The Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce recognized outstanding community contributors at Friday’s 75th annual Goleta’s Finest Awards Gala.
“This evening we honor individuals whose stories speak to vision, generosity, resilience, innovation and heart,” said Kristen Miller, president and CEO of the chamber, who has presided over the ceremony at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara for the past 23 years.
Goleta’s Finest honors extraordinary individuals and organizations who have significantly contributed to the Goleta community.
Awards were presented by sponsorship partners, and this year’s honorees were:
Man & Woman of the Year – Ron and Pat Caird
Ron and Pat Caird accepted the Man & Woman of the Year Award as the husband-and-wife team behind Por La Mar Nursery—one of the region’s most respected horticulture centers and a business literally rooted in the Goleta Valley.
What began in 1973 as Ron’s vision for a small garden center on Anderson Lane with 6 acres and a VW van selling fruit out of the back, has grown into a thriving, four-generation enterprise celebrating more than 50 years in business.
High school sweethearts, Ron and Pat have built not only a family but an industry legacy.
“Theirs is a story of partnership of two people who built a business, raised a family, strengthened their industry and deeply invested in their community, always side by side,” noted presenting sponsor Trevor Large.
Reflecting on the honor, Pat said, “I paused and reflected on what we’ve done in the 62 years we’ve been married. We have been a team in every aspect of our lives. Starting at 20, we never gave it a thought — we took Ron’s vision and, as a team, took one day at a time, never really knowing what would come next.
“We had no idea we’d be here today accepting this award.”
Ron added, “Our entire family has been part of this team, and so have our employees—we have first-generation Hispanic employees and second-generation Hispanic employees, some who have worked for us for 50 years. It takes a family to raise a business like ours, and I want to thank our family and employees for their time and effort.”
Lifetime Achievement Award – Anant Yardi
Anant Yardi accepted the award with his characteristic humility, opening by admitting he had “some trepidations and some doubts about accepting,” joking that a lifetime achievement honor made him wonder, “Are they putting a book-end on my career?”
Yardi reflected on his journey to Santa Barbara, arriving in 1972 with “one suitcase and a few hundred dollars” before joining Burroughs Corporation and eventually meeting the “cute Australian lady” who would become his wife of 53 years. He spoke warmly about their family, including his 10 grandchildren, calling his life here “an amazing life.”
He traced Yardi Systems’ beginnings to 1984, when his employer left town and he and his wife chose to stay. His original goal was modest — “three employees, a professional services company” — yet four decades later the company spans 50 locations across four continents with 10,000 employees.
Yardi emphasized that this growth created the capacity to give back, noting the company’s support of 370 different nonprofits.
In his closing reflection, Yardi described what he considers “the most remarkable story” behind his life and work. It is, he said, the story of two immigrants finding opportunity, the story of a company built steadily over 40 years, and—most of all—the story of this country and its people, whose principles made both possible.
He praised “sensible immigration,” the “free enterprise system,” democracy, and “a culture of kindness and respect” as the four pillars that shaped his experience.
Nonprofit Leader of the Year – Ernesto Paredes
In a county with nearly 2,000 nonprofits, few people are known—and genuinely loved—across nearly all of them, yet that is how Ernesto Paredes was introduced, as one of those rare figures.
Raised just off Patterson Avenue, he found a sense of belonging at the Goleta Boys Club, a place that gave him “confidence, mentorship and purpose,” and set the foundation for a lifetime of giving back.
For more than three decades, Paredes has been a steady force in Santa Barbara’s social sector. As executive director of Easy Lift Transportation, he led the organization for more than 20 years, helping it become a statewide model for accessible transit and earning the distinction of California Transit Agency of the Year.
His impact extends across countless boards—Cottage Health, the Santa Barbara Foundation, the International Film Festival, the Towbes Foundation, and many more—earning him the affectionate title of “the mayor of nonprofits.”
Paredes accepted the award by honoring what he called his three families.
“I have my professional Easy Lift family, and I couldn’t do this work if I didn’t have such a great team,” he said.
He also recognized his nonprofit family, adding, “I love nonprofits, warts and all; when everything is in sync, we can do anything, and this community has proven that over and over again.”
He then turned to his personal family, with his brother, wife and children present, and spoke with emotion about his parents and grandparents, all of whom have passed away. Paredes credited his father for inspiring his commitment to service, dedicating the award to his parents and grandparents “who continue to inspire me.”
