Compiled by Christina Hur
High School Given Exemplary Award
Orange County High School of the Arts received the 2006 Exemplary School Award from the International Network of Schools for the Advancement of Arts Education. The award recognizes a high school that demonstrates excellence in faculty and student achievement, community recognition and involvement, arts and academics integration, curriculum innovations, continuing growth and development as well as state and national recognition. Each year, the organization chooses one of its members to honor. The high school, which is in Santa Ana, was started in 1987 by executive director Ralph S. Opacic.
Children’s Hospital of Orange County, St. Joseph Hospital, and UCI Medical Center were listed among the 59 Top Hospitals in the nation by the Leapfrog Group. The list is based on a hospital quality and safety survey of more than 1,200 hospitals.
The Orange County chapter of the National Investor Relations Institute gave its 2006 Thomas A. Kiemens Achievement Award to Richard Meier, executive vice president of operations, chief financial officer and president of eye care at Advanced Medical Optics Inc. in Santa Ana. The award recognizes an individual’s achievement and contribution to the revenue of leading Orange County businesses.
James McDonald Jr., a managing partner at the Irvine office of Fisher & Phillips LLP, was named to the 2007 edition of “The Best Lawyers in America.” The book is compiled through peer evaluations. McDonald Jr. has practiced labor and employment law for more than 22 years.
Patrick Strader, vice president of Irvine-based Starpointe Ventures received an Emerging Leaders Award from the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties. The award is given to young members for their leadership, professionalism, career goals, education, association participation and community involvement.
Irvine-based Toshiba America Information Inc.’s telecommunications systems division received the 2006 Excellence Award from Technology Marketing Corp.’s Internet Telephony magazine. The award honors companies for products that provide effective voice communication over the Internet. Toshiba received the award for its product Strata CIX IP.
Michael Johnston, managing director of wealth management at the Irvine office of Citigroup’s Smith Barney, was selected as one of the Top 100 Wealth Advisors by Worth magazine. The editorial staff created the list after a year of research based on nominations by readers as well those provided by executives at private banks, wealth management and investment firms, and industry associations. Nominees must have at least 10 years of experience and proven capability in managing accounts of $10 million or more.
South Coast Plaza received the 2006 Maxi Award from the International Council of Shopping Centers in the Community Relations category for shopping centers of more than 1.4 million square feet. The Maxi Awards Program is a competition that recognizes excellence in shopping center marketing for the previous year. South Coast Plaza was recognized for organizing the month-long Festival of Children with the nonprofit Festival of Children Foundation.
Lake Forest-based Accurate Background Inc., a provider of background check and employee screenings, ranked No. 441 on the 2006 Technology Fast 500 by Deloitte & Touche USA LLP. The list ranks 500 of the fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications and life sciences companies in the country. Rankings are based on percentage revenue growth during 2001 to 2005.
Eyeonics Inc., a medical device company in Aliso Viejo, ranked No. 2 on the Technology Fast 50 Program for Orange County by Deloitte. The program ranks 50 of the fastest-growing technology companies in the county. Rankings are based on percentage revenue growth over five years from 2001-2005.
J.L. Patterson & Associates Inc. in Orange was chosen as No. 8 in a list of Best Engineering Firms to Work For in the nation in the Small Firms category by Civil Engineering News. Companies were ranked based on the news staff’s review of company and employee surveys. Factors that affect ranking include culture, benefits, performance/recognition practices, compensation, professional development programs and recruiting and retention efforts.
Michael Bobeczko, director of marketing at Sukut Construction Inc. in Santa Ana, received the 2006 Case Bradford Award from the Home Builders Council, the educational arm of the Building Industry Association of Southern California. The award honors industry leaders for their participation with the council and in the building industry.
The Orange County chapter of the Women’s Transportation Seminar named Shohreh Dupuis, transit manager with the city of Anaheim, as the 2006 Woman of the Year. Dupuis was recognized for displaying exceptional analytical, interpersonal and leadership skills. She currently heads the planning of transit connections to the proposed Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center and Anaheim Canyon Metrolink station.
Markell Steele, chief executive of career development company Futures in Motion Inc. in Costa Mesa, was honored as the Member of the Year by the Association of Women Business Owners, Orange County. Steele received the recognition for starting an education center for the association. She’s also director of education for the association.
Steven Ambriz posthumously received the 2006 Distinguished Alumni award from the Community College League of California. The award was accepted by his wife, Bridget, and daughter, Kaitlyn. Ambriz graduated from Santiago Canyon College in Orange. The award recognizes alumni who are accomplished professionals and contributing citizens of their communities. Ambriz volunteered for several organizations in Orange County. He served on the Orange City Council and was an administrative manager for the County of Orange Health Care Agency.
