Annual Installation & Awards

Support Your Nominations for the 2015 Membership Awards!

Anyone can submit nominations for the following categories:

Non-profit/Service Organization of the Year
Big Business of the Year (26 or more full-time or contract employees)
Small Business of the Year (1-25 full-time or contract employees)
First Responder of the Year
Educator of the Year
Citizen of the Year (Must live in the City of Pittsburg)
Veteran of the Year

Nominees for all categories except Citizen of the Year must be current members in good standing with the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce.
A committee of respected business owners, community leaders, and knowledgeable volunteers will be the judges. Criteria for selection will be involvement, participation, or contributions to the community, community organizations, or the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce.
The same business cannot win two years in a row.

Please complete the nomination form and submit to the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce by Friday, January 1, 2016. Winners will be announced at the Annual Installation Dinner & Awards Ceremony on Thursday, February 11, 2016.

2014 Award Winners

2014 Citizen of the Year - Theresa Miller
Theresa Miller is CFO of Theresa Miller Insurance Services, which she established in 1991. Theresa also serves as an Insurance Industry instructor, where she trains prospective agents. For 13 years she served as a Community Advisory Commissioner for the City of Pittsburg California. As the current Chair, she and fellow commissioners address quality of life issues in the Pittsburg Community. Theresa also provides her experience to the Pittsburg CERT (Community Emergency Reponse Team) program, where she serves as City CERT Coordinator for Pittsburg and east Contra Costa County. This involves organizing training, drills, emergency planning and coordination of preparedness training. At this time she also serves the American Red Cross as the Contra Costa County Chapter External Relations Lead team Liaison. As lead she works with other Red Cross liaison in each of the County’s Cities; to partner with local government and community partners to have agreements (for shelters and supplies) and training in place in the event of a major disaster or local emergency. Theresa joined the STS Academy as a Board Member in 2009; she currently serves as Vice Chair.
She is also a member of the DOW Cap Advisory Panel.

She has been recognized for her leadership by the American Red Cross in 2013. For her Emergency Management she was awarded the CESA California Emergency Services Association for 2013.

Born in Trigg County, Kentucky, and the daughter of career military father, she has traveled the world. She now lives in Pittsburg California with her husband Cooper and granddaughter Tesslyn. She has two children Brandi, Steven and Stepmother to Dawn, Darin, and Mark. She has been blessed as a grandmother and sometimes even finds time to be amateur artist and designer.

2014 Volunteer of the Year-Wolfgang Croskey

Drum Major of the Pirates Marching Show Band 1998
Earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 1998
Graduated from Pittsburg High School in 1998
Served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 2000-2002
Completed undergraduate degree in Organizational Leadership in 2005 and went on to earn a Master Degree in Education in 2009.
Single Subject Teaching Credential and Administrative Services Credential
California Real Etate Salesperson License 2005
California Brokers License 2013

Wolfgang worked as a classroom teacher and administrator in the Antioch Unified School District before taking a regional Coordinator position with the Regional System of District and School Support. Wolfgang has returned to the family business of real estate and is a third generation real estate broker. Wolfgang is a proud member of the Pittsburg Rotary club and currently serves as the Sergeant-at-Arms. He also serves as the Chartered Organization Representative for Pack 195, Troop 195, and Varsity Team 195 here in Pittsburg. Wolfgang has a vested interest in the local businesses development in Pittsburg and provides support for the Black Diamond Business Builders as well as the Chamber Ambassadors. Serving in the community is a great joy for Wolfgang, but Wolfgang takes pride in being married to his wife, Elizabeth Croskey. They have been married for 13 years this December. He and Liz have 4 children, Sadie, Savannah, Aiden, and Saige.

