Annual Awards

For more than seven decades, the business community has come together each year to honor and recognize some of their peers who, in one way or another, have stood out, excelled, or demonstrated some trait of excellence that they feel deserves acknowledgement. Over the years, the format of the program has changed, the number of awards has varied, but through it all, what has been consistent has been that desire to recognize that which is good and great in our community.

Small, Medium, Large, and Non-Profit of the Year honors go to local organizations that have made significant contributions to the community or have served Visalia in exceptional ways over a number of years. Man & Woman of the Year honors local individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the community or have served Visalia in important ways over a number of years.

2027 Annual Awards

Every great community is built on great stories. Help us recognize the businesses and nonprofit organizations making a lasting impact in Visalia.
Submit a nomination by December 31 and share the story behind the people and organizations helping shape our community. Because every story deserves to be told.

 
 
Download Nomination Form

2026 Annual Awards

 
 
 

Man of the Year:
Mark Perry

Woman of the Year:
Merritt Wiseman

 
 

Non-Profit of the Year: The Source LGBT+

Small Business of the Year: Pacific Employers

 

Medium Business of the Year: The Naxon Group

Large Business of the Year: Visalia Ceramic Tile

 

Thank you to all of our amazing sponsors!

 
 
 
 
 
 

Past Recipients

  • 2026 - Mark Perry
    2025 – Greg Collins
    2024 – Armando Apodaca
    2023 – Marty Zeeb
    2022 – Bob Link
    2019 – William Martin
    2018 – Sam Logan
    2017 – Terry Ommen
    2016 – Tom Johnson
    2015 – Donn Ritter
    2014 – Bob Line
    2013 – Steve Salomon
    2012 – Tom Link
    2011 – Phillip Hornburg
    2010 – Alan George
    2009 – Allan Fisher
    2008 – William Nash
    2007 – Randy Zeeb
    2006 – Dr. Don Goodyear
    2005 – Frank Serpa
    2004 – Andy Mangano
    2003 – Bob Felts
    2002 – David Hyde
    2001 – Bruce McDermott
    2000 – Tony Salierno
    1999 – Cal Bennett
    1998 – Pete Giotta
    1997 – Harry Wood
    1996 – Eugene V. Ross
    1995 – Stan Simpson
    1994 – George Tiss, M.D.
    1993 – Bob Marshall
    1992 – Berkley Johnson
    1991 – John Castiglione, M.D.
    1990 – Andrew Balerud
    1989 – Reinold Peterson
    1988 – Bill Wittman
    1987 – Manuel Hernandez
    1986 – J.H. Brady, M.D.
    1985 – J. Pierce Gannon
    1984 – Dick Shannon
    1983 – James Mathews
    1982 – John Gates, M.D.
    1981 – Bob McLain
    1980 – Albert Pearson
    1979 – Bob Harrell
    1978 – Harry Tow
    1977 – Dudley R. Hadley
    1976 – John Brackett
    1975 – Bennett D. O’Dell
    1974 – Ben E. Russell
    1973 - G. R. Ruddell
    1972 – Edmund L. Vollmer
    1971 – Dana L. Clancy
    1970 – Maynard Faught
    1969 – Edmund Hurlbutt
    1968 – N. Elson Gaebe
    1967 – Wayne G. Shelley
    1966 – Lawrence J. Williams
    1965 – John Copley
    1964 – Allen Grant
    1963 – H. WM. Shenck
    1962 – Edward Mollan
    1961 – George Tschumy
    1960 – Wes Kottmeir, Sr.
    1959 – L.R. Quinby
    1958 – Ira J. Chrisman
    1957 – Jack L. Davis
    1956 – J. Thomas Crowe
    1955 – Stary Gange
    1954 – Roy McLain
    1953 – C.T. Buckman

  • 2026- Merritt Wiseman
    2025 – Susan Gambini
    2024 – Sharon Allison-Crook
    2023 – Sarah Ashoori
    2022 – Jody Line Gilman
    2019 – Susan Mathews
    2018 – Dena Cochran
    2017 – Kathleen Remillard
    2016 – Rita Crandall
    2015 – Barbara Mayeda
    2014 – Marie Morrison
    2013 – Nina Clancy
    2012 – Lynn Myrviss
    2011 – Barbra Hood
    2010 – Marilynn Mitchell
    2009 – Sherry Tietjens
    2008 – Karen Cooper
    2007 – Carolyn Rose
    2006 – Marilyn Barr
    2005 – Vicki Stasch
    2004 – Dru Quesnoy
    2003 – Jo Ann Ross
    2002 – Mary Salierno
    2001 – G. A. Gindick
    2000 – Mary T. Hill
    1999 – Kay Truesdale
    1998 – Rita Hill
    1997 – Marsh Peltzer
    1996 – Senaida Garcia
    1995 – Laurie Isham
    1994 – Pat Felts
    1993 – Sister Kenneth Quinn
    1992 – Betty Anthony
    1991 – Emily Johns
    1990 – Janet Sanford-Amandes
    1989 – Betty McLain
    1988 – Jane Bryant
    1987 – Katharine Nelson
    1986 – Mary Louise Vivier
    1985 – Mickie Robertson
    1984 – Sister Ursula Petemell
    1983 – Eunice E. Riso
    1982 – Nita Matthews
    1981 – Louise Wyeth
    1980 – Margaret Foley
    1979 – Juanita A. Hurlbutt
    1978 – Joyce Pearson
    1977 – Lillian Lewis
    1976 – Cleo B. Kertels
    1975 – Sylvia K. Johns
    1974 – Annie R. Mitchell

