Chandler Chamber Community Awards 2023

36th Annual Community Awards

Let the beautiful Arizona mountains be the backdrop at your next group event. Located in Chandler, Radford Racing School is the premier motorsports destination for corporate entertainment, holiday parties, private events, and VIP experiences.

Our newly renovated 4,500 sq. ft. event center with extended outdoor space is scalable for small parties and large events for employees, clients, and the community.

- Accommodate 10 to 500 guests

- Newly renovated 4,500 sq.ft. event center

- No-hassle catering options

- On-site event parking

- Dedicated event coordinator

- Competitive pricing

WARDE NICHOLS, CHAMBER BOARD CHAIR

On behalf of the Chandler Chamber Board of Directors, it is an honor to recognize these deserving public servants, educators and community members that enrich the City of Chandler. We sincerely thank you for your contributions. The strength of our community is rooted in those unique individuals who balance their careers and volunteer efforts with a commitment to making Chandler a better place to live, work and play. I know our collective future is bright with the passion and dedication of the shining stars we honor tonight.

TERRI KIMBLE, PRESIDENT & CEO

The Chandler Chamber Community Awards is one of my favorite events of the year. We not only celebrate the incredible people that make Chandler an exceptional city, but I see relationships being nurtured at this event. Business truly meets community and the outcome is inspiring. Congratulations to all our winners tonight. You are all Champions of Chandler and for that we offer our greatest appreciation.

KRISTY SIEFKIN, EMCEE

Kristy Siefkin is an Executive Communications Coach and Professional Speaker. She spent over a decade in front of a camera as an Emmy-recognized journalist, anchor and host on networks like CBS, Fox, Discovery and Animal Planet. Using her GoTo Speaker Method™, Kristy trains teams to attract more clients, win more business, and get the recognition they deserve, every time they speak. Companies like HP, CBRE, Goodwill, JE Dunn, and Thermo Fisher have trusted Kristy to train their talent for keynote speeches, high-stakes sales presentations, and national media appearances.

Chandler Chamber of Commerce

101 West Commonwealth Ave. Chandler, AZ 85225

480-963-4571

www.chandlerchamber.com

info@chandlerchamber.com

AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR RENEE RICHESON

I was blessed 6 years ago when I was hired to be the sales and marketing rep for Signarama Chandler. This honor is twofold, Jim and Allison recognized a spark in me and allowed me to not only market for their amazing family owned business of 25 years, but also be a part of the Chandler Chamber.

As the Ambassador Co-Chair for the Chamber, I am able to network, meet and welcome the new patrons into our community, meet established business owners and also see how I can help them. My daughter, a Jr. Ambassador for the Chamber, comes to many of the evening events and is able to learn so much about her community. I am so humbled, honored and proud to be named Chandler Chamber Ambassador of the Year! Thank you so much to Signarama Chandler, the Chandler Chamber Staff, my fellow Ambassadors and the Board of Directors for your confidence in me for this distinguished award.

SPONSORED BY:

BUSINESS DIVERSITY OF THE YEAR

AVID CONSULTING

AVID Consulting is a premier organizational development consulting firm that provides its clients with innovative, practical, results-driven workforce optimization solutions. We are certified diversity, equity, and inclusion specialists who partner with our clients to build and foster workplace cultures that are supportive and inclusive and where employees know they belong, are accepted, and are valued. We work closely with the Chandler Chamber, the City of Chandler, and other government entities to create educational programming and initiatives for businesses and the community that increases DE&I awareness and the importance of celebrating and embracing every human’s social identity, their right to be their authentic selves, and harnessing the power of a diverse, inclusive society. The bottom-line goal of our work is to develop business and community environments that honestly, accurately, and equitably represent the world we live in.

