Award Recipients
This year’s honorees represent the very best of what it means to lead with purpose. Through their work, they have helped create opportunity, strengthen communities, and inspire positive change for those around them.
Lynn L. Jacobs Award for Excellence in Lifetime Leadership
Celina L. Zacarias
Celina L. Zacarias has served as Executive Director of Community and Government Relations at CSU Channel Islands since 2007, building strong partnerships across the region and beyond. In 2020, she made history as the first Latina woman elected to the Oxnard Harbor District and later became President of the Board in 2024. The daughter of migrant farmworkers, Celina’s personal journey and deep connection to the community have shaped her lifelong commitment to creating opportunity for others. With more than 25 years of experience in business, higher education, government relations, and community leadership, she has become a respected voice throughout Ventura County and beyond.
Her extraordinary leadership and service have earned numerous honors, including the 2026 Women’s Economic Ventures Trailblazer of the Year and 2026 Pacific Coast Business Times Latino Business Awards All Star Honoree.
Rodney Fernandez Founder’s Award for Excellence in Visionary Leadership
Jessica Wishan de L’Arbre
Jessica Wishan is the Chief Executive Officer of Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County, where she leads affordable housing development, innovation, fundraising, and community partnerships. Since becoming CEO in 2018, she has expanded housing programs, strengthened public partnerships, and advanced innovative approaches to affordable housing. With nearly two decades of nonprofit leadership experience in housing, homelessness, disaster response, and community development, Jessica brings a proven record of turning challenges into meaningful results. Through her leadership and dedication, Jessica continues to help create greater access to safe, affordable housing for local families.
Michael McGuire Award for Excellence in Community Partnership
Ventura County Credit Union
Founded in 1950, Ventura County Credit Union (VCCU) is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial institution dedicated to improving the financial well-being of our members and community. Today, VCCU is the largest credit union headquartered in Ventura County, serving more than 78,000 members, with over $1.4 billion in assets and eight branch locations. Membership means access to lower loan rates, higher deposit rates, lower fees, and friendly, local service from people who care. Guided by “People Helping People,” VCCU also invests in financial education, inclusion, charitable giving, volunteerism, and local partnerships to expand opportunities and make a meaningful difference throughout Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.
Ernest Baskette, Jr. Award for Excellence in Community Support
Yvonne Gutierrez
Yvonne R. Gutierrez is a dedicated nonprofit leader and advocate who has spent more than four decades serving Latino, immigrant, and underserved communities throughout Ventura County. As Executive Director of El Concilio Family Services, Yvonne leads organizational strategy, operations, community partnerships, and public affairs, advancing programs that address critical needs in health, education, and social services. Since beginning her career with El Concilio, she has held positions of increasing leadership and has helped secure long-term funding while expanding the organization’s reach and impact. Known for building strong partnerships and turning community needs into meaningful solutions, Yvonne has dedicated her career to strengthening families, empowering individuals, and creating greater opportunities for the communities she serves. Her decades of service, collaborative leadership, and unwavering commitment to Ventura County have made a lasting and meaningful impact.
Carmen Ramirez Award for Excellence in Advocacy and Community Impact
Consulado de México en Oxnard
The Consulate of Mexico in Oxnard serves the Mexican community throughout Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties by providing essential documentation, protection, and support services. Beyond issuing passports and consular identification cards and promoting awareness of the rights of Mexican nationals, the Consulate works closely with local organizations to connect families with valuable resources and opportunities in health, education, financial inclusion, and community development. Through these efforts, the Consulate plays an important role in strengthening connections, expanding access to resources, and supporting the well-being of the communities it serves.