Chamber Honors Outstanding Businesses, Leader at Annual Gala

The Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce was proud to recognize some of the outstanding businesses and business leaders in our community at the Chamber’s Annual Gala on Thursday, Februrary 2, 2012.

The Small-Medium Business of the Year Award was presented to Redwood Empire Stereocasters, better known as KZST, KJZY, and KTRY.

Redwood Empire Stereocasters has been serving our community over 40 years since KZST started broadcasting on April 18th back in 1971. And, 40 years later, they remain locally owned and managed and very much a part of our community. In 1995 they added Smooth Jazz KJZY and then in 2007 KTRY as a Country station.

Redwood Empire Stereocasters works hard to support and give back to our community. KZST’s Secret Santa Program has raised almost $1 over its 20 years. They are also a strong supporter of the Redwood Empire Food Bank and helps publicize the many worthy causes in our community. They have been members of the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce since 1971.

The Large Business of the Year Award was presented to La Tortilla Factory, a true Santa Rosa business and success story. Founded in 1977 by Jose and Maria Tamayo and their five sons as a "Mexicatessen" tortilla bakery and taqueria, it has grown into one of Sonoma County’s largest and most recognized companies with over 300 employees and $50 million in sales.

Throughout their history, they have been a family run business as Willie and Carlos took over operations from their parents back in the 1980s. With a careful business plan and hard work they grew the business over the next decades moving into its current facility near the airport and increasing its product offerings to appeal to the changing tastes of their customers.

Now a third generation of Tamayo’s is in charge as grandson Sam takes over as CEO this year after having served as chief operating officer and vice president of business development. Born and raised in the business, Sam brings the same values and commitment that have made La Tortilla Factory such a success.

Throughout its existence the company and the Tamayo Family have been strong supporters of the community. They have actively supported the St. Rose Church and School, Catholic Charities, Redwood Empire Food Bank, Social Advocates for Youth, the YMCA and, of course, the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce.

The Citizen of the Year Award recipient was a man whose impact on Santa Rosa is hard to overstate: Henry Trione. He has been one of the leaders in our business community and truly has shaped the nature of Santa Rosa. He has achieved remarkable success through the founding of Sonoma Mortgage, which merged into Wells Fargo Bank, creating Empire College, and his various real estate investments.

But Mr. Trione has been much more than a businessman. He has been a community leader who ensured that open space that is now Annadel State Park was preserved for us all and that the Wells Fargo Center was created. More recently, he stepped forward to serve as the Honorary Chair of the group that led the Capital Campaign to fund Sonoma County BEST. He was the first to step forward and pledge his time and investment to support this critically important job creation program.