Welcome

Heidi Sanborn

Person of the Year

Director Sanborn was first elected to the SMUD Board of Directors in 2018 and represents Ward 7, which includes North Highlands, northern Arden Arcade, Carmichael, Antelope and Foothill Farms. She was re-elected without an opponent in 2022. SMUD’s Board of Directors elected Heidi Sanborn as President of the Board for 2023.

Sanborn is also the Founder of the National Stewardship Action Council and has served as its Executive Director since 2015. She is also the founding Director of the California Product Stewardship Council where she worked for 12 years. These nonprofits are dedicated to reducing waste, increasing recycling and advocating for an equitable, circular economy.  If you have ever recycled paint at a paint store or dropped off medicine at a medicine bin for safe disposal, you have experienced the results of Heid’s work.

She was later appointed by State Treasurer Fiona Ma to the Green Bond Market Development Committee in 2019, tasked with raising billions to build climate-friendly infrastructure. She was also appointed by CalEPA to serve on the Statewide Commission on Recycling Markets and Curbside Recycling in June of 2020 and was elected Chair. The voluntary Commission submitted 34 policy recommendations to the California Legislature, many of which were passed in 2021 and 2022

Sanborn has a personal interest in going green. Sanborn and her husband have remodeled their current home to include solar panels and used the SMUD store to replace old lighting with LEDs and used SMUD rebates for a new heat-pump water heater and HVAC units. She is proud to be a SMUD Greenergy® customer.

Sanborn is also active in the community serving on the Board of the Children’s Receiving Home of Sacramento and is co-chair of the Giving Tree committee of the Kiwanis Club of Carmichael which recently planted 12 trees from the Sacramento Tree Foundation at Cameron Ranch Elementary School. She served as the President of the Sacramento Chapter of the National Alliance for Mental Illness in 2006-07-- spearheading the walk for mental health which she co-chaired with County Supervisors’ Rich Desmond and Patrick Kennedy in 2023, conducting police trainings and teaching family-to-family classes. She was also a Big Sister for six years to a local graduate from the Sacramento Unified School District. 

Over the past 16 years, Sanborn and her husband have also volunteered with Front Street Animal Shelter, fostering 67 dogs to date.

A native of Pennsylvania, Sanborn also lived in Delaware, Massachusetts, and Michigan before moving to California. Sanborn is a graduate of U.C. Davis where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science-Public Service. She also earned her master’s degree in Public Administration from University of Southern California. Heidi and her husband Brad Sanborn have lived in Sacramento for 33 years. Her father Dr. Clark Kahn III is also a member of the Kiwanis Club of Carmichael. 

Silvia Anderson

Business Woman of the Year

Nature's Lab School

Born in Mexico City and raised in Colombia, Silvia has passionately advocated outdoor education and social-emotional development for children for over 24 years. With over half of her life spent in the United States and a passion for uniting communities, she brings a unique cultural perspective to her daily work and interactions. Currently, Silvia is the driving force behind a very special outdoor education school, Nature's Lab School, that she founded, and she continues to pioneer innovative approaches to early childhood development alongside the wonderful NLS team of educators who are also passionate about the NLS philosophy. Simultaneously, she shares her knowledge by teaching early childhood classes for a local community college, imparting her expertise to the next generation of educators.

In addition to her role as an educator, Silvia coaches programs seeking to expand their outdoor opportunities for children and families and coaches administrators in best practices in education. Silvia's commitment to creating enriching environments for young learners extends beyond NLS school, contributing to the broader community's understanding of the benefits of outdoor education and the value of community connections. With 23 years of hands-on experience in child development and a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education, Silvia has excelled as a teacher, coach, professor, and business administrator. A firm believer in the transformative power of social-emotional skills, she envisions a world where individuals embrace their uniqueness, fostering a community built on thoughtfulness, respect, kindness, and understanding.

Above all, Silvia is a mom to her son Luke, her daily inspiration and #1 teacher who has taught her the power of unconditional love and uniqueness. Silvia is an avid outdoor lover, dedicated to activities like gardening and hiking, and loves her pets. Rooted in her Colombian upbringing, she passionately brings communities together and advocates for the appreciation of uniqueness.

