Last Friday, September 22, at Milpitas’ Embassy Suites Hotel (901 E Calaveras Blvd.), the Milpitas Chamber of Commerce held its 2023 Awards Gala.
Most of the current lineup of Chamber Board Members was present to be formally sworn in by Milpitas Mayor Carmen Montano. They are: Jennifer Cullenbine (President), John Agg (Vice President), Kelly Yip-Chuan (Vice President), Armando Gomez (Corporate Secretary), Anu Nakka (Treasurer), Tim Alcorn, Larry Ciardella, Juliette Gomez, Francisco Hernandez, Casey McNeil, Sonia Medina-Ashby, Norma Morales, Chris Norwood, and Victor San Vicente.
Cullenbine and Hernandez gave opening remarks, with Hernandez on the mic throughout the evening to MC.
The 2023 award winners were:
Citizens of the Year
Andy and Sharon Dyson
Police Officer of the Year
Tailor Goods, MPD
Ambassador of the Year
Kelly Yip-Chuan, Platinum Realty Group
Corporate Citizen of the Year
Casa Azteca
Firefighter of the Year
Kristen Cunningham, MFD
Businessperson of the Year
Debbie Koelbl, Nothing Bundt Cakes
Non-Profit of the Year
Spring Valley Fire Department
I have never seen such disappointing coverage of an event, especially for the Annual Milpitas Chamber of Commerce Awards Gala! With all the photographers and videographers taking individual and group shots of award recipients all night, you would think each winner’s photo would have accompanied their listed name in the article. And for Oh Henry being shown with a clipboard in his hand – why not a decent photo of him at his professional DJ set up? I just don’t understand the shoddy coverage for such an event for the Citizens honored as Milpitas “Recipients of the Year 2023” .