Best of HB: 2022 Finalists

INSTRUCTIONS

With all the nominations collected, it is now time to vote on our finalists for the 2022 Best of HB Awards! Voting will close on Friday, December 2nd, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. PST.

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* 1. HB Hero Award: A person or organization directly involved in public service that has led by example in the community going above and beyond the call of duty.

HB Police Department

HB CERT (Community Emergency Response Team)

HB Fire Department

HB Lifeguards

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* 2. Living Green Award: An organization making the most considerable effort in helping others to be more eco-conscious or offering environmentally friendly products.

BYO Sustainable Alternatives - Started in 2017, BYO Huntington Beach is a local resource for refilling non-toxic household cleaning products and personal care products. “[We’re] here to help make small steps that have a big impact on our community and our planet,” says owner Julie Darrell. “Our goal is to help keep our oceans and beaches clean by offering alternatives like beeswax food wraps, reusable utensils, to-go containers…and so much more.”

Republic Services - Republic Services of Huntington Beach is dedicated to handling your recycling and waste needs in a way that is easy, effortless, and environmentally responsible. They work to ensure safe and dependable solutions while being a community and business partner you can rely on.

Simple Green - Simple Green is committed to providing high-quality cleaning products with a focus on environmental responsibility and human safety. Since 1975, Simple Green has built a legacy of developing new and innovative products that are responsible choices for many generations to come.

Surfrider - The Surfrider Foundation is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world's oceans, waves, and beaches, for all people, through a powerful activist network. You can find them hosting (beach, Santa Ana River, and harbor) cleanups, welcoming tourists from around the world at many major surf competitions, helping restaurants save money by becoming ocean-friendly, and much more. Surfrider represents the eco-friendly businesses, residents, and visitors that support their chapter.

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* 3. HB Local Legend: A person that has gone above and beyond to help others grow and succeed in our community. This person leads by example, exemplifies service through volunteer work and has tirelessly given back to the community in various ways.

Victoria Alberty - Victoria is an active member & servant of the community as she contributes to many Huntington Beach non-profits including Kiwanis, Golden West College Patrons & the HB Chamber of Commerce as an ambassador for 14 years & a current board member. She is also known for HB local/HB Website Design that helps companies/organizations in HB with custom website design & services.

John Etheridge - John is a local businessman and owner of Seashore Pest Control, Inc. He’s been in business in Huntington Beach since 2004, and employs 12 full-time technicians, inspectors, and repair professionals. John is the former President and current member of the Kiwanis Club of Huntington Beach, a philanthropic organization with a 50+ year history of serving the community. Through his active participation, John supports a number of local non-profit organizations such as Colette’s Children’s Home, Kindervision, Build Futures and Project Self-Sufficiency., and serves on the Board of Directors of the Surfer’s Walk of Fame and Huntington Beach Police and Community Foundation.

Don Ramsey - Don's family moved here in 1963, when he was 11. Since then, it’s been a life of waves, but also of service. Ramsey is on the board of directors of the Huntington Beach Boardriders Club, and he’s also gained local notoriety as the founder and organizer of the Kowabunga Van Klan, a group that shares love of old Volkswagen buses. Don Ramsey, the owner and president of Ecology Tires, serves on the board of directors of the Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum and the Surfing Walk of Fame. He’s also on the city’s Fourth of July Executive Board and is event director for the International Surfboard Builders Hall of Fame.

Robyne Wood - Robyne runs a local non-profit, Robyne's Nest, that serves at-risk & homeless school students that have little to no parental support in the Huntington Beach area since 2015. Prior to this, Robyne was active in PTA and supporting the schools her children attended, specifically helping those children that were underserved, she has sat on the mission team at church, and was leader for her church team at Santa Ana Community Center. She actively supports other non-profits such as scholarships for the HBHS Wrestling team, and donations for Project Self-Sufficiency, Precious Life Shelter, and Voice of Refugees.

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* 4. Wave of Hope: The most actively involved individual, charity, or community-oriented non-profit organization.

Assistance League - Founded in 1950, Assistance League of Huntington Beach is an organization of caring and compassionate volunteers who, through their community programs, transform lives and put smiles on the faces of children and adults. These programs, clothe children, support seniors, award scholarships, provide classroom funding to teachers and assist families in crisis; all providing hope for a better future.

Goldenwest College Patrons - Formed in 1973 with the goal of supporting the students of Goldenwest College. The Patrons hold an annual fundraiser to provide scholarships to students to help ensure their success for the future. Through the support of our community, they are proud to be able to award on average, 35 scholarships each year to deserving students.

