Several local business professionals and community volunteers
were among the two dozen men and women honored at this year’s
Spirit of Sonoma Awards, sponsored by the county’s Economic
Development Board.
Each honoree was nominated by a business trade organization or
chamber of commerce.
The 11th annual ceremony was held last Friday, Dec. 2 at the
Rohnert Park Double Tree Inn.
Armando and Lucy Coronel, El Coronel Mexican Restaurant were
nominated by the Sebastopol Area Chamber of Commerce. Earlier this
year the El Coronel Mexican Restaurant was named Business of the
Year by the chamber.
Beth Rudometkin, branch manager of the Guerneville Community First
Credit Union, was nominated by the Russian River Chamber of
Commerce. She has been an active volunteer in the Guerneville and
Russian River communities for many years. She organizes the annual
Holiday Prince and Princess Dinner and Crowning Ceremony that was
held this year last Friday, Dec. 2 the same day as the Spirit of
Sonoma Awards.
North County honorees were as follows:
George and Debbie Georgeson, original owners of the McDonald’s
restaurants in Windsor, Healdsburg and Cloverdale were nominated by
the Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce. The couple was recognized for
three decades of support for youth sports and other community
activities. George is a longtime member of the Greyhounds Boosters
and is a Healdsburg Boys & Girls Club supporter, among other
community activities.
The Georgesons recently sold their business but continue to reside
in Healdsburg.
The Geyserville Chamber of Commerce selected Joel and Kathy Zunino,
owners of Gehrett & Zunino Builders, Inc. The Zuninos are long
time Geyserville residents and have remained active in the chamber,
fire department and other community endeavors.
John Reyes, of Sanderson Ford, was selected by the Windsor Chamber
of Commerce for his leadership in two terms as chamber president
and ongoing community and business community involvement. Reyes is
also a very active volunteer and recent board member at the Sonoma
County Council on Aging.
Windsor real estate broker Tom Lawrence was honored by the North
Bay Association of Realtors. Also a Windsor Chamber leader,
Lawrence is associated with the Wine Country Group by BHG Realty in
Healdsburg. He was previously honored by the Windsor Kiwanis Club
as a Duke of Windsor.
Rodney Strong Vineyards’ Doug McIlroy was nominated for a Spirit
Award by the Sonoma County Winegrape Commission. He was recognized,
in part, for his ongoing work in the industry on water conservation
and other growing innovations.
Dave Pinsky, a leading volunteer at the Pacific Coast Air Museum
was selected for the Spirt of Sonoma Award by the Mark West Chamber
of Commerce. Pinsky was instrumental in securing the museum’s
newest attraction, an F-11 that flew over New York on 9/11 after
the terrorist attacks.
Other 2011 Spirit of Sonoma honorees included: Mike Nixon, of Nixon
Financial, was the nominee from the Cloverdale Chamber of
Commerce.
The Spirit of Sonoma Awards Program was first held in 2000 and
continues to honor business leaders who contribute to the economic
development and further enhancement of the communities in which
they “live, work and conduct business.”
