Emily Zheng, AHS 2015 grad and longtime Arcadia’s Best blogger
A well-deserved honor was awarded to the founder of Arcadia’s Best and Arcadia Chamber of Commerce CEO Scott Hettrick on Saturday, August 1, 2015, at the Temple City Historical Society and Woman’s Club.
A familiar face at hundreds of events around the city and also a selfless, caring person to all, Scott was honored at Congresswoman Judy Chu’s 6th Annual DiverCities Congressional Awards Ceremony with the Business Person of the Year Award.
<Emily’s blog continues below the following 2:55 video highlights of the award ceremony below… > YouTube video format…
Get the Flash Player to see this content.Scott has been a resident of Arcadia since arriving with his family in 1991 and has been an active member of the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce leadership team since 2006 before being hired as full-time CEO in March 2011.
Emily with Scott and his wife Betty at awards ceremony
Since then, the Chamber has been recognized as one of the best in Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley. Scott also started this news website, ArcadiasBest.com, and its companion e-newsletter in 2007, and founded the non-profit Arcadia’s Best Foundation community events organization in 2010 with Sho Tay and Carol Libby. Other organizations that he has been an integral part of include the Downtown Arcadia Improvement Association business district (founding board member), the Arcadia Library Board of Trustees (recent Chairman), the Arcadia Public Library Foundation (current President), and the Arcadia Historical Society (founding and ongoing chairman of the History Lives Here markers committee). He is also a 25-year entertainment business journalist and operates his own websites and e-newsletters at HollywoodInHiDef.com and 3DHollywood.net.
DiverCities recognizes the diverse leadership and volunteerism in the cities that make up the 27th Congressional District. Other individuals and organizations were honored for their leadership and civic duty in a variety of categories, including Educator of the Year and Non-Profit of the Year. The selected groups and individuals received this honor because of the commendable work they have accomplished in their field as well as their dedication to the community and the San Gabriel Valley.
The list of winners:
Scott Hettrick – Business Person of the Year
Anita Chu – Educator of the Year
C.O.P.A. Latinas for Education – Non-Profit of the Year – West San Gabriel Valley
Uncommon Good – Non-Profit of the Year – East San Gabriel Valley
Tyrone Skinner – Community Activist of the Year
Pasadena Armenian Genocide Memorial Committee – Volunteer of the Year
Michael Whitehead – Building Bridges Award
The event truly celebrated the unique melting pot of the San Gabriel Valley and the wonderful people who make these communities so special.
Congresswoman Chu said, “No words can describe the amazing contributions that all of our honorees have made to the communities of the 27th Congressional District. Many of them are devoting their entire lives to community service, while others are inspiring young people to pursue higher education. Several of them are advocating for those without a voice and some of them are deploying their entrepreneurial energy to show the world the best our district has to offer. Most importantly, all of them are bringing people together to harness the incredible strength and diversity that make the San Gabriel Valley and America an amazing place to live, work, and play. I am truly thankful for their service and I am honored to be able to recognize each one of them (with) DiverCities Congressional Awards…”
Congratulations, Scott!
— By Emily Zheng, longtime Arcadia’s Best blogger, is heading to her freshman year at Pomona College this month after being honored herself as Valedictorian for the graduating class of Arcadia High School in June.