SALINAS, CA. (Oct. 23, 2024) — Excitement is building as the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce proudly presents its prestigious annual Legacy of Leadership Gala. It’s set to take place on Thursday, November 7th, from 5:30 – 7:30 PM at the Portobellos on Main Courtyard, 150 Main St., Ste #116 Salinas, CA. The Legacy of Leadership Gala brings together prominent leaders and local businesses to recognize and honor those who have demonstrated excellence, innovation, and made significant contributions to the Salinas Valley.  

"The Legacy of Leadership is a celebration of the incredible talent, innovation, and generosity that defines the Salinas Valley,” says Event Chair Amy Gibson. “I’m honored to Chair this inspiring event that recognizes the leaders who shape our community’s growth, spirit, and future.”   

The Chamber congratulates this year’s honorees: 

• Legacy Honoree: Senator Anna Caballero 
  Senator Anna M. Caballero has made outstanding contributions through her decades of public service and advocacy in the Salinas Valley region. Senator Anna M. Caballero is currently serving her second term in the California State Senate, representing the 14th Senate District. Senator Caballero has authored key pieces of legislation, and she is a woman of many firsts. She was the first female Mayor elected in the 126-year history of the City of Salinas and the first Latina elected to represent the 28th Assembly District in 2006. In 2011, Governor Edmund G. Brown hired Senator Caballero to serve as a member of his cabinet as the Secretary of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency. Her mission mirrored her 34-year career fighting for working families. A graduate of UCLA Law School and UC San Diego and born to a family of copper miners from Arizona, Caballero has devoted her life to empowering working families and creating opportunities for them and their children to be successful. 

• Business Philanthropy Honoree: The Costa Family McDonald's Restaurants 
  Born and raised in Turlock, CA., Raymond Costa is the proud son of Portuguese immigrant parents who called the Azores their home. His work ethic carried over to a local nursery, where he moved sprinkler pipes and then onto a cheese factory, before moving over to UPS, where he delivered packages for 17 years. In 1995, he became a McDonald’s Owner/Operator, opening his first restaurant in Fort Bragg, CA. Today, he operates nine restaurants. A servant leader, Ray has always passionately supported several local nonprofit organizations, including the Salvation Army, the American Cancer Society, the California Rodeo-Salinas, The Boys & Girls Club, the California Air Show Salinas, and Rancho Cielo. He is a past Board Member of both the Ronald McDonald House in Palo Alto and the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce. In 2017, he established the Raymond H. Costa Family Scholarship, which awards educational scholarships to his employees or their children. Since its inception, the scholarship has awarded over $419,000.00 to 151 recipients.  

• Distinguished Business Innovation Honoree: Braga Fresh 
  In 1928, Sebastian and Josie Braga started farming California’s fertile soil on what is now known as the Braga Home Ranch in Soledad, CA. Today, the third generation continues the family values of sustainable-organic farming. Braga Fresh sets aside 10% of farmland to beneficial habitat and has the goal of being carbon neutral. Now vertically integrated, Braga Fresh combines innovation with tradition to grow, harvest, and process fresh vegetables and leafy greens through the Josie’s Organics and Braga Farms brands. Their dedication to innovation and environmental stewardship demonstrates their leadership and how they combine modern techniques with traditional values to create a positive impact on both their community and the planet. 

• Young Professional of the Year Honoree: Jordan Pratt-Thatcher 
  Jordan Pratt-Thatcher, a member of the Leavitt Group, has a rich background in sales, where he excelled as both a leader and trainer. He attributes much of his success to the unique skill set he developed while pursuing a career in acting, screenwriting, and producing in Los Angeles. In addition to his professional work, Jordan is passionate about giving back and playing an active role in his community. He is an active member of the Big Sur Land Trust, dedicated to land conservation and education efforts across Monterey County. He also serves on the board of United Way Monterey County and chairs the Emerging Leaders Society through United Way Monterey County. Jordan believes in making connections everywhere he goes and believes we can all work together to make the Central Coast the best place to live and work. 

• Outstanding Business Honoree: Paper Tacos 
  Founded with just $2,500 of Jesús Ruvalcaba's own savings, Paper Tacos started as a way to combine his love for art, design, and cultural heritage. What began as a small passion project has since evolved into a successful business with a growing customer base. The mission of Paper Tacos is simple: to create bold, funny, and culturally relevant greeting cards that reflect the beauty and spirit of Mexican culture. However, the road to growth has not been without its challenges. Scaling Paper Tacos has presented significant struggles in managing logistics, fulfillment, and supply chain processes, especially as demand grew beyond what Ruvalcaba could have imagined. Through hard work and community support, Paper Tacos continues to thrive, with over 200 retail wholesale customers, ranging from brick-and-mortar to national retail stores. 

This strolling gala will feature a social hour starting at 5:30 PM, offering a unique opportunity to mingle and network while enjoying wine, hors d'oeuvres, and entertainment. Our Master of Ceremonies will be Showbiz from iHeartMedia, guiding guests through an inspiring program that celebrates this year’s honorees. Join us for an evening of recognition, inspiration, and networking with Salinas Valley’s brightest leaders. For tickets and more information, please visit SalinasChamber.com or call 831-751-7725.  

We couldn’t do this without our fantastic sponsors! (These are as of publication date)  
THANK YOU to the following:  

Diamond Sponsor: Taylor Farms 

Platinum Sponsors: California Resources Corporation, Kaiser Permanente, Mag One Media, Pinnacle Bank, and The Costa Family McDonald's Restaurants 

Gold Sponsors: SSB Construction, California Water Service, Wescom Credit Union, Chevron, Northridge Mall, Vistra, and Bay Federal Credit Union 

Silver Sponsors: Natividad Foundation, Green Rubber – Kennedy Ag, California American Water, Santa Cruz County Bank, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Alliant Insurance Services, Steinbruner Hill CPAs, Granite Construction, MP Express, Signs by Van, Monterey County Housing Inc., Coast and Valley Properties, Prósperos, Leavitt Central Coast Insurance Services, KSBW 8, and Noland, Hamerly, Etienne & Hoss 

Bronze Sponsors: Fenton & Keller, Waste Management (WM), Smith & Enright Landscaping, Community Human Services, EMC Planning Group, Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa, K&D Landscaping 

Wine Sponsor: Scheid Family Wines 

Media Sponsors: KION TV and iHeartMedia