News from GCVCC Staff
The Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce honored outstanding businesses and leaders at their annual Installation, Awards Dinner & Silent Auction event. It took place at the Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa beginning at 5:30 PM. In addition to the awards listed below, they installed the GCVCC Board of Directors and Business Districts for Cathedral City, Coachella, Indio and La Quinta. Outgoing leaders were recognized for their hard work, time and effort.
A sold-out crowd celebrated the following honorees:
President’s Award
Robert Green, The Robert Green Company
Large Business of the Year
Alpha Media Group
Small Business of the Year (East)
CV Weekly
Small Business of the Year (Mid)
Nothing Bundt Cakes
Small Business of the Year (West)
Bonta Restaurant
Leadership Award
Supervisor John J. Benoit
Ambassador of the Year
Merritt Wiseman
Lifetime Achievement
Alexander Haagen, III
Non-Profit of the Year
Habitat for Humanity
About this year’s Leadership Award:
“John Benoit has left a legacy of caring, commitment, and dedication that personifies our Leadership Award,” says Joshua Bonner, President and CEO of the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce. “During his lifetime of public service, John enriched the lives of those he served, and those he loved. That is as fine a legacy as a man can leave for his community.”
Born in Kankakee, Illinois, Benoit enjoyed a long career in public service. Benoit’s law enforcement career spanned thirty-one years including two with the Corona Police Department and twenty-nine with the California Highway Patrol. In 1999 Benoit was elected and served as a member of the Desert Sands Unified School Board until 2002. From 2002 to 2008, Benoit served in the California State Assembly. He then served in the California State Senate until his resignation on November 2009, to serve on the Riverside County, California Board of Supervisors. He served in that role from 2009 until his death in 2016.
The award was presented by Riverside County Supervisor, 5th District, Marion Ashley, a long-time colleague of Benoit. Accepting the award was Sheryl Benoit, John Benoit’s widow.
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About the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber is a business membership organization representing the Coachella Valley. We support our members through legislative advocacy, education, networking, and other community based opportunities. The Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce is a registered 501c6 non-profit supported through member contributions. With over 1,500 members, the chamber is the largest member based chamber in Riverside County.