Celebrating Excellence: SHCC’s 2025 Business Awards
Every year at our Gala, the Solano Hispanic Chamber of Commerce takes a moment to do something simple but powerful: pause and recognize the people doing the work.
Our business awards are not just trophies or photos on social media — they’re a way to honor the businesses and leaders who are living the values of our comunidad every day: quality, service, and impact.
For 2025, we highlighted three key categories:
Our business awards are not just trophies or photos on social media — they’re a way to honor the businesses and leaders who are living the values of our comunidad every day: quality, service, and impact.
For 2025, we highlighted three key categories:
- Business of the Year / Empresa del Año
- New Member of the Year / Nuevo Miembro del Año
- Community Leader / Líder Comunitario
These categories help us tell a bigger story: when Hispanic-owned and community-minded businesses thrive, Solano County gets stronger.
Business of the Year / Empresa del Año
Honoree: Pura Vida Transformation Center (Fairfield)
Business of the Year recognizes a business that demonstrates exceptional commitment to quality, outstanding community engagement, and a clear, positive impact across our region.
In Spanish, we describe it this way:
Empresa del Año: Este premio reconoce a una empresa que demuestra un compromiso excepcional con la calidad, una participación comunitaria sobresaliente y un impacto positivo en toda nuestra región.
For 2025, the Board selected Pura Vida Transformation Center in Fairfield as Business of the Year.
Pura Vida is a Latina-owned private gym that focuses on women’s group training, strength and functional movement, and holistic wellness — including nutrition guidance, coaching, and challenge programs.
But the reason this business stood out goes beyond the services list. As owner Sophia shared, Pura Vida is a safe space for women to grow, heal, and feel confident. It represents strength, community, and the belief that every woman deserves a place where she feels seen, supported, and empowered.
She’s most proud of the growth of the Pura Vida community — seeing women show up confidently, “take up space,” and transform mentally and physically, not just on the scale.
Being part of SHCC has also mattered to her. Through programs like our Boss Roundtable, Pura Vida gained a platform to share its story and feel supported and seen as a Latina-owned business in Solano County.
Pura Vida also gives back: collaborating with local women-owned businesses, hosting community events, offering youth and online programs, free classes, and creating safe spaces for wellness. The goal is clear: pour back into the community that raised her.
This is exactly what Business of the Year is about — not just profit, but purpose + community impact.
In Spanish, we describe it this way:
Empresa del Año: Este premio reconoce a una empresa que demuestra un compromiso excepcional con la calidad, una participación comunitaria sobresaliente y un impacto positivo en toda nuestra región.
For 2025, the Board selected Pura Vida Transformation Center in Fairfield as Business of the Year.
Pura Vida is a Latina-owned private gym that focuses on women’s group training, strength and functional movement, and holistic wellness — including nutrition guidance, coaching, and challenge programs.
But the reason this business stood out goes beyond the services list. As owner Sophia shared, Pura Vida is a safe space for women to grow, heal, and feel confident. It represents strength, community, and the belief that every woman deserves a place where she feels seen, supported, and empowered.
She’s most proud of the growth of the Pura Vida community — seeing women show up confidently, “take up space,” and transform mentally and physically, not just on the scale.
Being part of SHCC has also mattered to her. Through programs like our Boss Roundtable, Pura Vida gained a platform to share its story and feel supported and seen as a Latina-owned business in Solano County.
Pura Vida also gives back: collaborating with local women-owned businesses, hosting community events, offering youth and online programs, free classes, and creating safe spaces for wellness. The goal is clear: pour back into the community that raised her.
This is exactly what Business of the Year is about — not just profit, but purpose + community impact.
New Member of the Year / Nuevo Miembro del Año
Honoree: Esmeralda Cervantes – 1st Choice Tax Services (Fairfield)
New Member of the Year goes to someone who didn’t just “sign up” — they showed up.
This award goes to a new member who has shown enthusiasm, engagement, and dedication since joining the Chamber. They’ve made a positive impact through their involvement, vibrant spirit, and commitment to connection.
En español:
Nuevo miembro del año: Este premio celebra a un nuevo miembro que ha participado con entusiasmo, energía y dedicación, fortaleciendo nuestra comunidad.
Our 2025 New Member of the Year is Esmeralda Cervantes, owner of 1st Choice Tax Services in Fairfield and a member of the SHCC Board of Directors.
1st Choice Tax Services is a bilingual, multi-service company located at 690 E. Tabor Ave., Suite A1 in Fairfield. The business offers:
This award goes to a new member who has shown enthusiasm, engagement, and dedication since joining the Chamber. They’ve made a positive impact through their involvement, vibrant spirit, and commitment to connection.
En español:
Nuevo miembro del año: Este premio celebra a un nuevo miembro que ha participado con entusiasmo, energía y dedicación, fortaleciendo nuestra comunidad.
Our 2025 New Member of the Year is Esmeralda Cervantes, owner of 1st Choice Tax Services in Fairfield and a member of the SHCC Board of Directors.
