Small Business Award winners Announced 

June 2007 -- The following are the winners of the 2007 Stockton Chamber of Commerce Small Business Awards. These individuals and their companies represent some of the best that the Stockton area business community has to offer. These businesspeople will be honored at the Chamber of Commerce Small Business Awards Luncheon on June 7 at the Stockton Grand Hotel.

AND THE WINNERS ARE…

Gary Long

2007 Business Person

of the Year

Gary Long has owned Gary J. Long Jewelers (originally Long’s Village Jewelers) since 1982. Long has operated his own store for more than 20 years and has been in the jewelry industry since 1970.

Gary J. Long Jewelers store is located in the Lincoln Center on the corner of Pacific Avenue and Benjamin Holt Drive. The company’s annual revenues increase each year as the company thrives with new product lines, specialty promotional campaigns and exceptional customer service. The staying power is evident in the number of years in business.

Ben Tavakoli

2007 Small Business Person

of the Year

Ben Tavakoli of All Foreign & Domestic Body Shop, is the Small Business Person of the Year. Not only is he a leader in the community, but also living proof that with a dream and hard work, one can achieve their dreams. Tavakoli came to this country with little money, to study and earn a degree in electrical engineering. After earning his degree, he worked for a prestigious company as an electrical engineer. Yet his dream was in the automotive industry, so he opened his own business.

All Foreign & domestic Body Shop has been in business for 21 years. He started in a small shop on Wilson Way, with approximately five employees in a 5,000 square foot shop. He quickly outgrew that shop and relocated to a 33,000 square foot shop at 1917 Navy Drive which he built on an eight acre lot. He is an amazing down to earth, hands on employer which is constantly looking for ways to not only increase the efficiency in the work flow, the standard of workmanship, at the same time making a profit, as well as increasing the standard of living for all of his employees and our community.

With all these services, qualities and certifications, not only has business grown but also opened a lot of doors for bigger and brighter future for him as a business owner, his employees and all of our community.

William “Bill” Wagner

Business Employee of the Year

In 1981, Bill Wagner graduated from University of California at Davis. Later that year, Bill began his career with the investment firm, E.F. Hutton, working out of its Stockton office. In 1990, Bill joined Prudential Securities which merged with Wachovia Securities in 2002. Wagner is a First Vice President-Investments, the title reserved for the firm’s most successful financial advisors.

He is a wonderful representative of community-minded business person. Wagner does not select his volunteer work based upon its networking potential. He volunteers by meeting with, and mentoring, three young men imprisoned at the California Youth Authority and works closely with the Gospel Center Rescue Mission of Stockton where he is a board member.

He is well-respected in business circles, manages tens of millions of dollars, and gives back to the community unselfishly and without ulterior motives. He truly represents a community-minded business person.

Ynes Rios and Jeff Petite

Business Managers of the Year

Ynes Rios and Jeff Petite are Co-Business Managers of the Year for the 2007 Chamber Business Awards.

Mr. Rios and Mr. Petite have a combined 63 years in the Marie Callender’s family. Their efforts have sustained the Stockton restaurant over a period of unpredictable turns in the economy and competition from other restaurants in the immediate area.

Both Rios and Petite have been directly involved with the hiring and training of many San Joaquin County residents at the restaurant. Marie Callender’s currently has over 75 employees, most of which have tenure over three years.

Both Rios and Petite have sustained and increased sales/unit volume by offering a friendly, family-like atmosphere that has built volumes of repeat customers.

The Challenges at the restaurant are mitigated by the experience of the two managers who have always been consistent with their approach to managing their employees to ensuring the customers’ needs are met.

The Stockton Marie Callender’s has continuously ranked in the Top 5 of all their restaurants in the nation because of the dedication of its employees and the warm and friendly atmosphere.

Mr. Rios has been a lifetime Stocktonian. He is a graduate from Franklin High School. He is very involved with basketball as a booster and contributes to local leagues. Mr. Petite went to school back East. Both gentlemen donate time and money to local non-profits.

Granite Construction Company

P³ Stewardship

The Stockton Branch of Granite Construction Company has earned the P³ Stewardship Award that is presented by the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce. This is a new award given to companies that embrace environmentally responsible practices.

Granite Construction has set forth practices and procedures at the Stockton Branch that are effectively demonstrating environmental stewardship by recycling materials, conserving energy, reducing air pollution and purchasing green products.

Granite Construction has been providing quality construction services and materials to public agencies and private industry in San Joaquin County and neighboring communities since 1978. The Stockton Branch owns and operate quality aggregated and hot asphalt facilities in San Joaquin County. In addition, the Stockton Branch employs one of the Central Valley’s largest construction workforces.

Granite Construction Company is committed to providing construction services and materials that minimize the impact to the environment and natural resources. Granite believes that it must have a social license to operate. Granite’s environmental strategy is to continually evaluate and improve the way it addresses its environmental responsibilities and create the greatest value from the resources used.

Granite Construction is demonstrating that it has embraced environmental policies, practices, and purchasing that combine making responsible steward of the environment both practical and profitable.

SBA Awards

The SBA announced that Russell and Atsuko Takeda of CoCoro Japanese Bistro & Sushi Bar  won the SBA Small Business Persons of the Year award.

Fran Aguilera with San Joaquin County Revolving Loan Fund will receive the Financial Services Champion award.