The Loma Linda Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the winners of the Community Awards for 2024. Each year the chamber recognizes numerous businesses, citizens and public servants for the dedication and service to Loma Linda.
Awards
Business of the Year CR&R Environmental Services
Citizen of the Year Jarb Thaipejr
City Employee of the Year Kyle MacGavin
Firefighter of the Year Roland Blackiston
Deputy of the Year Deputy Roger Alfaro
Board Member Service Appreciation Victor Miller
The Loma Linda Chamber of Commerce celebrates the Annual Community Awards and Installation Dinner on January 30, 2025, at 5 p.m. at TownPlace Suites in Loma Linda. Tickets to the event are available through the Chamber website at LomaLindaChamber.org and sponsorships are still available.
The award recipients are nominated by colleagues and community members and selected by a chamber review committee.
Mr. Jarb Thaipejr, P.E., has been named Citizen of the Year. Mr. Thaipejr, pronounced Tai’ pet, has been a dedicated civil servant for over three decades, significantly contributing to the community's growth and development. “The Loma Linda Chamber of Commerce celebrates Mr. Jarb Thaipejr as Citizen of the Year for his unwavering dedication, leadership, and service to the community. His achievements serve as an inspiration to all, demonstrating the impact of committed and compassionate public service,” said Bruce Herwig, President, Loma Linda Chamber of Commerce.
See below for more information and bio’s on all winners.
For more information, please contact the Loma Linda Chamber of Commerce at (909) 799-2828 or email us at Andrea@LomaLindaChamber.org.
Bios:
CR & R Environmental Services Inc. Founded in 1963, by Clifford R. Ronnenberg
The Face of a Greener Generation Family owned and operated business
CR&R was founded with the idea that collecting, processing, and recycling waste materials was an important and essential community service. Today, this responsibility continues to evolve as CR&R re-invents itself to meet the demands of an ever-changing environmental movement. With the development of innovative recycling and reuse programs we strive to stay at the fore-front of technological advancements that will bring the highest degree of sustainability to our communities. We understand that each community is unique and through our educational programs and community involvement we strive to help keep all our Loma Linda customers informed about our evolving environmental landscape.
Our leading-edge initiatives over the years include: extending that concept automatically separates recyclables from trash; developing and installing California’s first bio-filter to minimize odors from our solid waste recycling plant; converting our trash collecting fleet to clean-burning natural gas; opening a state-of-the-art materials recovery center that saves 1,000 tons of used construction materials from the landfill each day; and constructed one of the largest and most technologically advanced Anaerobic Digester that converts our Organic Waste Materials into the cleanest burning fuel in California,.
We’re proud of our more than 50 years of innovation, impeccable service to our communities, and commitment to our environment. Even after five decades, we’re just getting started.
We are happy to announce that Loma Linda is in great standing with Calrecycle and is 100% in compliance with all the State regulations. CR & R’s Team has worked very hard with all the Loma Linda residents, businesses and entire community to get these efforts accomplished. We look forward to many, many more years of great service to the City of Loma Linda community.
Kyle MacGavin for Employee of the Year. Kyle consistently goes above and beyond to ensure the City’s technology infrastructure operates smoothly and efficiently. He has displayed exceptional dedication and professionalism. He works long hours to maintain our system, but also to meet the demands of a growing and increasingly complex technology system. He has often sacrificed personal time to address urgent issues or implement improvements. Despite the challenges, he remains proactive, resourceful and solution driven.
Some of his responsibilities include:
- Overseeing system upgrades ensuring continuity of operations for all City departments.
- Managing his IT support team to train staff and ensure staff has the tools and knowledge needed to perform effectively as well as the operations of the City’s technology system.
- Responding to technical emergencies, including after-hours calls, to prevent disruptions to essential City services.
- Looking for cost-effective solutions that improve efficiency.
Kyle’s ability to manage the many responsibilities of his position are truly commendable. His efforts ensure that the City's operations remain efficient and that staff and residents benefit from reliable technology services.
Kyle exemplifies the qualities of an Employee of the Year.
2024 Firefighter of the Year ROLAND BLACKISTON
Roland Blackiston began his career with LLFD in July of 2021 as a probationary firefighter paramedic on A shift. He established himself as an eager and very motivated member throughout his initial fire and EMS training and performed very well during his probationary year. Since then, Firefighter Blackiston has always prioritized training and the desire to master his craft in fire suppression, rescue, and emergency medical care. Roland has taken many outside training courses and created internal training for our members with the knowledge and experience he receives.
Firefighter Blackiston is very involved within the department and our operations. He has taken on such tasks as inventory and repair of fire hose, assisted with personal protective equipment for the department, and is currently a member of the apparatus committee as well as the EMS committee. Even prior being assigned to these tasks, he has been proven to be helpful in these and many other avenues that keep the department progressing forward. Above the normal expectations as a firefighter, Roland is also trained and has been deployed as a fireline paramedic and a radio operator on several of the wildland incidents our state has experienced in the last few years. He is currently working on completing his training for a qualification to become an incident communications center manager for these types of incidents.
Roland has always maintained a tremendously positive attitude which has served him and his crewmates well. He is a relatable man with a recognizable voice and laugh. His professional and respectful demeanor on scene helps to convey the confidence he has in his field, as well. Roland represents the department and the city well during emergency calls as well as during day to day interactions with is fellow fire department members and citizens he serves. At any request for help, Roland is always willing to lend a hand.
Roland is a family man, married to Sebonet with whom he shares a daughter, Olivia, and a son, Roland (the fifth.) He and his family live in Palmdale.
The Loma Linda Fire Department is proud to have Roland Blackiston as a member and we are excited that he has been named Firefighter of the Year for 2025. We anticipate great things for him in the remainder of his career with LLFD.
Deputy of the Year: Deputy Roger Alfaro
Deputy Roger Alfaro has been a member of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department since April of 2016. Roger held his first patrol position at Morongo Station in October of 2016 and transferred to Central Station in February of 2019.
In 2020, Roger was selected for the traffic deputy position for the City of Loma Linda. Since his assignment, he has completed hundreds of traffic collision investigations, including death investigations from collisions. Roger takes pride in his assignment and continually provides quality service to City and residents of Loma Linda.