Doctors Hospital CEO Nicholas Tejeda ended his year as president of the Manteca Chamber of Commerce Friday night, handing the reins to Manteca Bulletin Advertising Director Chuck Higgs.

The Manteca Transit Center on Moffat Boulevard was filled with well wishers for Tejeda who is being transferred to another Tenet Hospital site in El Paso, Texas next week. He led the chamber in a membership growth of 106 new businesses. There are now more than 300 members.

When he introduced himself at the lectern, Tejeda said he had just learned of his new reference name, “the guy who’s leaving,” from a few in the crowd.

“Last year the theme was growth,” Tejeda said.  “Now we are going to be focusing on the future.   I could stand up here and cite more numbers on how we have grown. I could tell you about the new programs and services, but that would take too long.”

Tejeda explained that there was one common thread that made all those successes possible: “It was you” as he directed his comments to chamber members in the crowd.

“The people in this room had the creativity to come up with the ideas,” Tejeda said. “They had the courage to share those ideas and they had the fortitude to implement those ideas.  I don’t mean the chamber board — that’s easy — I mean the people in this room.”

 Looking around the room full of many familiar faces Tejeda added, “I mean people like Mike Anderson, Pidge, Jack Snyder, and Rich Silverman.  President Chuck is going to be doing it too —everyone could be doing it and everyone has made a difference. That’s what I wanted to tell you tonight — keep doing it.”

 “Look at what we can be,” Tejeda implored.  “I don’t want us to say let’s be another Livermore, another Tracy, another Pleasanton.  We’re something else — we are something unique.  Now, I could tell you something great about all those cities.  But those city leaders would love to have a Big League Dreams, I bet they would love to have a Bass Pro, and I bet they would love to be on the verge of having a Great Wolf Lodge (hotel and water park).  I bet they would love to be us sometimes, so think about what we can be if only the people in this room keep doing what they have been doing.”

Tejeda is often a story teller in making his point and he was set to do just that for the business and professional crowd before him. 

“All this reminds me of a story I would like to share by taking you on an adventure,” he quipped.

“Imagine you are in a sailboat along with two other people.  So, there are three people in the boat.  You’re in the ocean in deep water sailing along, nice and easy.  Things are going well and you have momentum.  All of a sudden the wind turns direction, stops, the boat’s not moving.  Of the three people in the boat there is an optimist, there’s a pessimist and there is a third person.”

Tejeda recalled the optimist said, “Oh, don’t worry about it, everything is going to be fine. The wind is going to come back.  Before you know it, we’re going to be off and running just sit tight.”

The pessimist on the other hand said, “Woe is us.  We’re not going to go anywhere.  We’re dead, we’re dead in the water. We’re not going to go anywhere.”

The third person is described as “a person of action,” Tejeda said. “That person stands up, changes the direction of the sail and the boat goes on. That’s what we need to keep doing. Stand up, take action!  We can do that here in Manteca,”.

Looking to his right, recognizing the next president, he said he could easily say that Chuck Higgs is going to be a fantastic president like the incoming Board of Trustees during the next year. 

“I’m asking you to keep believing in Manteca,” Tejeda said. “Keep going to that farmers’ Market and Music in Manteca with your family.  Keep on sitting on the grass and listening to the music, shop a little bit.  Be an example.  People will come. All of a sudden you are going to see people coming from these other communities wanting to be us.”

First to be honored in a long list of volunteers was Leo DeGroot who was named Board Member of the Year. 

 “As much as anyone can depend on someone,  we depend on Leo,” Tejeda said. “He’s the one getting up early in the mornings, getting things in place.  He is the one picking up the equipment —the one doing all the work.  Leo is outstanding.”

Lucille Harris was presented the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. She said when she first heard of the award she thought that it was only because of her age. Harris said she isn’t done with her many projects yet — hesitating to admit she’s a senior citizen. There’s more to come, she said.

Harris was the first of two recipients to receive a standing ovation from the crowd.  The other was Pastor Mike Dillman when he was presented with the Mabel Brocchini Community Service Award.  Dillman has been the force behind the large Memorial Day event focusing on the military men and women who gave their all for the country.  He also is the one who brought the traveling Vietnam Wall to Manteca in May.

The Non-Profit Organization Award went to Hope Family Shelter. The Small Business Award was presented to Fagundes Meats that drew applause for the sumptuous dinner he provided for chamber members at the Manteca Transit Center.

Cabral Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge & Ram won the Co-Large Business Award with Don Cabral receiving the honor with his dad Bill smiling from his seat in the center of the room. The Cabral dealership was launched as a used car lot in 1957 and grew to include multiple franchises in 1961.  They now have some 50 employees and expanded along West Yosemite Avenue to Union Road.

Tejeda said his personal choice for the President’s Choice Award went to Brenda Franklin of Tipton’s Stationery and Gifts.  He said that Franklin always went above and beyond in her service to him, the board and to the chamber. 

“I was looking for someone who was soft spoken and timid,” he quipped.  “This is that person who is a fearless advocate for the people of Manteca.  She lets us know where we can sit and where we can go.  She has been a great source of counsel and guidance to me.”

The second Co-Large Business Award went to J.R. Simplot said to be a rock in the community as it continues its support the community.

Often heard answering the chamber office phone with her heart on her sleeve and a bubbly welcome in her voice is Ann King who won the Gladys Brock Chamber Service Award. The other chamber volunteers honorees included Joleen Mello, Kim Melo, Carol Bradley and Linda Lewis.