By Lily Ramos
Staff Writer
Greatly contributing Hermosa Beach citizens, Ryan Nowicki and Mira Costa alumni Jackie Flaherty were given the 2017 Man and Woman of the Year Award.
The Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce has been giving out the award for over 50 years to those who have contributed greatly to the city. Nowicki was surprised that he had been chosen when he got the news around Christmas, he said.
“I felt so thankful and honored,” Nowicki said. “It was a total surprise, so I was shocked at first. I found out literally just minutes before my firm’s holiday party, so I was able to share the good news with them all at the party.”
With his wife, Nowicki founded the Hermosa Friends Foundation which collects money from members to donate to the city’s appropriate causes, such as the Hermosa Beach Historical Society and the South Bay Pet Adoption Center. Nowicki has also served many positions including president of Leadership Hermosa Beach (LHB).
“I started volunteering here when my wife and I moved to Hermosa in 2005,” Nowicki said, “We joined Leadership Hermosa Beach and instantly grew to love this town. LHB teaches people how the City runs and operates, and you get to meet the great leaders who actually do the work of the town. Over the years within LHB I’ve helped to educate a number of our current and future leaders.”
Although Nowicki grew up in Buffalo, New York, he was a significant volunteer at the Hermosa Beach City School District. He has also helped at the South Bay Bicycle Coalition and the Arts Group of Hermosa Beach, he said.
“The South Bay schools are some of the greatest, not only in California, but in the nation,” Nowicki said. “In many parts of greater Los Angeles students attend private or charter schools because those schools are perceived to be better than their local public schools. Not here. The local public schools here are what set the bar for all others to follow.”
Nowicki is an attorney in Los Angeles where he works for Kopple, Klinger, and Elbaz LLP. He uses his legal and business knowledge to help South Bay charities be able to help the community by offering his advice to nonprofit organizations, he said.
“I use my legal skills to help a number of South Bay nonprofit organizations “give back” to the community in the excellent ways that they do,” Nowicki said.
Flaherty was a member of the Hermosa Beach Sister City Board for over ten years, and a long-time member of the Women’s Club, serving as president from 2013-2015. Many of Flaherty’s friends in the Women’s Club have been past Women of the Year, and her husband was Man of the Year in 2007.
“As a past student and school teacher in the South Bay, I am grateful that the Women’s Club I belong to is able to give so many scholarships each year to deserving students,” Flaherty said. “Also, the Women’s Club continues to donate to Hermosa Valley year after year both directly to the school and to the Arts and Music Scholarship each year.”
The Women’s Club also donates scholarships to Mira Costa and Redondo seniors every year. In addition, Flaherty, was a Board Member of Hermosa Beach Sister City for 10 years, a hotel liaison for Special Olympics 2015, and a Team Captain for Walk to End Alzheimer’s the last 4 years.
“I love my City of Hermosa,” Flaherty said. “I love the small town community feeling. The people, friends, the schools, the police and fire departments, fresh air, the beach and restaurants.”
Flaherty has worked in South Bay real estate sales for 39 years, and most of her work is in referral. She has also taught in Redondo Beach School District from 1973-1977 as a full-time teacher and as a substitute.
“Hopefully, I made a difference in [my former students’] academic and emotional lives,” Flaherty said. “In all cases, I was able to put my education to work by individualizing the lesson plans for each of my 20+ students.”
Flaherty and Nowicki will receive a plaque with their name engraved on it to be displayed at the Community Center at the Chamber of Commerce’s yearly Choice Awards and Installation Gala on Jan. 31 at the Comedy and Magic Club in Hermosa Beach.
“Having a sense of pride in your community can be really fulfilling,” Nowicki said. “I encourage anyone that wants that feeling to get involved in any of the excellent nonprofit organizations in their town. You’ll really love it, and they’ll really appreciate you helping out.”
Here is a video showing some of Nowicki and Flaherty’s achievements and awards.
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