Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce Holds Installation, Award Banquet

MORENO VALLEY>> The Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce 2017 Installation and Awards Banquet was held on Friday, Jan. 27, 2017 and featured an evening of recognition and awards. Jaime Hurtado, Chief of Staff for Riverside County 5th District Supervisor Marion Ashley, emceed the evening that began with Oscar Valdepeña, President/CEO unveiling the Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce's new logo. The new logo features blue and red colors with an illustration of the landmark "M" on the mountain. The 2017 Business of the Year Awards were given to CrossFit Southbell for Small Business of the Year; Morning Optimist Club of Moreno Valley for Medium Business of the Year; and Stater Bros. Market for Large Business of the Year. The event also featured the swearing in of 2017 Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors including Carolyn Andersio, Waste Management; Rod Ballance, Bud's Tire Pros; Donna Bennett, Riverside University Health System; Bill Chamberlain, Raceway Ford; Debbie Church, Riverside Medical Clinic; Tina Covington, Altura Credit Union; Jamil Dada, Provident Bank; Jeremy Garzon, State Farm Insurance; Shanna Palau, City of Moreno Valley; Howard Saner, Riverside Physician Network; Corey Seale, Kaiser Permanente; Robert Then, Tarbell, Realtors; Betty Nunez, Ayres Hotel & Spa; Danielle Wheeler, March Joint Powers Authority; and Karyn Young-Lowe, Lighthouse Social Service Center. The board was sworn in by Michael Hestrin, Riverside County District Attorney. The evening concluded with Valdepeña presenting the 2017 Citizen of the Year Award to Ross Nakatani. Nakatani was selected by a committee which included past Citizen and Business of the Year award recipients. Nakatani was a volunteer firefighter, past president and treasurer of the Moreno Valley Volunteer Firefighters Association and Volunteer Firefighter of the Year. He served as an EMT and fire apparatus engineer. He began his relationship with the Five Nations District of the Boy Scouts as a scoutmaster. He is a member of the executive board of the California Inland Empire Council and is currently the Chartered Org Rep for Troop 100 in Moreno Valley and the chairman of the Moreno Valley Distinguished Citizen Dinner for the Five Nations District of the Boy Scouts. He is involved with the Elks Lodge where he is treasurer, and is foundation chairman and a past president of the Moreno Valley Noon Rotary Club and is instrumental with the continuation of the club’s 40-year-old Annual Truck Party.