Read the Clovis Chamber’s Press Release & Media Advisory About the Annual Membership & Salute to Business Dinner

We are proud to share our Press Release and Media Advisory about our 2018 Annual Membership & Salute to Business Dinner.

PRESS RELEASE

Press Contact: Greg Newman, Executive Director
Telephone: (559) 299-7363

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.clovischamber.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 23, 2018

Celebrate Successful Business at the Clovis Chamber’s Annual Dinner

For Immediate Release

January 23, 2018 – Clovis, CA. The Clovis Chamber of Commerce is holding their 2018 Annual Membership and Salute to Business Dinner this Thursday, January 25^th, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m., at Classic Catering in Old Town Clovis. This annual dinner is a time of celebration where farewells are shared with the 2017 Board of Directors and fresh faces are welcomed in 2018. Following an elegant dinner, many awards will be presented to local business leaders in homage of their challenging work and dedication in improving our local community. The Clovis Chamber of Commerce 2018 Board of Directors will be installed and sworn in and the outgoing Chair, Layla Forstedt, of the Fresno/Clovis Convention & Visitors Bureau will pass her gavel to the incoming Chair, James Dunn, of California Health Sciences University.

Join us in recognizing Dr. Janet Young as the recipient of the prestigious Einar Cook Award for 2017.

Dr. Janet Young served as Superintendent of the Clovis Unified School District (CUSD) beginning in July 2011 and retired in June 2017. For Dr. Young, assuming the role of Superintendent capped a 39-year career in CUSD that began when she first joined the District as a first-grade teacher in 1979. Her professional experiences in Clovis Unified prior to being named Superintendent provided her with extensive knowledge of both the instructional and business division of the District, and included holding the positions of Teacher, Learning Director, Principal, Director of School and Community Relations, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, and Associate Superintendent of Human Resources for the District’s approximately 6,000 employees and more than 42,000 students. In 2007, Dr. Young was honored with CUSD’s Crystal Award, the highest form of employee recognition granted by the District. In 2008, she was recognized as a Top 10 Business Woman of the Year by Fresno’s Marjaree Mason Center; and in 2012, Dr. Young received the Noted Alumni Award from the Kremen School of Education and Human Development at California State University, Fresno.

The Clovis Chamber of Commerce will also honor the 2017 Business of the Year, Hedrick’s Chevrolet.

This dealership originally opened its doors in 1944 as Hallowell Chevrolet in downtown Clovis. Bill Hedrick joined the Hallowell Chevrolet team in 1959 as a parts driver and began selling cars for the company in 1963. He later achieved the role of partner with Mr. Hallowell in the late 1970’s. In 2000, Bill and Brett bought the business from Mr. Hallowell and changed the name to Hedrick’s Chevrolet in 2005. Through it all, Bill continued to keep their cattle ranch business going while managing the dealership. Today, he still works as President of Hedrick’s Chevrolet and strives to prioritize employee happiness, customer satisfaction, and excellence in service. Brett Hedrick began working for the company in 1978 and has remained a critical leader of this organization since 1984. Today, Brett’s son Blake works full-time at Hedrick’s Chevrolet, further continuing the family legacy.

Carole Lester of the Business Organization of Old Town Clovis, B.O.O.T., will also be recognized as the 2017 Business Person of the Year.

Carole began her business career with Title Insurance & Trust in Fresno. For over 20 years, Carole worked in downtown San Francisco for various title companies in sales and business development management roles. She and her husband moved back to the Central Valley in 2003 and settled in Clovis. Soon after, Carole started working for the Fresno Historical Society as the Public Relations and Events Director. She put on six Civil War events with her biggest contribution being the coordination of the Sesquicentennial Parade for Fresno County’s 150^th birthday. Carole joined the Business Organization of Old Town (B.O.O.T) in 2010 and went to work expanding the local Farmer’s Market and rejuvenating unique events, like the now-popular Wine Walk and Craft Beer Crawl among others, to attract more people to visit, shop, and enjoy the charms of Old Town Clovis. Today, the results of her efforts, along with supportive Board Members, staff, progressive merchants, and new businesses moving into Old Town are evident.

The Clovis Chamber is thankful for their many Annual Dinner sponsors – especially the Fresno/Clovis Convention & Visitors Bureau, who is this year’s Title Sponsor. The Chamber would also like to thank Premier Sponsors, Donaghy Sales and Moore Than SEO, as well as Gold Sponsor; Republic Services and Silver Sponsors; Clovis Community College, California Health Sciences University, Fresno County EDC, House of JuJu, and Sol-Tek Industries, Inc. The support of these local sponsors enables the Chamber to host this wonderful annual event.

The Clovis Chamber of Commerce will also present awards for the 2017 Ambassador of the Year and Director of the Year. Don’t miss this opportunity to salute local business and commerce in the Central Valley of California! For more information, or to secure media reservations to this sold out event, contact Greg Newman, Executive Director, at (559) 299-7363.

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MEDIA ADVISORY