Chamber Honors 2012 Persons of the Year

The Redwood City-San Mateo County Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 115th Annual Dinner at Sofitel Hotel Friday night, to announce the honorees for its 2012 Persons of the Year.

Since 1970, the chairman of the Chamber's board has selected the recipients of this award on the criteria of "those who, more than anyone, made the greatest impact on the success of a president's year."

This year, Chairman Stacey Wagner selected Greg Greenway, executive director of the Seaport Industrial Association; and Jim Bigelow, owner of Bay Area Transportation and Housing Associates, as the two honorees for 2012.

Reportedly, Greenway and Bigelow were surprised when their names were called at Friday's dinner.

As he announced their names, Wagner said, "My choice this year, is two people who exemplify commitment and dedication - and that is exactly what Greg Greenway and Jim Bigelow exemplify as they lead the Chamber's Transportation and Housing Committee, and that is why they are my choice for 2012 Persons of the Year."

Greenway is a 2000 graduate of the Chamber's "Leadership Redwood City/Belmont/San Carlos" program. He went on to serve as the Chamber's Department Chair and then Committee Chair, and then as a member of the Board of Directors for more than 10 years, the Chamber said in a press release.

Bigelow has been co-chair of the Chamber's Transportation and Housing Committee for more than 10 years. Both Greenway and Bigelow currently chair part of the Transportation and Housing sections of the Leadership Redwood City-Belmont-San Carlos program, and have done so for years.

"Greg and Jim do an exceptional job of representing the Chamber as they advocate for those positions, which our Chamber supports," said Amy Buckmaster, the Chamber's new interim president and CEO since the retirement of Larry Buckmaster at the end of January.

"As heads of the Chamber's Transportation and Housing Committee, they meet monthly and put together one of the most informative committees in our Chamber," Buckmaster continued. "They bring to the table and keep in the forefront issues affecting the business community. They take positions, recommend them to the Chamber Board of Directors, and advocate for their support."

"From housing projects, to the High-Speed Rail, Caltrain Modernization, and water transit, the voice of our Chamber has been heard as they continually speak out on behalf of the business community."

Buckmaster said, in 2012, Greenway and Bigelow helped lead the way to secure funding for environmental studies and design of a new Woodside Road Interchange.

"Moving forward, the Chamber, through the Transportation and Housing Committee, will play an important role as they work along side the City of Redwood City in determining design alternatives," Buckmaster said.

Furthermore, Buckmaster added, "They have advocated for housing along transportation corridors. The committee has supported individual housing projects which meet the Chamber's Housing Endorsement Criteria, which their committee developed to help the Chamber make informed and fair decisions." 

As he presented their awards, Chairman Wagner said Friday night, "The Chamber is so fortunate that Greg and Jim have chosen to share their professional lives with the Chamber and the community, and to have made such an impact."

Greenway and Bigelow also accepted proclamations, resolutions, certificates and compliments from the State of California, California State Senator Jerry Hill, Assemblymember Kevin Mullin, President of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors Don Horsle,y and Redwood City Mayor Alicia Aguirre.

Correction: The original article listed Greg Greenway as the Executive Director of the Port of Redwood City rather than the Seaport Industrial Association.