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Salute To Small Business honorees announced In the Monterey region, small businesses make a big impact, accounting for more than 9,000 of the county's total businesses. And it's their activity that keeps the area vibrant, supplying valuable jobs and delivering the goods and services that make our lives a bit easier. But small businesses rarely get recognition for the hard work they do to make our region a better place to live and work. The Salute to Small Business awards program recognizes the important contributions these businesses make to Monterey County and its surrounding communities, as well as the economic growth of the region and the state. Union Bank and KSBW-TV are proud to present this program. BEST AGRIBUSINESS: L.A. Hearne Company Feed And Ranch Supply L.A. Hearne Company Feed & Ranch Supply has been owned and managed by the same local family since 1938. The company was founded by Larry Hearne as a bean-cleaning operation in the middle of Salinas Valley. Although the company continues to clean beans, their operations have expanded into several other ventures such as Farm Products, Feed, Trucking, Rental Properties, Retail and Construction, and Maintenance and Repair Administration. The Company employs approximately 100 full-time employees and are supporters of many local organizations such as the Monterey County Agricultural and Rural Life Museum, Monterey County Fair, California Salinas Rodeo, and Monterey County Dance Foundation. BEST BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL: Castroville Plumbing And Heating Inc. Castroville Plumbing & Heating Inc. was established in 1934 by Henry Roberti. Henry came to the United States from Italy in 1930, settling into the community of Castroville where he picked artichokes. Later he started the business of fabricating and installing irrigation pipes in the artichoke fields and slowly became more involved in the plumbing of homes. The business is now owned by his granddaughter Anna, her husband Carlo Cortopassi, and children Cindy and Paul. The family is active in the community and proud to be in business for over 80 years, keeping the business in the family for three generations. ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR: Local Catch Business planning for Local Catch began in the fall of 2009, led by Alan Lovewell and a team of talented graduate students at the Monterey Institute of International Studies, to research the feasibility of community-supported fisheries (CSFs) similar to those emerging on the East Coast. CSFs like Local Catch connect local fishermen with local families and individuals for weekly deliveries of local, sustainable seafood. The business was launched in 2012 and now serves over 500 members and supports a core group of over 25 local fishermen. BEST HOSPITALITY: Salad Shoppe Located in Historic Steinbeck country and celebrating their 28th anniversary, the Salad Shoppe opened their doors with the idea of providing the Salinas Valley community with the greatest customer service and an affordable healthy meal option. As a small, local, family business, the owners promote other small businesses by obtaining and serving items from local growers and shippers. The Salad Shoppe sponsors Peacock Acres, Salinas Animal Shelter, MCOE, the California Salinas Rodeo, and local school districts. Salad Shoppe also launched the Healthy Kids Club where all children enrolled in the program have the opportunity to eat for free with their parents. BEST MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESS: La Plaza Bakery La Plaza Bakery opened its doors in the summer of 2001 in Greenfield. The Rodriguez Family believed in their

business, in hard work, and in their community. La Plaza Bakery is considered by many as the “place to go” in the community. As evidence of their commitment to the community, the bakery recently added the El Camino Room, which acts as a local community space. The local Rotary club, the PTA, and student groups meet in the new room. La Plaza Bakery sponsors numerous community organizations and sports teams and tries its best to improve the community through business. BEST NONPROFIT: Loaves, Fishes and Computers, Inc. Since 2009, Loaves, Fishes & Computers, Inc., has helped thousands of Monterey County residents through the acquisition and use of computer technology: from finding employment, improving job skills, completing schoolwork / online classes, and connecting with friends and relatives, to social services and financial aid. LFC is proud to have working partnerships with many Monterey County organizations, providing hands-on training in the repair and refurbishing of computer components. Through the efforts of its volunteers, LFC has reused an estimated 22 tons of computer equipment for local residents. LFC provides a welcoming community for volunteers to serve its environment through technology. BEST WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESS: The Raw Connection In 2002, after several years of feeding her Irish Wolfhounds a raw food diet, Sarah Adams started her own raw food home delivery business on the Monterey Peninsula. She opened her first retail store at the Carmel Rancho Shopping Center in April 2006, and later relocated to a much larger store at the entrance of the center, allowing for bountiful inventory, a large training room, and several service rooms for health practitioners and holistic veterinarians. Sarah is involved in several animal rescue organizations, Make a Wish, Monterey County American Cancer Society, All Saints Episcopal Parish, and Carmel Unified Schools. Photos: Salute To Small Business honorees Photos: Salute To Small Business 2014 honorees

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