PAST SYMPHONY BOARD CHAIRS

2009-11 Mitchell R. Woodbury
2008-09 Theresa J. Drew
2007-08 Steven R. Penhall
2005-07 Mitchell Woodbury
2004-05 Craig A. Schloss Esq.
2003-04 John R. Queen
2001-03 Harold B. Dokmo Jr.
2000-01 Ben G. Clay
1998-00 Sandra Pay
1995-96 Elsie V. Weston
1994-95 Thomas Morgan
1993-94 David Dorne, Esq.
1989-93 Warren O. Kessler, M.D.
1988-89 Elsie V. Weston
1986-88 Herbert J. Solomon
1984-86 M.B. “Det” Merryman
1982-84 Louis F. Cumming
1980-82 David E. Porter
1978-80 Paul L. Stevens
1976-78 Laurie H. Waddy
1974-76 William N. Jenkins
1971-74 L. Thomas Halverstadt
1970-71 Simon Reznikoff
1969-70 Robert J. Sullivan
1968-69 Arthur S. Johnson
1966-68 Michael Ibs Gonzalez
1964-66 Philip M. Klauber
1963-64 Oliver B. James Jr.
1961-63 J. Dallas Clark
1960-61 Fielder K. Lutes
1959-60 Dr. G. Burch Mehlin
1956-58 Admiral Wilder D. Baker
1953-56 Mrs. Fred G. Goss
1952-53 Donald A. Stewart
1940-42 Donald B. Smith
1938-39 Mrs. William H. Porterfield
1934-37 Mrs. Marshall O. Terry
1930-33 Mouney C. Pfefferkorn
1928-29 Willett S. Dorland
1927 Ed H. Clay

Mitchell Woodbury has been a member of the State Bar of California since 1971, now on inactive status, and was Associate in the San Diego law firm of McDonald & Allen from 1971-1980. From 1980-1992, he was Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Intermark, Inc., a La Jolla-based, publicly traded operating-holding company. From 1992-1994 he was Vice President and General Counsel of Advanced Tissue Sciences, Inc., a La Jolla-based, publicly traded biotechnology company. From 1994-2001, Woodbury was Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Dura Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a San Diego-based, publicly traded pharmaceutical company. His corporate legal career concentrated on general business transactions, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory work (SEC, FDA, etc.), and, in the case of Dura, a wide range of senior management responsibilities associated with the growth and maturation of the enterprise. Woodbuy received his B.A. in business administration from San Diego State University in 1960 and received his J.D. degree from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1971. Woodbury currently serves on the Boards of Directors of NTC Foundation, United Way of San Diego County, and The Monarch School.

Evelyn Olson Lamden is a Principal and Partner in Red Kite Business Advisors, a marketing consulting firm helping clients expand and develop their consumer market segments through research and strategic marketing planning. The firm also offers creative services, media planning, and general marketing services.

Prior to Red Kite Business Advisors, Evelyn served as SVP Marketing & Media, CMO, and COO at Aviatech, an online marketing agency. She is also Area Developer for the New Well Pacific, women’s weight loss and wellness centers, and handles franchise development for the regions of San Diego County and the State of Hawaii. She and her husband are franchisees for two centers opening in San Diego and La Jolla.

Evelyn has over 30 years of experience in corporate and agency management roles, and has managed and directed media departments for companies such as Goodyear, Foodmaker (Jack-in-the-Box Restaurants), and Jenny Craig International. She served as CEO & President of Advertising Ventures International, a private marketing firm involved with local event marketing, as Managing Partner of Budji Corporation, a manufacturing company/importer of bamboo furniture for distribution to the US market, and managed the Nissan Dealer account at International Communication Group (ICG), which is now Carat-USA, one of the world's largest media buying agencies. Evelyn has worked in several industries throughout her career, including automotive, fast food, weight management, fitness, entertainment, horse racing, real estate, interior design, furniture manufacturing, and non-profits.

Evelyn is active in the performing arts community and has served on the Board of Directors for the San Diego Symphony since November 2005. She is a member of the Executive Committee and is the Board Chair for the 2011-12 season. She is also a Board Member for Malashock Dance Company. A consummate lover of the arts, Evelyn has professionally developed scripts, directed, produced, danced, and choreographed for live stage productions. She lives in San Diego with her husband Bill, and two teenage children, Leah and Chaz.

Andrew S. Clark founded Bridgepoint Education, a higher education company headquartered in San Diego, California, in 2004.

