Executive of the Year

The Executive of the Year Award recognizes a chamber CEO for outstanding performance over the last year. Candidates are judged in five areas of expertise including finance, communications, legislative action, and membership services performed by the chamber.

The award is based on one year’s performance; it is not a career award.

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2024 Recipient:  Bobby Spiegel, ACE
Corona (CA) Chamber

WACE Board Chair Kami Welch presents 2024 Executive of the Year to Bobby Spiegel, ACE, President/CEO of the Corona (CA) Chamber.

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Nomination/Application:
Individuals may nominate themselves or may be nominated by 2 of the following: staff members, volunteer leaders or neighboring chamber executives. A chief executive officer who receives the Executive of the Year Award may not be nominated again for a minimum of three years.

Previous Recipients (*still in chamber work):

1988 - Dave Kilby
1989 - Pat Crockett
1990 - Keith Woods
1991 - Dave Garth
1992 - Bob Linscheid*
1993 - Paula McCloskey
1994 - Richard R. Luehrs
1995 - Randy Gordon, ACE
1996 - Tom Guarino
​1997 - Bill Seavy
1998 - Jan Sobel
1999 - Pat Shalmy

2000 - Kate King
2001 - Chris Frank
2002 - Rusty Hammer
2003 - Jacquie Warren
2004 - No Award Given
​2005 - Betty Nokes
2006 - Kara Kelly
2007 - Gary Plummer*
2008 - Brad Hicks, CCE, IOM
2009 - Kelly Hall*
2010 - Matt Mahood
2011 - Sharon Silva

2012 - No Award Given
2013 - Tom Pierson, ACE
2014 - Ken Oplinger, ACE
​2015 - David May, CCE, CAE
2016 - Mike Varney
2017 - Todd Sanders*
2018 - Bryan Starr
2019 - Joshua Bonner
2020 - Mark Turner
2021 - Nancy Hoffman Vanyek, ACE*
2022 - Zeb Welborn, ACE*
2023 - Rana Ghadban, ACE*