County chamber honors Gustine’s Judi Gandy

Judi Gandy of Gustine received the 2011 Good Business Citizen of the Year award from the Merced County Chamber of Commerce.

GUSTINE – Judi Gandy, Gustine Chamber of Commerce secretary, was honored Saturday by the Merced County Chamber of Commerce as its 2011 Good Business Citizen of the Year.

Gandy was recognized for her deeds above and beyond the practices of daily business and for her daily conduct that exemplifies good business practice that benefits the county’s quest for community prosperity, according to a news release from the county chamber.

She was nominated for the award by the County Chamber membership and selected as the recipient by the Board of Directors.

County chamber leaders, along with representatives of local, state and federal government offices, presented the award during a celebration dinner held at the Merced Golf and Country Club.

“It was an honor to receive the award and be recognized in this way,” Gandy told Mattos Newspapers. She said she enjoys the work she does to help keep the business community thriving in her home town as well as the county as a whole.

At the same time, the humbled honoree is quick to note that the work she does would not be possible without the help of others who work alongside her. “It’s not just me. The work that gets done takes a lot of people who jump in whenever there is a need,” Gandy noted. Most importantly she credits her husband Mike Gandy, who is with her at every step.

The couple have been volunteering with the Gustine Chamber for over 20 years. They owned a business in town and loved being involved with the chamber activities like the Christmas festivities, the mixers, the dinners, the fundraisers, any and all events that took place through the years.

“I love Gustine. This is my hometown and I want to do whatever I can to help it stay strong and the business community thriving,” Gandy expressed.

She  was born and raised in Gustine so she has a personal stake in keeping her hometown prospering no matter the current challenges the city may be facing at any particular time.

“That’s what the chamber does. It keeps the business community going and helps keep downtown looking good,” Gandy shared.

She remembers when downtown Gustine was buzzing with business. She also remembers when businesses started to shut down. For the last several years, the chamber has been diligently working to promote downtown revitalization.

The task of bringing businesses to Gustine can be time-consuming but is well worth it. Gandy noted that the chamber worked with primary care physician Dr. Nandeesh Veerappa for about two years to open a practice in Gustine, which he did in December.

Another chamber project has been planting trees downtown to replace the ones removed by the city. “The city doesn’t have the money to plant the trees that were once planned for replacement of the ones removed. Through a donation by County Supervisor Deidre Kelsey and chamber funds, we were able to work with the city and start planting some of the trees,” Gandy shared.

The chamber hosts a few fundraisers through the year to raise funds that pay for the Christmas decorations and special projects that enhance the business district. The money raised for the Fourth of July festivities is a separate account that does not go through the chamber, she pointed out. Those funds pay only for that event.

“Most people don’t realize that the chamber paid for the street decorations that line downtown during the holidays and we also purchased the downtown speakers and sound system. The city now helps us install the decorations but the chamber purchased them,” Gandy reported.

Everything that happens through the chamber involves many people. Although the modest organizer is quick to credit others it is her dedication to keeping the town thriving that drives much of the activity. “I have been told I am good at trapping people, in getting them to say yes when there is a job to get done,” she jests. The reality is, little by little, work gets done, because people come together, volunteer their time and skills and just get it done. There are so many people who help out, she pointed out. “I don’t know where we would be without the Wayne Medinas and Louie Spinazzis of the world!”

Gandy has served on many of the committees associated with the work of the chamber as well as community committees and boards such as the fireworks committee, Miss Gustine Pageant committee, parade committee, the Italian Catholic Federation, the Gustine Historical Society and in her spare time served on the Gustine Planning Commission and as President of the Gustine Chamber of Commerce.

Judi Gandy is referred to by many as the glue that has kept the Gustine Chamber of Commerce together for over 27 years of its 100 year existence. Together with her husband Mike, they keep the volunteerism fires of Gustine burning,  Julius Pekar, Merced County Chamber of Commerce CEO told the audience as he presented Gandy the county chamber award Saturday.