The Thousand Oaks-Westlake Village Regional Chamber of Commerce has named Julia Ladd and Rick Lemmo the 2006-07 Woman and Man of the Year. The award recipients will be honored at the Chamber's "19th Hole" annual Recognition Dinner and Gala on Fri., March 9 at the Four Seasons Hotel, Westlake Village.

As senior property manager for The Oaks mall, Ladd is responsible for its day-to-day operations. She works with many individuals, including Macerich's leasing and development teams, to direct strategic planning for the center.

Ladd also volunteers her time to support various local organizations and national causes, including the Thousand Oaks Rotary Club, where she serves on the board of directors. Through Rotary, she is involved with local efforts such as the annual chili cookoff, the street fair, the Thousand Oaks Foundation scholarship committee, the job shadowing program and the Festival of Wine and Art committee.

She serves as a corporate board member for the Southeast Ventura County YMCA and is a member of PEO, an international philanthropic organization furthering women's education.

Lemmo, the vice president of community relations for Caruso Affiliated, mediates between what a community wants and what a developer wants to build.

Lemmo serves as a board member of three separate Chambers of Commerce, past chairman of the board for the Thousand Oaks-Westlake Village Regional Chamber of Commerce, president of Thousand Oaks Police Foundation, school foundations and advisory boards, business groups, property associations and various other organizations.

Prior to his experience in community relations, Lemmo spent 27 years in the broadcast industry and radio marketing.

He has been recognized as a "Business Person of the Year" by the Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce. He was a nominee for the General Manager of the Year by the Radio Advertising Bureau and has been the Rotarian of the Year for the Thousand Oaks Rotary Club.

The Chamber also announced the following 200607 award recipients: Business of the Year, Countrywide Financial Corporation; Corporate Sponsor of the Year, Mid-State Bank & Trust; Volunteer of the Year, Susan Murata of Silver Star Automotive Group; and Ambassador of the Year, Paul Dryman of Informed Decision.

The public is invited to the gala, which will begin with cocktails and a silent auction from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., followed by dinner and the awards program at 8 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom.

The golf theme will honor the Chamber of Commerce's outgoing chairman of the board, John Dokken, who's retired from Verizon, where he was the director of external affairs.

Reservations are required, along with prepayment.

For reservations or details, visit www.towlvchamber.org.