Kiwanis - For more than 100 years, Kiwanis International has been active in communities around the world. In Huntington Beach, the Kiwanis Club has been helping kids for more than 60 years. We believe we can make a difference in the world, in our community and in the life of a child. Along with clubs for adults, we offer clubs for kids in elementary, middle, high school and even in college. We also have a club that gives developmentally disabled adults the opportunity to volunteer in their community. We believe everyone can benefit from helping others.

Robyne’s Nest - Robyne’s Nest provides resources, funds and support to at-risk & homeless high school students in the Huntington Beach High School District. The organization was started to help homeless high school students who have been abandoned, kicked out or are just being neglected by their parents/guardians. We also help those students, whose parents are simply unable to provide for them.

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* 5. Surfer’s Choice: The best food and beverage business (i.e., catering company, restaurant or local food service establishment) in Huntington Beach.

Bagelmania - A Huntington Beach staple that has been in business for over 30 years, serving gourmet bagels & spreads, sandwiches, salads, coffee & smoothies in a snug shop with a patio.

Bella Sophia Chocolates - Since December 2016 - Guided by an international palate, Bella Sophia Chocolates fuse unique flavor combination techniques from around the world to create award-winning flavors and textures. Bella Sophia Chocolates makes everything handmade in small batches from their kitchen in Orange County. To achieve optimal flavor, their products are sourced from local and regional farmers using only the finest and when available organic items.

BLK - BLK Earth Sea Spirits is located in beautiful Huntington Beach, California. Opened in the summer of 2015 and named to the list of “Orange County’s Top 10 New Restaurants for 2016”, BLK specializes in Kobe-Style, hand cut steaks and fresh seafood.

TK Burger - Their first store opened in Newport in 1986. That’s right, they have been serving up fresh charbroiled burgers in Southern California since the eighties! They take pride in sticking to their roots and offering their customers great food, good value, preparing everything on-site and cooked to order. Their meat is delivered daily, ground to “TK” specs and never frozen. Their signature buns are custom-made by a local bakery, exclusively for TK Burger's proprietary use only!

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* 6. Outstanding Educator: A teacher, professor, or person in the education sector or organization that has gone the extra mile to help students in the HB community.

Tami Benane - As Principal of Village View Elementary School, Tami believes in collaborating and listening to our parents and community, Tami's biggest priority is to provide a safe and nurturing environment where all students thrive. Currently, she is working with our district curriculum and instruction department to incorporate Ocean Literacy with Science. Her goal is to foster a better understanding of our oceans & she wants all our students to benefit from living in this wonderful beach community.

Goldenwest College - Since their beginning in 1965, almost one person from every family in HB has had some interaction with Golden West College while they have enrolled over 40,000 HB residents as students in the last 10 years. GWC partnered with the Orange County Government to provide thousands of hot meals to food deprived residents of HB during the pandemic. In 2017-2018 and 2021-2022 GWC enrolled 3224 unduplicated HBUHSD students in dual enrollment courses.

Robert Rasmussen - Born & raised in HB, Robert has had the pleasure of serving the students of Huntington Beach for the past 21 years as a district substitute teacher and student teacher at Edison High School, before landing a full-time teaching position at Marina High School in 2005. Now in his fifth year at Ocean View High School and his third year as Principal, Robert is the second person in HBUHSD history to serve both as a student and as a principal. Robert is committed to creating open access and opportunities for all of our students no matter their academic or extra-curricular interests. His goal is for learning to be fun and for the students to feel loved and appreciated.

Tanner VanMaanen - Tanner has been teaching and coaching at Ocean View High School for the last 9 Years in the Special Education Department. As the Baseball Coach, their program has always made it a point to work and help out in our community, from the challenger League (Baseball) to the Local Little Leagues. Tanner shared, "I feel blessed to teach in our wonderful city."

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* 7. Best Small Business: Any small business (15 employees or less) in the community that has made an exceptional track record for community involvement through donations, programs, community service and helping others.

Bare Bunny - Bare Bunny's mission is to help everyone feel and look their best inside and out. It all starts with health and wellness. Bare Bunny loves to give back and support our beautiful community. They sponsor local schools, clubs and events. Bare Bunny also gives back by sponsoring a family for Christmas every year and a person in need quarterly. They offered HB Police, Fire and all First Responders complimentary services to help strengthen our community in a time of need. Bare Bunny looks forward to helping and contributing to our local community.

