At the close of 2013, Puente Executive Director Kerry Lobel was honored with a Citizen of the Year Award by the Half Moon Bay Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau. The annual award is bestowed on a local hero whose work represents exemplary humanitarianism, and who has had a significant positive impact on the overall Coastside community.

Lobel certainly qualifies on all counts, having spent the past 8 years leading Puente’s staff in an unprecedented expansion of services. Thanks to Lobel, Puente touches more lives than ever before – including in Half Moon Bay, where Puente has collaborated with local agencies and philanthropists on a number of initiatives.

In her remarks, Charise McHugh, President of the Half Moon Bay Chamber of Commerce, highlighted Lobel’s efforts to “create true sustainability in the local economy.” She praised many of Lobel’s recent, successful efforts to bring a new mobile healthcare van to the South Coast. She also singled out Puente’s partnership with Coastside Farmers’ Markets to increase the buying power of low-income customers at farmers markets in Half Moon Bay and Pacifica – in addition to Pescadero Grown!

Among her many accolades, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors named Lobel a Woman of Distinction in 2010.