Ten extraordinary individuals received Goleta’s Finest Awards on Friday night, celebrating their outstanding community contributions during the 74th annual ceremony sponsored by the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce.
“Every year, I try to remember to say how special this event is, but this year it’s incredibly special to me personally,” said Kristen Miller, president and CEO of the chamber, who has presided over the ceremony at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara for the past 22 years.
“This year almost feels like a retrospective of my life as I have a deep history with several of the amazing award recipients.”
Goleta’s Finest honors remarkable individuals and organizations whose contributions enrich the community.
Awards were presented by sponsorship partners and this year’s honorees were:
Woman of the Year — Joanne Funari
A “rock star” and “powerhouse of leadership,” were just a few words ascribed to Joanne Funari by presenter Trevor Large, a partner at Fauver Large Archbald Spray, in recognition of Funari’s 30-plus years of dedicated service to the community.
As COO at American Riviera Bank, which she calls “the happiest place on earth,” Funari has expanded financial service access, helping local businesses and individuals achieve their goals.
Her community leadership extends beyond banking, including board service with the Santa Barbara Zoo, Santa Barbara Police Foundation and the UCSB Economic Forecast Project.
She has been described by colleagues as “embodying the principle that it is more blessed to give than to receive.” She demonstrates this commitment each Christmas Day, serving meals to first responders at several fire stations.
Funari shared the success story of American Riviera Bank, which was formed in 2016 by the merger of two smaller community banks to create something “not just bigger but better.”
“We took two banks totaling $300 million in assets with three offices and transformed it into a thriving $1.5 billion bank with eight offices and 135 team members throughout Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties,” Funari said.
“This is what happens when you create a partnership based on a shared vision, common values and an unwavering commitment to excellence.”
In addition to crediting her whole team, Funari thanked her husband, Carlos, and son, Ryan.
Man of the Year — Bill Macfadyen
Introduced as “a true pioneer in digital journalism,” Bill Macfadyen is the founder and publisher of Noozhawk, the region’s only 24/7 professional local news site.
A visionary, Macfadyen transformed Santa Barbara County’s media landscape 17 years ago, focusing on round-the-clock, authentic, localized reporting.
His contributions to the community extend beyond journalism and include serving on the boards of the UCSB Economic Forecast Project, the Westmont College Foundation and the Santa Barbara Club.
He has also served two terms as board chairman of the Goleta Valley Chamber of Commerce and stayed on as co-chairman in the first year of the historic 2020 merger of the Goleta, Carpinteria Valley and Santa Barbara chambers of commerce.
“Yes, this whole online-only, professional local news thing was my cockamamie idea, and God blessed me with the most ideal opening and opportunity any new business could imagine, but I would not be up here without my colleagues — past and present,” Macfadyen noted.
He credited his teammates and business partners, Tom Bolton and Kim Clark, for their hard work in making Noozhawk the No. 1 source for local news and information throughout Santa Barbara County.
Referring to the City of Goleta’s transformation from its birth just a few years before Noozhawk was launched in 2007, he said “I’m proud of the work our journalists have done to keep the community informed at every tentative step, unexpected stumble and now-confident stride.”
Macfadyen thanked his wife, Missy, as well as his children — Will, Colin and Kirsten — all of whom have worked at Noozhawk, and his daughter-in-law, Colleen, who was home with Bill’s two grandsons.
Education Impact Award — UCSB Chancellor Henry Yang and Dilling Yang
For three decades, UC Santa Barbara Chancellor Henry Yang and his wife, Dilling, have profoundly impacted education and community life in Goleta.
During his tenure, Yang elevated UCSB’s academic reputation, making it a global leader in fields like material science and engineering.
In fact, the inaugural Times Higher Education Interdisciplinary Science Rankings, ranked UCSB No. 8 worldwide in the 2025 ratings and the university often ranks in the top 20 list of U.S. News & World Report.
“This award acknowledges the joint efforts of faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends and supporters in our community,” Yang said.
With an “endless list of people to thank,” he shared a few examples of successful collaborations that UCSB has enjoyed with the greater community, including the Harding University Partnership School that is benefiting local elementary school students, and UCSB’s Arts & Lectures program that enriches community life.
In addition, Yang discussed the importance of the Economic Forecast Project, and the incredible success of faculty and students who have created more than 90 start-up companies, making Goleta the No. 2 California start-up city outside of the Bay Area.
Under Yang’s guidance, the university has attracted six Nobel Prize laureates. To support faculty and career advancement, Dilling Yang established the Dilling Yang Staff Scholarship.
Nonprofit Leader of the Year — Rachael Steidl
Rachael Steidl has dedicated her life to addressing many needs in our community, particularly around parent resources and youth mental health.
“We all have a story to share,” said Steidl, who graciously accepted the award on behalf of her team, her husband, Jamie, and their three daughters: twins Ashley and Whitney, and Emily.
In fact, it was Steidl’s personal story that drove her to create YouthWell eight years ago, when her own daughter was struggling with a mental health issue.
Despite having a clinical background, insurance and living in this amazing community, Steidl could not access the care her family needed.
“Our story is not unique,” she said. “There are many families and students struggling to access mental health services.”
With her entrepreneurial spirit, Steidl gathered 50 community stakeholders to figure out how they could design a better system to remove barriers and increase access to services, emphasizing early intervention and prevention.
YouthWell was born and is now a vital resource in our community, giving youth and families on the South Coast a voice and access to essential support services.
