GILROY
– As the yearend holidays approach, ’tis the season for
rewarding the men, women and businesses doing their part to
make
”
garlic town
”
a desirable and thriving South Valley enclave all year
round.
GILROY – As the yearend holidays approach, ’tis the season for rewarding the men, women and businesses doing their part to make “garlic town” a desirable and thriving South Valley enclave all year round.
The Chamber of Commerce announced today that Gilroy City Administrator Jay Baksa and Gilroy resident Jodi Heinzen are this year’s Man and Woman of the Year, respectively. The chamber also honored Baskets by Design as Small Business of the Year and energy provider Calpine as the Big Business of the Year.
“The citizen and business awards give the community an opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of each recipient to making Gilroy a wonderful place to work and live,” said Chamber Executive Director Susan Valenta. “Recipients are always exemplary people and serve as great role models for the community.”
The awards will be presented Feb. 7 at the chamber’s annual banquet. This year’s awards ceremony will also celebrate the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce’s 50th year of operation. The event will take place at the San Juan Oaks Golf Club in San Juan Bautista.
The announcement of the award winners trailed the recognition that Gilroy’s Economic Development Center gave Tuesday to two longtime teaching veterans.
Gilroy High School science teacher Ron Kinoshita and Brownell Middle School language arts instructor Ron Ayala were both named “Educator of the Year” by the EDC. They also will be a part of the Feb. 7 chamber dinner.
Man of the Year Baksa said Wednesday he was “humbled” by the recognition.
“It was a complete surprise. I didn’t even think of this as a possibility,” Baksa said. “It’s terrific to be thought of amongst the citizens of the past who have won this award.”
Valenta said the Chamber board selected Baksa on his history of service to the community, but also recognized the “phenomenal job” he’s done managing the city and keeping it financially healthy.
Baksa, a Gilroy resident and city manager the past 20 years, is a longtime and active Rotarian, coaches the Gilroy High School varsity volleyball and junior varsity basketball teams and chairs Leadership Gilroy, a program that prepares citizens for leadership roles in the community.
Woman of the Year Jodi Heinzen is on vacation in Australia and could not be reached for comment Wednesday. Her husband Ric Heinzen said he was proud of his wife and wants to keep the award a secret until she returns Thanksgiving Day.
“I’m kind of picturing us being at the dinner table, passing the newspaper around and watching her reaction as she reads it for the first time,” Heinzen said. “I hope her friends don’t e-mail her before then.”
Heinzen works part-time for her husband’s company, ACS Inc., as a chief financial officer. She was recently elected to the Garlic Festival Board of Directors and has chaired three of the festival’s key committees over the last 10 years.
“Jodi chaired the Children’s Area committee and then was asked to chair Transportation and Retail. She’s one of the few volunteers, maybe the only one, to chair three different areas,” Ric Heinzen said.
For the past three years, Jodi Heinzen chaired the Gilroy Foundation’s wine auction and sits on that group’s board of directors. Among many other activities, she is a docent for Bonfante Gardens and a deacon at Gilroy Presbyterian Church.
Valenta said the chamber gave the Small Business award to Baskets by Design, a gourmet gift basket making company at 8021 Carmel St., in large part due to owner and operator Sherry Allen.
“This was a small woman-owned startup several years ago that is expanding into a major success,” Valenta said. “In addition, Allen has dedicated herself to helping … nonprofits succeed.”
Allen hires volunteers from nonprofit organizations to help run her shop and then donates the wages to the agencies the workers represent. More than $8,000 is expected to be raised over the holidays.
As for Calpine, the chamber says the world’s largest geothermal power producer has been operating off Pacheco Pass Highway in a clean and safe manner for 20 years. In addition, it has made significant financial contributions to local nonprofit organizations and major donations to Gilroy school projects, the Gilroy Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Scholarship program and several neighborhood building programs.
Last year, Calpine formed a committee of local citizens as part of its corporate community foundation and distributed $50,000 to local charitable organizations including Rebekah Children’s Services, Community Solutions, Gilroy Exchange Club, Gilroy Gang Task force and the Economic Development Corporation.
They are currently gathering applications for a second distribution of funds this fall.
The chamber also honored Greg Edgar with the chamber’s Volunteer of the Year Award. Valenta said Edgar has been an instrumental volunteer for many chamber events.
Each year Edgar gives up a week of his vacation time from work to help run the Garlic Festival. He is the chair of the ID booth and beer committee for the festival.
As for the EDC’s education awards, this is the sixth year the nonprofit group has recognized outstanding individuals for their accomplishments in educating youth.
“Good schools and quality instructors are extremely important to a community’s economic health,” EDC Executive Director Bill Lindsteadt said. “From making widgets to selling retail, a better qualified labor force is more productive.”
Lindsteadt also noted that higher grade point averages make an area more attractive to an employer looking to relocate here.
School site administrators and city officials surprised this year’s recipients in their classrooms Tuesday morning. Kinoshita and Ayala both said the recognition was a pleasant surprise.
“I was speechless,” Kinoshita said. “I’ve spent 38 wonderful years in this district and I feel like I’m having one of my best years yet.”
Kinoshita, who teaches anatomy and Advanced Placement biology, credits collaboration with other teachers and his desire to always be positive and prepared as reasons for his success with students.
Ayala, a 26-year GUSD veteran, said he still enjoys teaching as much as he did his first years. He especially likes that he teaches both gifted and challenged students.
“I see both ends of the spectrum. It has worked to my advantage because it has improved my teaching,” Ayala said.
Lindsteadt said usually two teachers get the award because their qualifications are so close. In addition to the recognition, both teachers were given a financial award of $1,000.