Join us in celebrating Silvia's commitment to improving the world through her dedication to child development and fostering a culture of appreciation for individual uniqueness and the power of community, kindness, respect, and understanding.

"Outdoor education, where fine and gross motor skills meet friendships, literacy, engineering, science, art, math, and curiosity, all while having fun!" Silvia Anderson, Nature's Lab founder.

Joe Green

Business Man of the Year

Pit Boss Jerky

Joe was born and raised right here in Carmichael. He grew up with wonderful, kind parents and he is the second of six children. He has one brother who brings out Joe’s mischievous side, four sisters who keep him on his toes, and all of whom he loves dearly. Joe and his wife, Heidi, have been married for 21 years. They have 3 amazing kids. A daughter, who is away at college in her freshman year, and two teenage sons. They consider it their greatest honor to be their parents and to get to love them and watch them grow into their own and are very proud of each of them and who they are. Joe attended UC Davis, where he received his degree in Biochemistry. At one point, he wanted to be an ER doctor, but life brought him different plans that he wouldn’t change. He has since been a Financial Advisor and a Sales Rep for CalPIA.

Life has always been full of family time, church commitments, coaching or attending his kid’s sports and musical events, serving in the community, careers, and a love of barbequing. His love of perfecting his barbequing and smoking skills has led him to create jerky that is flavorful, delicious, and without all the preservatives other jerky has. With the encouragement, support, and a lot of assistance from his wife and kids he started Pit Boss Jerky. As word spread, Joe became the neighborhood jerky guy. People began to request orders and he would leave bags of jerky on the front porch and customers would leave payment in the mail slot. His small neighborhood operation began with only six different flavors and has grown to 11. He is about to launch his 12^th flavor, Spicy Island Teriyaki, and a new line of Pit Boss Beef Sticks. Pit Boss Jerky has gone from porch pickups to being sold in local stores.

One of Joe’s favorite aspects of owning a business is the opportunities to give back to a community that continues to support him in his business endeavor. When the world shut down for COVID back in 2020, Pit Boss Jerky shut down production for sales and instead, donated over 650 bags to essential workers including hospital workers, EMTs, Grocery store employees, truck drivers, law enforcement, military, etc. People on social media nominated essential workers they knew, and Joe and his family ended up shipping across the States. Additionally, Pit Boss Jerky has since been honored to be able to sponsor lMilitary and Veterans programs, several local high school programs and sports teams, a college rugby team at American River College, and even a podcast all within our local community. Joe continues to learn and grow in the business world and is humbled and grateful for all the support and encouragement he receives.

Anna-Marie Rodriguez

Ambassador of the Year

Anna-Marie Rodriguez is a licensed originator that has worked in the financial industry for over 27 years from Title and Escrow to Lending. Within her career she developed a love for helping people achieve the American Dream of homeownership. With her career path, she has become very well rounded with the ends and outs of the Mortgage industry. What truly brings her joy is educating, guiding and empowering her clients through the process. She likes to tell her clients “Buying a home can be exciting and scary at the same time but it’s my job to lessen the scary and up your excitement.”

Anna-Marie is an Army wife and member of the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Auxiliary. She is proud of her husband’s commitment to our country and his military career as well as others who have served and are currently serving. 

Family is very important to her, she has 3 beautiful daughters & a grandson who bring lots of laughter and love into her life. At the end of the day, her favorite thing to do is to snuggle up, with her little family, on the couch watching a great movie. 

Anna-Marie has dedicated hundreds of volunteer hours to the Carmichael Chamber and has assisted in numerous events, fundraising efforts, and is the perfect choice for this year’s Ambassador of the Year Award. 

Kiwanis Club of Carmichael

Nonprofit of the Year

The Kiwanis Club of Carmichael is an organization with heart and soul, driven by a diverse and inclusive community of passionate people who are making a difference throughout our world. The Kiwanis Club of Carmichael Foundation is a 501c3 public charity that has been serving the community since 1962. Our club contains nearly 100 members from all aspects of our community: teachers, lawyers, real estate agents, doctors, parents, grandparents, Girl Scout troop leaders, environmental activists, and more. Membership in the Kiwanis Club of Carmichael gives members the opportunity to participate in community service while building lasting friendships.