SPONSORED BY:

JAMES R. SNEDIGAR AWARD

OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SERVANT AWARD

DETECTIVE ASHLEY NOLAN

Detective Ashley Nolan has been employed with the Chandler Police Department since 2007. She was assigned to the Special Victim’s Unit in 2012 where she has conducted numerous investigations relating to sexually motivated crimes, trained new detectives, and has become a leader. Most recently Detective Nolan has taken on the role of investigating cold case sex crimes. She has utilized advanced DNA techniques to assist in solving these cases. In 2020, she was successful in solving three separate unidentified stranger sexual assaults bringing long awaited closure to the victims. Detective Nolan also participated in a cold case crime television series highlighting the use of Genetic Genealogy and her role in solving a case dating back to 1986. In 2023, Detective Nolan became the first and only known case in Maricopa County where Genetic Genealogy was used to successfully identify and prosecute a sexual assault suspect.

SPONSORED BY:

VETERANS BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

CARPETS OF ARIZONA

Shane Levinson is an Arizona Native & Army infantry Veteran who has excelled in various domains. His military service showcased exceptional leadership abilities, while his entrepreneurial ventures, Carpets of Arizona and Willing & Able Carpet Cleaning, have thrived under his strategic guidance, earning him recognition as an Inc. 5000 honoree. Beyond his entrepreneurial achievements, Shane has emerged as a prominent advocate for small businesses, leading a coalition that lobbies for a flat tax system. His efforts aim to simplify taxation and create a fair environment conducive to community growth. Additionally, his expertise has attracted attention from Forbes and Inc.com, where he contributes as a thought leader, sharing insights and empowering fellow entrepreneurs. Shane’s commitment to community involvement is evident through his role as a city commissioner in Chandler, where he serves on the Military & Veterans Advisory Commission, shaping policies to support veterans and their families.

SPONSORED BY:

EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR

JENNIFER KREAMER

Jennifer has been teaching for 15 years, the last 7 of which have been in the Chandler Unified School District. Jennifer takes pride in being a graduate from Chandler High School. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from ASU and her Master of Science in Psychology from GCU. Jennifer also has her gifted endorsement. I Jennifer believes continuing to learn and grow as a teacher is important to be the best she can be for her students. Jennifer’s contributions to the school include being the team lead for the 6th-grade team and sponsoring both the student council and math league; Jennifer is committed to providing students with opportunities to grow and develop inside as well as outside of the classroom. Jennifer supports, participates, and organizes various school events, and she is always willing to do what she can to help create a positive and inclusive learning environment for all of our students.

SPONSORED BY:

ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR

DR. CRAIG GILBERT

For 25 years, Dr. Craig Gilbert has served the Chandler community through the Chandler Unified School District. After completing his undergraduate degree, Dr. Gilbert came to CUSD; first as an educator and athletic coach, then transitioning to site administration as Assistant Principal at Hamilton High and opening Principal of Payne Junior High. Dr. Gilbert then moved to the district administration level as a director, then Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education and finally as Associate Superintendent of PreK-12 Educational Services. He has an Ed.D. in educational leadership from ASU. Dr. Gilbert has been an active volunteer coach for youth sports, is a Sun Lakes Rotarian, and is a former Chandler Chamber board member. Dr. Gilbert is the proud husband of Dr. Jessica Blanco M.D. and father of three, Mikayla, Jacqueline, and Charles. Through faith and family support, Dr. Gilbert has had the opportunity to grow, lead, and contribute to the wonderful Chandler community.

SPONSORED BY:

SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR

NINA HARDIN

Nina Hardin began her career with the Chandler Unified School District in 1997 as a teacher’s aide at Jacobson Elementary School, where her three daughters attended school. In 2005, Nina was hired by Hamilton High School’s first principal, Fred DePrez, as the school’s receptionist. Over the past nineteen years, Nina has been a welcoming first point of contact for thousands of students and their families. Even though Nina describes herself as “only a small piece of the Hamilton puzzle,” she has been awarded “Support Staff of the Month” six times. While she shares that she is humbled and appreciative of her award, she sees former students who return to Hamilton to say hello and share their accomplishments as the biggest reward of her job.

SPONSORED BY:

RED APPLE AWARD

MELISSA CESARANO

Melissa Cesarano has been teaching for 32 years. She has taught in public, private and charter schools. She holds a B.S. in education, a M.Ed in Gifted Education and an Ed.S in Curriculum and Instruction. She is currently teaching 5th grade math at Basis Chandler. She currently serves as the Mentor for all Basis 4th and 5th grade teachers and is the test writer for the Basis Education Baseline test exams. She has served on the Arizona Association of Gifted and Talented and has chaired the state conference twice. She recently presented sessions with both the National Association of Gifted, Arizona State conference and the Catholic Educators Association national conference. She enjoys challenging students with advanced curricular material. Given the right support, all students can excel with an advanced curriculum. One thing she hopes that all students take away from her class is the skills and confidence needed to solve any problems life throws at them.

