As a president of the Garlic Festival Association for 2005,
Jennifer Speno is no stranger to the pungent herb or the annual
celebration associated with it. The former Garlic Queen remembers
living on Eighth Street in Gilroy as a child, sitting on the front
lawn with her family, watching as visitors walked to and from the
Garlic Festival.
Gilroy – As a president of the Garlic Festival Association for 2005, Jennifer Speno is no stranger to the pungent herb or the annual celebration associated with it. The former Garlic Queen remembers living on Eighth Street in Gilroy as a child, sitting on the front lawn with her family, watching as visitors walked to and from the Garlic Festival.
“I’ve just grown up with it,” Speno said. “I’ve lived here as long as the festival has been around.”
Speno started out her Garlic Festival career as the 1987 Garlic Queen, when she was a senior at Gilroy High School. For her talent piece, she did a humorous interpretation of a girl going to her prom. The comedy routine won her the crown and an opportunity to travel the world.
“I was the first queen to represent the Garlic Festival in Takko-Machi, Japan,” Speno said. “For me, I had never been out of the state of California, so that was a big opportunity.”
Since her first visit, Speno has been back four times, all as part of her volunteer work with the festival.
As garlic royalty, Speno visited Taipei, Taiwan and Hong Kong, the only Garlic Queen to represent Gilroy in those cities.
After she was married, Speno volunteered in the wine tent with her husband, Jeff. After his stint on the board of directors, Speno decided to become more involved with the festival association and joined up as chairperson for the Queen Pageant in 1999.
She moved on the advisory group, one of her favorite volunteer positions because she had a chance to see the ins and outs of how the festival works.
“That involved the set up of the festival,” Speno said. “Selection and placement of food booths, set up of the entire festival.”
From there she went on to the board of directors where she became vice president and then president this year, a position to which she was nominated and then elected.
“I am just so proud. I grew up here in Gilroy and I’ve been involved with it for so long,” Speno said. “To have the opportunity to represent the Garlic Festival as president is such an honor to me.”
Speno acknowledges the challenge of heading up the event. She has worked closely with Joann Kessler, assistant director of the Gilroy Garlic Festival Association, who has known Speno since she became Garlic Queen.
“In fact, I was at the queen pageant where she was selected,” Kessler said. “She has matured a lot to go from queen to president.”
Kessler said Speno has put in a tremendous number of hours in as president.
“She’s great at multitasking and very good as far as communicating not only with staff but with the volunteers to make sure she keeps everyone in the loop,” Kessler said.
This includes coordinating and organizing the association staff, the board of directors, the advisory board and 27 committees.
“As president, you can make it as busy a job as you want it to be and fortunately for me, I am a stay at home mom so I am able to give it my full attention,” Speno said.
Speno’s husband has taken over many of the household and child-related duties in regards to Lindsey, 12, and Brad, 10, so Speno can focus her energy on her presidency.
This year, with the death of executive director Dick Nicholls, Speno said the board has not implemented any major changes to the festival.
“The biggest focus has been to maintain and do what the festival does best,” Speno said. “Hosting a quality food festival that an entire family can enjoy.”
For Speno and other volunteers, nearly nine months of planning, starting in November 2004, will come to head July 29 to 31.
“As I’ve come to this level, the biggest reward for me is to see what the festival as a whole can give back to the community,” Speno said.
By Melissa Flores Staff Writer
