‘Humbled and honored’: Here is SLO chamber’s 2022 Citizen of the Year
The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce’s 2022 Citizen of the Year is a businessman and philanthropist who “brightens up any room,” a city official said.
Ty Safreno “leads with his heart and his deep care for people shows up in a unique, intentional and authentic way that makes him a local and industry leader,” SLO city manager Derek Johnson said Saturday.
Safreno, founder of Trust Automation, received the Citizen of the Year award Saturday at the chamber’s annual dinner.
The award is given yearly to someone who exhibits “unparalleled service to the community of San Luis Obispo,” according to a news release from the chamber.
Around 600 people were at the dinner.
Safreno is the CEO of Trust Automation, an industrial company that creates motors, linear drives, digital drives and systems for manufacturing, according to the website.
“Safreno’s willingness to impact and better our community through devoting countless hours outside of the workplace has positively affected countless lives in our community,” the chamber said in the release.
In addition, with his wife, Trudie Safreno, Ty Safreno “championed family-friendly workplace practices and created a company-owned and operated onsite childcare facility, a national accolade only shared by Patagonia and Google.”
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Safreno researched, designed and collaborated with others to bring more hospital beds to San Luis Obispo County, helping the Cal Poly Alternative Care Site.
Safreno is also a founding member of Regional Economic Action Coalition Central Coast (REACH).
“From building machines as a child, to building Trust Automation and the ecosystem around it, Ty pours his heart into everything he does,” Casey Safreno, Ty’s older brother, said Saturday. “He and Trudie have made Trust a cutting-edge, model enterprise while also parenting a wonderful family. They are truly living the American dream and advancing the dreams of so many others.”
After receiving his award, Safreno thanked those around him.
“Looking at the names of past recipients, there are many people I’ve come to know over the past 35 years in this community,” Safreno said. “I’m humbled and honored to be considered among them.”
This story was originally published January 22, 2023 at 11:57 AM.