Bridgepoint Education owns and operates two regionally accredited academic institutions, Ashford University in Clinton, Iowa, and University of the Rockies, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, offering Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate degrees online as well as on campus.

Built upon the philosophy that academically prepared students deserve higher access to high-quality higher education, Mr. Clark’s vision and leadership has resulted in a post-secondary education services company with more than 5,800 employees and more than 67,744 enrolled students.

Before starting Bridgepoint Education with the support of private equity firm Warburg Pincus, Mr. Clark spent 14 years in higher education management. He began his higher education career in 1995 with the University of Phoenix (UoP), a division of Apollo Group. From 1996 to 1999, he served as the youngest Vice President/Campus Director for UoP, producing the best combined enrollment and profit results of any campus in the system. From 1999 to 2001, he was the company’s youngest Regional Vice President, responsible for opening the Midwest and Northeast regions, taking one campus from an existing region and creating nine campuses in seven states.

Mr. Clark then served as chief operating officer of American Continental University, a division of Career Education Corporation (CEC), and Vice President, Operations, of the University Division of CEC.

Bridgepoint Education is dedicated to social responsibility and its corporate culture embodies that sentiment. Mr. Clark currently serves on the board of directors of the San Diego Symphony, Junior Achievement, and the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation. In addition, he has supported organizations such as the American Red Cross, Big Brothers/ Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Clubs, the Make-a-Wish Foundation, Promises2Kids, and the Warrior Foundation.

Mr. Clark earned a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts from Pacific Lutheran University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. He lives in San Diego with his wife and their three daughters.

When Joyce Grosvenor was a toddler in her grandmother’s kitchen in Pittsburgh, she remembers the smell of wonderful handmade pastry in the oven and the sound of her Hungarian grandmother playing the violin for the family as they gathered around the kitchen table. Although her grandparents spoke not a word of English, the perfect communication through the music they shared went beyond words, thus Joyce’s love of The Classics was born.

Raised in Orange County, California, Joyce received a degree in Business Communications from CSU Fullerton. She quickly became a principal in Americom International, a JV with Radisson Hotel Group, and Intourist, the Soviet Tourism Partner. With HR Haldeman as their chief guide, Joyce and partners successfully installed the first ever American operated, high-tech communications/office suites for Western travelers abroad, within the Slavyanskaya five-star Hotel, Moscow.

Joyce’s involvements also include major fundraising for then Governor Pete Wilson, and The Young Republicans of Orange County, where she worked with her partner to establish many chapters of the YPO in Orange County. She has had vast involvement with The Performing Arts Center, Opera Pacific, and South Coast Repertory Theatre, Orange County. She represented corporations who constructed the Performing Arts Center and John Wayne Airport, as well as the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert, California.

Joyce then ventured out into the world of interior architecture and design, and enjoyed national award recognition for her designs for numerous large homebuilders in California and Nevada.

Joyce’s children, Tristan age 13, and Dakota age 15, have traveled the world with their mom experiencing theatre and music companies in London, Paris, Rome, New York, Detroit, Nashville, and San Francisco. Needless to say, they deeply appreciate and share the love of the arts, along with mom.

Joyce is partner with the international skincare group, Cellceuticials, Inc, headquartered in Beverly Hills, CA.

Past involvements include board membership with The Juvenile Connection Project Orange County, several Orange County Chambers of Commerce, building industry affiliates in Riverside and Orange Counties, Powerplant Maintenance Specialty Incorporated (SouthEast Division), Americom International, LLC, and TRIDAK, Inc.

Other current involvements include first –time collaborations with the San Diego Symphony/San Diego Zoo, and the San Diego Symphony/USS Midway. She currently supports Social Venture Partners, The United Way/Alexis de Tocqueville Society, Opportunities International, Scripps Institute of Oceanography UCSD, Human Development Foundation, San Diego Zoo/Wild Animal Parks, USO, USS Midway, Mystic Seaport Village, CT, Hubbs Research Institute/Sea World, The Unity Center, CARE, World Vision, Rancho Encinitas Academy, La Jolla Country Day School, High Tech High, San Diego Food Bank, Colorado Uplift, NIKA Water, Kids Corps, and Free the Children (Kenya).

