Jay Zavala Named Falmouth's Citizen Of The Year
The Falmouth Chamber of Commerce announced this week that Falmouth resident Jay Zavala of Wheelhouse Circle, East Falmouth, has been named the 2022 Outstanding Citizen of the Year.
Mr. Zavala, a resident of and advocate for the Falmouth community for more than two decades, has demonstrated his dedication to the community through various avenues of civic activity. He has served as vice chairman of the Cape Cod Commission, vice president of the American Parkinson Disease Association’s Massachusetts Chapter, an FCTV production volunteer, and a member of the board of directors of the Falmouth Housing Trust. He is also past president of the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce.
“[It was] astonishingly surprising,” Mr. Zavala said of the honor during a phone call with the Enterprise. “I was elated, I was rendered speechless for a moment, and then I was grateful that I live in Falmouth.”
When looking at the nominees, chamber president Michael Kasparian said that the biggest factor is not the number of nominations a person receives, but rather the span of their community involvement and activities.
“I think the thing about Jay in particular that really brought him to the top of this whole list… comes back to breadth and his flexibility and his willingness to work with whatever group really needs his talents at the time,” Mr. Kasparian said. “He’s not limited to one specific cause or one specific group and I think that in and of itself is the thing that really propels him to the top of the list.”
Mr. Zavala’s list of civic activities is a lengthy one and encompasses numerous fields and niches: education, serving as chairman of the Continuing & Adult Education Advisory Committee of Upper Cape Regional Technical School and on the Strategic Planning Steering Committee of Cape Cod Community College; local economy and businesses as vice chairman of the Cape Cod Commission and a member of the Cape Cod Economic Development Council and the Falmouth EDIC; and community interests like Neighborhood Falmouth, the Falmouth Christmas Parade Committee, the Falmouth Service Center, the Falmouth Road Race, and the Jazz Fest Committee.
“If you take a look at all of the accomplishments that he has, it’s like everyone in the community has benefited in some way by one of those groups that he’s volunteered for,” Mr. Kasparian said. “He’s been a role model and a mentor to a lot of people. He’s a great listener and he’s not afraid to just go out there and volunteer and do what he’s got to do to make it happen.”
Mr. Zavala has been busy during his 22 years in Falmouth and while it may look like a lot of work, he said it was really just his pursuit of the things that intrigued him within the community.
“I’m curious [and] I enjoy associating with interesting people,” Mr. Zavala said. “All of it has been part of my civic involvement and it’s all areas that I’m interested in out of curiosity and out of the desire to be part of the solution. I’ve been drawn to those things that interest and concern me.”
Working with others, though, has been his key to getting things done.
“There’s a certain quality of interaction that is enjoyable because there are a lot of things we can’t accomplish on our own but there’s so much we can achieve with the help of others,” Mr. Zavala said. “So I’m drawn to the possibilities. When you have the right team around you, the right board, the right desire, you can surpass your expectations.”
Mr. Zavala and his achievements will be celebrated at the annual meeting and award dinner of the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, April 27.
“It is exciting,” Mr. Zavala said of the event. “I’m looking forward to being in the company of people who are drawn to that kind [of work], people that I’ve met, people that I know and have associated with.”
The event will be held at the Sea Crest Beach Hotel and is open to the public. Advance registration is required.