Compiled by Talene Yotnotsian
PR Firms Take Home Awards
The Orange County Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America honored several local companies for their public relations work. Irvine’s PainePR took home a handful of awards, including Best in Show for its consumer program for Pampers Baby Stages of Development and five Protos awards, the highest honor in any category.
The Orange County Transport-ation Authority won six Protos awards and five awards Awards of Excellence. Porter Novelli in Irvine took home five Protos awards. The firm also won a Distinguished Service award for providing free public relations services to the Orange County Business Council and Human Options, a nonprofit that works toward breaking the cycle of domestic violence.
Tustin-based Echo Media Group received three Protos awards. Bock Communications Inc. of Santa Ana won six Awards of Excellence. Amies Communications in Irvine and Sperry Van Ness in Irvine each took home three Awards of Excellence.
Catherine A. Douglas, periodicals editor at California State University, Fullerton, received the Distinguished Service Award.
Two OC companies were named to BusinessWeek’s ranking of top-performing technology companies, the Information Technology 100. Lake Forest-based Western Digital Corp. was ranked No. 38. Irvine-based Broadcom Corp. was ranked No. 87. To be considered, companies had to have revenue of at least $500 million, not have their stock prices drop more than 75%, not have shrinking sales or any other developments that would raise questions about a company’s future performance. They then were ranked based on return on equity, shareholder return, revenue growth and total revenue.
Kenneth W. Kizer, chief executive of Aliso Viejo-based Medsphere Systems Corp., received the Leadership in Innovation award at the Adaptive Business Leaders Organization’s Eighth Annual Inno-vations in Healthcare Awards event. He was honored for his work at the Veterans Health System.
Arts Orange County presented its Cultural Legacy awards to the following: Bob Bassett, founder and dean of the Dodge School of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University; Dwight Richard Odle, designer, director, educator and producer; and William Gillespie, a philanthropist. Also honored: the Huntington Beach Art Center in the category of Outstanding Arts Organization, and Alan Terricciano and Richard Kaufman in the Outstanding Individual Artist category.
John F. Rochford, president and chief operating officer of Irvine-based Snyder Langston, was named 2006 Distinguished Alumnus for the College of Engineering at California State University, Long Beach.
The California Small Business Association named Irvine-based NetServe Systems Inc. Small Business of the Year. NetServe Systems is a technology consulting company owned by Abdi Ahmed, an immigrant from Ethiopia who founded the business in 1996.
Newport Beach-based Downey Savings and Loan Association ranked highest in satisfying banking customers in California, according to the JD Power and Associates Inaugural 2006 Retail Banking Satisfaction study. Downey received the highest ratings in five of six areas: overall transaction method, accuracy/clarity of account statements, account initiation/product offerings, convenience and fees.
Local plastic surgeon Dr. Juris Bunkis was nominated by the Orange County Council as one of Orange County’s Men of Character for 2006. Bunkis is the medical director of Orange County Plastic Surgery and one of six nominees.
Taylor Woodrow Homes, whose Southern California unit is based in Irvine, was named among the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World for its performance in environmental, social and governance issues.
San Juan Capistrano-based Family Automotive Group was named California’s Largest African American-owned auto dealership and was No. 7 on the Black Enterprise Auto Dealer 100 list of top dealers.
St. Louis-based McCarthy Building Cos., which has an office in Newport Beach, was named by Building Design & Construction magazine as one of the Best Architecture/Engineering/Construction Firms to Work For.
Newport Beach-based New West Productions was named 2006 Purveyor of the Year by Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar. The award recognizes New West Productions’ dedication and contribution to the partnership with Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar for creative video and event production during the past five years.
Reem Khalil, a Sawdust Art Festival exhibitor since 2002, won Best Fashion Design at the Indian Wells Arts Festival. Khalil designs hand-dyed silks for women and children.
Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo, designed by Irvine-based Melzer Deckert & Ruder Architects Inc., was selected as Golf Clubhouse of the Year by Golf Inc. magazine. MDR Architects’ design of Anaheim Hills Golf Club also received a Finalist award as Clubhouse of the Year.
Mr. Martin Garage Doors in Buena Park was recognized by Salt Lake City’s Martin Door Manufacturing as the top-selling dealer for the manufacturer in 2005. It was the only company to earn Martin Door Manufacturing’s Diamond award.
