Irvine-based RBF Consulting ranked No. 70 in the 2006 Top 500 Design Firms and No. 40 in the Pure Design category by Engineering News-Record magazine. The rankings are based on 2005 revenue. The consulting company provides planning, civil engineering and survey services.
Newport Beach-based Ambassadors LLC, a unit of Ambassadors International Inc., won Graphic Design USA magazine’s 2006 American In-house Design Award for the graphic department’s Isuzu Affair to Remember entry. The competition recognizes design entries from in-house designers and teams within various companies, nonprofits, educational and government institutions. Ambassadors provides incentive travel and event management services.
Phoenix-based Ath-ens Group, developer of Montage Resort & Spa Laguna Beach, received the 2006 Award for Excellence from the Urban Land Institute for the resort’s design. Athens Group converted a trailer park on a bluff into the luxury resort. Projects had to reflect the institute’s mission of providing leadership in land use, improve the quality of life in the local community and be worthy of admiration.
Scott Taylor was selected by the American Society of Civil Engineers as a society Fellow, the second highest-membership level. Taylor is a civil engineer at RBF Consulting in Irvine. He’s also been a part-time lecturer at the University of California, Irvine, and California State University, Long Beach. His expertise includes storm water quality, flood control and storm water management.
California State University, Fullerton, honored five graduates for their professional and personal achievements at its 2006 Vision & Visionaries gala: Marc Cherry, Rachelle Cracchiolo, Joann Schaefer, Marc Stein and Robert Taylor. Cherry is the creator and executive producer of the Emmy-winning show “Desperate Housewives.” Cracchiolo is the founder and president of Teacher Created Materials, which publishes supplemental educational resources. Schaefer is the director of the Department of Regulation and Licensure and chief medical officer for the Nebraska Health and Human Services System. Stein is a senior NBA writer for ESPN.com. Taylor is the founder and president of REMM Group and chairman of REMM-China. REMM manages shopping centers, office buildings and residential properties in California. The company also is an investor and developer of real estate.
Marketing and communications executive Cindy Thomsen of Costa Mesa was honored as a Ladies Professional Golf Association Hero for her efforts in the fight against breast cancer. Thomsen, who has battled the disease, founded the Reds, Whites & Greens Charity Golf Classic. The tournament benefits the Orange County affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
The board of the Pacific Symphony in Costa Mesa was honored with the Chairman’s Pin Award for its contributions to the symphony. Board members recognized were: Carl St. Clair; music director; Robert Becker, principal violist; Jim Medvitz, vice president of strategic planning and special projects; Mary Muth, recognized for her longtime involvement and generous donations; Vesta Curry, volunteer and member of various symphony groups and committees; Doug Simao and Kate Peters, business partners who are holders of the gala chairs; and John and Sandy Daniels, major benefactors of the European tour.
Congressman John Campbell, R-Irvine, received the 2006 Distinguished Service Award from the California Society of Certified Public Accountants. Campbell is a member of the society and was recognized for his efforts as a state legislator from 2000 to 2005 relating to improving certified public accountants’ practice and state tax laws.
Andrea Cano, a Cal State Fullerton graduate student, was awarded a Fulbright grant to teach English in Chile next spring. Cano recently graduated with a master’s in education.
Newport Beach-based architectural design company H. Hendy Associates received the Calibre Award from the International Interior Design Association for its work on the Japanese restaurant Umenohana in Beverly Hills. The restaurant’s design blends Western and Japanese influences. The team included Hendy designers and consultants from WB Powell Inc., Fox+Fox Design, RW Smith & Co. and Taisei Construction Corp.