FAT BIKE Rentals - Founded by newlyweds, FATBIKE HB has the vision to provide others with the experience, joy and memories they had together on electric bikes. 5 years and two babies later, they are now the largest rental fleet of electric bikes in town with over 400 five-star reviews. Their vision came to life as they love seeing the smiles after a purchase or a ride on a FAT BIKE and it brings them joy donating to local schools, sports clubs and charities.

Stumpy’s Hatchet House - Stumpy's Hatchet House is Huntington's first axe-throwing venue. They have built their business around creating an environment where our community can have fun, get physical, and enjoy an experience simultaneously. They have also had the opportunity to keep you warm during your bonfire nights by giving out free wood.

Tavi Art - Business owner, Gustavo, creates art as an expression of freedom that honors his childhood. He helps serve youth and older community members who are on the journey of self-discovery by discovering and nurturing their talents into transformational experiences and outcomes.

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* 8. Best Medium Business: Any medium business (16 - 50 employees) in the community that has made an exceptional track record for community involvement through donations, programs, community service and helping others.

ExperTec - ExperTec has been serving the community since 1993. From sponsoring our local high schools to holding free catalytic converter etching events, community service is something ExperTec takes great pride in. They have also partnered with countless organizations throughout Huntington Beach to help those in need. No matter the circumstances, all are welcome at ExperTec.

Grocery Outlet of Huntington Beach - While getting to know so many warm and kind families in this wonderful beach community, their focus this past year has been to reach out to seniors, first responders, and families in need making contributions to the Senior Center in HB, the First Responder's recognition banquet, and the First Christian Church's Food pantry program. They offer special savings to seniors every Thursday from 8 am to 2 pm as well as a "Heros" discount card for Military and First Responders.

Laird Coatings - Laird Coatings (Formerly Coatings Resource) was established in 1976 and relocating to Huntington Beach, California in 1990. It is their determination and goal to continue their growth in the coatings industry. Laird Coatings has significantly grown into a major producer in the market and has recently tripled in manufacturing and warehousing capacity. For over 25 years, Laird Coatings has supplied world-leading plastic manufacturers with high-quality coatings and has gained a reputation for providing the best in products and services.

Visit HB - Visit Huntington Beach (VHB) is the official Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for Huntington Beach, California. The mission of Visit Huntington Beach is to market and sell Huntington Beach's Surf City USA brand experience as the preferred quintessential California beach destination leading to increased visitor spending and enhanced quality of life for residents.

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* 9. Best Large Business: Any large business (51+ employees) in the community that has made an exceptional track record for community involvement through donations, programs, community service and helping others.

AES - AES recognizes the need for advanced technology to create a modernized, reliable grid. That’s why they have placed an increased focus on battery energy storage, both as standalone facilities and paired with wind and solar resources in hybrid solutions. As they continue to operate and innovate in the state, they will consistently provide clean and reliable energy, create local jobs, and invest in non-profits, education, and local businesses. At the same time, we will listen to our customers to co-create solutions that meet California's evolving energy needs.

NuVision - Nuvision credit union has been serving the Huntington Beach community for over 85 years. Nuvision began as the credit union for Douglas aircraft employees and has evolved to now serve more than 150,000 members from Huntington Beach to Alaska, Arizona, Wyoming, and Washington. Nuvision is dedicated to helping build lives for our members, the communities they serve, and their employees.

MemorialCare Medical Group - MemorialCare Medical Group is a nonprofit health system that includes four hospitals, two medical groups, imaging centers, surgical centers and much more. As one of the leading health systems in Orange County and Los Angeles County, they are confident that no matter what your needs are, they have the teams, tools and know-how to support you every step of the way. They have big dreams for the future of healthcare, so they work every day to make high-quality care easier to access and more affordable. Whether you need a check-up or cardiac surgery, you can rest assured that OC Memorial Care is looking out for you.

The Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton Hotel - A stunning luxury resort on the sand and surf of Huntington Beach. Escape to their seaside refuge and start planning the ideal Southern California vacation at their luxury resort in Huntington Beach. One of the best resorts in Huntington Beach, California, thier full-service resort and spa is also one of the best family-favorite beach hotels in Orange County.

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* 10. Best of Surf City: Nominate your choice for best business or organization overall that has created long-term positive impact on the Huntington Beach community.

MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center - MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center, a nonprofit health system that includes four hospitals, two medical groups, imaging centers, surgical centers and much more. As one of the leading health systems in Orange County and Los Angeles County, they are confident that no matter what your needs are, they have the teams, tools and know-how to support you every step of the way. They have big dreams for the future of healthcare, so they work every day to make high-quality care easier to access and more affordable. Whether you need a check-up or cardiac surgery, you can rest assured that OC Memorial Care is looking out for you.