2014 Educator of the Year-Elizabeth Lanfranki
Elizabeth Lanfranki was born and educated in Contra Costa county. After graduating Summa Cum Laude from California State University Chico, she began her teaching career in Tulare county. For the past three years she has had the pleasure of teaching at Martin Luther King Jr. Junior High School. She currently teaches English 6, AVID 8, and Newcomer ELD. In September, she was chosen to represent the 8,000 teachers in county as Contra Costa County Teacher of the Year.

Veteran of the Year-Brad Yoder

Born in Albany OR, 1971
Graduated 1990 Layton High School - Layton, Utah
US Army Delayed entry program 1989-1990
Basic and AIT Military Police training JUL-DEC 1990 Ft McClellen AL
14th MP BGDE/300th MP Co Stuttgart, Germany DEC 90-JUN 92
14th MP BGDE/463rd MP Co Ft Leonard Wood, MO JUN 92-Oct 93
Presidio of Monterey/Defense Language Institute Oct 93-FEB 94

Military Awards:

National Defense Medal, Army Service Ribbon
Overseas Service Ribbon
Driver/Mechanic Badge, Marksman Badge with M16/Grenade Component Bars
Expert Badge with 9mm, .45 caliber Pistol Bars

Background:

Pittsburg resident since 2003
Started with State of California July 2009 with Employment Development Department
Employed as a veterans outreach program specialist with the State of California since JAN 2013

Achievements in the Contra Costa County Veteran Community:

JAN 2013 - Joined both the Veterans Employment Committee and Delta Veterans Group as secretary of both organizations
Treasurer of DVG

Co-lead on the following events:

2 Health benefits fairs
5 Career Fairs (3 in Pittsburg)
2 VETJAM concerts (in Pittsburg)
2 Honoring Heroes events (in Pittsburg)
Funded oil changes and safety inspections to over 60 veterans in Contra Costa County
Purchased work clothes and shoes to 4 veterans hired at VA Martinez
Purchased gas cards for 3 veterans in need of transportation help
Purchased bus passes/clipper cards for 2 veterans in need of transportation help
Current member American Legion Post 151 (Pittsburg).

Lifetime Achievement-Nancy Parent

Education:

Pittsburg High School
U.C. Berkeley BA Political ScienceSan Jose State General Secondary Teacher Credential
Hasting College of the Law (Part of UC system located in San Francisco)

Work History:

Retail (family business)
Teacher Pittsburg High (social studies)
Book Editor (books for attorneys)
Deputy City Attorney San Jose California
Private Practice of Law in Pittsburg (25 years)

Public Service:

Soroptimist International of Pittsburg, 30 years
Trustee Pittsburg Unified School District, 5 years
Member of Contra Costa Women’s Hall of Fame in the category of “Women Demonstrating Leadership”

Pittsburg City Council:

First woman elected to council and first woman mayor
Total years to date 20, serving 5 terms as Mayor

2014 Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce Installation & Awards Luncheon

Download Nomination Form

Now accepting nominations for the 2015 Chamber Installation & Awards Ceremony

Did a Chamber member business go above and beyond? Nominate them for an award.

Citizen of the Year
Business of the Year
Veteran of the Year
Educator of the Year
Non Profit of the Year
First responder of the Year

More information and nomination forms click on the file below. Deadline is Friday January 1st, 2016.

2015_pittsburg_chamber_nomination_form.pdf
File Size:	225 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Business of the Year-Lanzafame Furniture
Lanzafame Furniture was founded by Sicilian Immigrant, Camillo Lanzafame, in early 1915. This business was located at 141 Black Diamond Street (across from the current Elks Lodge) in a building that was then owned by the Viscuso family who owned a grocery store next door. Lanzafame had a partner in those days and the business was called Jacobson and Lanzafame Furniture.

Soon after, around 1917, Mr. Jacobson opted out and Camillo incorporated his business with another local resident named Henry Summer; They moved the business, then called Lanzafame and Summer, to 250 Railroad Ave. The business thrived at this location until Mr. Summer retired. At this time, circa 1935, Camillo took on two additional partners, Joseph Billeci (Mayor Sal Evola’s maternal grandfather) and employee Frank Arcidiacono.

