BUSINESS LEADERS—The Camarillo Rotary Club hosted its second annual business recognition awards luncheon on Oct. 19 in Camarillo. Award winners included, from left, Gary Alamin of Production Office, Nick Brown of Brown Construction, ReMax agent Terry Ayers and Patrick Gallagher of Gold Coast Erectors. RICHARD GILLARD/Acorn Newspapers The Camarillo Rotary honored four local businesses during the second annual business recognition awards on Oct. 19.

As part of the club’s vocational services acknowledgement during the month of October, Rotary members nominated local businesses they thought upheld the club’s values of truth, fairness, goodwill and benefit to the community.

“Rotary advocates truth and doing good for mankind in both our personal lives and our business practices,” said Max Copenhagen, club president. “We want to honor the fair business practices on the local front.”

Copenhagen said business ethics and generosity to the community are the foundations of Rotary.

The club’s four Camarillo winners are Gold Coast Erectors, Loan Production Office, Brown Construction and ReMax agent Terry Ayers.

“I’m very honored and overwhelmed with appreciation that they thought of me for the award,” said Ayers, a Camarillo resident. “The Rotary Club is a great organization that leads by example of how to give back to the community.”

Ayers is a member of Camarillo Chamber of Commerce’s Young Professionals and the Ventura County Association of Realtors. She said it’s important to promote honesty in the housing industry because the real estate slump has made homeowners wary of real estate agents and loan officers.

“Times are tough, and today’s market is overwhelming,” Ayers said. “It’s just an honor people trust me with one of the largest purchases of their lives.”

Camarillo resident Gary Alamin, owner of Loan Production Office, also recognizes the need for honesty in real estate. He founded the mortgage brokerage firm 12 years ago and consults with clients on how to finance a home.

Alamin said his parents raised him with a desire to be fair both personally and professionally.

“You live your life by doing the right thing,” Alamin said. “It’s my business principle, and it has always served me well.”

Alamin is a volunteer for his church, Padre Serra, and serves as an assistant troop leader for Boy Scouts. He recently participated in the cancer walk at Adolfo Camarillo High School.

Camarillo resident Patrick Gallagher, owner of Gold Coast Erectors, also believes serving the community is part of running a successful business. Gallagher founded the company in 1992 with his wife, Sharyl.

The company makes and sells steel beams and other structural material for construction.

“There is never a shortage of opportunities to give,” Gallagher said. “If you think globally and act locally, the world will be a better place.”

Gallagher has donated construction materials and equipment for 10 years to Mount Cross

Lutheran Church’s annual

Tijuana trip to build houses.

He has also donated money to FOOD Share, Lutheran

Border Concerns, Habitat for

Humanity, Boy Scouts and other nonprofits.

“It’s just a natural instinct that with success comes the opportunity to help others,” Gallagher said. “We’re helping organizations that help other organizations; it’s an outreach of giving. You give to another company and it snowballs because that company gives even more.”

Copenhagen said there is no specific number of honorees, and the club recognizes as many businesses that qualify. He said he hopes the club will receive more nominations next year.

“There are a lot of good businesses out there,” Copenhagen said. “We hope people will be aware of the importance of ethics in business and take a look at the Rotarian principles.”

Nick Brown of Brown Construction was also recognized during the afternoon event. Calls to Brown were not returned by press time.