Compiled by Kelly Ryan
Louis Knobbe, founding member of Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear, was awarded the Judge Learned Hand Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Jewish Committee of Orange County.
Nicolaos Alexopoulos, dean of the University of California, Irvine’s Henry Samueli School of Engineering and professor of electrical engineering and computer science, was elected to the National Academy of Engineering. Alexopoulos is one of 64 members and nine foreign associates to join this group of scholars.
Denise Bittel was named Woman of the Year for the 60th District. She is a board member for the Community Foundation of Orange, director of Project Hope Services for the Orange Community Council of PTA and chairman of the Orange Education Fund.
Ronald Rus of Irvine-based Rus, Miliband & Smith, Richard De-revan of Snell & Wilmer LLP in Costa Mesa, Michael Yoder of O’Melveny & Myers in Irvine and Daniel Callahan of Santa Ana’s Callahan & Blaine were named Best Commercial Litigation Lawyers in the country by Best of the U.S. LLC.
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in Irvine was awarded the Frank Wheat Memorial Award for its team of associates’ work on behalf of the poor tenants of a run-down apartment complex in Santa Ana.
The sales team at Irvine’s Ryness Co. was named National Sales Team of the Year at the National Home Builders Association’s annual convention. Community sales manager Theresa Maisen, sales associate James Park and assistant sales associate Lindsay Wilson were honored for sales excellence.
The Business Development Association of Orange County awarded Sharon Norris, director of business development at Irvine’s UltraSystems Environmental Inc., with the 2006 Member of the Year Award. The award honors industry leaders for their dedication and support of the association in the building industry.
The American Institute of Architecture Orange County honored Linda Taylor with its 2006 AIAOC President’s Award. She is the founder and chairman of Newport Beach architecture and interior design firm, Taylor. The award honors architects who have made significant contributions to Orange County’s building environment and the architecture industry.
Brookfield Homes Southland Inc. in Costa Mesa received 18 finalist nominations for the 2006 Major Achievement in Marketing Excellence Awards. The company also received top honors at the National Association of Home Builders’ National Sales and Marketing Council’s 2007 National Awards.
Ira Herman, a financial representative with the Northwestern Mutual Fund Network, part of the Waltos Group in Newport Beach, was a Top 10 Regional Award winner for sales production in the company’s Western region.
