Friday, October 24, at the Seascape Beach Resort to Honor
Man of the Year: Bob Norton
Woman of the Year: Jeanne Harrison, Café Rio
Business of the Year: Santa Cruz Waves & Cinnamon Bay Clothing
Organization of the Year: Twin Lakes Church
Community Hero’s: Phil Wowak & Jeff Terpstra
Call (831)688-1467 for reservations.
Man Of The Year: Bob Norton
Bob Norton, Aptos resident since 2000, he has been involved with the Aptos Chamber Board for 13 years serving on the executive board, board president, and chair of the 4th of July Parade Committee for the past 11 years. 4th of July is his favorite day of year as it is the perfect example of just how special is Aptos with the volunteers and participants in the pancake breakfast, parade, and party in the park. Bob co-chaired the Shop Local initiative in 2007, coordinating the 5 chambers and local businesses. Additionally, he has worked on various Chamber committees such as the Business Showcase, annual Dinner, and Golf Tournament committees.
Bob’s current passion is for Second Harvest where he chairs the Second Harvest’s Development Committee. His 36 years of experience in the grocery industry, including president of a Bay Area distribution company provides a depth of experience and clarity to distribution, logistics, and personnel challenges at Second Harvest. Bob has been a Board of Trustee member for 2 years and will serve as Chairman of the Board the next two years.
Bob has served two terms of 8 years total on the Board of Directors and past Board President of Above the Line dedicated to providing housing, education, placement and other vital services to at-risk children and youth. He currently is a consultant to small business owners through the Small Business Development Center at Cabrillo College where he donates his time to help Santa Cruz businesses prosper.
Woman Of The Year: Jeanne Harrison of the Café Rio
After having worked at Café Rio for 20+ years, Jeanne purchased and reopened the restaurant in June 2011. They currently have 48 employees and supports local businesses by purchasing fresh seafood and produce from local vendors.
Jeanne supports schools and education by giving donations of food or gift cards and has hosted benefits for organizations such as Omega Nu. She also is involved with supporting charities that help animals in need such as the Santa Cruz SPCA. Her dogs are her family, and she likes to do her part in making sure all animals have the kind of life they deserve.
Another cause dear to her heart is the Santa Cruz Cancer Benefit Group and their annual Grazing on the Green event. Jeanne starts working months in advance with colleagues and acquaintances to put together the event and she is honored to say that she is a part of a community working together to raise money and awareness for this very important cause.
Jeanne also has hosted fundraisers for local families struck by tragedy and dinners for at risk youth giving them the experience and learning how to behave in a fine dining setting. She has worked closely with Zach Friend by hosting meet and greets and other various publicity needs. She loves this town, and feels it is her duty to do what she can to make sure that it continues to maintain its charm.
“Local Loop” Businesses Of The Year: Santa Cruz Waves
The Santa Cruz Waves Corporation was founded by professional big wave surfer and Aptos native Tyler
Fox. Originally built as a surf photography website he partnered with local business man Jon Free and Santa Cruz Waves quickly evolved into a Santa Cruz lifestyle website. Since then they have expanded into a magazine and clothing line. With its lifestyle “Local Loop” articles, event photography and massive social media community, Santa Cruz Waves saw opportunities to support businesses, events and charities in Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz Waves has worked with charities such as, Mauli Ola, which helps teach children with cystic fibrosis how to surf. Operation Surf, which helps wounded war vets surf for the first time. Santa Cruz Waves has sponsored great charities like The Jay Moriarty Foundation, Grazing on the Green, Save our Shores and also promotes beach cleanups like Save the Waves in support of the Santa Cruz World Surfing Reserve. Recently Santa Cruz Waves partnered with O’Neil Charters and The Sockshop sell “Socks for Charity” to teach unprivileged children about ocean education by taking them out and showing them firsthand about the ocean and our environment.
With the leadership of Tyler Fox and Jon Free their passion for supporting not only great talent but also great charities and organizations Santa Cruz Waves is proving to be both an effective business and also an effective avenue for good in our community.
Established Local Businesses Of The Year: Cinnamon Bay Clothing
When Heysa opened Cinnamon Bay Clothing in July 1990, it was her dream to work in and support the community she loved and called “home.” Cinnamon Bay’s customers, employees, along with local residents and business owners have collectively demonstrated community at its finest. Cinnamon Bay has been honored that their fashion shows have raised money for many wonderful organizations such as Katz Cancer Center, The Daisy, Santa Cruz Symphony, Toys for Tots, Resurrection Church, Hadassah of Temple Beth El, Santa Cruz Cancer Benefit Group, Aptos High Music Program, and Omega Nu of Watsonville.
To help out one of Heysa’s favorite charities, Children’s Hospice and Palliative Care, Cinnamon Bay dedicated an annual shopping day in which they donated 20% of all their sales. Several other Seascape Village merchants donated food and drinks to make the day festive (and free to their patrons!).
Sometimes when Heysa is approached by an organization in need and there isn’t any extra time, she simply gives money, store merchandise, or gift certificates to Aptos History Museum, Hospice, United Way, Grey Bears, Sienna House, Aptos Little League, Relay for Life, Caroline’s, Goodwill, Resurrection Church, Second Harvest Food Bank and the Alzheimer’s association.
Organization Of The Year: Twin Lakes Church
Twin Lakes Church began in 1890 and was known as the “Little Brown Church by the Sea.” Situated on 7th Ave in Santa Cruz, next to Seabright Lake (now the Santa Cruz Harbor). Under the pastorate of Roy Kraft. By the 1960’s, a larger building became necessary for the growing congregation so they constructed what is now Twin Lakes Church near Cabrillo College in the early 70’s. Pastor Kraft retired in 1990 and in 1993 Pastor Rene Schlaepfer took the role of senior pastor. Today they have a congregation of 3500 people.
Twin Lakes Church offers many different ministries that serve their congregation and the community. Their ministries include, global outreach, media ministries, support and recovery, educational, young adults, fellowship & study groups, marriage & family, singles, women, men, second half (50+ adults), music, children, students, and summer camps.
The church collected and donated enough food and funds this past fall to the Second Harvest Food Bank to provide more than 1 million meals. The church also operates a food pantry where last year they distributed 111,000 pounds of food to people in need. Helping Second Harvest Food Bank has become a tradition and each year the church’s contribution has increased along with its enthusiasm. According to Willy Elliott-McCrea, CEO of Second Harvest, Twin Lake’s amazing contribution is invaluable, “It’s absolutely astonishing what the church has done and what impact Twin Lakes Church has on the community.”
Community Hero’s: Jeff Terpstra & Phil Wowak
Fire Chief Jeff Terpstra entered the fire service in 1977. He has served as the Fire Chief for the Aptos/La Selva Fire District since 2010. Previous to that, he was the District’s Chief in charge of Emergency Operations and Emergency Medical Services since 1990. His background includes 15 years as a certified paramedic and was the Director of Education for the Santa Cruz County Paramedic training program from 1981 to 1997.
Since 1997, Jeff has served, as a member of the CALFIRE Incident Management Team 1. Chief Terpstra is considered a leader in Mutual Aid and Disaster planning programs. He also acts as the Fire Mutual Aid Coordinator for Santa Cruz County, California.
Chief Terpstra is the General Manager for the Santa Cruz County Emergency Medical Services Integration Authority made up of all 12 fire agencies in Santa Cruz County to assure effective interagency cooperation and standardization of EMS services in county. The Santa Cruz County EMS system is considered a model statewide for cooperation and commitment to state of the art patient care.
Sheriff Phil Wowak began his law enforcement career in 1983 when he joined the Capitola Police Department. During his 12-years in the Capitola PD, Sheriff Wowak worked as Patrol Officer, Detective, Undercover Narcotics Officer, Motorcycle Officer, and Training Officer.
In 1995, Sheriff Wowak transferred to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office where he worked as Patrol Deputy, Training Officer and Detective assigned to the sex crimes unit.
Sheriff Wowak was promoted to the rank of Sergeant In 1999 as a patrol supervisor, project manager of a Mobile Data Computer grant, Special Team Sergeant in Community Policing and Detective Sergeant in charge of homicide investigations.
He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in the patrol division in 2004. Sheriff Wowak became the commander of the Investigation Division in 2005 where he directed the work of six sections: CSI, coroner, sex crimes, homicide, property crimes and narcotics. In investigations, Sheriff Wowak managed nearly two dozen homicide investigations and participated in the formation and management of the Joint Agency Gang task force (JAG).
In May 2009 Sheriff Wowak was appointed as the Sheriff-Coroner of Santa Cruz to complete the term of retiring Sheriff Steve Robbins. On June 8, 2010, Sheriff was elected to office as the 25th Sheriff of the County of Santa Cruz.