Edinburg Announces 2021 Man and Woman of the Year

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Edinburg Announces 2021 Man and Woman of the Year

Edinburg Chamber of Commerce's 2021 Man and Woman of the Year Hiren Govind and Dr. Marissa I. Gomez-Martinez.
Edinburg Chamber of Commerce’s 2021 Man and Woman of the Year Hiren Govind and Dr. Marissa I. Gomez-Martinez.

The Edinburg Chamber of Commerce recently announced the recipients of the Edinburg Chamber of Commerce 2021 Man and Woman of the Year, Outstanding Leadership Award, and Ambassador of the Year. The chamber will recognize these honorees at its Installation & Awards Banquet tomorrow, Oct. 14.

The Man and Woman of the Year recognition has been a highly anticipated tradition in the Edinburg community for more than 20 years. This year’s recipients demonstrate commitment to the community and improved the quality of life in Edinburg through volunteerism and commitment to civic endeavors. The 2021 recipient of Man of the Year is Hiren Govind and the 2021 Woman of the Year is Dr. Marissa I. Gomez-Martinez.

Man of the Year Hiren Govind

Edinburg resident Govind is the owner of Towneplace Suites by Marriot Edinburg and Best Western Plus Edinburg.

For more than 20 years, Govind has partnered with the Edinburg Fire Department and has donated stays for Edinburg residents who have lost their homes due to house fires. When the 2021 Texas winter freeze devastated the region, Govind worked to provide more than 200 warm meals to the community.

Most recently, Govind showed his support to the U.S. National Guard by opening his hotel properties to them during the pandemic. This provided support to regional hospitals.

Woman of the Year Dr. Marissa I. Gomez-Martinez

Gomez-Marinez is Board Certified Family Physician and is medical director for the DHR Health Edinburg CISD School Based Health Center. She is also a physician advisor to DHR Health Urgent Care and Employee Health.

Throughout her career, Gomez-Martinez has demonstrated care for her community. An example of this is her organizing and participating in a free flu vaccine clinic in the colonias for low income children of Edinburg. With this endeavor, she worked with Catholic leaders and various local charity leaders. In May 2021, she helped raise money for the American Cancer Society by completing the Cancer Research Month 40 Mile Walk Challenge, walking 90 miles. She has also participated in DHR Health Institute for Research and Development’s first summer program, the Junior Clinical Research Internship.

Gomez-Martinez is also a Girl Scout Troop Leader in the Edinburg chapter of Girl Scout troops, the Edinburg Service Unit, as well as with Girl Scouts of Greater South Texas. She is the recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service award, gold and silver levels, for three years in a row. Her service includes close to 2,000 community service hours in the last four years.

Celebrating Volunteerism

The Edinburg Chamber also recognizes the 2021 Ambassador of the Year, Savannah McVoy. McVoy is a representative of the RGV FC Toros and volunteers her time to the chamber. This includes attending chamber functions, facilitating events and providing outstanding volunteerism.

This year’s Outstanding Leadership Award recipient is Audrey Wulf. At just 14 years old, Wulf demonstrates qualities of compassion and service in the Edinburg community through her organization, Murphys Safe Haven. The organization rescues cats in severe health crises. Wulf has provided life saving treatment, rehoming and fostering services for 649 animals in 2020.

The Edinburg Chamber will be celebrating all award winners during the Installation and Awards Banquet as well as its successes from throughout the year. The outgoing President of the Board Veronica Gonzales will be presented with the Red President’s Jacket. Gonzales will pass the gavel to 2021-2022 President-Elect Micheal J. Williamson.

The banquet takes place from 7-9:30 p.m. at the McIntyre Promenade. Individual tickets are $75. Tables of eight are also available for $500 for Edinburg Chamber members and $600 for non-members. Attire will be semi-formal, all are encouraged to participate in the Western theme.

For more information or to RSVP for the event, contact the Edinburg Chamber of Commerce at 956-383-4974.

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