BANKING

Steve Miller, president and CEO of Fresno First Bank, was a finalist for the 2017 Banker of the Year award presented by the Western Independent Bankers banking trade association, which has more than 22,000 individual members across the Western U.S.

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PUBLIC SERVICE

Each year, Fresno Rotary acknowledges the contributions to our community by those who serve to protect and defend the citizens of Fresno. Rotary describes an act or action of exceptional performance or bravery by an officer of each of the following four agencies and acknowledge his or her contribution to an audience of community leaders. The following were honored: Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, Dep. Tyler Hitter; Fresno Fire Department Cpt. Karey L. Wedemeyer; Fresno Police Department, Officer Richard Lujan; and California Highway Patrol Officer Raul Gonzalez.

FINANCE

Leigh Fisher has joined the team of Big Valley Mortgage in Fresno as a loan officer. Her specialties include jumbo financing, self-employed/complex-income borrowers, first-time homebuyers, education & advising, government loans, refinance and construction.

REAL ESTATE

Newmark Grubb Pearson Commercial announced the addition of Luke D. Tessman, previously a member of its market research team, to its office division as a sales associate specializing in leasing and selling office properties. Tessman is a graduate of Simpson University and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with an option in management.

District 5 Assemblymember Frank Bigelow has selected Theresa Wilson as the District’s 2017 Woman of The Year for service, commitment and dedication to her community. She received a special resolution signed by Assemblymember Bigelow, enjoyed a private lunch and tour of the state capital. Joining Wilson at this special ceremony was her husband and business partner Dennis Porter and her granddaughter Reace Thresher. Wilson is the 2017 California State President of the Women’s Council of REALTORS and has served as Assemblymember Bigelow’s key contact for the California Association of REALTORS for the past 4 years.

EDUCATION

For the third time, Karson B. Kalashian, a teacher at Orosi High School in Tulare County, has received the Diamond Coach Award from the National Speech & Debate Association. The prestigious award recognizes a professional career that combines excellence and longevity in speech and debate.

RETAIL

Jim Fishback, president and CEO of Fresno Piano Gallery, announced the promotion of Nicholas Estrada to director of institutional sales. Nick has had a successful career for nearly four years in sales at Fresno Piano Gallery. He graduated from Fresno State in 2010 with a degree in music education. Fresno Piano Gallery is the authorized dealership in the Fresno area for Yamaha and other fine pianos and is located next to Costco in River Park.

HEALTH CARE

Family HealthCare Network welcomes Balpreet Kaur, DDS, as a new dentistry provider at the Porterville Dental Center. She completed her training at the New York University College of Dentistry.

ENGINEERING

Blair, Church & Flynn Consulting Engineers, a multi-discipline professional services firm, announced that it was recognized as a Supplier of the Year (SOTY) Award winner during the 27th Annual Southern California Chapter of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) SOTY Awards Gala on March 15 in Industry City, California. The SOTY Awards celebrate outstanding partnerships between Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) and California member corporations such as Southern California Edison (SCE), Toyota, Honda, Disney, California Water Service and the Southern California Gas Company. To be considered for a SOTY Award, member corporations nominate MBE companies who differentiate themselves and their business with exceptional performance in their contractual obligations. The nominees compete for the Supplier of the Year award in four size categories, determined by a company’s gross annual sales.

GOVERNMENT

The City of Clovis has been presented with an award of merit for its Dry Creek Business Park Phase II project by the California Association for Local Economic Development. The project brought the city into a public-private partnership with local property owners to turn over irregular, landlocked and abandoned agricultural lots into a job generator for the region. Demand for phase II of the project has been strong with recent completion of infrastructure.