Compiled by Kelly Ryan
Several lawyers from Irvine-based Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP were named in the 2009 edition of Super Lawyers: Michael Friedland, Catherine Holland, John King, Don Martens, Darrell Olson, Joseph Re, John Sganga, Paul Stewart, Craig Summers and Lynda Zadra-Symes.
Tustin-based Echo Media Group received two MarCom Gold awards from the Association of Marketing & Communication Professionals. Echo Media was recognized for its work for clients Bertazzoni SPA of Italy and Irvine-based Toyota Material Handling USA Inc.
Santa Ana-based Glenn M. Gelman & Associates was named to the Best of the Best list of the nation’s top 25 CPA firms, according to Inside Public Accounting. Accounting Today also recognized the company as one of the best accounting firms to work for.
Mission Viejo’s Mi-chael Ramirez received the Prestigious Art Star Award from the Laguna Beach Alliance for the Arts. Ramirez is the editorial cartoonist for In-vestor’s Business Daily and a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner. His cartoons are syndicated in more than 450 newspapers and magazines.
William Tolin Gay was named 2009 Orange County Corporate Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers. Gay is of counsel at the Irvine office of Luce Forward Hamilton & Scripps LLP. He has represented clients in corporate transactions, intellectual property and franchising.
Costa Mesa-based Rutan & Tucker LLP paralegal Cindy Mascio was named a Paralegal Superstar for 2009 by ParalegalGateway.com. She has a certified paralegal credential from the National Association of Legal Assistants and began working at Rutan in 2007.
Julie Vaupel-Phillips and Jan Kidwell were honored for their contributions to nursing by the Association of California Nurses Leaders. Vaupel-Phillips is director of the pediatric intensive care unit and emergency transport services at Children’s Hospital in Orange County. Kidwell is director of clinical financial management at CHOC.
Irvine-based Burkhalter Kessler Goodman & George LLP received the Management Action Programs Presidential Award from Management Action Programs Inc. in Sherman Oaks. The law firm was one of 13 recipients.
Jim Kramer received the Outstanding Engin-eering Merit Award from the Orange County Engin-eering Council. Kramer is the principal civil engineer at the Orange County Transportation Authority. He is responsible for all capital improvement projects at bus bases and transportation corridors.
Bernadette Riley was recognized as Professional of the Year by the Association of Jewish Aging Services. Riley is administrator of Heritage Pointe, a Jewish assisted living facility in Mission Viejo. Riley has more than 35 years of experience in senior care. While working as a geriatric nurse specialist at Cornell Medical Center, she created healthcare programs for seniors.
Scott Frisbie, an owner and operator of 17 McDonald’s franchises in Orange County, received the Ronald Award from McDonald’s Corp. The award recognizes franchisees who demonstrate leadership in their communities and within the chain.
Santa Ana-based Habitat for Humanity of Orange County received three Awards of Excellence from the Southern California Gas Co., a unit of San Diego-based Sempra Energy. The awards recognize the nonprofit’s efforts to build energy-efficient homes.
Pat Soldano received the Frances D. Conine Award for her work with the Alzheimer’s Association, Orange County chapter. Soldano is chief executive and president of GenSpring Family Offices in Costa Mesa. Others recognized for their service were Carol Hoke, Roger Mouton, Yvonne Pitts, Tina Roberts, Elaine Stephen, Donna Tryon and Doree Wright.
Newport Beach-based Merrill Lynch & Co. financial adviser William Bullock and private wealth advisers Tom Blanchfield and Troy Armstrong were recognized by Barron’s magazine as top California financial advisers.
Miyamoto International Inc., which has an office in Santa Ana, won Land Development Project of the Year from the American Society of Civil Engineers of Orange County. Miyamoto won for its work on the Pacific Life Insurance Co. building in Aliso Viejo. The project team included Ware Malcomb, Parker Properties, Canyon Consulting and NMG Geotechnical Inc.
Sarah Kerr received the Excellence in Service Award from Irvine-based Keystone Pacific Property Management Inc. Kerr is general ledger supervisor for the company and trains community association managers on all financial aspects of community management.
The Irvine Chamber of Commerce earned merit awards at the Western Association of Chamber Executives meeting. Honorable mention went to the Business Connection, the chamber’s monthly newspaper.
Costa Mesa-based 336 Productions received a Telly Award for its creation of the theatrical trailer for documentary “The Compass,” which 366 Productions produced in association with Spencer Media. Marlowe Greenlee and Josh Stone own 336 Productions.
