Downtown business woman Karen Gay and her family celebrated the success of her trophy shop, Just Rewards, for its 10 year tenure in the community with a well-attended ribbon cutting Friday with an official Ripon Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting launching another 10 years of service to Ripon.

Gay began in the trophy business working for two other shops while much of the time working part-time as a noon yard duty supervisor at Colony Oak School where she was credited for being an advocate for the children – always having them at heart.

After learning the trade in Escalon, she purchased the business and moved it to Ripon where it has been located in a historic, remodeled service station building in the 200 block of West Main Street.  The station had housed Van der Veen Oil Company and a Den Dulk Hancock Service Station.  The gas pumps had been removed years ago and the building extended toward the street creating more usable space.  

Gay credited her family members for much of her success including her husband Bill as well as her sons Billy and Jeff.

 “Without them I could not have done this,” she said.  “We have been helping people immortalize, commemorate and celebrate milestones for over 10 years.”

A group of about 15 well-wishers crowded in front of her shop for an official chamber of commerce ribbon cutting on Friday where she was presented with a plaque and certificates from both Assemblywoman Kristen Olsen and Congressman Jeff Denham, given to her by their staffers.