Gala celebrates chamber award winners, leaders
With an elegant black and white art deco theme, Ramona Chamber of Commerce’s 2015 Installation and Awards Gala Saturday night culminated with announcements of award winners.
Citizen of the Year was awarded to real estate agent Carol Fowler. Unicorn Books and Gifts received Business of the Year, and Nonprofit of the Year was bestowed upon the Ramona Food and Clothes Closet. Longtime resident John Degenfelder was presented with a Lifetime Achievement award.
When introducing the nominees for Citizen of the Year, chamber member Thad Clendenen noted Fowler’s achievements and participation in the community, and said, “Carol exemplifies the word ‘involvement.’”
The owners of Unicorn Books and Gifts, Stacy Bart and Julia Dammeir, were commended for tirelessly giving reasons for people to shop locally.
For nonprofit of the year, Ramona Food & Clothes Closet was praised for providing over $60,000 worth of grants along with other contributions.
Clendenen acknowledged Degenfelder’s years of volunteering and spearheading projects, calling him “a major contributor to the growth of Ramona.”
The event was held at Barona Resort and Casino and drew approximately 170 people. Supervisor Dianne Jacob administered the oath of office to the chamber’s 2015 board of directors and honored outgoing chamber president Charlotte Jensen with a proclamation.
Before introducing Jensen to speak, Chamber Executive Director Robert Argyelan spun a humorous tall tale about her journey to Ramona and creation of Charlotte’s Antiques and Estate Services, digging into her Irish roots and drawing the crowd into fits of laughter.
He finished saluting Jensen, saying: “To that woman with the red hair, you should forever know that you have made a difference that is indelible to the history of Ramona.”
Attorney Robert Krysak, the chamber’s 2015 president, said the goal this year to create greater regional integration and to work with other chambers and economic development agencies “and get the word out about how much Ramona has to offer the entire region.”
“We hope to work with all levels of government, not only to keep abreast of what’s going on in our governments but to promote legislation and policies that can benefit the business community of Ramona,” he said.
Among other awards given were Ambassador of the Year to Kathy Miller, and special recognition to Ramona High School Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps.
Also attending the gala were State Sen. Joel Anderson, Michael Harrison from Congressman Duncan Hunter’s office, and Danica Mazenko on behalf of Assemblyman Brian Jones.
For more photos, see photo gallery.