Compiled by Kelly M. Ryan
Ten Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear lawyers and eight from Newmeyer & Dillon LLP were named on the 2007 list of Rising Stars by Law & Politics Magazine. Knobbe lawyers were: Amy Chun, Joseph Cianfrani, Jon Gurka, Ben Katzenellenbogen, Lauren Keller, Sabing Lee, Salima Merani, Sheila Swaroop, Lori Yamato and Bill Zimmerman. For Newmeyer & Dillon: Jeffrey Dennis, Shane Coons, Charles Krolikowski, Bonnie Roadarmel, Carol Sherman Zaist, Shawn Cowles, Jay Freedman and Laura Watkins Ives.
Deloitte & Touche USA LLP was given the Community Cornerstone Award at the Orange County United Way annual campaign celebration. De-loitte raised more than $320,000 and also was honored for its volunteerism. With the help of Deloitte employees, United Way helped 500 families get $1.2 million back in earned income tax credits.
OC United Way gave the Automobile Club of Southern California its Dimensions in Giving Award. The Automobile Club received the award for raising more than $235,000 for United Way’s community Impact Agenda. The Auto Club also pledged $10,000 per year for the next five years to High School Inc.
Trend Offset Printing won a Benny in the Premier Print Awards. The awards represent the highest honor in the printing industry. Trend’s winning entry, printed in Los Alamitos, was for the Tesoro High School baseball media guide. Trend also won a Certificate of Merit in the single issue magazine category for printing the April issue of Riviera magazine.
Laguna Beach native Carrie Zeller won the Best New Artist award at the 2007 Sawdust Art Festival. Zeller won a plaque for her color wildlife photographs.
Darren Moen was given the accredited wealth management adviser designation. Those who earn the designation complete a program, pass a final exam and sign a code of ethics and a disclosure form. Moen is president of Fullerton’s Wealth Empowerment Associates and is an independent contractor for Money Concepts International.
Orange County Teachers Federal Credit Union was named one of 50 Best Small & Medium Companies to Work for in America. This year, the Santa Ana-based credit union ranked 10th out of 50. The results were based on employee feedback and other factors such as benefits and rewards programs.
KTGY Group Inc. Architecture and Planning earned six awards including the Gold Nugget Grand Award. The Grand Award was given in the Best Affordable Project for KTGY’s College Vista project, a 44-apartment development in San Mateo. The company’s 150-unit Dorado Senior Apartments in Buena Park received a Silver Award in the category of Overall Community, Affordable Rental Apartments.
The Junior League of OC California Inc. honored Stephanie Paggi with the Kathryn Raulston Community Service Award. The award is given to a Junior League member for commitment to the community. Paggi is deputy superintendent of the Tustin Unified School District. Paggi has spent 26 years as a member in the Junior League and was president in 1998.
James J. McDonald Jr. and John M. Polson were selected for the 2008 Best Lawyers in America ranking. They are partners at the Irvine office of Fisher & Phillips LLP. The lists represent 80 specialties in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., and is compiled using peer-review surveys. McDonald is a former chairman of the board of the Irvine Chamber of Commerce. Polson focuses on labor and employment law.
Kate Cloudt and David Luzuriaga earned recognition as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design accredited professional through the U.S. Green Building Council. Cloudt specializes in space planning and sustainable design at Tait & Associates Inc. in Santa Ana. Luzuriaga owns and runs Luzuriaga Taylor Inc. of Mission Viejo.
Echo Media Group received three awards at the Public Relations Society of America OC Chapter Annual Protos Awards banquet. The agency earned the Award of Excellence for each of its three entries in the consumer press release media event and broadcast placement categories. Echo Media earned the award for broadcast placement for work on behalf of its client, California Pools Inc.