1st Choice Tax Services is a bilingual, multi-service company located at 690 E. Tabor Ave., Suite A1 in Fairfield. The business offers:
- Personal and small business tax preparation
- Wedding ceremonies
- Translations
- Form filling and other document services – y más
Esmeralda started 1st Choice in 2017, turning a tough moment in her life into an opportunity to build something that serves others.
In her interview after receiving the award, she shared how surprised and emotional she was when she heard her name called at the Gala. For her, the recognition is confirmation that she’s moving in the right direction — that the goals she set for herself and her business this year are becoming real.
She also talked about why SHCC matters to her:
In her interview after receiving the award, she shared how surprised and emotional she was when she heard her name called at the Gala. For her, the recognition is confirmation that she’s moving in the right direction — that the goals she set for herself and her business this year are becoming real.
She also talked about why SHCC matters to her:
- She sees the Chamber growing and evolving, and she wants to be part of that growth.
- As a board member, she wants to help other entrepreneurs like herself move forward.
- She understands that we still have work to do, but believes that by working hard together, we can reach our goals as a community.
With tax season always around the corner, Esmeralda continues to serve families and small businesses with bilingual, accessible support — while also helping shape SHCC’s future from the board table.
That mix of service, engagement, and leadership from day one is exactly what New Member of the Year is designed to honor.
That mix of service, engagement, and leadership from day one is exactly what New Member of the Year is designed to honor.
Community Leader / Líder Comunitario
Honoree: Lisa Castillo – Castillo’s Legal Life Support (Dixon)
The Community Leader award is personal.
The Community Leader Award honors someone whose unwavering leadership and passion have significantly inspired and enriched others through service and advocacy.
En español:
Líder comunitario: Este premio honra a una persona cuyo liderazgo y compromiso apasionado han inspirado y beneficiado a nuestra comunidad.
For 2025, the Board named Lisa Castillo, founder of Castillo’s Legal Life Support in Dixon, as Community Leader of the Year.
Castillo’s Legal Life Support is a bilingual legal document assistance and notary service, helping families and individuals with:
The Community Leader Award honors someone whose unwavering leadership and passion have significantly inspired and enriched others through service and advocacy.
En español:
Líder comunitario: Este premio honra a una persona cuyo liderazgo y compromiso apasionado han inspirado y beneficiado a nuestra comunidad.
For 2025, the Board named Lisa Castillo, founder of Castillo’s Legal Life Support in Dixon, as Community Leader of the Year.
Castillo’s Legal Life Support is a bilingual legal document assistance and notary service, helping families and individuals with:
- Estate planning (living trusts, wills, powers of attorney)
- Family law documents
- Conservatorships and guardianships
- Business formation
- Notary services and support for self-represented (in pro per) clients
Lisa is a California Registered Legal Document Assistant with over 25 years of experience working in local government. She saw a gap: many in our community cannot afford an attorney, but still deserve support, dignity, and clarity in their legal matters.
That’s where Castillo’s Legal Life Support comes in — providing affordable, culturally aware, bilingual legal document support, especially for the Hispanic community in Solano County and beyond.
Lisa wasn’t able to attend the Gala in person, but in her video message she made one thing very clear:
this award isn’t just about her — it’s about the community.
She thanked the Chamber for uplifting local businesses and celebrating culture and hard work. She dedicated the award to her family, her team, and the clients who trust her. And she closed with a challenge and a reminder: when our community unites, there’s nothing we can’t do.
That’s the heart of the Community Leader award: someone who doesn’t just serve clients, but changes what “access” looks like for an entire community.
That’s where Castillo’s Legal Life Support comes in — providing affordable, culturally aware, bilingual legal document support, especially for the Hispanic community in Solano County and beyond.
Lisa wasn’t able to attend the Gala in person, but in her video message she made one thing very clear:
this award isn’t just about her — it’s about the community.
She thanked the Chamber for uplifting local businesses and celebrating culture and hard work. She dedicated the award to her family, her team, and the clients who trust her. And she closed with a challenge and a reminder: when our community unites, there’s nothing we can’t do.
That’s the heart of the Community Leader award: someone who doesn’t just serve clients, but changes what “access” looks like for an entire community.
Why These Awards Matter
For SHCC, these awards are not a “one night only” moment. They’re part of a bigger strategy:
- Highlight real examples of excellence our members can relate to
- Show how success looks different — a gym, a tax office, a legal services firm — but still shares the same DNA: service, resilience, and community impact
- Remind our members and partners that when we invest in each other, everybody wins
Pura Vida Transformation Center, 1st Choice Tax Services, and Castillo’s Legal Life Support each represent a different corner of our ecosystem — wellness, financial services, and legal support — but all three are built on the same foundation:
- Leading with heart
- Serving our people
- Turning struggle into purpose
As we look ahead to the next Gala and the next round of awards, we’re not just asking: “Who is successful?”
We’re asking:
Who is lifting others as they climb?
Who is making our community stronger?
Those are the stories we want to keep telling — año tras año.
We’re asking:
Who is lifting others as they climb?
Who is making our community stronger?
Those are the stories we want to keep telling — año tras año.
