The Santee Chamber of Commerce, currently celebrating its 61st anniversary, recently announced recipients of its annual awards. Honorees included community members and local businesses.
Recipient of community awards included: Karen Fleck, 2015 Person of the Year; Cynthia Whitney, CPA, Chairman’s Award; Stacy Roberts, curriculum resource teacher, Santee School District, Educator of the Year; Augie Caires, Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club, Rotarian of the Year; Bob Taylor, Kiwanis Club of Santee, Kiwanis Community Service Award; Joey Tennison III, deputy and member of Psychiatric Emergency Response Team, San Diego County Sheriffs Dept.’s Deputy of the Year; Dustyn Garhartt, Santee Fire Department, Firefighter of the Year; Marissa Elizabeth Bennett, a senior at West Hills High School, 2015 Les Hart Memorial Scholarship recipient.
Fleck was nominated for the 2015 Person of the Year award by Elana Levens-Craig, member of the Santee School District Board of Education who received the the 2014 Person of the Year award. Fleck’s community service includes serving on the Santee School Education Foundation board of directors for the past two years and on various committees with the California State Parent Teacher Association (PTA) since 2010. She also is a founding board member of the West Hills High School Foundation. Fleck works as a financial consultant with AXA Advisors, LLC.
The $1,000 scholarship was named after Les Hart, who worked as a community and municipal relations manager with Waste Management. Hart passed away in February 2012 at his Lakeside home after a four-year fight with cancer. He was 59.
Also at the event, Robert T. Lloyd Sr. of Lloyd’s Collision Center and Paint Center, outgoing chairman of the board, was honored with certificates and proclamations from local politicians.
In addition, Military Recognition Awards were presented to two groups that have been adopted by the City of Santee: United States Marine Corps (USMC) 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines Regiment, 1st Marine Division, based at Camp Pendleton; USMC Helicopter Squadron 462, also known as the “Heavy Haulers,” stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
The Chamber also presented its “Santee’s Favorite” businesses awards with winners determined by more than 5,000 votes that were cast online through the chamber’s website and social media, according to Sandy Schmitt, Santee Chamber president/CEO.
Twenty-two awards were presented. Recipients of Santee’s Favorites awards included (categories appear in parenthesis): East County Style (Arts, Entertainment & Media Company); Lloyd’s Collision Center and Paint Center (Automotive); Hot Rodz & Betties Hair Garage (Beauty & Salon Services); Twisted Manzanita Ales and Spirits (Brewery); San Diego County Credit Union (Financial Services); San Diego Christian College (General Services); CKO Kickboxing Santee (Health & Fitness); Speedy Cleaners (Home Services); Barona Resort & Casino (Hospitality); Sharp Grossmont Hospital (Medical Services); Cameron Family YMCA (Large Non-Profit Organization); Santee Food Bank (Small Non-Profit Organization); Pure Flo Water Company (Professional Services); Mission Realty Group (Property Management & Real Estate); Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve (Recreation); Eastbound Bar & Grill (Full-service Restaurant); Chick-fil-A (Quick-service Restaurant); Costco Wholesale (Retail); Nothing Bundt Cakes (Specialty Food); Padre Dam Municipal Water District (Utilities). It was the third consecutive year for the Santee Chamber’s “Santee’s Favorites” awards.
More than 250 people attended the awards program held March 3 at Barona Resort & Casino.