Jackie Parker; Marty Plourd; Scott Guttentag (also a 2023 Santa Barbara Independent Local Hero); Valeria Tiburcio Romo; Fritz Olenberger (whose beautiful photographs often grace our pages); Demis D. John, PhD; Allison Gray; and Christine LeBon recently had their names added to an impressive list of Goleta’s Community Leaders when they were honored as the 2023 Goleta’s Finest Award Winners by the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce on December 1 at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara.
Parker, the Woman of the Year, and her family have been pillars of Goleta for generations, playing integral roles in Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital (Jackie’s late husband, Robert Parker, was the first surgeon), as well in nurturing Old Town Goleta’s business landscape. Plourd, Man of the Year, has decades of service in the banking industry and serves as Vice President of Community West Bancshares, the current iteration of Goleta’s original business bank. He is also a longtime supporter for many nonprofit organizations supporting education, business, and healthcare in the Goleta Valley.
For additional details on Goleta’s Finest Award Recipients, click here.
Back Row, Left to Right: Steven Janicek – The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Innovator of the Year – Demis D. John, Educator of the Year – Scott Guttentag, Kristen Miller – Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce President & CEO, Man of the Year – Marty Plourd, Volunteer of the Year – Fritz Olenberger Seated in Front, Left to Right: Public Servant of the Year – Allison Gray, Woman of the Year – Jackie Parker, President’s Award – Christine LeBon | Photo: Jay Farbman 
Trevor Large of Fauver, Large, Archbald & Spray, Man of the Year – Marty Plourd, Kristen Miller – Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce President & CEO | Photo: Jay Farbman 
President’s Award – Christine LeBon, Kristen Miller – Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce President & CEO | Photo: Jay Farbman 
Educator of the Year – Scott Guttentag (aka Scotty G or Mr. DP) | Photo: Jay Farbman 
Woman of the Year – Jackie Parker | Photo: Jay Farbman 
Ben Feld, Volunteer of the Year – Fritz Olenberger and his wife Gretchen, Rhonda Henderson | Photo: Jay Farbman 
Volunteer of the Year – Fritz Olenberger, Public Servant of the Year – Allison Gray | Photo: Jay Farbman 
Public Servant of the Year – Allison Gray, Kristen Miller – Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce President & CEO, Nathan Franka of ExxonMobil. | Photo: Jay Farbman 
Lariza Johnson – UCLA Health, Student of the Year – Valeria Tiburcio Romo, Kristen Miller – Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce President & CEO | Photo: Jay Farbman 
Innovator of the Year – Demis D. John | Photo: Jay Farbman 
Steven Janicek – The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Educator of the Year – Scott Guttentag, Kristen Miller – Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce President & CEO | Photo: Jay Farbman 
Kristen Miller – Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce President & CEO, Woman of the Year – Jackie Parker | Photo: Jay Farbman 
Bibi Moezzi – Pacific Premier Bank, Innovator of the Year – Demis D. John, Kristen Miller – Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce President & CEO | Photo: Jay Farbman 
Nevin Parker Pallad, Wendy (Parker) Ketcham, Woman of the Year – Jackie Parker, Karen Parker Carroll, and Dr. Robin Parker Knauss (4 of Jackie’s 5 daughters) | Photo: Jay Farbman
