If there’s a program benefitting seniors, veterans or providing food to the hungry in Santa Ynez Valley, chances are Santa Ynez Valley Woman of the Year Pam Gnekow has been involved.

The executive director at Buellton Senior Center and founder of Country Gardens Catering has a long history of putting her culinary skills to use for the good of the community. There wasn’t a lot of spare time while raising her six children, but as they matured and she found spare time for herself, and she quickly filled it.