Honold honored with Duflock Award
The El Centro Area Chamber of Commerce took delightful pride ushering its 111th year of thriving success in the Mirage Club at the Naval Air Facility El Centro, Thursday evening.
The sell-out gala is a prime opportunity to thank and show appreciation to all chamber members as well as recognize the recipients of the William G. Duflock “Business Leader of the Year” award and the Ambassador of the Year award.
Honored as the Business Leader of the Year was Jaime Honold, owner of Burgers and Beer.
He founded the business at 17 with his father and now has six locations in Southern California and Yuma.
Jaime is always giving back to the community, whether it is to the chamber or other nonprofits he is always donating something whether financial support or his time, recalled Darletta Willis, chief executive officer of the chamber.
A past president of the chamber, Jaime helped bring the Imperial Valley Off-road 250 race to the community followed by other successful motorsport competitions.
“He’s an absolute pleasure to work with and an amazing guy to collaborate with,” said Willis. “He’s just a community oriented guy and has been his entire life.”
Having known Jaime 15 years, Anne Irigoyean, co-owner of Ametza, a Valley hay exporter, would concur with Willis. They cooperated on initiatives in a variety of nonprofits together. “Jaime is absolutely service oriented, generous and community minded,” said Irigoyean.
Earning the Ambassador of the Year award was Victor Platero, account executive for Lamar Advertising of El Centro and Yuma, whose key to success is executing a campaign around a client’s specific, desired results.
Victor has a history of doing the heavy lifting for the chamber, whether it is setting up or dissembling chamber events he can be counted on, remarked Willis.
“Victor is always helping chamber members or recruiting new members,” recalled Willis. “He’s an exemplary ambassador and I like the fact whenever the chamber asks him to volunteer, he’s there for us.” In other business, the chamber warmly welcomed incoming President Jeff Sturdevant, of JCS Construction that does general construction as well as custom cabinets. It is difficult to imagine what the Valley was like 111 years ago noted Sturdevant and to realize the chamber has prevailed that long is amazing.
Sturdevant is encouraged about what has transformed since the 2008 recession. And in 2017, the chamber looks to focus on nothing so grand but what is effective for its 476 members — 46 who joined this year. Yet Sturdevant sees a state business climate where it is hade and harder for small business to survive owing to excessive business regulation.
“It’s harder for the small guys to sustain themselves and we even see larger firms leaving the state for Arizona, Texas and Nevada,” he said. “But I love it here out at (NAFEC). They’re a great partner, especially with the air show and gala. I can’t stress enough what a big part of the Valley’s economy they are.”