Awards & Recognition

North Bay’s Best Places to Work

Becoming Independent was selected as one of the best places to work by the North Bay Business Journal. A decade & counting!

2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2009

Women in Wine Award

Carrie Mauritson, Becoming Independent Board Member, was awarded the 2023 Women in Wine Award. Carrie has been a leader in the hospitality and wine industry for almost two decades. 

Forty Under 40

2024: Becoming Independent’s Service Director, Tiffany Simpson, was selected to be in the North Bay Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 for her outstanding leadership.

2023: Becoming Independent’s Community Relations Manager, Dalton Wiley, was selected to be in the North Bay Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 for his outstanding leadership.

2022: Becoming Independent’s Director of Education, Kaela Talafili, was selected to be in the North Bay Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 for her leadership role in program development, management, and as a community liaison.

2019: Becoming Independent’s Social Enterprise Director, JayJay Rico, was selected to be in North Bay Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 for his stewardship of the new Social Enterprise Division.

2016: Becoming Independent’s Chief Executive Officer, Luana Vaetoe, was selected to be in North Bay Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 for her outstanding leadership.

CVNL Heart of Sonoma Awards

The 2023 Heart of Sonoma County Award for Excellence in Leadership was presented to Luana Vaetoe, CEO, Becoming Independent.

Excellence in Construction Award

Becoming Independent Program Headquarters and The Backdrop Event Space win 2023 Excellence in Construction Award. The redeveloped space was built with flexibility, growth, adaptability, and technology as a core focus to support thousands of people in the North Bay with IDD. 

Denee Locke, Becoming Independent Board Member and BI Professional Artist, was awarded the 2023 Diversity in Business Award. Denee's influence, impact, and energy inspires so many in our community. 

2024 Leaders of the North Bay Awards

Luana Vaetoe, Becoming Independent CEO, was the recipient of the 2024"The Light Bulb Went On" Innovation Award. 

Social Impact Women to Watch

2022: Becoming Independent’s Chief Executive Officer, Luana Vaetoe, was named one of Nonprofit HR’s Social Impact Women to Watch for her innovative leadership and her many impactful achievements during her tenure as CEO.

Influential Women Award

2022: Becoming Independent’s Chief of Services, Paula Finley, is a 2022 Influential Women in Business award recipient.

2020: Becoming Independent’s Chief Executive Officer, Luana Vaetoe, is a 2020 Business Journal Women in Business Award winner.

Moving Mountains Award

2020: Becoming Independent was awarded the 2020 Moving Mountains Award for best practices in workforce development for their innovative Discovery Process.

KPIX Channel 5 News – Jefferson Award

2020: Becoming Independent’s Chief Executive Officer, Luana Vaetoe, was awarded the Jefferson Award for her outstanding leadership in helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities thrive in the Bay Area. See our Press Coverage Page to view the full segment.

2009: Becoming Independent was selected as one of only five winners of the 2009 Jefferson Awards for Sonoma County. The Board of Supervisors chose BI for “excellence in community leadership and civic engagement.”

Latino Business Leadership Award

2021: Becoming Independent’s Transportation Manager, Arturo Gonzaga, is a 2021 winner of North Bay Business Journal’s Latino Business Leadership Awards for his visionary leadership of BI’s Transportation Services.

Nonprofit Leadership Award

2021: Becoming Independent’s key supporters, Paul & Deborah Cleveland, were selected as two of the North Bay Business Journal’s North Bay GIVES award recipients.

2020: Becoming Independent’s Board President, Donna Cates, was awarded the Nonprofit Leadership Award for her dedication and commitment to innovation.

2019: Becoming Independent’s key supporters, Jim & Colleen Galvin, were selected as two of the Top Ranked Nonprofit Leaders in Sonoma County by the North Bay Business Journal.

2018: Becoming Independent’s Vice President and Treasurer, Matthew Welty, was selected as one of the Top Ranked Nonprofit Leaders in Sonoma County by the North Bay Business Journal.

2017: Becoming Independent’s Past Board President and Board Member, Ken & Sharon Maiolini, were selected as two of the Top Ranked Nonprofit Leaders in Sonoma County by the North Bay Business Journal.

2015: Becoming Independent’s Chief Executive Officer, Luana Vaetoe, was selected as one of the Top Ranked Nonprofit Leaders in Sonoma County by the North Bay Business Journal.

2014: Becoming Independent’s Board President, Bonnie Burrell, was selected as one of the Top Ranked Nonprofit Leaders in Sonoma County by the North Bay Business Journal.

Community Hero Award – Nonprofit Community Service

2019: The Santa Rosa Metro Chamber and Poppy Bank presented Becoming Independent with their first ever Community Hero Award for Nonprofit Community Service.  BI was elected by the community with over 300 votes, and was honored for supporting the community through volunteerism and for providing top notch services.

Business of the Year

2014 & 2013: BI was awarded by the Santa Rosa Metro Chamber’s Young Professional Network (YPN) ‘Business of the Year’!  BI was honored for our commitment and dedication to supporting young professionals in the workplace and the community!

CARF Accreditation

2024, 2021, 2018, 2015, 2012 & 2009: CARF announced that BI received accreditation for a period of 3 years for Employment Services. CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) is an independent, national non-profit accrediting body whose mission is “to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process that centers on enhancing the lives of the persons served.”

Pete Peterka Emergency Management Award

2015: BI was selected by the County of Sonoma to receive the Pete Peterka Emergency Management Award from Sonoma County Fire & Emergency Services. This award was given in recognition of BI’s disaster preparedness efforts throughout 2014-2015.

Sonoma Valley Star

For some years Becoming Independent honored a Sonoma Valley Star Volunteer through the Sonoma Valley Fund, an affiliate of Community Foundation Sonoma County. The past recipients are:
2015: Eric Gullotta
2013: Jim Lynch
2011: Kathy Benziger
2014: Molly Fedorchak
2012: Jeanette Evans
2010: Eileen Adams

Nonprofit of the Year

2024: North Bay Biz magazine named Becoming Independent as ‘Nonprofit of the Year'

2022: Best of “GOLD” by Northbay Biz Magazine

2011: North Bay Biz magazine named Becoming Independent as ‘Nonprofit of the Year'

Certified Green Business

2011: Becoming Independent was certified as an environmentally friendly business by the Sonoma Green Business Program.

e·co·xist Award of Excellence

2011: Becoming Independent was selected as the 2011 winner of the e·co·exist Award of Excellence. BI was selected for its efforts to “help people compassionately co-exist with each other and the planet” with “passion, dedication and results.”

Sonoma County Tourism | Stars of the Industry 

2024: The Backdrop, a social enterprise of Becoming Independent, was selected as a finalist at the Stars on the Industry awards for Community Enrichment.