Rosanne Foust Named the 2009 Person of the Year

Past Redwood City Mayor Rosanne Foust was selected as its 2009 Person of the Year.  2009 Chamber Chairman of the Board, Glenna Vaskelis, President and CEO of Sequoia Hospital surprised Foust by selecting her as 2009 Person of the Year at the Chamber's 112th Annual Dinner and Recognition Banquet January 28 at the Hotel Sofitel.  Foust becomes the 38th member of the Chamber so honored since 1970.

The Chamber's Person of the Year Award recipient is selected by the Chairman of the Board and upon making the presentation Vaskelis said,  "when you think about enthusiasm, willingness to say "yes" when asked, knowledge of the Chamber organization, accomplishment, commitment and dedication one person's name bubbles to the top -Rosanne Foust".

Serving as Redwood City's Mayor and Vice President of SAMCEDA Vaskelis said that amazingly enough Rosanne still found the time to make a significant impact on her own Chamber of Commerce.  Foust Served as  Deputy Chair and accepted roles as co-chair of the popular Chamber Membership Drive and also the very important role as co-chair of the Annual Progress Seminar.  Rosanne Day Chaired the Program Orientation Day for Leadership Redwood City-Belmont-San Carlos.  She also created a venue to develop a dialogue with legislators during these critical times and headed up a coordinated effort with SAMCEDA to harness all the individual efforts surrounding high speed rail.

In making the presentation Vaskelis said, "Rosanne was instrumental in the success of so many of our Chamber programs last year and certainly exemplifies what this award is all about.  Our Chamber is so fortunate to retain the support and active involvement of its Past Chairs and our 2003 Chair of the Board is no different as my choice for 2009 Person of the Year."

Foust is a 2000 graduate of Leadership Redwood City/Belmont/San Carlos. She graduated with a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Notre Dame de Namur University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Studies and Economics from Stonehill College in Massachusetts.

Active in the community Foust is a Board member of the Sequoia Awards, and Redwood City Rotary, past President of the Redwood City Library Foundation.

About the Person of the Year Award

In 1970 the chamber's highest award was created. Sometimes called the chairman’s award, its purpose is to recognize those  who more than anyone  made the greatest impact on the success of a president's year.  key considerations in determining the recipient are;

• Enthusiasm for the overall organization
 
• Willingness to accept multiple tasks
  
• Accomplishments in many phases of the chamber's program
    
• Commitment and dedication to the success of their assignment