NEW YORK: The Aptos Chamber of Commerce will honor county Supervisor Zach Friend and Christy Licker, founder of Caroline’s Nonprofit Thrift Shop, at its community awards dinner 6 p.m. Oct. 30 at Seascape Beach Resort. Here are the honorees.
Friend is a policy, public affairs and communications expert who worked for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, the White House Council of Economic Advisers, U.S. Senate, Rep. Sam Farr and the Democratic National Committee before being elected county supervisor in 2012 and chairing that board in 2014. A UC Santa Cruz honors history grad, he has a master’s degree in public policy from Georgetown University. As analyst for the Santa Cruz Police, he studied crime data and brought in “predictive policing” to forecast when and where crime would occur. His 2013 book “On Message” was an Amazon best seller.
Licker opened a thrift shop in Aptos in July 2010 to celebrate the life of her daughter Caroline, who died at age 16, and move beyond her grief in a positive way. The shop, which accepts donations of gently used items and is manned by volunteers, has generated $600,000, which Licker has given away to 19 nonprofits serving children with special needs. She personally knows the need at Special Parents Information Network, Children’s Hospice and Palliative Care Coalition, Hospice of Santa Cruz County, and Jacob’s Heart.
Business of the Year: John Fuchs Properties: Construction & Real Estate, owned and operated by John Fuchs and wife Robin since 1984, was voted “Best Builder” in the county in 2010, 2011 and 2013. John is president of The Advocates for the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park and Trips for Kids Santa Cruz, a volunteer group that gives kids everything they need for a fun ride on a mountain bike. John has been Santa Claus and Robin Mrs. Claus at the Aptos tree lighting ceremonies and the Grey Bears Christmas dinner. They’ve been active in the chamber, History Museum, Rio Del Mar Improvement Association, Girls Scouts and Monte Foundation fireworks.
