Compiled by Christina Hur
First American Corp.’s Donald Kennedy, chairman emeritus, and Parker Kennedy, chairman and chief executive, were honored at the 15th Annual Tribute to Excellence award ceremony by the Building Industry Association of Southern California, Orange County chapter. Donald Kennedy and his son Parker were recognized for their lifetime achievements at First American.
Chapman University honored Lawrence and Kristina Dodge, founders of American Sterling Corp. in Foothill Ranch, at its 25th Anniversary American Celebration Gala. The Dodges received the Corporate Citizens of the Year Award for their $20 million donation to the university, which went toward the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts.
YMCA of Orange County honored three people at its 31st Annual Reach Out Awards: David Lamb, vice chairman of YMCA OC’s board; Arnold Kleiner, president and general manager of ABC Channel 7; and Marge Hearn, founder of the Chick Hearn Legacy Memorial Fund. Lamb received the John and Donna Crean Reach Out Award for his efforts at the YMCA. Kleiner received the Community Partnership Reach Out Award for the station’s and YMCA’s partnership of the TV program, “Kid Healthy.” Hearn received the honor of Special Recognition for creating the memorial fund, which benefits YMCA. The fund is named after her late husband, famed Los Angeles Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn.
The American Cham-ber of Commerce Exec-utives and the Ford Foundation awarded Michael Metzler, chief executive of the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce, the Ford Foundation Region-alism and Sustainable Development Fellow-ship. The fellowship was granted in recognition of Metzler’s efforts for economic growth in Santa Ana. It provides training, peer networking, research and examination of issues such as immigration, land use, housing and inner-city challenges.
Irvine-based RBF Consulting received three planning awards from the American Planning Association, OC, for work it did for city signs and regulations. The company, along with the city of Newport Beach, received the Planning Implementation Award. RBF, along with Santa Ana, received the Focused Issue Planning Award. The company and the city of Sierra Madre received the Outstanding Planning Outside Orange County by an Orange County Firm Award for the Downtown Sierra Madre Educational Series and Community Involvement Program.
RiechesBaird, an Irvine-based advertising and business consulting firm, received the Advertising Creative Excellence Award in the category of Best Single Brand Ad for its advertisement, “Elephant.” The award was given by the Business Marketing Association of New York. The ad was created for Toyota Material Handling USA Inc. The award is based on visual presentation, quality of execution, clarity of message and overall effectiveness.
Anne Tahim, owner of accounting firm Tahim & Associates in Anaheim, was named 2006 Business Person of the Year by the Orange County Pres-idents Council. The award recognizes women and minority business leaders in OC. The council is made up multicultural small-business associations.
David Schaper, chief executive and senior financial consultant with Benchmark Wealth Management in Orange, received the Seal of Trust from the National Ethics Bureau, a group made up of insurance and financial advisers. The seal is awarded to those who pass a comprehensive seven-year background check for criminal, civil and business violations.
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc. named Steve Layton, general manager of the Garden Grove Red Robin restaurant, and Art Jezak, general manager of the Santa Ana restaurant, as members of the company’s President’s Club. The two demonstrated growing restaurant sales, increased profit at the locations and continued team-member development.