David Wakabayashi was recognized as Distinguished Alumnus of the Year by the Southern California College of Optometry in Fullerton. The alumni association selected Wakabayashi for his service to the school, leadership within the eye care profession and achievement in community service.
The City-County Communications and Marketing Association gave the city of Anaheim a Savvy Award in the category of Best Printed Publication Magazine for the city’s magazine, Anaheim. The awards recognize outstanding local government achievements in communications, public-sector marketing and citizen-government relationships.
Keith Zilker, director of operations for the Ladera Ranch Maintenance As-
sociation, received the Vision Leadership Award in environmental management from the California Association of Community Man-
agers. The awards recognize members who made a contribution above and beyond their duties. Zilker received the award for using CDs vs. paper fliers for distributing community guidelines.
John Adams, a librarian with the Orange County Public Library System, was named 2006 Outstanding Librarian in Literacy by the California Library Association and California State Library Literacy Services. The award is given to those who display outstanding efforts in outreach, public awareness, programming, advocacy and/or recruitment.
KOCE-TV, Orange County’s sole public broadcast station, was ranked No. 7 nationally among 347 public broadcast stations by Nielsen ratings. The station increased its viewership to more than 1 million households.
Concordia University gave the Faithfulness & Excellence Award to Bill Dahlgren, president of Airtech International in Huntington Beach, and Steeve Kay, founder of QTC Management Inc. Recipients are selected for their commitment to Christian principles, ethical standards and exemplary business success.
The Irvine office of PrideStaff received the 2006 Quality Continuum Certification and the 2006 Quality Management Award from its parent company. The quality certification is given to offices that follow the company’s best business practices. The quality management award is given to offices that uphold the company’s management standards for an enjoyable work environment.
Jack Dalpe, a senior financial adviser based in Anaheim Hills, received the Seal of Trust from the National Ethics Bureau, a group made up of insurance and financial advisers. The seal is given to those who pass a seven-year background check for criminal, civil and business violations.
Carolin Peters, a graduate student at the Laguna College of Art & Design, was a winner of the 2006 Annual Scholarship Competition held by the Art Renewal Center. Student artists were chosen based on works that clearly reflect classical methods of drawing, painting or sculpture.
Syspro Impact Software Inc. in Costa Mesa received the 2006 Business and Technology Inn-
ovation Award in the $51 million to $200 million revenue category by Start-It magazine. The awards honor software companies that have been in business for three years or more, and whose products help businesses run more efficiently.
The Daily Pilot, a Times Community News newspaper for Newport Beach and Costa Mesa, received six awards at the California Newspaper Advertising Executives Association Conference. The paper also recieved seven awards at the Western Classified Advertising Association Conference. The six awards at the California conference included three first-place awards for the categories Restaurant and/or Entertainment, Real Estate and Unique Ad Position. The seven awards at the Western conference included four first-place awards for categories Best Special Section or Theme Page, Best Niche Publication, Best Single Ad or Campaign Real Estate and Best Single Ad or Campaign Private Party.
Chuck Bankoff, an Internet consultant at the San Clemente office of We Simplify the Internet, received Web Awards in the Creative Excellence and Best Overall Site categories at the company’s first annual 2006 Web Awards. Bankoff was selected for designing the g & #246;t2b Web site. The site also was designed by GWS Productions, part of We Simplify the Internet.
Nancy Marmolejo, president and founder of Anaheim-based Com-
adre Coaching, a Latina-focused virtual business coaching company, received the Anna Maria Arias Memorial Business Fund Award by Wells Fargo & Co., Latina Style Magazine and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The award included a $5,000 grant. Recipients are selected based on
business innovation, success and community service.
Jim Court, vice president and chief information officer of First American Property & Casualty Insurance Co., was named one of the Elite 8 by Insurance & Technology magazine. Every year, the magazine honors three of the most outstanding senior technology executives in the insurance industry with its Elite 8 awards. First American Property is a unit of Santa Ana-based First American Corp.
The Rancho Santiago Community College District received five Medallion Awards from the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations. The Medallion Awards recognize outstanding achievement in communications at community, junior and technical colleges at a district level. The Rancho Santiago district won two gold medallions, two silver medallions and a bronze.
Doug Mitchell, owner of the Handyman Network of Laguna Niguel, was recognized for Outstanding Client Service by Handyman Network Inc., which specializes in home repairs and improvements. The recognition is given to those who go beyond client expectations.