Volunteer of the Year – Jeff Zamora
Raised in a family where giving back was a way of life, Jeff Zamora was honored as Volunteer of the Year, recognized for a lifetime of generosity, resilience, and quiet, steady service across the South Coast, benefitting organizations such as the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation, Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, United Boys and Girls Clubs, Girls Inc., Unity Shoppe, the Santa Barbara Zoo, and the Goleta Lemon Festival.
But Zamora’s deepest commitment to service is rooted in personal loss, suffered 19 years ago when his 18-month-old son Jeffrey was diagnosed with leukemia.
“My giving back is personal… it was during that time that my life was changed by volunteers,” he said.
He recalled how volunteers showed up for his family in the hospital, bringing food, books, whatever was needed. After nine months, his son passed away, and Zamora made a promise: “I made a decision at that time that I wanted to make a difference. I told my son that I would do this.”
“Fast forward to when I got a call informing me that I had been nominated for this award, and I was blown away, I was speechless,” he said.
“Then a couple days later, I was out in Ellwood and it really hit me that I had made a difference, and I stopped and looked up at the sky and told my son: ‘We did it.’ Volunteering changes lives, and I think we all have some time that we can give to others.”
Educator of the Year – Sarah Ashton
A San Marcos High School alum, Sarah Ashton has spent 21 years teaching science, mentoring, and coaching at the school she once attended. Her passion for health education and mentorship has inspired generations of students.
“I’m truly privileged to teach in such a wonderful community, watching students grow, discover passions, and ultimately choose careers where they can thrive giving real meaning to my work,” she said.
Ashton accepted the award by thanking San Marcos students and families and the chamber team, stating: “I’m deeply humbled and grateful to work alongside so many dedicated teachers in Santa Barbara and Goleta. Your commitment to students makes this community extraordinary.”
She acknowledged the people who shaped her life and career, beginning with her parents: “Heartfelt thanks to my parents for always encouraging me to give my best… their model of hard work and service has shaped me as an educator.”
She also thanked her students, saying they are “the reason I do what I do,” and expressed appreciation for her husband Jeff, also a San Marcos teacher, for “listening to daily stories from my classroom and for tolerating the occasional science experiment in the kitchen.”
Ashton concluded by recognizing the mentors who guided her path, including her high school biology teacher, former athletic director Abe Jahadhmy, and her current principal, Dare Holdren.
Their support, she said, helped “open doors that led to the last 20 years of work that I love.” As she reflected on her career, she added: “Teaching keeps me learning, growing, striving and I’m grateful every day to work with students who inspire me.”
Health Impact Award – Arie DeJong
As vice president of Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital, Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital, and Therapy Services, Arie DeJong has been instrumental in expanding and modernizing the healthcare infrastructure that serves Santa Barbara County and was recognized for his achievements.
DeJong accepted the honor on behalf of the staff, physicians, volunteers and the Board, who work together to deliver outstanding care and make healthcare great in our community.
“At its core, healthcare is a promise by physicians, staff and the volunteers at Cottage to bring their best, to show up for people on their hardest days, to offer clinical excellence, a helping hand, hope when it feels out of reach, and to raise the standard of care of our community,” he said.
DeJong emphasized the strength of the region’s healthcare system, noting that Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital is a five-star rated U.S. hospital, and CRH, the Rehabilitation Hospital, is the premier rehab hospital between Los Angeles and the Bay Area.
He also described compassionate teams providing expert care for “brain injuries, strokes, spine, and general rehabilitation medicine,” and shared that CRH will relocate to the Goleta campus in 2026.
Looking ahead, DeJong spoke about ongoing growth: “Over the past few years, we have seen our hospital campus grow in ways that seemed unimaginable not long ago — every new provider, every new building, and every new program represents a step toward a healthier future for our region.”
Student Leader of the Year: Reese Large
San Marcos senior Reese Large was recognized as Student Leader of the Year for her creativity, initiative, and commitment to service. She began her leadership journey in junior high by founding Real Life, a mission-driven apparel company “to bridge human connection during COVID.”
The project has since evolved into Real Life Mentors, a program that brings nonprofit leaders into elementary schools to expose young students to new ideas, experiences and possibilities.
In her remarks, Large shared: “When I think about leadership, I think about small moments—times when I’ve helped someone feel seen, supported, and inspired.”
She described the heart of Real Life Mentors as an effort “to meet the nonprofit leaders who make the community what it is,” adding that her goal is simple: “to change at least one student’s life by introducing them to something they may never have known otherwise.”
Working with children, she said, taught her that “a child’s curiosity is a window into limitless possibilities,” and that leadership is “not about being the loudest voice in the room but helping others find and use their own voice.”