Since our founding in 1962, our club has also built strong relationships with other community organizations, such as San Juan Unified School District, the Carmichael Recreation and Park District, the Mission Oaks Recreation and Park District, Carmichael Presbyterian Food Closet, SMUD, Sacramento Kindness Campaign, The Kiwanis Family House, and others to further our reach to support families and serve the children in our community. We strive to work with diverse groups who represent our diverse community.

If you are interested in providing “hands-on” service to the community or just want to make a difference in the lives of others, we have over three dozen programs and projects that we support yearly. We are always looking for new members with a passion for service and our community.

Carmichael Recreation and

Park District

Public Service Award

The Carmichael Recreation and Park District has been managing park land and providing recreation opportunities to Carmichael and Sacramento County area residents since 1945. Today, the Carmichael Recreation and Park District serves a population of approximately 42,000 residents and cares for 13 park sites, including 11 fully developed parks, a 36-acre community center at the former La Sierra High School, a botanical garden that is nearly 50 years old, and a 17-acre nature area called Schweitzer Grove. Carmichael Recreation and Park District also provide a variety program ranging from youth and adult sports to after school care, summer camps, and preschool. Providing special events for the community gather and have fun is a key service we provide. These events include Concerts in the Park, Carmichael’s Red, White, and Blue Celebration, Founder’s Harvest Festival, Holiday Tree Lighting, Food Truck Nights, Wall of Honor, and more!

Carmichael Recreation and Park District is constantly looking for new ways to improve and enrich the quality of life of their community. Just last year the district partnered with the Over Under Initiative to provide a new and improved basketball court that doubles as a soccer court, and with the support of the Sacramento Republic FC and Sacramento County Supervisor Rich Desmond, Carmichael Recreation and Park District was able to install the first basketball/soccer court in Northern California. Through the parks, programs, events, and other services, Carmichael Recreation and Park District is proud to serve the community and help shape the future of how we connect, care, and create in our parks and programs.

Milagro Centre

Chamber Champion Award

The MIlagro Centre offers a wide variety of culinary delights in an open setting as well as a unique event center. Milagro Centre is the honoree for the 2024 Chamber Champion award due to their overwhelming support and philanthropy to the Carmichael Chamber’s efforts in business support and development. They not only were the home of the chamber of commerce for years, they donated to countless events, fundraisers, and they are truly the heartbeat of Carmichael. Milagro Centre is in the heart of Carmichael, designed to be a major gathering place for all. Milagro’s uniqueness comes from its open-air feel, and the many restaurants to choose from. These include River City Brewery, Mesa Mercado, Serritella’s, Takio Sushi, GB Gelato, Café Madre, I love Pies, Peachie Pop-ups, and our beautiful event center by Bella Bru. The unique outside courtyard is an inviting place to eat or accommodate smaller parties or events.

Allan and Sue Davis take great pride in Milagro Centre and love organizing many special events there, such as the VW Bus gathering, Car shows, Live music, and of course our live Santa Claus which brings in hundreds of kids.

School of Rock Sacramento

New Business Award

School of Rock is different from traditional music education programs. Our patented and proven School of Rock Method™ has taught hundreds of thousands of students around the world to play music. We combine one-on-one guitar, bass, keyboard, drums and singing instruction with group rehearsals and live performances, teaching students how to play together as a band. Our version of recitals are real rock shows at real venues in front of live audiences. This style of teaching builds lasting musical proficiency, boosts confidence, increases creativity, improves socialization skills, and allows students to work together as a band. When you join School of Rock, not only will you become a musician, but you'll be part of a close-knit community of passionate musicians and music lovers. We welcome students of all ages and experience levels.

Carmichael Disc Center

New Business Award

Carmichael Disc Center opening our doors over 2 years ago, we have been passionately dedicated to educating our community about the importance of maintaining good health and providing effective pain relief solutions.

