Readers’ Choice Gala celebrates Valley favorites
EL CENTRO — Finalists from more than 130 categories packed the Old Eucalyptus Schoolhouse Wednesday event to see who had been selected by Imperial Valley Press readers as their favorites.
The fifth annual IV Press Readers’ Choice Gala saw the largest turnout in the event’s history, as it sold out its more than 400 seats.
This year also saw the largest participation in voting, with 114,871 collected votes from 6,231 registered participants. Last year, 71,000 votes were cast from about 5,000 voters.
“In our business, we interact with local businesses and the community on a daily basis,” Imperial Valley Press General Manager Alexis Singh said. “Being able to put on such a great event — and sell out — is a great way to put the two together to make that connection. We could not have put on this event without the support of our sponsors and those businesses that purchased tickets. Congratulations to all winners and finalists in their categories.”
The event continues to allow IV Press readers to show their love for their favorite local businesses, organizations and services by voting for candidates representing 133 categories. Winners receive a framed certificate and year-round bragging rights.
A list of the 137 winners (as some categories had a tie) will be published June 2 in a special section of this newspaper. In the meantime, those in attendance Wednesday were able to see firsttime and repeat winners celebrate after winning in highly contested categories such as Best Bank or Credit Union, Best Fitness Club and Best Desserts.
A highlight of the event was the presentation of this year’s IV Press Legacy Award, which went to Rogers & Rogers Auto Group in Imperial and was accepted by owners Les and Terri Rogers.
“It’s just been a real honor to receive this award,” Les Rogers said. “I’d like to thank the IV Press and the committee that voted me in.”
Previous recipients of the award, which was created to recognize a local business that embodies a balance of passion, quality, creativity and involvement with the community, include Johnny’s Burritos, Imperial Stores, Vessey & Co., and Burgers & Beer.
Les Rogers’ grandfather, Les Rogers Sr., began the family’s automotive business in the early 1920s with Dodge and Plymouth dealerships in Brawley and El Centro.
Rogers Sr. stayed in business until the late 1940s and passed away in 1948.
Les’ father, Bill, and uncle, Floyd, entered the business as used car salesmen and eventually formed Rogers & Rogers Inc. in 1951 with sites up and down Broadway in El Centro.
Years after the passing of his father, Les acquired the Toyota store in 1998. He later acquired the Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge store in 2010 and, most recently, the Kia store in 2018.
For more than 90 years, auto dealerships owned by the Rogers family have been popular destinations for Imperial Valley families and businesses in need for new vehicles.
“We’ve been very fortunate to have a lot of success here in the Valley thanks to mainly all of my employees,” Les said. “Without them, nothing would be possible. And of course, my family has always been involved in the dealership.”