SPONSORED BY:

The Chandler Chamber Leadership Institute is a prestigious leadership course offered by the Chandler Chamber Community Foundation. The goal of this program is to educate emerging leaders or individuals already serving in a leadership capacity, about the city. Participants are presented with a comprehensive look at the community while developing critical leadership skills.

Beyond this powerful learning experience, the Foundation offers scholarships for our Chandler-Gilbert Community College students. If you or someone you know would like to apply for a scholarship, please scan the QR code for more information and to download the Scholarship application.

If you have any questions regarding the Chandler Chamber Community Foundation and its work in the community, please give us a call 480-963-4571 or email us at info@chandlerchamber.com.

SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

CYNTHIA HARDY

Cynthia Hardy is a Chandler resident and a student at Chandler Gilbert Community College studying for the Social Media Marketing Certificate program. She hopes to re-enter in spring 2024 to pursue a Business Certificate and a Business Management Certificate. Cynthia currently has a degree in Political Science with an emphasis in PreLaw Business. Re-entering allows Cynthia to enhance her skills to become a better manager, a better employee and a better team player. Cynthia wants to update her skills and use her knowledge of social media marketing to help small businesses and non-profits in the area to build up their business, generate customers, and be one of their team members to help them find opportunities to expand.

ISAAC GONZALES

SPONSORED BY: Isaac Gonzales attends Chandler Gilbert Community College and Mesa Community College. He hopes to impact his community with his education by gaining the knowledge of how business runs and operates. Earning his Associates degree in General Business will allow Isaac to have a good understanding of how to run a business and gives him the ability to achieve his goal of opening his own business. Isaac has put in time and effort into obtaining this degree, which show how dedicated and driven he is of achieving his career goals. Isaac worked at AAA Landscapes where he was a mechanic and worked on company vehicles and equipment. With his work experience he can demonstrate his ability to work with his hands physical jobs, as well as show his ability to work on more mental tasks.

SPONSORED BY:

JUSTINE LUGO

Justine Lugo is a Business student currently enrolled at Chandler Gilbert Community College. Justine is pursuing a CCL in Social Media Marketing and an AAS in General Business. She is passionate about two things, fashion and business, and currently has a small clothing business called, “Strangers”. She states her vision is simple, “although at the end of the day most of us are strangers, we’re all humans on this Earth living this life together.” Her clothing business is the entire reason she has decided to pursue a degree and CCL at Chandler Gilbert Community College, with the hopes of learning the knowledge she needs to grow her business. Justine has been very active in her community. She was FIDM Fashion Club Co-President, a Social Media Marketing Intern for CGCC Business and Computer Studies division, and a member of Collegiate DECA. This past April she was named the 2023-2024 ASCGCC Student Body President.

SPONSORED BY:

CHANDLER CUP

MAYOR’S CHOICE

MICHAEL A. POLLACK

Michael A. Pollack celebrates 50 years in the commercial real estate industry and more than 30 of those years have been focused on investing and re-developing commercial properties in Chandler. Michael bought his first Arizona shopping center in the early 1990’s. To date, he has either re-developed or developed 32 commercial properties representing more than one million square feet in the City of Chandler. Every real estate purchase and redevelopment has the same goal to make the surrounding neighborhoods proud to call Chandler home. Michael’s professional contributions are only enhanced by his endless charitable giving. He is always the first to say “yes and how can I help?”

SPONSORED BY:

COMMUNITY CUP AZCEND

Built on five core values: Integrity, Compassion, Hope, Dignity, and Inclusion. These principles are shown in all of our programs and modeled by staff and volunteers every day while doing everything possible to provide help and hope to anyone that walks through our doors. AZCEND, an organization dedicated to helping those in need since 1966, has achieved significant milestones and made a positive impact in the community. With the significant support of community partnerships and dedicated staff, AZCEND is proud to celebrate its recent accomplishments. These efforts include assisting 14,000 individuals, providing 1 million pounds of donated food, and mobilizing 1,000 volunteers.

