Eight people were honored Friday night with the 73rd annual Goleta’s Finest Award, at a celebration held at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara.
“Goleta is a place we call the Goodland for good reason,” said Kristen Miller, president/CEO of the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce, who welcomed nearly 400 guests to the packed ballroom.
“Once known for lemon orchards, Goleta is now the infrared capital of the world,” Miller said. “While we still have the beautiful orchards, our channel is now a whale sanctuary, and our technology is on the Hubble telescope, the Mars Rover and the first lunar vehicle landing.
“It’s a good land, but it’s the people who make it special, innovating, volunteering, learning and leading, teaching and coaching, and serving our community.”
Goleta’s Finest honors some of those remarkable individuals and organizations whose contributions enrich the community.
Here are this year’s award recipients:
Jackie Parker — Woman of the Year
At 90 years young, Jacki Parker is a woman who has done it all: entrepreneur, business owner, board member, volunteer, financial advisor, musician, mother (to five daughters), grandmother (to 18 grandchildren) and great-grandmother (to four).
Parker has been in Goleta for 60 years, and as a property owner, she and her family have been instrumental in preserving the historic nature of Old Town Goleta’s business landscape, owning buildings that house cherished family-run establishments such as Goleta Bakery, Domingo’s and La Chapala.
Her tenants describe her as “a warm presence and a heroine who is compassionate, caring and kind.”
Parker’s late husband, Dr. Robert Parker, pioneered medical care as the first surgeon at Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital, and three of her five daughters work in the health field as physicians and nurses, extending the family’s influence in the local health care system as well.
Parker has served on the Goleta Chamber of Commerce and as an advisor to Alpha Phi sorority at UCSB. She still plays her trumpet in Santa Barbara’s Prime Time Band.
In accepting her award Parker reflected on her decades in Goleta recalling “the good old days,” and proudly proclaiming to widespread applause: “Damn Right, I Do Business in Goleta!” putting a twist on a similar Facebook group name.
Marty Plourd — Man of the Year
Marty Plourd has been president of Community West Bank, Goleta’s original business bank, for more than 12 years, supporting the growth of many local businesses.
In addition to his professional contributions, Plourd serves as a Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital Foundation trustee, a Rotary Club member, an advisory board member for the College of Agriculture at Cal Poly Pomona, and a volunteer with the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara.
Plourd also served on the Goleta Chamber of Commerce board, elevating community events at the Lemon Festival and Goleta’s Finest.
Driven by the desire to do meaningful work and make the world a better place, he strives to do his best wherever he is involved. Calling Goleta “The Great Land,” Plourd acknowledged his joy of living, working and serving in Goleta.
“This award means a lot to me, and I want to especially thank my wife, Kristie, who makes it all possible,” he said upon acceptance. “And to thank everyone for allowing me to be a part of this community.
“You’ll never be perfect at anything – it’s a journey and I’m honored to share my journey with you.”
Scott Guttentag — Educator of the Year
Affectionately known as “Scotty G” or “Mr. DP,” Scott Guttentag arrived at Dos Pueblos High School 34 years ago with the mission “to find the students who were falling through the cracks and let them know I see them.”
His goal has remained steadfast for more than three decades – supporting students through graduation.
As the activities director, Guttentag said his classroom is a venue for all DP students, and added that he is energized by both those students who love academics and those who find it challenging.
“For me, the cheer ‘We are DP’ isn’t just a slogan, but a mantra I respect and live by every day,” he said.
Guttentag thanked his children, friends, colleagues, and mentor, Steve Meister, paying special tribute to his wife, Natalie, who he said makes his work possible.
Valeria Tiburcio Romo — Student of the Year
Serving as both sophomore and junior class president at Dos Pueblos High School, Romo now is the ASB President for the 2023/24 school year.
Described as a “change maker,” Romo is a staunch advocate for the LatinX community, sharing that her passion is to speak for others who struggle to speak for themselves, and to ensure all students and their parents have the support they need to be successful.
“I never saw being first generation as a burden,” said Romo. “Instead, it has made me appreciate opportunities I was given and search for the ones I was not.”
While many other students relied on their parents’ knowledge and support, Romo said she had to navigate her academic journey with little parental support, but always guided by five words her parents instilled in her.
