Small Business Advocates of the Year

Small Business Advocates of the Year

SmallBizAwardIcon 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

Small Business Advocate of the Year Award. CalChamber Chair Gregory S. Bielli,, Palbinder Badesha, or Corona, President/CEO Jennifer Barrera.
Small Business Advocate of the Year Award.. CalChamber Chair Gregory S. Bielli, Palbinder Badesha of Corona, CalChamber President/CEO Jennifer Barrera.

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.

mall Business Advocate of the Year Award.. CalChamber Chair Gregory S. Bielli, Jeff Vaka of Chino, CalChamber President/CEO Jennifer Barrera.
Small Business Advocate of the Year Award.. CalChamber Chair Gregory S. Bielli, Jeff Vaka of Chino, CalChamber President/CEO Jennifer Barrera.

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, American National Manufacturing, 2022 Small Business Advocate of the Year
Chad Miller, American National Manufacturing, 2022 Small Business Advocate of the Year

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, Torrance Bakery, 2021 Small Business Advocate of the Year

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.

2019 Winners

2019-SBYA-Winners
Small Business Advocate of the Year Award. CalChamber President/CEO Allan Zaremberg, Bryan Olson of Canoga Park, Christopher Miller of Corona, CalChamber Chair Grace Evans Cherashore.

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.

Past Winners

2018

​​​​​2018 Winners

Small Business Advocate of the Year Award. CalChamber Chair Terry MacRae, Tom Lando and Mark Francis of Chico, and CalChamber President/CEO Allan Zaremberg.
Small Business Advocate of the Year Award. CalChamber Chair Terry MacRae, Michael Shafer of Torrance, and CalChamber President/CEO Allan Zaremberg.

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:

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.

2017-small-business-award-winners
Small Business Advocate of the Year Award. Michael Wynn Song of Oxnard, Dean Seif of Corona, CalChamber President/CEO Allan Zaremberg, Stephanie Plante (accepting for Timothy Long of San Rafael) and CalChamber Chair Susan Corrales-Diaz.

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:

    • 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​​​​​​​

2016 Small Business Award Winners
Allan Zaremberg (left) and Mike Murphy (right) recognize (left to right) Yolanda Carrillo, Lucille Harris and Lydia Zabrycki as the Small Business Advocates of the Year.

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:

      • 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.

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:

      • Tiffany Gomes, owner, Classic Design Floor to Ceiling, Lodi;
      • Rob Van Lingen, president, Van Lingen Towing and Public Service Impound, Torrance.

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:

      • 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.

Read about each winner in the May 20, 2014 Press Release.

2013

05212013-SBACraigLewis
From left: Allan Zaremberg, CalChamber president/CEO; Craig Lewis; Frederick E. “Fritz” Hitchcock, 2013 CalChamber chair.

(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:

      • 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.

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:

      • Suzanne Scar, owner, Central Coast Imaging Solutions, Oxnard; and
      • Janis ​Schneider, owner, R&J Jewelry and Loan, San Jose.

2011

2011_SBA
(From left to right) Sam Smith, Jerry Miller, Les Malo, and Brian Hawley

(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:

      • 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 “Sa​m” Smith, President, Genesis Financial/Creative Employee Benefits Inc., Los Angeles.

2010

sbya_winners2010
(From left) CalChamber Board Chair Larree M. Renda, Joanne Davis, Debbie Hunsaker and CalChamber President and CEO Allan Zaremberg.

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 Su​mmit in Sacramento.

2010 Small Business Advocate of the Year Award recipients are:

      • Joanne Davis, President, Davis Group Consulting, Long Beach
      • Debbie Hun​saker, President/CFO, Alert-O-Lite, Fresno

2009

051809SmallBusinessAwards
2009 Winners (left to right): Mark Waronek, Victoria Salisch, Dave Penry, Lou Monville. Not pictured: Cynthia Schneider

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:

      • 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

2008

SmallBizAdvocate08
Sharon Tyrrell, Lori Lofstrom, Ruth Evans. Not pictured: Frank DeSmidt.

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:

      • 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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