At present, Joyce is Co-Chair of the San Diego Symphony’s Centennial Celebrations, and is guiding her daughter, Dakota, into a fast-moving modeling career. She and her husband, Craig Grosvenor, are deeply involved in giving back to the community by way of The Grosvenor Family Foundation, and enjoy holding numerous fund-raising events at their home in Rancho Pacifica, California. Joyce enjoys sailing on the family yacht, snow and water skiing, gardening, and spending quiet time with her family and many pets.

Paul Hering was elected as Managing Principal / CEO of Barney & Barney in 2004. Paul has been with Barney & Barney since 1985 and has been a Principal since 1989. His expertise is in the areas of strategic planning, administration and operations. Barney & Barney is one of the largest privately owned insurance brokerage firms in the world. As Managing Principal / CEO, Paul chairs Barney & Barney’s Board of Directors, Executive Committee and Compensation Committee.

Prior to joining Barney & Barney, Paul was an Underwriter with the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies.

His civic and business activities include:

Big Brothers & Sisters of San Diego
>Board of Directors

Rady Childrens Hospital Foundation
>Board of Directors

University of California, Los Angeles
>Chancellor’s Associates Volunteer Committee
>Regional Chair, Parent Fund

San Diego Symphony
>Vice Chairman, Board of Directors
>Executive Committee

Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers
>Board of Directors

San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
>Board of Directors

San Diego Foundation
>Audit Committee Chairman

Assurex Global (World’s 3rd Largest Insurance Brokerage Organization)
>Past Chairman of the Board
>Board of Directors

San Diego Private Bank
>Board of Directors

Recognitions:

• 2001 Big Brothers Big Sisters “Man of the Year”
• 2008 “Excellence in Action” Award – Mental Health America
• 2008 Most Admired CEO Award – Vistage International / San Diego Business Journal
• 2009 Most Admired CEO “Exemplary” Award – Vistage International / San Diego Business Journal

Paul earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics from UCLA. He holds the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation which he earned through advanced study in the field of insurance.

John J. Zygowicz is the market president for U.S. Bank in San Diego, and Market Leader for the Wealth Management Group in San Diego.

Zygowicz has been with U.S. Bank since February 1999. He began his banking career at United California Bank/First Interstate Bank in Los Angeles, California. He was transferred by the bank to San Diego in 1981. He has been a senior vice president responsible for managing corporate banking in the San Diego area, as well as experience as a district manager responsible for 22 retail branch offices in San Diego, and Imperial and Riverside counties. Zygowicz also spent time with Home Savings of America in San Diego as district manger for 24 retail branches in San Diego and Imperial counties.

A graduate of St. Joseph’s College in Rennsalear, Indiana, Zygowicz earn a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He attended an executive program at the Graduate School of Credit and Financial Management at Stanford University.

Zygowicz and his wife have been actively involved with various non-profit organizations in the area of education, civic development and health and human services. He serves on the advisory boards of the Salvation Army and the School of Education at the University of San Diego, and is a Rotarian in the San Diego Downtown Club. The Zygowicz’s live in Encinitas with their daughter, Michelle.

Claude D. Benchimol, Ph.D. is Senior Vice President of Biological Information Systems, at Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ:LIFE), one of the world's leading biotechnology companies.

Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, Life Technologies was created in November 2008 as a result of the merger of Invitrogen Corporation and Applied Biosystems Inc., two leading companies in biotechnology. With a presence in more than 100 countries, Life Technologies provides essential instruments and reagents for disease research, drug discovery and commercial bioproduction. The company's products and services are used in nearly every major laboratory worldwide, supporting academic and government research institutions as well as pharmaceutical and biotechnology corporations.

Prior to joining Invitrogen in 2003 as the Senior Vice President of Research and Development, Dr. Benchimol served in a variety of executive positions at General Electric Healthcare. From 2001 to 2003 he was Vice-President of Global Technology at GE's Medical Information Technologies. Prior to this role, he assumed a number of leadership positions in the development of complex diagnostic imaging instruments and innovations including slip-ring and multi-slice CT Scanners, High Field and open MRI Scanners, Digital Mammography, and Digital Cardiology.

In 1973 Dr. Benchimol received a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Télécommunications in Paris, France. In 1974 he earned a Master's degree in Systems Science from the University of California, Los Angeles and in 1977 he received his Doctorate in Systems Science, also from the University of California, Los Angeles. He is a member of the French Academy of Technology.

Dr. Benchimol currently resides in Solana Beach, California and has one son pursuing a career as a Computer Scientist and another son pursuing graduate studies at the Jacobs School of Engineering at UCSD.

