Russell E. Pettit Memorial Award

The Western Association of Chamber Executives (W.A.C.E.) presents an annual award to a chamber executive in recognition of outstanding contributions in advancing the professionalism of the chamber business and encouraging others to make chamber work a career.

The award is NOT a one-year award and is normally presented to a W.A.C.E. member who has a long track record of assisting his/her peers and advancing the professionalism of the chamber business.

​The award is presented in memory of Russell E. Pettit, who served as the chief executive of the San Jose (CA) Chamber of Commerce for 40 years. Pettit served his community and his fellow executives in the highest professional manner and always gave unselfishly of his time.

---

2024 Recipient:  Bob Linscheid, ACE
Walnut Creek (CA) Chamber & Visitor Bureau

WACE Board Chair Kami Welch (R) and Board Member Nancy Hoffman Vanyek (R) present award to Bob Linscheid, ACE, President & CEO of the Walnut Creek (CA) Chamber & Visitor Bureau

---

Award Eligibility: 
Any chamber of commerce chief executive or department head, who is a W.A.C.E. member in good standing, is eligible for nomination.

Nominations can be made by chamber executives acting together in a county, regional or state association or by any three W.A.C.E. members in good standing. The recipient will be announced and the award presented during the annual W.A.C.E. Conference.

Previous Recipients (*still in chamber work)

1971 - Sam Porter, CCE
1972 - Frank King
1973 - Stanley Lowry
1974 - J. Walker Owens, CCE
1975 - Frank M Reid, CCE
1976 - William E. Dauer, CCE
1977 - Wesley D. Bush
1978 - Joseph M. Good, CCE
1979 - Leslie L. Riddell, CCE
1980 - John T. Hay
1981 - E.B. "Al" Cooper
1982 - William G. Duflock, CCE
1983 - Aulden O. Schlatter, CCE
1984 - D. David Smith
1985 - L. O. "Les" Dabritz
1986 - Albert A. Correia
1987 - Bruce Ackerman
1988 - Jerry Vorpahl

1989 - Dave Kilby
1990 - Steve Rubenstein
1991 - Keith Woods
1992 - Wilda Parks
1993 - Harry York
1994 - Steen J. Tedesco
1995 - David Garth
1996 - Ken Moore, CCE
1997 - Steve Snyder
1998 - Paula McCloskey
1999 - John C Camper, CCE
2000 - Randy Gordon, ACE
2001 - Joan Warner
2002 - Scott Raty, ACE
2003 - Jan Sobel
2004 - Wayne Griffin
2005 - Kate King
​2006 - Mike McLaran

2007 - Dave Maurer
2008 - Leron Gubler
2009 - Mike Hauser
2010 - Diane Schwenke
2011 - Nancy Hoffman Vanyek, ACE*
2012 - Steve Rose
2012 - Cindy Roth, ACE
2013 - Ken Oplinger, ACE
2014 - Betty Nokes Capestany
2015 - No Award Given
2016 - No Award Given
2017 - Marianne Virgili, CCE
2018 - Tom Pierson, ACE
2019 - Pat Patrick, ACE
2020 - Todd Sanders*
2021 - Chris Romer, ACE*
2022 - Glenn Morris, ACE*
2023 - No Award Given