SPONSORED BY:

CHAMBER CUP

TOYOTA FINANCIAL SERVICES

At Toyota Financial Services (TFS), we help millions of Toyota customers drive the vehicle of their dreams, thanks to our flexible financing and leasing, voluntary protection products, and well-rounded auto insurance offerings. Our employees dedicate their time to organizations including the Chandler Chamber of Commerce, the Chandler Education Foundation, and the Boys & Girls Clubs. In addition, TFS is a champion for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. In 2022, we implemented an initiative to include diversity and inclusion education for all of our team members.

SPONSORED BY:

MICRO BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

CARING TRANSITIONS OF CENTRAL ARIZONA

Caring Transitions of Central Arizona is your one-stop solution for relocation services, providing compassionate assistance with downsizing, decluttering, and online auctions on CTBIDS for full and partial liquidations. Let us do the heavy lifting for you so you can focus on taking care of yourself or a loved one.

We are involved in several community organizations and giving back to the community is critical to the success of our business. It doesn’t matter what size of company you are, we can all make a difference in the community we serve.

Belonging to the Chandler Chamber has been a critical component to growing our business, personally and professionally. It is an honor to be recognized for this award. We look forward to continuing to grow our business and to continuing our awesome relationship with the Chamber’s wonderful staff and all the chamber members.

SPONSORED BY:

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR STEVEN M. VOGT, CPA, EA

Steven M. Vogt, CPA, EA is a full-service, tax preparation, CPA firm focusing on small business and personal IRS taxation. We provide individual tax preparation with the personalization that software packages can’t. We keep up-to-date with the changing tax laws, as well as your changing life events, such as the birth of a child, a new business, new home, or inheritance. As a CPA firm, we adhere to certain ethical standards and codes of professional conduct established by governmental bodies and peer organizations.

We have been providing assistant all year around to the communities of Chandler and Queen Creek for over 20 years. Our goal is to serve the community and provide an awesome experience for all of our clients. We are here to help you achieve your financial goals!

SPONSORED BY:

MEDIUM BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

THE HIDDEN HOUSE

The Hidden House believes in celebrating you, celebrating life, and slowing down to enjoy the finer things – like good conversation and good flavors. This 1939 home, once disregarded by its community, is now a gathering place. Birthed from a passion to connect people, driven by a desire to share adventure through global flavors.

From young professionals, to families, to retirees, to business people, we provide a memorable experience, whether they’re visiting for a lunch or dinner, or a private event. The Hidden House intentionally waves in historical recipes in its craft cocktail program, which pays homage to the evolution of mixology over time. We are committed to sourcing ingredients and products from local suppliers and businesses to support the local economy. We believe in people, nourishment, family, and in love. The Hidden House is a place where you can call home.

SPONSORED BY:

LARGE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR ARMORWORKS

This simple yet powerful phrase is the driving force behind what ArmorWorks stands for, and what motivates us to think outside the box to create innovative new technologies. Since our inception over 25 years ago, ArmorWorks has been dedicated to creating and manufacturing survivability solutions with the most advanced armor and protection technologies available. ArmorWorks realizes that each employee plays a significant role in the overall success of the business, and works hard to show its employees how much they are appreciated, and how important they are to the ArmorWorks Team. Employees are celebrated with monthly appreciation days, frequent raffle and prize giveaways, employee spotlights, employee and family outings, as well as annual team building events. ArmorWorks also supports military and veteran owned charitable organizations focused on helping children, animals, and service members, and also supports the hiring of both retired and active duty service men and women.