Douglas Bradley runs his Wealth Management practice from UBS Financial Services in La Jolla. He has been an avid investor since age twelve, and he and his team embrace professional knowledge, integrity, and personalized service as their core in delivering uncompromised quality, personal services, and wealth management services for their clients.

Family and friends, finance and investing, and music are his passions. He lives in La Jolla with his wife Neva and their two-year old daughter Sophia and one-year old son Mac. Before moving to La Jolla, Doug was Regional Director for BlackRock’s (formerly Merrill Lynch Asset Management / MLAM) interests in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Chile. Prior to his move to South America, he held a similar position with MLAM in New York City. Doug did post-graduate work in Madrid while working as a consultant for Cyanamid Ibérica, Lilly Pharmaceuticals, and Anderson Consulting.

Volunteer activities include chairmanship of the La Jolla Half Marathon since 2006 – raising nearly $1 million to benefit San Diego charities. Doug has served as Finance Chair and board member for Friends of the La Jolla Library, board member of the Gillispie School, and President of the Kiwanis Club of La Jolla and its Foundation. He currently serves as Finance Chair for the Congregational Church of La Jolla and the Foundation of the Kiwanis Club of La Jolla.

Tanya Brandes is the founder and co-owner of Amalfi Partners, a motion-picture production company. In her capacity as executive producer, Tanya is responsible for project and cast selection and approval, negotiating foreign and domestic contracts, overseeing budgets, and interfacing with studios, agencies, and talent.

Tanya graduated summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of Southern California, and received her MD from Stanford University. Tanya practiced clinical medicine until 2005, and continues to do medical charity work in developing nations. In Papua New Guinea and Southern Africa, she has worked in remote sites, with small teams of physicians, providing basic healthcare and performing minor surgical procedures, as well as teaching and serving as a mentor. Tanya returns to South Africa regularly, and continues to support HIV/AIDS research, education, and treatment.

Committed to philanthropy, Tanya serves as president of her family’s foundation, overseeing grants to individuals and organizations in the areas of arts, sciences, education, and community development. Tanya also serves on the Board of Directors of the Helen Woodward Animal Center. She lives, with her husband, Charles, in San Diego, California.

If you’ve ever borrowed a library book and accidentally knocked a cup of coffee onto the cover, you may have Arthur Brody to thank for not having to replace it. As a college student at Columbia University, Arthur figured out a way to turn clear photographic film into a protective cover that was so superior to the brown paper versions his classmates used (“so they could sell their textbooks back”), that by the time he graduated, he had eight employees turning out his invention.

The son of bookshop owners, Arthur was born into his love of the printed page. His company, Brodart, grew into a supplier of all things needed by libraries, from filing systems to furniture. Of the libraries he has helped to fill, his favorite is UC San Diego’s, which was Brodart’s first big book project and also one of the campuses’ earliest, “when UCSD was just the apple in someone’s eye.”

What began as business has evolved into a relationship in which the campus community has benefitted from Arthur’s knowledge, passion for education and business acumen. An example is students: Arthur was one of the UC San Diego Foundation Board trustees who helped establish the Student Foundation, of which he is obviously proud. So much so, that he has personally followed the student investors’ leads in selecting promising investment vehicles. “While I was on that committee, when they would decide to buy something, I’d also buy it. They did pretty well!”

Arthur is also proud of the Rady School of Management; he has advised the dean from the school’s beginnings, and when asked what he thinks about how it has grown replies, “Fantastic! It will be a great school. Dean Sullivan is doing an amazing job. I’m very fond of it.” Arthur has been deeply involved in other areas across campus, including The Preuss School and Shiley Eye Center.

Arthur Brody is President of Broasoar Corporation, a management and administrative service for business and personal investments located in Rancho Santa Fe. He is the Chairman of the Board of CRS, Inc., the leading provider of employee absence management solutions serving over 750 school districts and libraries in the United States and Canada. Arthur is also on the advisory board and is one of the founders of Sorrento Ventures in San Diego.

In 1940 Arthur founded Brodart Corporation, a major manufacturer and distributor of library and school supplies and equipment, including the ubiquitous book cover, one of many patents for library and office products and systems. He was the Chairman of the Board of Tura, Inc., and is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of BDI Investment Corporation, a publicly owned regulated investment company, headquartered in Rancho Santa Fe.

Arthur is President of the Sophie & Arthur Brody Foundation; through this and other foundations he has established, he contributes significantly in both time and money to a number of local and national charities.

