Aliso Viejo Councilmembers Carmen Cave and Bill Phillips received the Commerce Award at the 2009 Staying Alive Regional Cities Ball. The award is given to a South Orange County city council or group of councilmembers who have improved the economic climate of South County. Cave and Phillips worked with Parker Properties LP on the development of the Summit Office Campus and assisted in recruiting Pacific Life Insurance Co. and Renaissance Club Sport to Aliso Viejo.
Heritage General Agency was selected for the 2009 Best of Irvine Award in the insurance agents, brokers and service category by the U.S. Commerce Association. The award recognizes local businesses that have successful marketing strategies.
The Orange County Performing Arts Center’s 2009 Chairman’s Cup was awarded to center executive vice president Judith O’Dea Morr at the annual meeting of members. She was recognized for overseeing the center’s programming.
Tustin-based Mission Landscape received a commercial landscaping award from the California Landscape Contractors Association for Newport Summit, a Bixby Land Co. property.
State Sen. Lou Correa was honored as Legislator of the Year by the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce at its 30th annual state convention. Correa represents the 34th district in California, which includes Anaheim, Buena Park, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Stanton and Westminster.
Juliette Poulson received CalOptima’s Lifetime Achievement Award. She has worked with the administrator of health insurance programs for OC’s needy for 30 years. She served as director for eight years and on CalOptima’s board for the past nine years. Also receiving awards at CalOptima Circle of Care award ceremony for were Gladys Amavizca, A-Med Health Care, E. Peter Anzaldo, Khiem Dao, Nooshin Farahmand, Elaheh Farshidi, Sue Fine, Friends of Children Health Center: Institute for Healthcare Advancement, Alberto Gedissman, Arthur Helfat, Angeline Yatat-Ituriaga, Wen-Fen Jan, Sasithorn Jitpakdee, David Keulen, Quynh Kieu, Jin-Joy Lu, Ronald Mandel, Thuy-Anh Nguyen, Stephen Osburn, Michael Ozaki, Preferred Excellent Care Pharmacy, Providence Speech and Hearing Center and Maryam Pahnemun. Jean Forbath, John Gaffney, Mary Paul, Project Independence, Children’s Health and Dental Center: Children’s Hospital of Orange County, Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove, Healthy Smiles for Kids of OC, Southern California School of Optometry and Western Youth Services received special recognition awards.
The local chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners recognized Cheryl Osborn as Business Owner of the Year at the 2009 Remarkable Women Awards. Osborn is founder and president of Casco Contractors Inc. Heidi Miller and Laura Nebauer also were honored. Miller, founder of Tight Assets, won the Lifetime Achievement Award. Nebauer, founder and chief executive of Deliver-It Inc., received the Entrepreneur to Watch Award.
OC Judge Francisco Firmat was named Judicial Officer of the Year by the Southern California Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.
Kevin Landry, owner and chief executive of New Horizons Computer Learning Centers of Southern California, brought home two awards from the New Horizons 2009 International Conference in Las Vegas.
Bekele Demissie was named Business Leader of the Year by the OC Presidents Council. Demissie is a business relations administrator for the Orange County Transportation Authority, where he serves as a liaison between businesses and the OCTA. He was recognized for his commitment to leading seminars, providing information and assisting in training.
Commercial Real Estate Women of Orange County paid tribute to Eileen McNerney, Marushkah Kurtz and Jana Turner at its When Life Gives You Lemons, Say Thank You program. McNerney is founding director and president emeritus of Taller San Jose, a Santa Ana nonprofit that helps people get out of poverty. Kurtz is chief executive officer of OC Metals Inc. and Cal Pac Sheet Metal Inc. Turner is principal of Newport Beach-based Real Estate Talent Solutions.