She thanked the San Marcos AAPLE Academy, her teachers, and especially her parents, “who taught me that leadership starts with hard work and doing the right thing, even when no one is watching,” as well as her four grandparents and her aunt and uncle, all in attendance.
Nonprofit of the Year: The Friendship Paddle & Keiki Paddle
The Friendship Paddle has been a lifeline in Santa Barbara for more than 20 years—representing a community of open-ocean paddlers who rally around families in crisis.
What began in 2003 with a small group of friends helping one family has grown into 23 crossings, dozens of families lifted, and millions of dollars delivered directly to people in immediate need
And in 2008 it inspired the creation of the Keiki Paddle, a youth-led companion event where kids ages 7 to 18 paddle across the Channel to raise funds and awareness for local children facing critical illness.
Anne Pazier presented the award to the nonprofit, sharing her firsthand experience of the paddle: “On the open water, you learn fast that no one does anything alone; the ocean humbles you, it strips everything down to truth, people beside you, stroke after stroke, refuse to let you drift.”
Pazier acknowledged the men in particular for modeling to our community’s young boys what masculinity looks like: “showing up, being steady, being soft when it matters, and brave enough to be vulnerable.”
Twenty years ago, one of the children watching the community hold his family was Tavis Boise, now president of the Friendship Paddle’s Board of Directors. He accepted the award on his nonprofit’s behalf, sharing how deeply the Paddle shaped him:
“When I was 12, my dad pulled my sister and I out of school to tell us our mom would die that year of cancer. As a 12-year-old, that is a weight you cannot carry as a kid, and no one can express what that weight is.”
A few weeks later, his family became the Paddle’s beneficiary and he described standing on the beach realizing he wasn’t alone: “I looked around and all the people there were there to support us—and that’s when the weight started to lift.”
Boise accepted the award with his board behind him, stating, “This award is validation of the work we’ve been doing and we are all so grateful.”
Education Impact Award: Dos Pueblos Mock Trial Team
The Dos Pueblos Mock Trial team was honored for its academic achievement, commitment to excellence, and far-reaching impact on students and the broader Goleta community.
The team recently made history by winning the Empire Philadelphia Constitutional Classic, a prestigious international mock trial competition, and has consistently received the County Title, 12 of the last 15 years.
In accepting the award, attorney and coach Christine Voss said, “It makes me especially proud to see a public-school team honored, because these kids represent the diversity of our community.”
Dos Pueblos teacher and coach Hannah Krieshok described mock trial as “part sport, part theater and part academic combat,” requiring students to learn real life evidence, to think on their feet, and to practice public speaking as they play the roles of attorneys and witnesses while competing against other schools.
“People ask what the magic of this team is,” said Voss. “Yes, they work long hours and learn complex material, but the real magic happens when these kids are their authentic selves. Their strengths and weaknesses naturally complement one another.”
In a complicated world, she added, “this group gives us confidence about our future. They see problems as challenges, disagreements as opportunities for collaboration, and they solve conflict with words.”
Krieshok concluded by recognizing the community that sustains the program: “It is always an inspiration to watch mock trial students grow within this amazing community of attorneys, parents, alumni, donors, and volunteers. Bringing together people from such different walks of life has fostered students who are smart, outspoken, open-minded, and kind.”
Student of the Year: Kennedy Fick
Kennedy Fick accepted the Student of the Year award with clarity of purpose. Reflecting on her journey, she shared:
“I always return to the little girl who loved being known for being overly smart—the kid who aced every test, triple-checked her homework, and chased every gold star, not out of pressure, but out of joy.” Over time, she said, that joy became “discipline, curiosity and leadership—the belief that if you’re going to show up, you show up fully.”
She described leadership as an act of purpose and vulnerability. “For me, academics have never been about perfection for perfection’s sake. They’ve been about intention… about studying with purpose, pushing yourself into the community, and pursuing knowledge not just to achieve, but to grow.”
Her work as CALM’s Teen Ambassador and mental health advocate has been especially meaningful: “Sharing my own story boldly has shown me that leadership isn’t defined by moments when it’s easy, but when it’s honest, when it’s brave, and when it’s deeply personal.”
A San Marcos junior, Fick has served as AAPLE Academy president, leads the Cyber Tutor program supporting first-graders, teaches youth dance, and volunteers with community health and wellness programs.
Her advocacy began with her own childhood experience at CALM, where she learned resilience and later returned as their first teen ambassador. Today, she uses her voice to reduce stigma, encourage compassion, and help young people feel seen and supported.
About Goleta’s Finest
The 2025 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, Cottage Health, Cox Communications, ExxonMobil, Fauver Large Archbald & Spray LLP, The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara Foundation, and UCLA Health.
