The Greater San Diego Business Association (GSDBA) has announced this year’s recipients of several annual awards recognizing exceptional business and community leadership in action.
This year’s theme is “Celebrating Excellence,” and award-winners will be honored at a luncheon on June 23 at the Hilton San Diego Resort on Mission Bay. Councilmember Todd Gloria will present the awards at the luncheon, while Monique Marvez of “Monique in the Morning” will make a special speaking appearance at the event.
Award recipients were named in six categories and incorporated new and established businesses, non-profits, corporate partners and community institutions.
Abbas, Jenson and Cunardi, CPAs received the 2011 GSDBA Business of the Year award for providing long-standing, precise and professional tax advising services to local LGBT individuals and organizations.
The San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus earned the Non-Profit of the Year award – a distinction that follows the group’s two-chorus merger and subsequent debt elimination in the wake of economic crisis.
This year’s Community Leadership award went to the Metropolitan Community Church of San Diego, an institution that welcomes individuals of all faiths and serves a large contingent of the city’s LGBT community.
Belladia Marketing and Design owners Jessy Sauchuk and Lisa Smith won recognition as the Emerging Business of the Year for their up-and-coming branding materials company. Sauchuk and Smith create logos, ads and web designs while simultaneously aiding LGBT organizations and events including Pride, PFLAG, Townspeople, Lambda Archives and Kiva with both volunteer time and financial support.
Popular LGBT community venue Inn at the Park won the Corporate Partner award for 2011, an honor that recognizes Ed Delehanty and his staff for their consistent service to both the business community and LGBT individuals and groups during special events, mixers, dinners and other social gatherings.
Finally, Ascent Real Estate received the Corporate Diversity Leader award for the efforts of founders Penny Nathan and Ken Pecus in creating a modern, diverse and ethical work environment friendly to LGBT employees and clients alike.
Founded in 1979, the GSDBA boasts 800 members representing local entrepreneurs, small businesses and large corporations. Since its founding, the organization has set an example for other LGBT business chambers across the nation and won distinction from the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.
