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Tuesday, Mar 19, 2024

Fernando Finalists

The 60th annual Fernando Award gala will be held Oct. 6 at the Warner Center Marriot in Woodland Hills. The award is given each year to recognize lifetime volunteerism in the San Fernando Valley. This year’s five finalists include UltraGlas Inc. founder Jane Skeeter, Dynamic Nursing Inc. Vice President of Marketing Jeffrey Friedman, realtor Scott Silverstein, Fazio Cleaners owner Steve Fazio and Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. Chief Executive Bill Allen. “This is the cream the of the crop of volunteerism and philanthropy in the San Fernando Valley,” said Fernando Award Foundation Inc. Chairman David Honda. The event is sponsored by California State University – Northridge and Republic Services. “We’re very appreciative of the sponsorships because everybody is a volunteer and we don’t have any paid staff,” Honda said. Valley chambers of commerce, community organizations and civic leaders nominate individuals for the award. A screening committee narrows the field to five finalists, who are then voted on via confidential ballot by Fernando Award Foundation members. Last year, Paul Davis, a Northridge insurance agent and civic leader, was presented the Fernando Award by Providence Tarzana Medical Center Chief Executive Dale Surowitz in a ceremony at CSUN. In addition to the main award, the foundation also presents 11 scholarships to student volunteers. The awards gala is open to the public. Tickets will be made available online later this month. Jane Skeeter Skeeter is on the board of the West Valley Boys and Girls Club, a nonprofit organization that provides academic and healthy lifestyle services to young people. She has supported the organization for 10 years as a board member and active participant in activities and events. Skeeter is also on the board of the National Association of Women Business Owners’ Los Angeles chapter and served as the president from 2008 to 2009. As president, she helped minority, disadvantaged and veteran women receive small business certifications. The group nominated Skeeter for the Fernando Award. In addition, Skeeter has worked with Valley schools including Woodland Hills Elementary and Chatsworth High School as an arts volunteer and advisor. Skeeter is chief executive and founder of UltraGlas, a Chatsworth manufacturer of customized glass surfacing. She is a member of the Valley Economic Alliance and Valley Industry and Commerce Association. Jeff Friedman Friedman is the founder of Marketing and Admissions Professionals for Seniors, or MAPS, a network of retirement communities working to raise awareness and support for quality senior housing in the San Fernando Valley. MAPS includes 200 members in the Valley and has spawned groups in the South Bay, West Los Angeles, San Gabriel Valley, Santa Clarita Valley and Ventura County. In 2009, Friedman founded MAPS Charities Inc. to help disadvantaged seniors in L.A. County find short-term solutions. Last year, the nonprofit awarded $100,000 to seniors in need. Friedman is also chairman of One Generation, a nonprofit that provides senior and child services in the Valley. Since taking over in 2015, he has helped grow the group’s budget, increase staff and expand its services. Friedman has served on three committees with the Alzheimer’s Association of Los Angeles and has organized its Walk to End Alzheimer’s event for the past 26 years. Friedman is vice president of marketing at Dynamic Nursing in Sherman Oaks. The company provides in-home nursing and assistance care in Southern California and Las Vegas. Scott Silverstein Silverstein has been a board member at the Child Development Institute for more than 16 years. The organization’s mission is to provide services to young children with developmental challenges in underserved communities. Silverstein is also chairman at El Camino Real Charter High School in Woodland Hills. After his election, Silverstein led the effort to retain the school’s charter with Los Angeles Unified School District after alleged administrative and fiscal mismanagement. Silverstein was nominated for the Fernando Award by the Child Development Institute and El Camino Real Charter High School. In addition, he served as chairman of the Woodland Hills-Warner Center Neighborhood Council for five years. Silverstein is a principal with commercial real estate firm Lee & Associates in Calabasas. Steve Fazio Fazio is a Los Angeles Police Department Reserve Officer and served on the city’s Fire Commission from 2013 to 2016. He was unanimously approved by the City Council and served under mayors Antonio Villaraigosa and Eric Garcetti. Fazio is the founding president of Sierra Canyon School, a private institution that educates almost 1,000 kindergarten through 12th grade students each year. He sits on several boards including the Sierra Canyon Board of Trustees, the Cedars Sinai Board of Governors, the Providence Tarzana Board of Governors, the Young Presidents Organization and the American Jewish Congress. Fazio ran for California State Senate in 2015. He is the owner of Fazio Cleaners, which has locations in the greater Los Angeles Area and Summerlin, Nev. Bill Allen Bill Allen leads the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. and its subsidiary, the World Trade Center Association Los Angeles. As chief executive of both groups, he has helped bring billions of dollars of investment into L.A. County. Allen is the 2012 board chairman of Film L.A., a vice chairman of the Valley Economic Alliance and board secretary for Valley Presbyterian Hospital. He is also on the boards of the Weingart Foundation, International Economic Development Council, California Stewardship Network, Regional Economic Association Leaders of California Coalition, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, Los Angeles Coalition for the Economy and Jobs, Unite L.A., and the Rossier School of Education at USC. Allen was previously a television network and studio executive with nearly 20 years’ experience in entertainment production and management. He was a co-founder and first chief executive of the Valley Economic Alliance.

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