He has served a number of years on the UCSD Foundation Board and was the founding President of the UCSD Advisory Library Board. He is a former member of a number of civic and not-for-profit boards. He was particularly active on the boards and commissions of library organizations, including the San Diego Public Library, and was one of the founding board members of the Center of the Book at the Library of Congress. He is a member of the Chancellor’s Associates of UCSD and the San Diego Dialogue. He served on the Board of the Seacrest Retirement Village, and currently serves on the Burnham Cancer Institute Board.

Arthur was a founding member of the World Presidents Organization. He was a member of the Young Presidents Organization from 1957 to 1970, and was the Chairman of the New Jersey Chapter in 1962 and 1963. He has been listed in the Who’s Who of America for over 20 years.

Arthur served as a commissioned officer in the Signal Corps of the United States Army from 1943 to 1946, teaching the Theory of Frequency Modulation at the Army signal school in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, and serving the European Theater of operations. He attended schools in Newark, New Jersey and studied electrical engineering at Columbia University and New York Technical Institute. With wife Sophie and children Donald and Janice, Arthur moved from New Jersey to the San Diego area over 20 years ago; he presently lives in Rancho Santa Fe.
 

Julia R. Brown is a member of the Board of Directors of Targacept, Inc., Labopharm, Inc., and MediQuest Therapeutics, Inc. She was a member of the founding Board of Directors of Trius Therapeutics, Inc. and continued to serve until its recent Series B financing. She remains on the Trius business advisory board. She was a member of the Board of Directors of Tanox, Inc. from 2005 until its acquisition by Genentech in 2007. She served on the business advisory board of CovX Pharmaceuticals from 2004 until its acquisition by Pfizer in 2008. Julia is a member of the board of CONNECT, an organization that fosters innovation, entrepreneurship and the formation of new companies. She serves on its public policy committee. Julia is Chair of the Board of Trustees of the University of California, San Diego Foundation. She is a member of Corporate Director’s Forum and the National Association of Corporate Directors and the Directors Cabinet at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. She is also a member of the board of the San Diego Symphony.

From 2000-2003, Julia was Executive Vice President of Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Advisor to the CEO until 2008. Prior to joining Amylin, Julia was Executive Vice President of Dura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. She was with Dura from 1995-1999. Julia spent over 25 years with Eli Lilly and Company in progressively more senior roles. From 1992-1994, Julia was Vice President of IVAC Corporation and General Manager of its Vital Signs Division (a Lilly subsidiary). She was Vice President of Worldwide Marketing for Hybritech (another Lilly subsidiary), and led global marketing from1986-1992. She held a variety of positions in the pharmaceutical division, including eight years in the Company’s international division. She did basic research in antimicrobials from 1969-1973. Julia is a graduate of Louisiana Tech University where she studied microbiology and biochemistry.

Gary Cady is a long-time San Diego resident who has built a distinguished 30-year career in banking. He spent much of his career with a prominent and successful local financial institution, where he held positions including Vice President and Head of Business Banking. Thereafter, Mr. Cady joined a local community bank as Senior Vice President and Regional Manager for San Diego and Riverside counties. Mr. Cady was named President of Torrey Pines Bank when it was established in 2003 and currently serves as its CEO. In March 2009, Mr. Cady accepted the position of President and COO of Bank of Nevada and presently divides his work week between San Diego and Las Vegas.

Mr. Cady has served on the boards of several not-for-profit organizations, including Sharp HealthCare, the Downtown YMCA and was also Chairman of the Board of Grossmont Hospital. He is currently a Board member of the Continuous Quality Insurance Corporation and serves on the Board of Trustees of Sharp Memorial Hospital, in addition to serving on the Board of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra Association.

Mr. Cady received his degree in Finance from San Diego State University and his MBA from National University.

The father of six sons, he has been an avid supporter of youth sports, serving as coach and board member on several local Little League baseball teams and basketball leagues.

Paul Chacon is the General Partner of Five Star Parking, the fourth largest parking operator in the US. Founded in Los Angeles in 1940, the company has regional offices in San Diego and 32 major cities from coast to coast. Ranked as the second largest parking operator in San Diego, the company is primarily an investor and developer of private parking garages.

A native San Diegan, Paul has a strong family history of involvement in local business and politics. He attended Saint Augustine High School and UCSD. In 1982, he founded the commercial real estate firm of Walsh & Chacon where he specialized in downtown San Diego investment sales. In 1992, he founded the San Diego division of Five Star Parking.

