WOMAN OF THE YEAR
BARB GRANTER
COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS
Barbara-Lea Granter, the Vice President and General Manager of Gilroy Gardens, describes herself a“ reluctant Gilroyan.” All her life she had lived and worked in large cities and became comfortable with the anonymity that goes with big city life. Her ten-year stay in Gilroy has been a journey from anonymity to Woman of the Year.
From Nova Scotia, Canada, Barb is now a US citizen and comfortable here. Comfort and involvement is necessary for the manager of a large city-owned amusement park. Barb is a regular at Chamber, Welcome Center and Leadership Gilroy functions. She owns a home here and frequently tells employees at Gilroy Gardens,“ I want to stay here so this business needs to be strong.”
Energy, organization and insight are her hallmarks. She notes that this award might open a few doors for some new creative ventures at Gilroy Gardens. Ask her sometime about her lifecycle plan for 4-year-old kids to 24-year-old young adults at Gilroy Gardens.
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
DAVID BOLL
David Boll is the owner of a local business, Heartwood Cabinets, that manufactures custom cabinetry. The recession hit real estate, construction and his business hard. In spite of this, David has maintained a commitment to the community and a willingness to get involved as a volunteer. While honored with this award, he says“ It is the town more than me.” He notes that there is a“ self-sustaining culture of community spirit” in Gilroy.
Before moving to Gilroy, David and his wife, Eileen lived in the mid-Peninsula area. They lived there and were never recruited for anything. He had no special feeling for the city. When they moved to Gilroy, they noticed something different. People volunteered for the Garlic Festival and there was a culture“ to help make the town better.”
This year, David will be one of the co-chairs of the beer sales at the Garlic Festival. He extends his community commitment to his employees. On Friday of the Garlic Festival he pays his employees who volunteer to work in one of the beer booths!
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