The Lodi Chamber of Commerce is happy to announce Joy Furtado Freeman as the 2019 Ambassador of the Year! The Lodi Chamber Ambassadors are the public face of the Chamber. They are fully committed to the furtherance of community-based businesses through welcoming new members to the Chamber, participating in Ribbon Cuttings and milestone anniversaries, and assisting with Chamber events. Each year, the committee votes and chooses one Ambassador that stands above the rest- a person who not only commits the time to the committee, but the community as a whole. This year, Joy Furtado Freeman has been selected by her peers. 
 
Joy has lived in the Lodi community for over forty years. She has worked in the Clark Pest Control Corporate office for 12 years as the Executive Assistant and Event Coordinator for the Director of Commercial Sales Services. Prior to that, Joy was in the Automotive and Advertising Industries for over 20 years. She joined the Lodi Chamber Ambassador Committee in 1998 and received the Deanna Enright Volunteer of the Year Award in 2011. “Joining the Ambassador Committee has been a highlight as I have gained many friends and business connections throughout the many years of networking with my community,” said Freeman. Joy will also be participating in the Leadership Lodi Class of 2020. Joy and her husband Alan Freeman have 3 children, 11 grandchildren and 1 great granddaughter and both are members of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Lodi for the past 5 years. “Joy has been a rock to the Lodi Chamber Ambassadors, with more than 20 years of dedication,” says past Ambassador Chair Jon Rader.  “She is always the first to say yes when we need a volunteer and the last to leave when we need her help.  It is an honor that is well-deserved and will be well represented by her. As the outgoing Ambassador of the Year, and her friend, I am honored to pass the torch on to Joy as the 2020 Ambassador of the year!”
 
The Lodi District Chamber of Commerce will be recognizing Ambassador of the Year Joy Furtado Freeman on Thursday, February 13, 2020 at the 97^th Annual Dinner & Outstanding Citizens Celebration at Wine & Roses. The event will also recognize Outstanding Citizen Mark Armstrong, Agribusiness Person of the Year Jennifer Spaletta, Small Business of the Year House of Clocks and Business of the Year Miller Hot Dogs.  Tickets for the 97^th Annual Dinner & Outstanding Citizens Celebration can be purchased at LodiChamber.com or at the Lodi District Chamber of Commerce.