Our Current Honorees
The 2023 Man & Woman of the Year Honorees are Don Kimball and Jenny Ketchepaw. The biographical information included here illustrates only part of their service to the community of Santa Clarita Valley over many years. They both believe deeply in the importance of volunteerism to build strong neighborhoods which will continue to be attractive to families and keep Santa Clarita a wonderful place to live. They are the most recent example of the how the titles of “Man of the Year” and “Woman of the Year” help to support the community’s amazing network of charitable nonprofit organizations that serve our friends and neighbors.
BIO: Jenny currently serves as VP of Talent Engagement for Citizens Business Bank where she manages the Leadership Development, Training, and Culture initiatives for the Bank. Jenny has established herself as a leader in her community as well serving on a variety of non–profit Boards. In addition to her involvement with the Boys & Girls Club, she is the past State Chair of the California and Nevada Youth Involvement Board, the Past President of the Santa Clarita Valley Jaycees, where they were named #1 Chapter in the Nation. Jenny was the first female chapter president in CA to lead her chapter to this distinction. She is a Past President of Single Mothers Outreach, Past President and current Treasurer of Business Connections, Past President of the Brenda Mehling Cancer Fund, and Past President for the Child and Family Center Foundation. Jenny is a co-founder and current member of WeWil and Lean In, two organizations that focus on empowering women. Jenny leads with positivity and believes in being proactive, forging lasting relationships, and making an impact where you serve. Jenny loves to travel and spend time with her husband of 19 years and their kids, 11 year old son Connor and 5 year old Lily. Jenny was a longtime Club supporter before joining the Governing Board in 2018. Starting in the 2000’s, through her involvement in Santa Clarita Valley Jaycees, she organized Christmas events for underserved youth and volunteered at fundraising events. As a Board Member Jenny provides leadership in staff training and development, strategic planning, and fundraising. Jenny leads Club tours where the community can see first-hand the positive impact of the Club. She leads strength-based leadership trainings for Club staff that have improved communications and effectiveness. Her expertise in human resources helped guide the Club’s strategic goal to “attract and retain the best youth development professionals”. In the face of inflation and hiring challenges her leadership has kept the Club competitive. In 2022, Jenny and her husband chaired the Festival of Trees. The event raised 42% more than the goal, for a total of $189k. She currently serves as Board Secretary.
BIO: Donald (Don) Kimball is Executive Vice President for FivePoint Holdings, LLC’s Valencia community. Kimball, who began his career as a CPA, has been part of the management team for FivePoint (initially with Newhall Land which is now part of FivePoint’s ownership), has more than 35 years of increasing responsibility guiding the development of the award-winning community of Valencia. Kimball has a long history of community service spanning 3 decades in the Santa Clarita Valley volunteering his time for a variety of local non-profit boards and civic organizations. Kimball joined the SCVEDC in 2015 and continues to serve on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors focusing on growing high-quality jobs in the SCV. Don and his wife, Linda, have been residents of the Santa Clarita Valley for over 35 years and raised their three children here. Two of their now grown children have chosen to raise their families here in the Santa Clarita Valley. The third has relocated with his family to Florida. Don and Linda are blessed with 5 grandchildren. For the past 17 years, Kimball has served on Henry Mayo Hospital’s Board of Directors. Kimball has actively participated on and chaired numerous Committees at the Hospital. He is a member of the following Committees - Audit and Compliance, Finance, Evaluation and Compensation, and Strategic Planning and Marketing. Kimball is a Past Chairman of the Board, having completed a 3-year term from 2015 – 2017. Kimball had the honor of being Chairman at the time of the groundbreaking of the new Patient Tower that opened in 2019. Kimball recognizes the connection of health and wellness to the January 22, 2023 quality of life in the Santa Clarita Valley and the importance to the community of having access to quality, local healthcare. Kimball joined the Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Foundation in 2018 to assist the hospital in fundraising and now serves as the Foundation’s ex officio on the Board of Directors for the hospital. For almost 30 years, Kimball has served on SCV Senior Center Board of Directors. He has consistently held officer positions, including Board President and Chief Financial Officer (multiple years). Kimball guided the Senior Center in delivering 3 new affordable senior apartment communities. Kimball became Emeritus Board Member in 2015 and then rejoined the SCV Senior Center’s Board in 2020 and currently chairs Audit and Risk Management. Kimball Co-Chaired the first Celebrity Waiter Dinner for the Senior Center in 2001. Kimball has been volunteering for the past six years the Bond Oversight Committee for COC. In 2022, Kimball joined the Steering Committee for a new SCV History Museum planned for Heritage Junction at Hart Park. In 1997, Kimball assisted in forming the Santa Clarita Valley Area Chapter for American Diabetes Association and was its first Board President. For the next several years, Kimball either co-chaired or held leadership positions on the local Walk for Diabetes.