2024 Falmouth Citizen of the Year, Troy Clarkson
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Courtesy of Falmouth Community Television
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2023 Falmouth Citizen of the Year, rev. Nell Fields
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The 2023 Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award has been bestowed upon Falmouth resident, community advocate, and Pastor of the Waquoit Congregational Church, Rev. Nell Fields. Video courtesy of FCTV.
Falmouth Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Awards Ceremony 2022
Jay Zavala
Jay Zavala, retired Falmouth resident, is a native of Denver, Colorado, a Viet Nam-era U.S. Army veteran, is the proud parent of Jason Gregory, and is happily married to Susan Zavala, a Falmouth local. After a career in government contracting, corporate marketing and sales, and independent business consulting, Jay ended his successful career as President/CEO of The Falmouth Chamber of Commerce. He now proudly manages the daily treats and belly rubs of an active Australian Shepherd, Ella, while watching his wife’s vegetable garden grow.
Moving from New Orleans, Louisiana to Falmouth in April of 2000, Jay participated in the Massachusetts Senate’s Citizens Legislative Seminars where he learned the functions of our state legislature. He served as Vice Chair of the Cape Cod Commission, is a long-time Town Meeting member, presided over the local Toastmasters Club, served on both county and town economic development authorities, Falmouth Charter Review Committee, led the Barnstable County Agricultural Society (Cape Cod Fairgrounds), and numerous other nonprofit boards, town committees, and public events and advisory groups. Approaching 78, he remains enthusiastically engaged in the affairs of our community.
In 2016, after receiving a Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis, Jay became an active Board member of the Parkinson Support Network of Cape Cod, now a branch of the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDAMA). Jay now serves as vice president of the state chapter. Last October, Jay was celebrated for his energetic leadership to numerous APDAMA programs and was named event honoree for the successful APDAMA Cape Cod Optimism Walk, an annual, nation-wide fundraising event earmarked for raising awareness, research, education, and support.
Moving from New Orleans, Louisiana to Falmouth in April of 2000, Jay participated in the Massachusetts Senate’s Citizens Legislative Seminars where he learned the functions of our state legislature. He served as Vice Chair of the Cape Cod Commission, is a long-time Town Meeting member, presided over the local Toastmasters Club, served on both county and town economic development authorities, Falmouth Charter Review Committee, led the Barnstable County Agricultural Society (Cape Cod Fairgrounds), and numerous other nonprofit boards, town committees, and public events and advisory groups. Approaching 78, he remains enthusiastically engaged in the affairs of our community.
In 2016, after receiving a Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis, Jay became an active Board member of the Parkinson Support Network of Cape Cod, now a branch of the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDAMA). Jay now serves as vice president of the state chapter. Last October, Jay was celebrated for his energetic leadership to numerous APDAMA programs and was named event honoree for the successful APDAMA Cape Cod Optimism Walk, an annual, nation-wide fundraising event earmarked for raising awareness, research, education, and support.
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FALMOUTH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CITIZEN OF THE YEAR 2021, Ceremony 2022
Brenda Swain
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Brenda Brooke Swain grew up in a household where the example for community service started at a very early age. Her parents, Harold and Linda Fuhrman, modeled volunteerism and inspired Brenda’s own predisposition for helping others.
Brenda’s distinguished career on the Upper Cape began in the 1980’s at Cape Cod Child Development as Director of the Falmouth Pre-School and then as the Cape-wide Head Start Director. Her career continued in the 1990’s while she was raising her children, Becky, Andy, Jesse & Peter, when she served as director of educational programs at the Cape Cod Children’s Museum. In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, Brenda served for seven years in a Massachusetts Department of Education funded program, “Young Children First!” In 2002, she was selected by a committee of board members, volunteers and clients to serve as the Executive Director of the Falmouth Service Center, where she has worked tirelessly for nearly two decades with support from her family, including and especially her loving husband Steve.
Brenda’s continuing service to this community includes working with organizations such as the Samaritans, the Falmouth Hospital Women’s Health Care Task Force, the Leadership Council to End Homelessness, the Audible Local Ledger, Falmouth Town Meeting member, the Falmouth Human Services Committee, the Barnstable County Health & Human Services Advisory Board, co-chairing the Cape Cod Hunger Network and three terms on the Falmouth Council on Aging Board which included work on developing the new Senior Center.
Always reflected in Brenda’s work and service are her values: leading from the heart and setting the example for others; feeling compassion and daring to dream, sharing her dreams and bringing others along; creating communities within communities among individuals and agencies; nurturing a culture of friendship, respect, support, inclusiveness and love; and erring – always – on the side of generosity.
In fulfilling her dreams, she compels each of us in this room tonight – as only Brenda can do - to embrace her values and to help her, and then together, to work tirelessly to turn that vision into our shared reality.
Brenda’s distinguished career on the Upper Cape began in the 1980’s at Cape Cod Child Development as Director of the Falmouth Pre-School and then as the Cape-wide Head Start Director. Her career continued in the 1990’s while she was raising her children, Becky, Andy, Jesse & Peter, when she served as director of educational programs at the Cape Cod Children’s Museum. In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, Brenda served for seven years in a Massachusetts Department of Education funded program, “Young Children First!” In 2002, she was selected by a committee of board members, volunteers and clients to serve as the Executive Director of the Falmouth Service Center, where she has worked tirelessly for nearly two decades with support from her family, including and especially her loving husband Steve.
Brenda’s continuing service to this community includes working with organizations such as the Samaritans, the Falmouth Hospital Women’s Health Care Task Force, the Leadership Council to End Homelessness, the Audible Local Ledger, Falmouth Town Meeting member, the Falmouth Human Services Committee, the Barnstable County Health & Human Services Advisory Board, co-chairing the Cape Cod Hunger Network and three terms on the Falmouth Council on Aging Board which included work on developing the new Senior Center.
Always reflected in Brenda’s work and service are her values: leading from the heart and setting the example for others; feeling compassion and daring to dream, sharing her dreams and bringing others along; creating communities within communities among individuals and agencies; nurturing a culture of friendship, respect, support, inclusiveness and love; and erring – always – on the side of generosity.
In fulfilling her dreams, she compels each of us in this room tonight – as only Brenda can do - to embrace her values and to help her, and then together, to work tirelessly to turn that vision into our shared reality.
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