2007 Business and Community Award Winners
2007 Business Person of the Year - Uri Eliahu
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Uri has been a dedicated, tireless community and business leader for many years. As the president of ENGEO Incorporated, a firm of more than 200 engineers, geologists, hydrologists, environmental professionals, construction personnel and support staff, he has created a strong culture of extraordinary service, responsiveness and accountability. Since he became president of the firm in 1992, Uri has grown ENGEO to become a recognized leader in multidisciplinary engineering services for both private and public sectors, and the employer of choice not only in the Greater Bay Area but also in the United States. In 2006 and 2007 ENGEO was named the #1 Best Place to Work in the 10-county area by the San Francisco, East Bay and Silicon Valley Business Times/Journal. Also in 2007, ENGEO was named one of the 25 Best Small to Medium Places to Work in America by the Society for Human Resource Management.
Employee of the Year - Andrea Scott
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Andrea has been the General Manager of the club for over three years. During that time she has helped invigorate many of the events and classes offered by the club. Currently she is managing the complete renovation of the clubs entry, restaurant, services and fitness areas, while keeping the club open for its customers. This extensive renovation will maintain ClubSport as the premier fitness club in the Tri-Valley.
Citizen of the Year - Jean Ohman
She grew up in Minnesota but left as soon as she realized that the Bay Area had neither snow nor mosquitoes. That was 46 years ago. Jean has lived in the Bay Area ever since with 21 years in San Ramon. She graduated from Cal State University Hayward with degrees in Psychology and Social Science. After several years and a wide variety of managerial assignments working for Pacific Bell, she retired in 1990.
Volunteering has always been important to Jean. Currently she ushers at the Performing Arts Center in Walnut Creek and will soon be doing the same in our new theater in San Ramon. She is also involved with volunteer projects for the Dublin/San Ramon Women’s Club, but her current passion is the restoration and preservation of Forest Home Farms. In that effort, she serves as President of the San Ramon Historic Foundation. Jean partners with the City of San Ramon in raising money to preserve the facilities and strengthen programs to learn about the history and life of early pioneers in the San Ramon Valley.
Educator of the Year - Robert Kessler
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Robert (“Rob”) Kessler is the Superintendent for the San Ramon Valley Unified School District, a Kindergarten through 12th grade district comprised of thirty-three schools and over 26,000 students. Rob received his Bachelors Degree in Political Science and African Studies from the University of California at Berkeley. He attended graduate school in Political Science at Harvard University. He holds a Masters Degree in both Secondary Education and Educational Administration from San Francisco State.
Rob serves as an adjunct professor at California State University, East Bay, teaching a course in School Finance. He is a presenter at the Executive Leadership Center for experienced California Superintendents, and at the Academy for Aspiring Superintendents. In addition, he is a member of the Board of Directors of the East Bay Community Foundation.
Lifetime Achievement Award - Dennis Garrison
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Dennis Garrison was awarded the Chamber's FIRST Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedicated involvement in the San Ramon Community since 1980. He has served as a Board member and Board President for the San Ramon Chamber as well as on the San Ramon City Council and the San Ramon Valley Regional Planning Commission. He is the current Chairperson of Operation Heartbeat, an organization which hopes to install defibrillators in all San Ramon Valley shools. He was named the San Ramon Business Person of the Year in 1996. Dennis is a member of the San Ramon Rotary.
He serves as an Honorary Consulate for the Lithuanian government and in particular works with Lithuanian children whose parents suffer from alcoholism.
These are just a few of the highlights of Dennis' strong commitment to our community and the world. Congratulations Dennis!
