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East County News Service
February 10, 2018 (El Cajon) -- The El Cajon Citizen of the Year Committee recently honored real estate broker Joe Garzanelli with its 2017 Citizen of the Year award.
Garzanelli was recognized for his community involvement, including support to nonprofits and charitable volunteer work. He has been a member of the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce member since 1995 and served on the board of directors from 2007 to 2010. He is a 1997 graduate of the Chamber’s San Diego East County Leadership Program and a 2015 graduate of the Leadership East County Masters Program. He also is actively involved with the Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors (PSAR), a real estate trade group for San Diego-area realtors.
The community organizations that have benefited from Garzanelli’s support have included St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center, Home of Guiding Hands, Boys & Girls Clubs of East County, Lions, Tigers and Bears, Stoney’s Kids and the East County Toy Drive.
Garzanelli, broker with Keller Williams Realty, San Diego East Foothills, in El Cajon, has 48 years of experience in the real estate industry. He opened his Keller Williams office in March 2011. Previously, Garzanelli managed and owned several other real estate sales offices. He was a partner in an El Cajon Century 21 office that became one of the top-producing offices in the nation. He also was co-owner and broker manager of another Century 21 office at Chase Avenue and Avocado Boulevard in El Cajon that also became one of the top-producing offices in the nation.
After serving in the U.S. Army, Garzanelli attended Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby, where he met his wife Jonelle. They were married in April 1970. Today, they have four grown daughters, four granddaughters and one grandson. In June 1970, Joe and Jonelle moved to San Diego where Joe’s two brothers operated a real estate office with Hilmer Severin, whose family developed part of East County, including the area along Severin Drive in La Mesa. “The job with my brothers was going to be temporary until I could finish schooling to get a job as an electrical engineer,” said Joe. “My temporary job has lasted 48 years.”
The annual Citizen of the Year program is co-hosted by the El Cajon Valley Lions Club, El Cajon Rotary Club and San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce. Previous winners have included Dick Nasif (2016), Humbert Cabrera (2015), Chuck Hansen (2014), San Diego East Visitors Bureau and Shirley Johnson (2013).
Among the local organizations involved with the El Cajon Citizen of the Year honoree selection: San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce, El Cajon Police Officer Association, Heartland Lions, Home of Guiding Hands, Salvation Army, El Cajon Valley Kiwanis Club, East County Boys and Girls Clubs, Wieghorst Museum Foundation, El Cajon Historical Society, Main Street Flag program, El Cajon Valley Host Lions Club and Rotary Club of El Cajon.
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