100 years of community impact
It is our 100th anniversary, a year of celebration and success and I am honored to be the Chair of the Board during such a momentous time! Among the several celebratory events that will be taking place throughout this year, is one of my favorites; our annual Carlsbad Business Achievement & Distinction (CBAD) Awards. These awards are an incredible way to bring us all together and to shine a spotlight on the triumphs of our business community! This years’ categories include: “Business of The Year”, “Innovator Of The Year”, “Non-Profit Of The Year”, and “Community Impact”, and are a tremendous way to highlight the diverse businesses and organizations that we have here in Carlsbad and throughout North County. 
It is events like the CBAD Awards that create engagement throughout our business community that neighboring areas envy. We gather to support and recognize our successes and encourage, build, and foster relationships and ideas that will continue leading our City on its trajectory of progress and growth that we are all striving for.
The Carlsbad business community, and specifically the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce is special; the way that we highlight the accomplishments of our business leaders, encourage entrepreneurs to create, applaud our non-profit partners, and come together to build and grow is something that we should all be proud to be a part of.
A perfect example of this is the award that means the most to me – the Community Impact Award. Last year’s winner, The Mitchell Thorp Foundation, is an organization founded by local community leaders Brad and Beth Thorp in memory of their son. The foundation has given over $2.3 million dollars back into the community to help families whose children face life threatening illnesses. It is pillars of our community, like Brad and Beth who make Carlsbad so special, and I am so proud that we host this terrific event to honor them and all the businesses and people that make our city and region what it is. Our community continues to band together in support of this foundation and will show up for them at The Mitchell Thorp Foundation’s annual Warrior Spirit 5K, on February 4th.
Thank you all for being a part of this great community, and for all you do as individuals, organizations, and businesses to continue to make it a better place for all of us and for the generations to come after us.
