A cat-rescue founder, a barber and a dealership general manager walk into an awards announcement.

There’s no punchline. Just Vista.

Christine Hubbard of Love Your Feral Felines, Donnell Hilliard of Kingdom Kutz and Frank Pierce of North County Ford are finalists for the 2026 Heroes of Vista Businessperson of the Year award.

Their work covers distinctly different territory. Their names now share the same list.

But an affiliation only tells you so much. Behind these three are classroom resources, an earlier business award and 100 pairs of children’s shoes.

That’s worth a closer look.

Christine Hubbard: The Rescue Has Homework

Hubbard is the founder and president of Love Your Feral Felines, which operates an adoption center at 1929 West Vista Way, Suite C.

In her published account, Hubbard says she began volunteering at a shelter in April 2011 and founded LYFF later that year.

Her original mission included helping feral cats facing euthanasia find working barn homes.

The organization also publishes free, project-based animal-welfare curriculum packets for grades four through twelve.

Yes, the cat rescue has lesson plans.

The packets are organized by grade level and available to download. Their availability is documented; how many classrooms use them has not been established.

For Vista and San Marcos educators, there’s a practical discovery here: free materials to explore.

For everyone who knows LYFF primarily through adoption, it’s another chapter in the organization’s story. With fewer litter scoops.

Donnell Hilliard: Same Shop, New Spotlight

Hilliard owns and operates Kingdom Kutz at 101 S. Indiana Avenue in downtown Vista.

His shop has already appeared on the Heroes of Vista winners list. Kingdom Kutz won New Business of the Year in 2024.

Now Hilliard is a finalist for Businessperson of the Year.

The distinction matters: the earlier award recognized the shop; this nomination names its owner.

It also gives downtown regulars a connection between a familiar storefront and the person running it.

That’s one pleasure of following local news. A place you’ve passed becomes a place with a story.

Frank Pierce: Beyond Vehicle Sales

Pierce is North County Ford’s general manager.

The dealership’s published community account describes his outreach to Vista High School students, including discussions about careers and the different jobs inside a dealership.

Those details come from the dealership.

A separate City of Vista announcement reported that Pierce donated 100 pairs of new children’s shoes to Deputy Mayor Katie Melendez’s shoe drive.

Cars and kids’ shoes aren’t the obvious pairing.

But the donation provides a specific example of involvement beyond the showroom, with a stated purpose of helping local families.

The Evening Ahead

Heroes of Vista is scheduled for Friday, November 6, 2026, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at the Vista Optimist Club, 600 Optimist Way.

The Vista Chamber of Commerce and Vista Education Foundation present the event.

Three finalists, three careers—and a reason to learn the names behind local organizations.

Questions about the Businessperson of the Year:

Who are the Businessperson of the Year finalists?

Christine Hubbard, Donnell Hilliard and Frank Pierce.

When and where is Heroes of Vista?

November 6, 2026, from 6–9:30 p.m., at Vista Optimist Club, 600 Optimist Way.

Has Kingdom Kutz won before?

Yes. It won New Business of the Year in 2024.

Where is LYFF’s Vista adoption center?

1929 West Vista Way, Suite C.