Danville chamber hands out annual Community Service Awards

The Danville Area Chamber of Commerce, joined by key business and community leaders, recognized some of the most dedicated local residents and contributors with its annual community awards Thursday afternoon at Blackhawk Country Club.

The chamber handed out awards for Citizen of the Year (Drew Nichols), Business Person of the Year (Barrett Rodda, StoryShort Films), Business of the Year (RPM Mortgage, Kevin Kennedy), Charitable Organization of the Year (Canine Companions for Independence, East Bay Miracles Chapter) and Employee of the Year (Andrew Dillard, transportation manager for the town of Danville).

The presentation took place during a luncheon that also featured Danville Mayor Renee Morgan delivering the town’s annual State of the Town address.

More than 175 business professionals, government representatives, Danville town officials and other community members filled the room for the afternoon event, sponsored by Chevron, Community Bank of The Bay, the Contra Costa Association of Realtors, Republic Services and the town of Danville.

Chamber CEO/president Shelley Despotakis hosted the 20-minute award ceremony. The recipients also received special recognitions from Morgan and Contra Costa County Supervisor Candace Andersen as well as on behalf of State Assemblywoman Catharine Baker and State Senator Steve Glazer.

Additionally, the event featured the Chamber of Commerce installing its Board of Directors and presenting a certificate of recognition to outgoing board member Bill White, an Allstate Insurance agent who owns William White Agency in Danville.

Citizen of the Year

The chamber honored Drew Nichols, owner of Primo’s Pizzeria and Pub on Hartz Avenue, as Citizen of the Year highlighting his years as a youth sports coach, for employing high school and college students to help them learn about the restaurant business and for helping organize charitable causes such as the “Team French” and “Javi Strong.”

Despotakis shared some details about Nichols’ community contributions by reading aloud a testimonial from James Javier, a friend of Nichols and father of Jake Javier – the local teen who suffered a paralyzing injury in a pool accident last June on the eve of high school graduation and whose recovery has inspired the Javi Strong movement.

“Drew is the kind of person who always gives when asked to and asks for nothing in return,” James Javier wrote.

He talked about the impact the Javi Strong effort has had on his son and his family, saying, “With the funds raised by Drew and this community, Jake has been able to return and continue to receive physical and occupational therapy at Craig Hospital in Colorado … Jake should return home at the end of May and he plans to attend Cal Poly this fall.”

Javier also spotlighted Nichols’ effort to support his best friend Todd French, the inspiration for Team French who battled cancer for four years before his death.

“Drew held fundraising events and sold the popular Team French T-shirts you still see around town to help the French family with costly medical bills,” Javier said. “What most people outside his general circle don’t know is that Drew also helped take care of Todd in those four years doing a lot of caregiver duties.”

The testimonial closed with Javier writing, “I was very happy to hear that Drew was named Citizen of the Year as he is very deserving of the award. I am proud to know him and I am proud to be able to call him my friend.”

Nichols was unable to attend the award ceremony Thursday.

Business Person of the Year

Barrett Rodda, owner of StoryShort Films on East Linda Mesa Avenue, focuses on creating marketing videos for small- and medium-sized businesses.

“Business owners usually have a fear that investing in a video will not result in a return on their investment. StoryShort Films is unique in that they not only shoot your video, but also help you create and implement a plan to broadcast it to your target audience,” Despotakis said.

Rodda has more than 12 years of experience in the film industry, including acting, camera work and video editing, Despotakis said. He also created the chamber’s first-ever promotional video and its first-ever golf tournament video.

“When I first met Barrett, I found him to be a very honest and passionate person,” she added. “I am very proud of how far Barrett has grown his knowledge and business in the short time that I have known him.”

Business of the Year

This year’s award went to RPM Mortgage and its executive loan adviser Kevin Kennedy, whom Despotakis described as “a true professional and a wonderful person.”

With years of experience in a variety of roles in the mortgage loan business, Kennedy “is committed to providing his clients with personal attention and top notch service. Kevin prides himself on being not only a mortgage consultant, but a problem solver,” the chamber CEO said.

She also praised Kennedy for being a selfless community contributor.

“Kevin is dedicated to the community. Kevin puts everyone else first. Kevin is generous, not only with his time, but with his knowledge,” she added.

Charitable Organization of the Year

Canine Companions for Independence, though its East Bay Miracles Chapter, is a nonprofit that helps enhance the lives of local people with disabilities by providing them with highly trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships.

“The assistance dogs they breed, raise and train aren’t just the ears, hands and legs of their human partners,” Despotakis said. “They’re also goodwill ambassadors and often, their best friends. They open up new opportunities and new possibilities, and spread incredible joy. They unite people with dogs in a powerful program that leads to greater independence and confidence.”

Despotakis also encouraged attendees to learn more about supporting Canine Companions for Independence, by volunteering time to help the organization and contributing financially.

Employee of the Year

The chamber honored Andrew Dillard, the town’s transportation manager and a leader with the San Ramon Valley’s TRAFFIX program that aims to address school-related traffic congestion.

Reading from the letter submitted by the person nominating Dillard, Despotakis said, “Andy takes his job very seriously and is exceptionally good at gaining consensus and explaining things in a common-sense way that residents can understand.”

“Andy works extraordinary hours for a public servant and is always there to help when he’s needed,” the letter added. “He is also very good at explaining the complexities of government in a way that helps people understand the restrictions government agencies face with limited budget dollars and sometimes strict programmatic guidelines that must be followed.”

Board of Directors

Thursday’s event also featured the chamber swearing in its 17-member Board of Directors, with Mayor Morgan leading the installation.

In addition to Despotakis and Tim Argenti (Republic Services) as chairman, the chamber board consists of chair elect Jim Ficenec (Archer Norris), past chair Sina Enayati (Fine Pillow/Sina Advisory Group), Michael Spranger (Promotional Edge), Dr. Kristen Moore (Align Healing Center), Rich Wood (e-PayNow), Scott Bigelow (Boisset Wine Living), Pat Burgess (Empire Realty), Morisha Dechter (Blackhawk Country Club), Terri Delfosse (Alamo Foundation, formerly of Richard Crafts, Inc.), Amy Edlund, (Christe James Fine Jewelry Works), Todd Flavio (Movement Mortgage), Marcia Harmon (Cottage Jewel), Darren Matte (Farmer’s Almanac restaurant) Dale Price (Remax Accord), Dana Wellington (J. Rockcliff Realtors) and Brian Schwarer (Heritage Bank of Commerce).