See who received First Citizen awards from Salem Chamber of Commerce
Its First Citzen, Distginuished Service and Outstanding Young Professional awards have been presented since 1950, with recipients serving their communities through their business, volunteer and philanthropic efforts.
The 2025 recipients were honored on Saturday night during the First Citizen Awards Banquet at Salem Convention Center.
Gregg Peterson, a longtime Salem business owner and restaurateur, the chef at the Kroc Center and executive director of the Be-BLAC Foundation, was honored as Salem First Citizen.
He joined the Salvation Army Kroc Center team in 2019 and leads a small team serving fresh meals for children in day camps and after-school programs and at banquets. The team delivers hundreds of hot meals daily to area homeless centers, working with community partners such as SOVAH, Salem Vet Center and the Community Action ARCHES Project.
Peterson is known for his leadership as an owner of Salem-area restaurants, including Broadway Cafe, but is just as beloved and respected as a leader and advocate in the local Black community. He leads the nonprofit Be-BLAC Foundation, supporting Black-owned businesses and their leaders and working with community members on business development, youth education and networking.
Derek Gilbert, a financial advisor at Anthem Wealth Strategies, received a Distinguished Service Award.
Gilbert has been a volunteer lieutenant with Marion County Fire District #1 for more than 20 years and currently serves on the boards of the Salem Main Street Association and Darian's Gift, which creates moments of joy for families in treatment for childhood cancer.
His long list of community service also has included time as the chair for Gilbert House Children's Museum and participation in West Salem Little League, Upward Youth Sports, Marion Polk Food Share, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Family Building Blocks and CASA.
Ronnie Brooks, a retired educator, college advisor and faith leader, also received a Distinguished Service Award.
Brooks is known by some today as the leader and founder of To God Be The Glory Church but has led a life of service for decades, helping children and young people as an educator and mentor, first in Texas and then in Salem.
He moved here in 2004 and began volunteering at McKay High School, where he served for many years as its ASPIRE coordinator, helping guide and support young people toward secondary education and career aspirations. He also steered the Dream Center, which provides career and college resources and scholarships to high school students.
Andrew Holbert, executive director of Courtney Place Veterans Housing, was recognized as the Outstanding Young Professional.
At Courtney Place, he assists and supports Salem veterans facing housing insecurity. The 34-unit affordable housing complex for low-income veterans opened in 2023 and provides built-in peer support and dedicated wrap-around services for residents.
Holbert, a Marine Corps veteran, has been giving back to veterans since he transitioned from military service, leading efforts addressing the daily challenges veterans and their families face in civilian life. He previously helped secure funding for the Veterans Resource Center at Western Oregon University and pioneered workforce development initiatives for veterans in Nevada.
Capi Lynn is a senior reporter for the Statesman Journal. Send comments, questions and tips to her at clynn@statesmanjournal.com, and follow her work on X @CapiLynn and Facebook @CapiLynnSJ.
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Salem Chamber of Commerce First Citizen awards recipients honored
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