  • 2019 – Shelley Ellis & Zach Green
    2018 – Cody Stephens
    2017 – Brett Taylor
    2016 – JR Shannon
    2015 – Matt Seals
    2014 – Matt Graham, Jennifer Pendergraft, July Hong

Past Business of the Year Recipients

  • Large Business: Visalia Ceramic Tile

    Medium: The Naxon Group

    Small: Pacific Employers

    Non-Profit: The Source LGBT+

  • Large Business: ServiceMaster by Benevento

    Medium: Echelon Security Group Inc.

    Small: McKellar Ranch Company, Inc.

    Non-Profit: ProYouth

  • Large Business: Ace Hardware Distribution Center

    Medium: Valley Strong Credit Union

    Small: Visalia Cyclery

    Non-Profit: Able

  • Large – California Water Service

    Medium – QK

    Small – Topograph

    Non-Profit- Salt + Light Works

  • Large – American Ambulance

    Medium – Elite Medica

    Small – Ashoori & Co. Jewelers

    Non-Profit- Assistance League of Visalia

  • Large – Wyndham Visali

    Medium – 4Creeks, Inc.

    Small – Momentum Broadcasting

    Non-Profit – CSET

  • Large – Tucoemas Federal Credit Union

    Medium – Best Buy Market IGA Visalia

    Small – Zeeb Commercial Real Estate

    Non-Profit – Happy Trails Riding Academy

  • Large – Buckman-Mitchell, Inc.

    Medium – Provost & Pritchard Consulting Group

    Small – The Planing Mill Artisan Pizzeria

    Non-Profit – Central Valley Recovery Services

  • Large – KRC Safety

    Medium – Giant Chevrolet Cadillac

    Small – El Rosal

    Non-Profit – Bethlehem Center

  • Large – Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft Stores West Coast Distribution

    Medium – Seals/Biehle, Inc.

    Small – Companion Animal Medical Ctr.

    Non-Profit – Family Services of Tulare County

  • Large – Visalia Medical Clinic

    Medium – ServiceMaster by Benevento

    Small – Zylstra Automotive

    Non-Profit – CASA of Tulare County

  • Large – Valley Business Bank

    Medium – Visalia Rawhide Baseball Club

    Small – Gerald Schneider, DDS

    Agri – Koetsier Dairies

    Non-Profit – Visalia Rescue Mission

  • Large – Walmart

    Medium – Delta Nursing & Rehabilitation Center

    Small – Accelerated Receivables Group

    Agri – J.C. Landsdowne

  • Large – Visalia Community Bank

    Medium – Central Valley Business Forms

    Small – Franks’ Appliances

    Agri – Lagomarsino Group

  • Large – Costco Wholesale

    Medium – American Ambulance of Visalia

    Small – Ashoori & Co. Jewelers

    Agri – CRS Farming

  • Large – CIGNA Healthcare

    Medium – A& W Restaurants

    Small – K-Tip AM 1450

    Agri – World Wide Sires

  • Large – Family HealthCare Network

    Medium – Peninsula Messenger Service

    Small – Pacific Employers

  • Large – Jostens Printing

    Medium – Pine, Pedroncelli & Aguilar, Inc.

    Small – TPG Consulting

  • Large – Kawneer

    Small – Armstrong Property Management

  • Large – Groppetti Automotive

    Small – Star S. Publishing

  • Large – Kaweah Delta Health Care District

    Small – Total Office Products

  • Large – Visalia Times Delta

    Small – Williams, Jordan & Brodersen

  • Large – Holiday Inn Hotel & Conference Center

    Small – Sue Sa’s Creative Catering

  • Large – Access Capital Services, Inc.

    Small – Details Party Rental & Sales

  • Large – The Allen Group

    Small – Troy Korsgaden Insurance Agency

  • Large – Kraft Foods

    Small – ServiceMaster by Benevento

  • Large – Serpa Automotive Group, Inc

    Small – Premier Color Graphics Inc.

  • Large – All Estate Realtors

    Small – Sharp Insurance & Bonding

  • Large – San Joaquin Valley College

    Small – Mangini & Associates

  • Large – Taycal Press

    Small – KSEQ

  • Artis, Pine Berg & Scott, Inc.

  • Sequoia Beverage

  • Lewis & Associates

  • Provident Mortgage Company

  • The Vintage Press Restaurante

  • Medallion Supply, Inc.

  • Cal Bennett’s Office Supplies

  • Buckman-Mitchell Insurance Inc.

  • Real Fresh Inc.

Thank You to Our Premier Members For Your Continued Support