Photograph by Robert Scheer
Kristin Davis sits at the counter of her 6-year-old business, The Front Window, which sells antiques and collectibles.
By Cecily Barnes
Business owner Kristin Davis was recently named Saratoga Business Person of the Year for active involvement in the community. The honor, awarded by the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce, has been given to different Saratoga business owners for the past three years. And while Davis said she was shocked and honored to receive the award, her community spirit does not come as a great surprise. She follows a long family legacy of active Saratogans.
"My grandfather was very active in the Saratoga community and my mother has been and my aunts and uncles," Davis said. "I think it's a family history of not only living here but being a part of where you live."
Davis' family has owned, worked and lived on the same piece of property off Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road since 1937. Originally, Davis' grandfather ran a fruit ranch there.
"When the orchard land was subdivided, everybody stayed on the land and built homes. My parents still live here, my grandparents, and my brother and his wife live on the other side," Davis said.
Davis lives there too, with her husband and daughter and her business, The Front Window. Besides running her business, Davis has been very active in Chamber events, Market Days and the Farmers Market. She has attended city council meetings on behalf of businesses, and held a yearly food drive for the Second Harvest Food Bank. These are a few of the reasons Davis was named Saratoga Business Person of the Year.
"I do the things I do because I want to be a part of the community, because I'm a resident here," Davis said. "I do these things because inside I feel that's what I'm supposed to do with my life."
Davis was chosen for the award by a seven-person Chamber committee, who reviewed eight submitted nominations. She was chosen for demonstrating excellence in business, valuable service to the community and creativity in enhancing the community.
"She's a great choice," said Sheila Arthur, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce. "She's one of those quiet people who works behind the scenes and just accomplishes a lot. She's a hard, hard worker. I'm delighted she was chosen."
Davis will be formally presented the award at the Chamber's installation dinner on Jan 25. This dinner, which is open to the public for $40, will also usher in the Chamber's new board members.
"This is the first year they've honored a woman," Davis said."I feel really honored to be recognized."
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, January 8, 1997.
©1997 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.