After WWII Camillo embarked on the large task of building a new commercial building further up Railroad Avenue on the 700 block. This was a state of the art endeavor designed by famed San Francisco architect Philip Tomasello and built by the Stolte Company. This was one of the first large commercial buildings built in Pittsburg after the war. Originally this building was going to house a Firestone store and was to be leased to the McDermott family. When the building was complete however, the tenant’s plans changed and Mr Lanzafame opted to open a second furniture store in Pittsburg. In 1947, Lanzafame Furniture Company operated two furniture stores in town with Camillo’s son Del becoming a partner along with the other three.

After the closing of Camp Stoneman and the commercial fishing in the 1950’s, the downtown began to suffer from the effects of losing two large employers and there began an exodus of many businesses that once thrived on the bustling economy that previously existed throughout Pittsburg. As businesses moved out of the downtown the older Lanzafame store location was converted to the company’s warehouse and was later torn down by the city as redevelopment efforts were underway to remove old neighborhoods. During this period, downtown Pittsburg suffered many setbacks and with an increase in vacant commercial and housing space left by to closure of the military base, the area succumbed to a downward spiraling economy and an atmosphere of crime and decay.

In 1973, during a time when business in the downtown area was beginning to suffer more from the suburbanization of residential and commercial development further to the south of Highway 4 and in other growing cities, Camillo Lanzafame and Joe Billeci retired and left the two remaining partners, Frank Arcidiacono and Del Lanzafame to run the store. The downtown continued to decline during this period as was evidenced by the loss of 4 major banks and many other local businesses who moved further to the south of town and have remained there to this day.

In 1978, after attending Pittsburg High School, UC Berkeley and receiving an MBA in business from San Francisco State University, Camillo’s grandson Chris, stepped in for the retiring partner Frank Arcidiacono, and incorporated Lanzafame Furniture Company into the organization it is today. Del and Chris worked together to continue the tradition of selling fine furniture and made a strong decision to remain in the downtown. They worked hard to uphold the dream that someday the downtown would come back. During that time Chris became involved in downtown revitalization and served as the first President of the New York Landing Association. This organization was formed to create an historic district to help preserve the remaining older buildings in the downtown area. During that time, Lanzafame Furniture survived although found that it needed to shed some of the product categories that no longer were viable in a small store such as televisions and appliances.

When crime in the downtown became rampant, there was a loss of customer traffic and the Lanzafame’s made the bold decision at that time to remodel with safety in mind instead of leaving the area as so many other businesses had done. This was a decision to hang on to the past and enjoy the unique “small town” atmosphere that still remained in the downtown with the few businesses that also decided to remain.

Today Lanzafame Furniture Company is still owned by Chris Lanzafame, his wife Nancy and his Sister, Andrea Lanzafame Campos. Chris and Nancy manage operate the business along with one of their three sons, Jeffrey. 2015 will be the 100th Anniversary of the business and they hope to share some enjoyable moments with customers and residents alike as they celebrate this monumental year. The Lanzafame family would love to thank and recognize all of the many loyal employees (many who worked their entire lives in the store) and the thousands of customers who have purchased and still own furniture that was purchased at Lanzafame Furniture Company, Pittsburg’s oldest business.

Procedure for nomination for Chamber Awards:

Nominees can be nominated by anyone
Criteria for selection will be involvement, participation or contributions to the community, community organizations or the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce
A business or non-profit nominee must be a Pittsburg Chamber member in good standing
Citizen of the Year must be a person residing in the City of Pittsburg and must have done something to contribute to the betterment of the business and/or community of Pittsburg
Non Profit – Must be a 501(C)(3)

Winners are chosen through an anonymous judging process. Judges are Chamber members and civic volunteers. Judges do not know who the other judges or nor the outcome of the overall judging until the winners are announced.