Moorpark Chamber of Commerce Names Man, Woman of the Year

This week, the Moorpark Chamber of Commerce honored some of the City's finest at its annual community awards luncheon.

Nominees were taken from members of the community and awards were presented Thursday at the Moorpark Country Club.

“As nominees you have impressed not only the person who nominated you, but countless others who live and work in Moorpark,” Chamber Chairman Robert Sichmeller told nominees. “Not every one will be awarded top recognition, but each of you need to know that you play an vital roll in our community,” he said.

Winners for the man and woman of the year were Bruce Thomas and Debbie Aquino. Thomas, a Moorpark Unified School District board member, is a 23-year Moorpark resident who's been involved in Moorpark Little League, Boy Scouts of America, Moorpark Boys and Girls Club and Moorpark High School's Booster Club. A 20-year Marine Corps veteran, he served as the American Legion Post 502 commander for eight years, is a member of the noontime Rotary Club and was active with the High Street Theater Foundation.

Aquino has lived in Moorpark since 1986. She is an eight-year member of the Conejo Valley Rotary Club, cofounder and president of Women of Worth, president of WINS (Women in Networking), where she's served on the board of directors since 2005 and serves on the board of directors of the Moorpark Chamber. Aquino contributes to Society Magazine and teaches computer graphics classes at the Simi Valley Adult Center and owns Black Star Graphics in Moorpark.

In all, nominees in 10 categories—Man and woman of the year, Chamber member of the year, entrepreneur of the year, youth, educator, senior and public servant of the year, volunteer of the year and non-profit and service organization of the year—were introduced before winners were announced. Following are nominees and winners in each category:

Man of the year: Bruce Thomas. Other nominees were Eric Dee, Jorge Espinoza, Lewis Herms, Steve Kueny, Dean Lesiak, Scott Mosher, Dale Parvin and Doug Ridley.

Woman of the year: Debi Aquino. Other nominees were Lillian Canterbury, Joan Martinez, Barbara Orechoff, Janice Parvin, Linda Plaks, Ellen Smith and Kim Tedder.

Chamber member of the year: Lenore Hatzenbiler. Other nominees were Eric Arnaud, Tania DeHaz, Kim Ewing, Diane Hedding, Shawn McCarthy, Clark Neel, Barbara Orechoff and Jim Raulin.

Entrepreneur of the year: Mike and Dayna Lemmo. Other nominees were Jim Raulin, Kim Tedder, Daniel Groff, Kim and Jeff Johnson, Mike Manchuryan and Ben Gilbert.

Educator of the year: Richard Jenkins. Other nominees were John Baker, Rolland Petrello, Carol Hartnett, Ray Hebel, Claudette Palmer, Jackie Pinson, Ellen Smith and Mike Winters.

Youth of the Year: Tyler Cherry. Other nominees were William Estland, Phillip Oh, Breanna Pflaummer, Olivia Sichmeller and Danielle Starr.

Senior of the year: Pete Duncan. Other nominees were Joe Catrambone, Anne Dickson, Pam Lopez, Dale Parvin, Lyle Pennington, Jack Scroggins and Mary Schwabauer.

Public servant of the year: Steve Kueny. Other nominees were Bob Berger, John Brand, Lisa Leal, David Moe, Scott Mosher, Ron Nelson, Janice Parvin, David Pollock, Hugh Riley and Ernie Villagas.

Volunteer of the year: Eric Dee. Other nominees were JP Alvarado, Lillian Canterbury, John Cleary, David McCormich, Barbara Penny, Jim Raulin and Dan Toomey.

Non-profit/service organization of the year: Moorpark Food Pantry. Other nominees were AYSO, American Legion Post 502, Moorpark Arts Foundation, Moorpark Boys and Girls Club, Friends of the Library, HOY, Moorpark Historical Society, Moorpark Kiwanis Club, Loving Heart Hospice Foundation, Rotary Club of Moorpark, Moorpark Morning Rotary Club, Moorpark Toastmasters, United Blood Service and Moorpark Women's Fortnightly Club.