Finalists for 2026 CBAD Awards:
Best Place to Work
- Pictor
- Ruby’s Diner Carlsbad
- Aldrich
- C/v Beauty Collective & Wellness
- Chamberlain Property Management
Small Business of the Year
- 2000 Paces Photo Organizing
- SSA Insurance Services
- Opelon, LLP
- 75 and Sunny
- Carlsbad Self Storage
- BODY20 Carlsbad
Business Professional of the Year
- Justin Jachura – Señor Grubby’s
- Jamie Jacobs – Gig Talent
- Jan Jansson – Soil Retention
- Kara Horat – Connect For Success Mastermind
- Melanie Robertson – Melanie Robertson Photography
Community Impact
- EcoWater SoCal
- The Lullabar
- The Repair Tech Inc
- Dogs on the Run
- Devore Realty Group
- Number Crunching, Inc.
New Business of the Year
- Gazelle Fashion and Style
- Aura Gardens
- The Cove
- Kids and Coffee
- California Termite
- The French Door Cafe
- A Place at Home
Nonprofit of the Year
- STEM Aviation Academy
- 365-Connect
- Kids for Peace
- NAMM Museum of Making Music
- Veterans Association of North County
- Woman’s Club of Carlsbad
- Beacons, Inc.
- Cake4Kids
Young Professional of the Year
- Erin Hardin – Agua Hedionda Lagoon
- Shane Fisher – American Paragons Foundation
- Matthew Eclevia – FreeHab Therapy
- Chase Murray – Boys & Girls Clubs of Carlsbad
Elementary School Teacher of the Year
- Diana Salazar-Garcia – Buena Vista Elementary School
- Mallory Gladden – Park Dale Lane Elementary School
- Brooke Klein – Paul Ecke Central Elementary School
Middle School Teacher of the Year
- Traci Kogler – Aviara Oaks Middle School
- Aaron Sottile – Calavera Hills Middle School
High School Teacher of the Year
- Shannon Alberts – Sage Creek High School
- Kacie Drake – Army and Navy Academy
- Kevin Garcia-Cruz – Pacific Ridge School
- Tom Bloomquist – Carlsbad High School
- Mark Brudney – La Costa Canyon High School
Administrator of the Year
- Dr. Josh Way – Sage Creek High School