SPONSORED BY:

SPONSORS

PRESENTING SPONSOR

BRONZE SPONSOR

COPPER SPONSOR

PRESENTING SPONSOR

LARGE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR SPONSOR

MEDIUM BUSINESS OF THE YEAR SPONSOR

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR SPONSOR

MICRO BUSINESS OF THE YEAR SPONSOR

BUSINESS DIVERSITY OF THE YEAR SPONSOR

JAMES R. SNEDIGAR AWARD SPONSOR

COMMUNITY CUP SPONSOR

CHAMBER CUP SPONSOR

CHANDLER CUP SPONSOR

VETERANS BUSINESS OF THE YEAR SPONSOR

EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR, SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR, RED APPLE SPONSOR

SCHOLARSHIP SPONSOR

SCHOLARSHIP SPONSOR

NAMETAG SPONSOR

BOOKLET SPONSOR

VIDEOGRAPHY SPONSOR

VIDEOGRAPHY SPONSOR

16 36TH ANNUAL CHANDLER CHAMBER COMMUNITY AWARDS

PHOTOGRAPHY SPONSOR

2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

WARDE NICHOLS ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY 2023 BOARD CHAIR

RICK HEUMANN CMA IMMEDIATE PAST BOARD CHAIR

CRYSTAL BLACKWELL CRYSTAL CLEAR RESULTS, LLC

KELLY HARRIS AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.

SAMANTHA GULICK HARRAH’S AK-CHIN CASINO & HOTEL

CLARK LANDRUM WASTE MANAGEMENT OF ARIZONA, INC

DR.WENDY NANCE CHANDLER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

DR. GREG PETERSON CHANDLER-GILBERT COMMUNITY COLLEGE

DAVID RALLS COMMIT AGENCY

PETER SCIACCA DI SCIACCA GLASSWARE & QUARTHAUS BREWSTILLERY

SETH TUCKER PRICE MORTGAGE, LLC

RICHARD AMOROSO LEGAL COUNSEL / EX-OFFICIO SQUIRE PATTON BOGGS

MAYOR KEVIN HARTKE EX-OFFICIO CITY OF CHANDLER

TERRI KIMBLE CHANDLER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESIDENT/CEO

JACKSON ARMSTRONG ARMSTRONG HOSPITALITY

HILEN CRUZ SALT RIVER PROJECT

JOHN GIBSON WELLS FARGO BANK

KURT JOHANSEN WESTERN STATE BANK

ANDREA MARCONI FENNEMORE CRAIG, PC

SUSAN PERLMAN DOGTOPIA OF SOUTH CHANDLER

SALLY PUTNAM NOW FINANCIAL

LAURA ROBERTSON BANNER DESERT AND CARDON MEDICAL CENTER

DUNSTON SIMPSON EMCOMPASS TEK

CHUCK WOLF CARING TRANSITIONS

JOAN SABA CHAMBER FOUNDATION LIAISON /EX-OFFICIO SAB’S WESTERN WEAR

ROBERT SINKULE YOGA’S ARC INCOMING BOARD CHAIR 2024

DR. CINDY BANTON AVID CONSULTING, LLC

JASON DAWSON LOCAL LISTING PRO

RALPH GUARIGLIO ARIZONA RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL REALTY

DAN KUSH CONSULTANT

DAVID RALLS COMMIT AGENCY

MONICA GREENMAN CHANDLER FASHION CENTER

BRIAN PETERS TOYOTA FINANCIAL SERVICES

LIZ SHIPLEY INTEL CORPORATION

JERRY SANNIEC LASER CREATIONS

MARK SLYTER DIGNITY HEALTH CHANDLER REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

RUSS WOOD WOODROW TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, LLC

MIKE MCCLANAHAN CHAMBER FOUNDATION BOARD CHAIR ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

MIKE MCCLANAHAN ST. VINCENT DE PAUL 2023 FOUNDATION BOARD CHAIR

TERRY LOCKE CHANDLER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

BILL WOODRUFF KIECKHEFER PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

TERRI KIMBLE CHANDLER CHAMBER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

RON ADAMS HOOPES ADAMS & SCHARBER, PLC

MARY CONTRERAS CONTRERAS STATE FARM INSURANCE AGENCY

JOHN PRESCOTT PRS PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, LLC

JAY CURTIS FIRST CREDIT UNION

STEVE GREENHAUGH ARIZONA PEST PREVENTION, INC

JOAN SABA SABA’S WESTERN WEAR

SCAN TO STAY UPDATED WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY!