It was a night for the record books as attendance at the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce's Annual Awards and Installation Dinner at the Four Seasons Resort Aviara topped more than 650. The annual event, which celebrates excellence in business, was the highest attended dinner in the chamber's history.
“We were so proud to showcase Carlsbad's businesses, and the number of people who came out to support their fellow business leaders was impressive,” said Lisa Manemann, director of special events at the chamber.
The event started with a cocktail reception during which a palm and tarot card readers were on hand to predict fortunes and set the evening's mystical mood.
Inside the resort's ballroom, where the main event took place, guests were seated at satin-covered tables and treated to a three-course meal that included filet mignon.
The award presentation was sprinkled with magic as the evening's host, Jack White, performed various tricks and illusions throughout the evening. The evening's spotlight entertainment was the performance of Joe Mystic, who captivated the audience with his magic.
“I think everyone really enjoyed the evening,” Manemann said. “It was different than a typical awards dinner and everyone really had fun.”
During his routine, Joe Mystic called John Osbourne, of AT&T and the chamber's board of directors, to the stage. Osbourne was loaded into a small guillotine with his neck under the knife. In front of the anxious crowd, Joe Mystic let the knife fall over Osbourne's neck. After a gasp passed over the crowd, Osbourne smiled and laughed, letting all watching know that he was alive.
The evening continued as the remaining awards were handed out and desert was served.
Award recipients included:
Business of the Year (Small), Isaac's Catering
Business of the Year (Medium), SkinMedica, Inc.
Business of the Year (Large), Toyota Carlsbad and ViaSat, Inc.
Businessperson of the Year, Ginna Reyes
of Western Flight, Inc.
Community Leadership Award, Phil and Kathy Urbina, and Dr. John Fitzpatrick
Corporate Citizen of the Year Award
Gemological Institute of America
Director's Award of Merit, Ofelia Escobedo
of Lola's 7-Up Mexican Market & Deli
Entrepreneur of the Year, Mike Mellace
of Mama Mellace's Old World Treats
Lifetime Achievement in Business Award, Stephen M. L'Heureux of the Law Offices of Stephen M. L'Heureux
“We were so proud to showcase Carlsbad's businesses, and the number of people who came out to support their fellow business leaders was impressive,” said Lisa Manemann, director of special events at the chamber.
The event started with a cocktail reception during which a palm and tarot card readers were on hand to predict fortunes and set the evening's mystical mood.
Inside the resort's ballroom, where the main event took place, guests were seated at satin-covered tables and treated to a three-course meal that included filet mignon.
The award presentation was sprinkled with magic as the evening's host, Jack White, performed various tricks and illusions throughout the evening. The evening's spotlight entertainment was the performance of Joe Mystic, who captivated the audience with his magic.
“I think everyone really enjoyed the evening,” Manemann said. “It was different than a typical awards dinner and everyone really had fun.”
During his routine, Joe Mystic called John Osbourne, of AT&T and the chamber's board of directors, to the stage. Osbourne was loaded into a small guillotine with his neck under the knife. In front of the anxious crowd, Joe Mystic let the knife fall over Osbourne's neck. After a gasp passed over the crowd, Osbourne smiled and laughed, letting all watching know that he was alive.
The evening continued as the remaining awards were handed out and desert was served.
Award recipients included:
Business of the Year (Small), Isaac's Catering
Business of the Year (Medium), SkinMedica, Inc.
Business of the Year (Large), Toyota Carlsbad and ViaSat, Inc.
Businessperson of the Year, Ginna Reyes
of Western Flight, Inc.
Community Leadership Award, Phil and Kathy Urbina, and Dr. John Fitzpatrick
Corporate Citizen of the Year Award
Gemological Institute of America
Director's Award of Merit, Ofelia Escobedo
of Lola's 7-Up Mexican Market & Deli
Entrepreneur of the Year, Mike Mellace
of Mama Mellace's Old World Treats
Lifetime Achievement in Business Award, Stephen M. L'Heureux of the Law Offices of Stephen M. L'Heureux