At our practice, we believe in addressing the root cause of pain and not just treating symptoms. Our team witnesses miracles every day as we help individuals regain their quality of life back and restore their hope.

Our services are tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual. By combining our expertise with advanced techniques, we strive to deliver exceptional care and life-changing results.

Our dedication to our patients and our community drives us to provide the highest level of care and support.

Thank you for recognizing our efforts to bring health, relief, and hope to our community through our services.”

Carmichael Midas

Carmichael Spirit Award

Carmichael Midas has been a family owned and operated repair shop since it opened in 1990. In June of 2022, Kurt and Victoria Swanson purchased Carmichael Midas and were excited for the opportunity to continue the tradition of serving the residents of Carmichael and surrounding areas. As a family owned and operated business, Kurt manages the day to day operations, while Victoria manages administrative tasks. Kurt's son Logan works part time as a lube tech while learning the various aspects of owning and running a business.

Kurt and Victoria are proud residents of Carmichael, where they not only live but also serve their community with dedication. Their strong ties to Carmichael drive their commitment to making a positive difference. 

Midas of Carmichael is the honoree of the Carmichael’s Spirit Award for their uplifting messages displayed on fair oaks boulevard for the community. 

Carmichael Elks Lodge #2103

Carmichael Legacy Award

We have a very interesting story.

Chartered July 9th, 1959

On January 23rd, 1959, Grand Exalted Ruler Horace Wisely granted dispensation to Businessman Fred Holt and 135 American citizens to form Elks Lodge #2103 in Carmichael. Institution of the Carmichael Elks took place on February 26th in the Encina High School Gymnasium.

The leaders of the new Lodge found an instant way to increase membership: The “Four Horsemen”, Westerner Dirve-In-Theater Manager Barnie Warrick, USAF Col. Bob Klotz, Chef Café owner George Santrizos, and Developer Pug Meredith started the Carmichael Elks 4th of July Parade and Celebration Committee. Also, on the committee was Jim Knudson, founder of Jimboy’s Tacos, Lodge Secretary Ord Bremmer, and pilot George McGinnis. Ord Bremmer and George McGinnis did a fly over and dropped parachutes with gift certificates along the parade route.

Elks membership had soared to 434 when Grand Lodge formally granted the Carmichael Elks Lodge its charter on July 9th, 1959. During 1959, the Lodge met in the back of a drug store on Fair Oaks Blvd. Children of Elks celebrated the first Elks Children’s Christmas Party in the rented storeroom. Several of those children grew up to become Elks themselves.

Membership soared to over 2000 members by 1975.

Barnie Warrick coordinated a huge Elks Bicentennial 4th of July Parade in 1976. The parade lasted over three and one-half hours and had over 250 groups. In the mid 1970’s, the Trav’l’n Elks got started.  The 1981 Fourth of July Parade welcomed home “Viet Nam Vets” and was on national television. The Lodge gained members in 1982 and the plans for a new ballroom became reality. Donations of time and money poured into the Lodge. During Exalted Ruler Bobby Porter’s year in 1982-83, the ballroom was built. 

On June 26th, 1982, the Lodge had its first event on the newly poured cement slab of the future ballroom, the wedding reception of current Leading Knight Jim Warrick and his bride Cathey.

In 1984, Gary Leander started the Renegade’s Breakfast. That same year, Bob Gales started the Elks Thursday Night Dinners. All through the 1980’s, the Lodge continued to grow until it reached 2900 members. Because of lodge activities and a positive presence in the community, the Lodge attracted new members and finally had a net gain in membership in 2007-2008. In 2009, the Carmichael Elks sponsored the 50th Annual Carmichael Fourth of July Parade. Grand Marshal was long-time Lodge Secretary Col. Bill Cridland, one of the charter members initiated at Encina High School in 1959. By 2018, the Trav’l’n Elks had over 100 members.  Thursday Night Dinners and the Renegade Breakfast now have over 30 years of operation. Also, today the Carmichael Elks 19th Hole Golf Club sports over 45 members who play in tournaments throughout the year. Because of interesting programs and events, the Lodge the Lodge has steadily maintained a membership of over 1300 for the last ten years.