“Times like these remind me what my parents say to me every day,” she said. “¡échale ganas!, roughly translated to ‘work hard, you got this,” a mantra that continues to inspire Romo’s pathway.
Demis D. John, PhD — Innovator of the Year
Demis John’s role at the UCSB’s Nanofabrication Facility has been groundbreaking, but it’s his gentle and enthusiastic work to improve the Goleta business climate for high tech and manufacturers that make him the Innovator of the Year.
A self-described “geek for microchips,” John spearheads the Technology Roundtable, uniting local high-tech and manufacturing industry leaders to the Chamber of Commerce and the community.
He has also pioneered educational avenues for individuals to dive into the semiconductor and advanced manufacturing sectors. His vast network continues to create invaluable opportunities for students, fortifying the local tech ecosystem’s future.
His contributions improve the scientific landscape and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of technology in Goleta and beyond.
In addition to his tech contributions, John and his family deliver homemade food (prepared by his wife) to underprivileged groups in Isla Vista.
“There are so many amazing high-tech companies in our area,” said John. “I came to UCSB because of its unique collaborative culture and this culture is part of the fabric of Goleta. I am honored to receive this award.”
Allison Gray — Public Servant of the Year
Allison Gray received this award on her birthday, calling it “literally the best birthday present I’ve ever received, and the most unexpected.”
With an extraordinary 37-year career in library services, Gray retired earlier this year as library director at the Goleta Valley Library, where she worked for 15 years.
Her tenure was marked by a steady commitment to literacy, accessibility and innovation. Gray is a fierce advocate for youth literacy, and was instrumental in guiding the library through the challenging COVID-19 closures, ensuring that the community continued to have access to essential services.
Gray thanked her late mother, who for 27 years served as the library director in East Hampton, New York, and was “a shining example of what it means to be a public servant.”
Gray also worked in New York and shared the story of her Long Island library in the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks.
“Our community had been impacted and people came to the library seeking community, and a sense of togetherness,” she said. “It was at this point that I realized the importance of libraries and it has informed my work ever since. I try to give my all every day to my community.”
Fritz Olenberger — Volunteer of the Year
Following his retirement as an electrical engineer from Raytheon, Fritz Olenberger has been an invaluable asset to the Goleta community, by supporting numerous nonprofits, performing arts organizations, and museums with his exceptional volunteer photography.
From the roof of the mission to the middle of the streets during Fiesta parades to the Santa Barbara International Film Festival red carpet, Olenberger’s photos represent a treasure trove of local history that define our community.
“Our community has a disproportionately high number of nonprofit organizations, and we have a disproportionately high number of volunteers, and to be singled out as volunteer of the year is incredibly humbling,” said Olenberger, who also paid tribute to his wife, Gretchen, whom he called his “smiling ambassador.”
Christine LeBon — President’s Award
Christine LeBon exemplifies the ethos of giving back and her extensive contributions illustrate the spirit of community and the spirit of generosity.
This award honors Christine’s 28 years of dedicated service to many local nonprofits, among them the Goleta Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club of Goleta, Unity Shoppe, Lobero Theatre, and Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
Yet, she may best be known for her remarkable 15-year association as touring ambassador with Santa Barbara Airbus, an organization she calls “her family.”
“I am humbled to receive this award, and have so much gratitude in my heart,” said LeBon. “I’d like to leave you with this advice – create memories, because they are everlasting and tonight will be an everlasting memory for me.”
About Goleta’s Finest Awards
The 2023 Goleta’s Finest Community Awards Gala is presented by the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce.
Presenting Sponsors included American Riviera Bank, Fauver Large Archbald & Spray LLP, The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Community West Bank, ExxonMobil, Pacific Premier Bank, and UCLA Health.
Silver Sponsors included Atlantic Aviation, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, Courtyard by Marriott Santa Barbara Goleta, Cox, Edhat, Latitude 34 Technologies, MarBorg Industries, Nicholson & Schwartz, Noozhawk, Santa Barbara Airport, Scale Microgrid Solutions, Residence Inn by Marriott Santa Barbara Goleta, Signature Flight Support, Southwest, Teledyne FLIR, The Towbes Group, UC Santa Barbara, Village Properties, and Workzones.
