businesses.
The CalChamber presented the awards at a luncheon before more than 400 attendees at the California Business Summit in Sacramento.
2011 Small Business Advocate of the Year Award recipients are:
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- Brian Hawley, Co-Founder/Chief Technology Officer, Luminex Software, Inc., Riverside;
- Dr. Les Malo, Founding Partner, Director of Medicine, Garden Grove Dog & Cat Hospital, Garden Grove;
- Jerry Miller, Managing Partner, IMC Municipal Consulting, Long Beach;
- Myron “Sam” Smith, President, Genesis Financial/Creative Employee Benefits Inc., Los Angeles.
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2010
The California Chamber of Commerce honored five small business executives with its “2010 Small Business Advocate of the Year” award, recognizing recipients for their advocacy efforts on behalf of small businesses.
The CalChamber presented the awards at a luncheon before more than 400 attendees at the California Business Summit in Sacramento.
2010 Small Business Advocate of the Year Award recipients are:
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- Joanne Davis, President, Davis Group Consulting, Long Beach
- Debbie Hunsaker, President/CFO, Alert-O-Lite, Fresno
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2009
The California Chamber of Commerce honored five small business executives with its “2009 Small Business Advocate of the Year” award, recognizing recipients for their advocacy efforts on behalf of small businesses.
The CalChamber presented the awards at a luncheon before more than 400 attendees at the CalChamber Business Summit in Sacramento.
2009 Small Business Advocate of the Year Award recipients are:
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- Lou Monville, Vice President, O’Reilly Public Relations, Riverside
- Dave Penry, Owner, Pacific Landscapes, Santa Rosa
- Victoria Salisch, Partner, Lang, Richert & Patch, Attorneys at Law, Fresno
- Cynthia Schneider, Senior Vice President, American Security Bank, Corona
- Mark Waronek, Owner, Waronek and Associates, Torrance
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2008
The California Chamber of Commerce honored four small business executives with its “2008 Small Business Advocate of the Year” award.
The awards were presented at a luncheon before more than 600 attendees at the CalChamber Business Legislative Summit in Sacramento on May 20.
2008 Small Business Advocate of the Year winners are:
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- Ruth Evans, owner, Evans HR, Fresno
- Lori Lofstrom, Partner, Holmes and Lofstrom, LLP, Long Beach
- Sharon Tyrrell, Co-Owner, Capree Escrow, Inc, Riverside
- Frank De Smidt, Retired, Milpitas
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