Santee Chamber honors community and business

It was a wonderful evening of networking and celebrating the community of Santee at this year’s Santee Chamber’s Annual Awards Night Celebration. And the setting was perfection for this event. Held at the Barona Casino Golf Event Center on March 16, the evening began with a great mixture of raffles, silent auctions and plenty of time for networking and connecting with other local businesses. With the outdoor patio, the inside reception area and the back room gourmet food stations, the Santee Chamber pulled off the night in style and purpose.

It was a wonderful evening of networking and celebrating the community of Santee at this year’s Santee Chamber’s Annual Awards Night Celebration. And the setting was perfection for this event. Held at the Barona Casino Golf Event Center on March 16, the evening began with a great mixture of raffles, silent auctions and plenty of time for networking and connecting with other local businesses. With the outdoor patio, the inside reception area and the back room gourmet food stations, the Santee Chamber pulled off the night in style and purpose.

Outgoing Chairman Virginia Hall has been a part of the Chamber for the past 13 years and holds to heart that pulling businesses together in the community leads to nothing but good things. She said that this past year that the Chamber focused on growth adding three new events to Santee “that bring value to the Chamber and the members of the community.” The Santee Golf Tournament, The Black Tie Gala, which she described as one of the “hottest events” in Santee with its James Bond atmosphere, and the first annual OTL Santee.

“This year, the Santee’s Young Professionals, a group of young entrepreneurs who bring youthful energy to our Chamber,” she said. “I have found that the most valuable things that the Chamber provides is networking and marketing opportunities, connecting business with the community, and celebrating new businesses and anniversaries.”

When it came to recognitions, it was a standing ovation for Jennifer Melton from Santana High School who earned the Michael Kiehl Scholarship. This scholarship is in honor of Santee firefighter Michael Kiehl, who after serving the Santee Fire Station, went to Vietnam and was killed at 21 by small arms fire.

The Chamber recognized the Marine Regiment 2nd Battalion 1st Marines and the Marine Heavy Helicopter HMH 462 Heavy Haulers. Santee are both “adopted” units and it is a yearly recognition for their presence, commitment and contributions in the Santee Community.

2016 Community Awards

For 2016 Deputy of the Year, James Riggin came to the Santee Station in March of 2015. His dedication to the community was proven with his results in fighting local child molestation, child pornography, capturing an armed stolen vehicle suspect and making double the average number for all deputies at the station in 2016.

Bill Pommering was recognized with the 2016 Santee Chamber of Commerce Chairman’s Award for his many years in dedicated support of the Chamber’s mission, growth and education.

Cindi Shulze, 2016 Educator of the Year is a seventh and eighth-grade math and science teacher for PRIDE Academy. She provides tutoring, head’s the school’s yearbook, works with Club LIVE, and is lead acting coach for its theatre group. She takes on after school tinkering and robotics leading students into competition and the Academy’s entry to the county STEAMMaker-fest competitions. As a mentor to student teachers and her peers shares her Digital Story Telling, Tinkering in the Classroom, Skype in the Classroom and 3D printer education at various conferences.

Tony Romero earned the 2016 Firefighter of the Year recognition due to his quick adaptability and leadership abilities with only five years on the job. His training as a paramedic makes him a valuable part of the team as he takes on responsibilities normally reserved for more senior firefighters. His work goes beyond the fire station and into the community. It was said that you will never see Romero not smiling. His professional accomplishments in 2016 alone helped in nearly every job in the station from clerical, educational and live saving education and assistance.

John Morley received the 2016 Rotarian of the Year. His work in the community has impacted the Santee community in many ways, for many years. Santee Santas, Walk for Life, Concert at the Lakes, Santee Lakeside Rotary Club and the Santee Foundations are some of the projects that Morley takes on with the ideal of serving the Santee community as a whole, and as individuals. His ability and willingness to take on and follow through with all that he delves himself into is why he is the Santee Lakeside Rotary Club’s Rotarian of the Year Award recipient.

Rob Treadwell’s broad range of community activities involving the children and sports in the community earned him the 2016 Person of the Year. His close work with the West Hills School Foundation, Santee School District Foundation, the Chamber and other community organizations have led to nothing but success for the kids of Santee in creating sports programs while he runs Al’s Sport Shop. Not only is he involved in generating business and social partnerships within the community, creating or supporting sports programs, he also loves to coach youth sports.

Treadwell said he was honored to be recognized with so many deserving recipients. He said although he has only been a part of the Santee community for a short time compared to others that Santee is the only place he calls home. He said his partnership with his family, whose name is on the Sport Shop, has given him the platform into working within the community.

“I just hope to be a caretaker of that legacy (Al’s Sport Shop) and continue as best I can to help the community,” he said. “I have three goals. One to be a good husband. To be a good step-father to my kids and I want to be a benefit to my community. If I can do those three things, then I am a success.

In a two-round voting process, peers, clients, Santee residents vote for their favorite businesses and organizations. With almost 7,000 votes, and outstanding nominees, the people spoke.

2016 Santee’s Favorites Awards

Arts, Entertainment, & Media – East County Style

Automotive – Lloyd’s Collision & Paint Center

Beauty & Salon Services – Hot Rodz & Betties Hair Garage

Construction & Contracting – TDT Construction

Education & Business Resources – Santee School District

Financial Services – San Diego County Credit Union

General Services – The UPS Store #4287

Health & Fitness – CKO Kickboxing Santee

Home Services – Choice Locksmithing & Security, Inc.

Hospitality – Barona Resort & Casino

Manufacturing – Scantibodies Laboratories, Inc.

Medical Services – Sharp Grossmont Hospital

Non-Profit -Large – Boys & Girls Clubs of East County

Non-Profit-Small – Santee Food Bank

Professional Services – Kirkland Printing & Mailing Services Inc.

Property Management & Real Estate – Mission Realty Group

Recreation – Santee Lakes Recreation Center

Restaurant-Full Service – Eastbound Bar & Grill

Restaurant-Quick Service – Chick-fil-A Santee

Retail – Al’s Sport Shop

Specialty Food & Beverage – Nothing Bundt Cakes Santee

Utilities & Government – Padre Dam Municipal Water District