The Downtown Campbell Business Association (DCBA) is pleased to award the honor of 2013 Volunteer of the Year to Deb Rohzen, owner of Simply Smashing Boutique.
Deb, one of the founding members of the DCBA, serves on the DCBA's Board of Directors, organizes and promotes the 2nd Saturday and Sidewalk Sale events, is part of the group that coordinates the annual Color Me Spring Fashion Show, and is a good friend to her neighbors.
We'd like to share with you Deb's heartfelt acceptance letter to the DCBA, so you can learn more about the kind of volunteers that power our district.
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When it comes to Downtown Campbell, I am in for a penny-in for a pound. I have been a patron of Downtown Campbell businesses and services since the 1980s and when I was compelled to open a boutique of my own, Downtown Campbell, with its unpretentious, small business, small town community vibe, was my first choice for location. So, in November of 2000, I jumped in with two feet, opened my first boutique location at The Courtyard, and never looked back.
Right away, I joined the Downtown Campbell Business Association and, working with other merchants, set out to revitalize our little Downtown, put it on the map and keep it there. We would close our business doors and walk the avenue, armed with our ideas and raising funds to afford our downtown events, which eventually evolved into what we now know as First Fridays. Yes, in those days, it was just a handful of merchants who pulled money ($20 here, $50 there) out of our pockets to make things happen - that's what I am talking about!
As my own business evolved, so did Downtown Campbell and the DCBA - adding such events as Art Walk, which has evolved into our 2nd Saturday Sidewalk Stroll event, Sidewalk Sale, Color Me Spring-A Fashion Event and, of course, our twice-yearly Downtown Campbell Wine Walk events. Downtown Campbell has grown up into a hip, artsy place-to-be and I am grateful to be in the mix at all, let alone part of the grass roots organization who makes it happen.
After thirteen years and three different boutique locations along E. Campbell Avenue, I believe I am one of the longest standing merchants in Downtown Campbell (still far behind our DCBA matriarch, Ms. Sally Howe) and, yes, I am proud. Whatever I do as a Downtown Campbell merchant and DCBA/Board member, is a labor of love and wouldn't matter a bit if not for the collective efforts involved.
I love what I do and I love where I do it. I have resided in Campbell, off and on over the past 30 years and, in fact, have just recently come back to live in Downtown Campbell - just blocks from my business. It is safe to say I consider Downtown Campbell my home...nothing makes me happier than to live, work, dine, shop and be an integral part of this "Little...Read More
