• Chamber Announces 2017 Recognition Gala Winners

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    February 13, 2017
    Chamber Announces Award Winners for Annual Recognition Gala
    Westlake Village, CA The Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce will host their “BLACK & WHITE” Recognition Gala, on Friday, February 24, 2017 from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. at    Hyatt Regency Westlake honoring outgoing Chairman Matthew Midura of Pepperdine University and winners in seven different award categories.
     
    • Business of the Year – Sports Academy
    Sports Academy in Newbury Park is the only fully integrated, multi-disciplinary athletic training campus on the west coast, specializing in training athletes of all ages and ability levels to perform at their optimal state.  By combining sports skill and performance training assets with full medical and recovery capabilities, state-of-the-art technology (Biomechanics Lab, Mindset Lab) and the most accomplished coaches, trainers and service providers, Sports Academy has forever changed how any athlete gets better with their Full Circle training methodology.
     
    • Man of the Year – Ray Taylor, City of Westlake Village
    Ray Taylor has served as the City Manager for the City of Westlake Village for 24 years, playing in instrumental role in the city being recognized as one of the best run, most stable cities in Los Angeles County, if not the United States. He has guided the city to an enviable prominent national footprint with a combination of cutting -edge vision and commitment to community service while careful balancing the needs of residents and local business.
     
     
    • Woman of the Year – Natalie Mussi, Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center
    As President and CEO of Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center, Natalie Mussi oversees all operations for the three campus locations, including the main hospital, Thousand Oaks Surgical Hospital and the East Campus. Appointed in January 2014, Natalie is the first female CEO of the hospital and the youngest person to hold this position in the hospital’s 49 year history.  Under her approachable leadership style, Los Robles opened Ventura County’s only Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in May 2016 and operates as the only Level II Trauma Center in East Ventura County with over 600 board certified physicals on staff.
     
    • Nonprofit of the Year – New West Symphony
    Founded in 1995, the New West Symphony is a world-class professional orchestra that is the resident company of the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza.  It presents six Masterpiece Series concerts annually, performing major works from the symphonic repertoire with internationally-acclaimed artists and guest soloists.  It also provides quality outreach and educational opportunities for the communities it serves through its annual Symphonic Adventures concert programs for youth, its traveling Music Van, its VIP Family Club and Connect Club, bringing classical music to families and students.
     
    • Ambassador of the Year – Esther Bleuel, Tough Talk Coach
    Esther Bleuel has been a Chamber Ambassador since 2012 and currently serves on the executive committee as a team captain. She is a tremendous asset to the group who continually leads by example to inspire her team and shares her extensive knowledge of the people and businesses in the community. As the Founder of Tough Talk Coach, she provides executive coaching and training to empower employees to resolve conflict successfully, to have difficult conversations with ease and confidence, and to deal with challenging people effectively.
     
     
    • Volunteer of the Year – Felix Wang, BEST WESTERN PLUS Thousand Oaks Inn
    Felix Wang has made a tremendous impact at the Chamber through his involvement in the Conejo Valley Tourism Improvement District and most recently served as Chair in 2016. As the Owner & General Manager of the Best Western Plus Thousand Oaks Inn, Felix is unassuming and generous working closely with the youth groups associated with Thousand Oaks Rotary Club and always makes his hotel a welcoming gathering place for local groups who need a place to grow.
     
    • Corporate Sponsor of the Year –  The Oaks Shopping Center
    As the largest retail center in the Conejo Valley, The Oaks Shopping Center is home to over 150 retailers and restaurant destinations. The Oaks has been part of the Chairman’s Club program since 2012 and their platinum level sponsorship supports the Chamber in its mission of enhancing the profitability of local business. In addition to Chairman’s Club, they hosted cocktail event for our first class of 40 Under Forty honorees and hosted a VIP event for our Board of Directors and Ambassadors.
     
    Pre-sale tickets are $125 per person or $1125 for a table of 10 guests and available online at www.conejochamber.org through Monday, February 20, 2017.
     
    Award Sponsors: Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center, SoCalGas, Caruso, Wells Fargo, Pepperdine University, Montecito Bank & Trust, Frontier Communications, California Lutheran University Specialty Sponsors: PennyMac, Home Helpers Caregivers, XO Bloom, Wade’s Wines Supporting Sponsors: Cohen Begun & Deck, LLP, Dream-Ality Travels, Logix, The Oaks Shopping Center, Shire, The Acorn Newspapers Events Sponsors: AIM Resources Inc., Best Western Plus Thousand Oaks Inn, California State University Channel Islands, Hub International Insurance Services, Pacific Western Bank, PGA Tour, Corwin, U.S. Bank, Union Bank, University Village, Waste Management and Western States Petroleum Association.