ANNUAL BUSINESS STAR AWARDS

 

SANTA BARBARA REGION CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Presents Annual Business Star Awards

January 2012

Awards to be presented at the January 20 Annual Lunch

 

The community is important to Mario and the Borgatello family because that was one of his father’s main teachings. His father always told him, “Never forget what has brought you to where you are.” We exist because of the community and we have to serve the community.”

What drives Mario is the thought that his family started in the ‘30s with nothing. It has been very gratifying for him to see the business grow in the spirit of honesty and integrity. For Mario, to see that one can offer a service, be fair to his customers and employees, and still make a profit is very inspirational.

Marborg and their family of employees have supported hundreds of local non-profit organizations. His son, Anthony, served as El Presidente of last year’s Fiesta.

This award is made to a chamber businessman, who through his actions is a role model for the local community. Past winners have been: Ed Heron, John Indrieri, Michael Towbes and 50 others.

 

In 2003, Kathleen Baushke, longtime volunteer, past board member, and the existing Assistant Director, became Executive Director of Transition House. She serves on the boards of Willbridge and Second Story. She has built Transition House into one of the finest non-profits in Santa Barbara. Transition House’s history of community support continues with over 40 service or faith-based organizations and 1,200 volunteers donating their time and talents each year. Area merchants help by donating time, materials, and contributions to the agency’s efforts. Many businesses also offer meaningful employment with benefits to residents of Transition House. Santa Barbara’s compassion, generosity and commitment to its neighbors will continue to support Transition House’s efforts in years to come.

Kathleen’s latest project, (“The Mom’s Project”), “will change the future for homeless and impoverished kids in our community,” Baushke say.  The agency has worked for years to secure funding for the project, the bulk of which comes from federal low-income housing tax credits, and competition is fierce, according to board president Craig Allen.  In addition to getting families off the streets and giving them a chance to restart their lives, Allen said the project has big financial benefits, too. The project’s construction budget is $3 million and will take a year to build, supporting local workers. Funding from Santa Barbara’s Community Development Department and the city’s Housing Authority was also used.  Other project partners include Montecito Bank & Trust, WNC & Associates Inc., Riverside Charitable Corp., Garden Court Inc., the Bower Foundation, Enterprise Community Partners, architects Christine Pierron and Mark Wienke, Frank Thompson Housing Consultants, Tracey Taylor, Keith Stanley, Horizon Development Consulting and Allen & Kimbell LLP.”

This award is made to a chamber business member making a significant contribution to the quality of life and economic vitality of the Region. Past winners have been: Montecito Bank and Trust, Tim Marquez Venoco, Yardi Systems, and 50 others.

 

Innovator of the Year: Dr Frank Doyle, UCSB inventor of the new insulin pump.

 

Dr. FRANCIS J. DOYLE III is the Associate Dean for Research in the College of Engineering at UC, Santa Barbara and he is the Associate Director of the Army Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies. He holds the Duncan and Suzanne Mellichamp Chair in Process Control in the Department of Chemical Engineering, as well as appointments in the Electrical Engineering Department, and the Biomolecular Science and Engineering Program.

 

The Doyle Group has reached a break through in the creation of smart artificial pancreas technology. The National Institutes for Health (NIH) have awarded $4.5 million to a group of international diabetes researchers to engineer an artificial pancreas system that will monitor and adapt to the body’s complex real-time changes in behavior and physiology. This collaboration between physicians and engineers aims to merge three key aspects of type 1 diabetes management – human behavior, physiology, and medical technology – and ultimately to transition their artificial pancreas technology into clinical practice.

 

"This is a groundbreaking project that assembles the world's leaders in artificial pancreas technology to not only expand in-clinic methods for control of blood sugar, but to pioneer the development of outpatient solutions that can bring improved quality of life to patients in their natural environment, This award is presented to Dr. Doyle for his contributions to scientific research, his invention of the artificial pancreas system designed to automate insulin delivery and his impact on the world.

This award is traditionally presented to an individual who has made a significant innovative contribution to positively impacting our world. Past winners include university chancellors, Nobel laureates, architects, researchers and inventors.

 

Youth Awards

Youth Innovation - Blake Colvin, Cupcakes for Cancer.

 

Youth Collaborator Award - Jose Lozano, Founder, Community Volunteer.

Jose Lozano is a senior at San Marcos High School. He has volunteered his time as a fundraiser and speechmaker for Computers for families, the Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, the Police Activities League, and the Fund for Santa Barbara. For years Jose has been mentored by attorney Joe Howell. In fact, Jose has spent so much time in Joe’s office that he is often considered “of counsel”. Jose is living proof that if you work hard and believe in yourself, there is no limit to what you can achieve.

 

Youth Businesswoman Award - Jackie Rotman, Everybody Dance Now.

Inspired in equal parts by her own dancing experience and the threats of gang activity, obesity, and low self-esteem in her area, Jackie founded Everybody Dance Now! to provide free dance programs to youth who could not otherwise afford them. Since 2005, EDN! has provided free hip-hop classes to more than 1,000 young people in our county, as well as equipped youth in eleven other cities throughout the country to create and sustain their own EDN! programs. Jackie’s organization seeks to transform the lives of youth through dance, leadership, and community.

Jackie is currently a senior at Stanford University.

 

Youth Businessman Award - Tony Jaconette, Entrepreneur.

Tony Jaconette says working with computers has always been a passion. As a high school student, he has successfully created a computer service company and a computer assembly operation. Tony is a role model for all high school students.