NBLC Hosts 2nd Annual Marin & Sonoma Awards Luncheon
Leaders of the North Bay Awards
October 2008
North Bay Leadership Council held its second annual Leaders of the North Bay Awards luncheon, designed to celebrate individuals and organizations from the region who have been positive catalysts for change, on October 30 at the Embassy Suites and the event was another huge success. Five selected honorees were highlighted and Scott Simon, award-winning writer, journalist and National Public Radio (NPR) host, delivered a keynote speech, "The Most Amazing Leaders I Have Ever Encountered."
2008 Honorees:
Dr. Joseph R. Fink wasrecognized for his leadership in revitalizing Dominican University of California, in the Caught in the Act of Leadership (individual excellence in acts of leadership) category. When Joseph R. Fink became the eighth president of Dominican University in the summer of 1988, Dominican's enrollment had dipped below 650 students, revenue was only slightly above $8 million, and the physical campus was in need of renovation and modernization.
Since becoming president of Dominican, Dr. Fink has restructured the management of the university, assumed control of academic and fiscal affairs, and moved Dominican to university status. Since 1988 the university's enrollment has more than tripled (650 to more than 2,000 in fall 2008) and SAT average scores have risen by more than 180 points. Its annual gross operating revenues have increased from $7.2 million to $54 million. The level of fundraising has increased dramatically, including approximately $80 million acquired to renovate more than half of the buildings on campus and build a recreation complex, new residence halls, and a state-of-the-art science research center. The university has adopted a strategic institutional plan and has the strongest fiscal condition in its history.
John Records was recognized for his work with the Committee on the Shelterless (COTS) in the We're All in this Together (excellence in community building leadership) category. John Records has been the Executive Director of the Committee on the Shelterless (COTS), an award winning nonprofit agency celebrating twenty years of helping homeless children and adults in Sonoma County, since 1992. During his time at COTS, Records has successfully advocated that the homeless are worthy of being helped and that they can be helped. Through his innovation as a community builder he has dedicated his life to helping others. The goal at COTS is to get people out of the homeless cycle and to make the "transition into the mainstream."
California State Senator Carole Migden said, "John has developed COTS into a nexus not only for transforming the lives of homeless but as a place where the more fortunate can bring the best of themselves and contribute in their own ways to their struggling neighbors."
Marin Farmers Market Association was recognized in the Paint the Community Green (excellence in environmental stewardship) category, due to their promoting sustainable foods and continuing to build and maintain a relationship with Marin County's agricultural community. The Marin Farmers Markets (MFM), celebrating its 25th anniversary, is one of the most successful markets in the nation, providing a crucial and timely nexus between farmers, eaters and the community.
Each week, the market draws thousands of families and chefs to seven Bay Area locations, showcasing organic, sustainable and locally grown produce, cheeses and artisan foods.
The mission of the MFM is to create a place to educate, connect and support local communities and agriculture. Our goals are to:
-SUPPORT regional sustainable producers, by providing them with direct access to consumers.
-EDUCATE the public to the nutritional and economic benefits of buying locally and sustainably grown food directly from farmers.
UNITE farmers and communities."MFM has been a leader in providing local outlets for farmers and ranchers working to diversify their products. Marin producers, in particular, have found welcoming markets for their new products which has encouraged many food producers to diversify and direct market," says Robert Berner, Executive Director of Marin Agricultural Land Trust.
Sonoma Mountain Business Cluster (SMBC) was recognized in the The Light Bulb Went On (excellence in entrepreneurial and innovative leadership) category due to its innovation in creating Sonoma County's only business incubator devoted to growing and developing new businesses specializing in sustainable resources and socially relevant technologies. The Sonoma Mountain Business Cluster (SMBC) is the North Bay's first business incubator. Its mission is to create high value jobs in the North Bay by enabling and accelerating the success of technology startups within a dynamic sustainable and synergistic environment.
SMBC is a non-profit organization, and since opening its doors to clients in July of 2007, has rapidly built a thriving entrepreneurial community of startups and early stage technology companies. SMBC is a sector-focused technology incubator specializing in sustainable resources and socially-relevant technologies. SMBC offers a fabulous campus-like setting and is strategically located less than a mile from Sonoma State University in the heart of North America's most eco-conscious community at Sonoma Mountain Village (SMV).
As a business incubator, SMBC enables the success of its resident clients by providing two fundamental things:
-"Plug-and-play" furnished office suites
-A suite of free entrepreneurial business services, resources and support
Rohnert Park City Councilmember Vicki Vidak-Martinez says, "Magic happens every day at Sonoma County's first business incubator. Not only do they provide the playhouse, but clients are taught and helped to play the game. With an eye to ensuring the success of its clients SMBC is leading the way with a unique mix of coaching, mentoring, educational programs tailored to the diverse needs of entrepreneurs. New technologies created at SMBC will rejuvenate Sonoma County's technology industry, making it a recognized center for sustainability. Now that's leadership."
Roseland University Prep is being recognized for the Empowering the Latino Community (excellence in leadership within the Latino community) category due to their leadership in closing the achievement gap in education within the Latino community and promoting an increased number of high school graduates moving on to attend higher education. Roseland University Prep (RUP) was formed in 2004 by co-founders Gail Andrade Ahlas and Amy Jones-Kerr. Roseland School Board members fully supported the parent and community request to provide the choice to remain in the Roseland School District for their children's preschool through high school education. RUP is a public charter school and was designed to address the following challenges for Hispanic students in the community:
-Despite the millions of dollars spent on special programs, many minority students are trapped in a pattern of low expectations and failure. According to the California Department of Education, Hispanic students represent the fastest growing population in CA public schools.
-Test scores and graduation rates reveal that Latino students have the lowest overall educational attainment in California.
With great hopes, the 9th grade founding class began their high school career in a converted warehouse of three classrooms facing an abandoned feed mill on Sebastopol Ave. Despite more than humble surroundings that founding class has defied current statistics and met the mission of RUP:
"To provide a rigorous academic program focused on high school graduation and preparation for successful entrance to college."
Dan and Suzanne Lanahan, Lanahan & Reilly, LLC said, "The administration of RUP must be applauded for their innovative leadership and courage in creating such an outstanding educational opportunity for the Latino community; the faculty and staff for their selfless dedication to the success of their students; the students themselves for perseverance and diligence in their studies; and the volunteer community board of RUP for its outstanding fundraising efforts to insure every graduate can realize the dream of a college education."
The honorees received their awards at a luncheon featuring a keynote speech by Scott Simon, award-winning writer, journalist and National Public Radio (NPR) host. NBLC was proud and honored to welcome Mr. Simon as the keynote speaker for the 2008 Leaders of the North Bay Awards. From Ground Zero in New York to ground zero in Kabul, to police stations, refugee camps, snipers' roosts, subway platforms, and theater stages, NPR's Peabody-Award-winning Scott Simon has reported from all 50 states and every continent. He has covered ten wars, hundreds of campaigns, sieges, famines, hurricanes, earthquakes, civil wars, and scandals, state funerals and opening nights. He has interviewed and profiled some of the most interesting personalities of the times, from Mother Teresa to Ariel Sharon and Wyclef Jean, to roving street kids in Rio, and refugees in Kosovo, Ethiopia and Sudan.
"The honorees represent the best of the North Bay and serve as a reminder that we have extraordinary people and organizations whose leadership enriches the region and our lives," said NBLC Chair Pat Kendall, Kaiser Permanente.