Howard Sherer's marketing and communications wisdom are embedded in the strategies and productivity of hundreds of clients, dozens of local nonprofits, government units, and community groups, and thousands of San Jose State and Cabrillo College students. Howard and his wife, Lori, moved to Santa Cruz in 1985 and immediately began investing the time and wisdom in the Santa Cruz Community. Howard has served on the boards of the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music (6 years with 3 years as President), Alzheimer's Association (3 years as co-chair of Memory Walk), Small Business Development Center (7 years), Pajaro Valley Performing Arts Association (6 years, 4 as Vice President), Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce (10 years with 1 year as President), Workforce Investment Board (10 years,  years as Board Chair), among others. He has donated many hours to the City and the Santa Cruz Police Department, on project such as public safety communication strategies for Halloween, AMGEN,  and City bond elections. A Ph.D. in Organizational Communication, Howard co-founded Hutton and Sherer in 1987.

Virginia Johnson serves as Executive Director/CEO of Ecology Action, Inc., a role she has held since joining this entrepreneurial non-profit in 1995.  As Executive Director/CEO, Virginia has used her three decades of experience in strategic business development and marketing to exponentially increase Ecology Action's mission-driven service offerings and revenues. The organization has grown from a local organization to a state-wide service provider. Virginia led the effort to acquire the Sentinel building and do a model project conversion to 'green' office space. Virginia has also provided stellar service to the boards and advisory groups for many local organizations including RotaCare Free Medical Clinic, the FEMA Board, the Homeless Shelter Project, the HIV Consortium, Westside Community Health Center, and New Life Community Services Family Shelter. Virginia currently serves on the Santa Cruz County Commission on the Environment and the board of the Santa Cruz Area Transportation Management Association. She is a 25-year resident of Santa Cruz County, where she and her husband raised her three children.

Bay Federal Credit Union, founded in 1957, is the largest member-owned financial institution in Santa Cruz County. Its success has been the result of fulfilling its founding mission, "to make a real difference in the financial lives of the people in the communities we serve." Its solid financial management and dedicated support of its members have made it a top-flight institution. But it is its ongoing contributions to the community that set it apart. 2009 marked the 7th straight year that 100% of all Bay Federal Credit Union employees raised money and volunteered countless hours of personal time to local nonprofits, schools, and organizations. This business culture - and Bay Fed's administrative commitment to encouraging it - have created a community-spirited environment both within the institution and among their members, creating awareness of community needs and challenges and empowering all to be involved in the Santa Cruz Community.

Dominican Hospital has responded to changes in medicine, the economics of health care, and the needs of the Santa Cruz Community since the Adrian Dominican Sisters arrived here from Michigan 69 years ago. While many organizations aspire to be "value driven", there are few that can demonstrate Dominican's consistent integration of their values in strategic decisions. "Dignity, justice, collaboration, excellence and stewardship," Dominican's core values, are reflected in their operation of an Emergency Department that serves more than 40,000 patients a year with 24 specialties on call 24/7 - often the health safety net for those without other options. These values are at the center of Dominican's rich health education and wellness programs. They motivate Dominican's engagement and investment in public health and community wellness including programs such as the Health Improvement Partnership, Healthy Kids, the United Way, Second Harvest Food Bank, the Serial Inebriate Program, the new 2-1-1 initiative, its Fredrick Street Pediatric Clinic, the tattoo removal program, and the Community Assessment Project. Dominican is not only a fundament part of the fabric of Santa Cruz, they have been and continue to be prime movers in its evolution.

Join the Chamber November 5 at the Cocoanut Grove at its 90^th Annual Community Recognition Dinner honoring these worthy recipients.

Table 10 Sponsor  $1350

Table 8 Sponsor $1200

Individual Tickets $85

Table of 8 non-sponsor  $650

Please click on the red reserve button above to reserve your space.