“Each of us has have the power to make a difference and strengthen the heart of our community,” Steidl said.
“By educating ourselves on mental health disorders, showing compassion, listening and offering support, we can ensure that those who are struggling don’t have to face those challenges on their own.”
Volunteer of the Year — Javier Quezada
Javier Quezada embodies what it means to be a volunteer. His mantra is simple but profound: to leave a lasting impression and lead by example.
Quezada’s contributions span decades and impact dozens of local organizations, reflecting a commitment to uplifting the area that raised him.
He has served on the committee for the Goleta Lemon Festival for more than 10 years and serves on the boards of the United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County, the Page Youth Center, the Royal Pride Founation at San Marcos High School, and the Dental Care Foundation for Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
His contributions extend to the Rotary and Lions clubs of Goleta, United Way of Santa Barbara County, the Alzheimer’s and Heart associations, and financial literacy programs for local school districts.
“I do this because it’s what I love to do,” Quezada said. “It’s not for recognition, and none of this would be possible without the support of so many.
“I want to thank my village, which includes my work family, my Rotary family, and my mother, sisters and brother,” he said.
“I do this because I want this to be a place my kids, and future grandkids can hopefully come back to. My kids — Bryant and Callie — are my heartbeat and my wife, Kristen, is my rock.”
Civic Leader of the Year — Kelly Hoover
A self-described cheerleader for Goleta, Kelly Hoover’s career has been marked by passionate connection and service.
As the City of Goleta’s community relations manager, she has spearheaded transformative initiatives — including Make Goleta Count, Go Green Goleta and Good Land Good Shopping — driving community engagement in Goleta.
With a career spanning journalism and public service, including her tenure as a public information officer for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department, Hoover has consistently demonstrated a commitment to meaningful communication.
“The key to everything in life is communication,” she said, citing her lifelong passion for storytelling and making complex information accessible.
“To me, the most beautiful word in the English language is community,” she said. “To feel that I have impacted my community is such a huge compliment.”
Hoover’s professional philosophy of “growing where you are planted” has guided her approach to public service in Goleta, which she describes as “a small city trying to do big things.”
Hoover credits her success to supportive mentors, including Sheriff Bill Brown, her strong team,] and the unwavering support of her family, including her husband, Tim, and their four children, Chase, Grant, Savannah and Luke.
Student of the Year — Ilan Abramov
A senior at San Marcos High, Ilan Abramov has played a crucial role as co-captain of the Youth 4 Direct Relief Club, organizing fundraisers that have collectively raised more than $20,000 to support humanitarian aid worldwide.
His passion for this work is personal — originally from Ukraine, Ilan channels his commitment to helping others, particularly those impacted by the war in his native country.
“I am humbled to be recognized among such an inspiring group of leaders,” remarked Abramov, who thanked his parents for their “courage and sacrifice” in leaving Ukraine and coming to the United States.
“It’s a risk that paved the way for my sister and me to grow and thrive,” he explained.
Abramov also thanked his Youth 4 Direct Relief co-captain, Benjamin Watson, and San Marcos Entrepreneurship Academy director Graham Oleson, for “igniting my passion for entrepreneurship and youth financial education.”
Abramov founded the Money Mentors Club within the academy, which teaches financial literacy to fellow students.
“Young people are the future leaders of society,” Abramov said. “The lessons we learn today will shape our community.”
Emerging Nonprofit of the Year — Hearts Aligned
Founded by Vivian Solodkin as a legacy to her son, Carlos, who died at just 9 months old from a complex genetic heart defect, Hearts Aligned has become a critical support organization for low-income families with critically ill children in Santa Barbara County.
“Carlos spent six months of his life in the hospital,” Vivian recounted as she accepted the award.
“I met so many families struggling with having a critically ill child while also facing financial hardships; there were just so many stories that touched my heart.”
Solodkin started Hearts Aligned from her Goleta home, as a grassroots effort, providing assistance to families facing overwhelming medical and financial challenges.
Hearts Aligned offers direct financial support of up to $2,500 per family to manage expenses like travel, rent and household costs.
Additionally, the organization connects families with local resources and helps them navigate complex medical diagnoses.
In just three years, Hearts Aligned has supported 145 families with more than $187,000 in direct assistance.
Goleta Preservation Award — Robert Zaida and Gregg Wilson
Robert Zaida and Gregg Wilson received the Goleta Preservation Award for their work restoring the historic blacksmith shop at Rancho La Patera & Stow House.
The project was inspired by their friend, Tom Carron, who died from ALS, and whom they had originally worked with on the restoration.
Zaida and Wilson completed the project this year, honoring Carron’s memory and contributing to the preservation of local historical sites.
“Tom is the one who really got us all together and spearheaded this project,” said Robert Zaida, a Goleta resident and longtime community volunteer. “Tom was a man who had a love for life and a love for history and people.”
“I accept this award in memory of Tom and what he did for Stow House and for our community,” said retired UCSB swimming coach and community volunteer Gregg Wilson.
“I also want to thank the board of directors of Goleta Valley Historical Society, and my wife Carol, who served as past president.”
About Goleta’s Finest Awards
The 2024 Goleta’s Finest Community Awards Gala was presented by the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce.
Presenting Sponsors included American Riviera Bank, Community West Bank, ExxonMobil, Fauver Large Archbald Spray LLP, Lure Digital, Montecito Bank & Trust, The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Sable Offshore and UCLA Health.