Paul joined the Board of Directors of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra in 2004. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Saint Augustine High School and serves as chairman of the facilities capital campaign. Together with his wife Barbara, they have two daughters, one son and three grandchildren.

Ben G. Clay has retired as a principal with Carpi & Clay, a government relations firm with offices in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. He has more than 35 years experience working with public agencies, private-sector companies and organizations. He specialized in legislative and administrative advocacy at the State of California.

Prior to establishing The Clay Company and later Carpi & Clay, Ben provided legislative representation for the City of San Diego and County of San Diego. At the County, he served as the director of the Intergovernmental Affairs Office where he was responsible for supervising legislative advocacy activities in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. He also was vice president of a development company where he was responsible for managing development and government relations activities at the City and County of San Diego, Port of San Diego, California Coastal Commission and State Lands Commission. Ben has also served as a Captain in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps.

Ben serves on the boards of the, San Diego Symphony Association, the California State Railroad Museum, the City of San Diego Qualcomm Stadium advisory board and the San Diego River Conservancy. He is a past president and current member of the Rotary Club of San Diego and a former past president of the San Diego Symphony and a former board member of the San Diego Natural History Museum. He is currently the Chair of the San Diego Rotary Club Centennial Celebration. He has taught graduate courses at National University, undergraduate courses at San Diego State University and at San Diego Community College.

A graduate of San Diego State University, Ben holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in public administration. He has remained active in the University and is a past board member of the University’s Alumni Association and College of Business Advisory Council. Ben and his wife, Nikki, co-chaired the University’s Centennial Celebration in 1997, and they were honored as SDSU’s “Alumni of the Year” in 1998.

Ben and Nikki reside in the Mission Hills area of San Diego.

Marcus Contardo, M.D., M.P.H. (Master’s Degree in Public Health) is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, (M.D., 1975),  and the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health (M.P.H., 1976).  He earned his undergraduate degree in Chemistry and Biology from Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida, in 1971.

Following graduation from medical school, he received his specialty training in Anatomic Pathology at University Hospitals, Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, and in Clinical Pathology (Laboratory Medicine) at the University of California, San Diego, from 1976 to 1980.

He has been a San Diego physician in the continuous full-time practice of medicine, in the specialty of Pathology, for 31 years.  He heads a multi-physician specialty medical group in the discipline of Pathology, and has done so for 26 years.  He has been the continuous Laboratory Director and Chief Pathologist at a large regional medical center since 1981.  He is a Fellow of the College of American Pathologists, and is active in many areas of his specialty, including clinical laboratory accreditation.  His responsibilities over the years of his career have included many leadership positions on the hospital medical staff, Foundation board, and several years of service on the Board of Directors of the California Society of Pathologists.  He resides in Del Mar.

As a resident of San Diego since 1976, he has established deep roots in our community.  He believes fully in the importance of our city’s cultural institutions, both for the benefit they bring to our residents, and for their contribution to the stature of San Diego on the national and international stage.  He has been a subscriber to the San Diego Symphony for several years, and participates in the Partner With a Player program.

Dr. Contardo has three children, his son Gregory, 26, daughter Elyssa, 24, and daughter Arianna, 20.  Gregory is practicing a career as a professionally-trained chef, and Elyssa is completing her Baccalaureate degree in Interior Design.

As a previous of resident of Boston, Cleveland, and Baltimore, Dr. Contardo had the good fortune of living in three cities with strong symphony orchestras.  These opportunities reinforced his innate love of classical music.  It is his desire for the San Diego Symphony to flourish, and take its place as one of the most recognized orchestras in the United States. 

David C. Copley is Chairman and President of The Copley Press, Inc. in La Jolla, California.

For over a century, members of the Copley Family were leaders in the newspaper industry. During Mr. Copley's tenure as publisher of The San Diego Union-Tribune, the newspaper was cited by the California Newspaper Publishes Association as 2008 "Best in California," the top award among the states' largest daily newspapers. The Union-Tribune and the company's Copley News Service received a 2006 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting that led to the resignation of a U.S. Congressman.

Today, David Copley is a prominent philanthropist, making recent major contributions to many charitable organizations in Southern California, including the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, the La Jolla Playhouse, Sharp HealthCare Foundation, The Old Globe Theatre, and UCLA.

Mr. Copley, who resides in La Jolla, is an avid art collector, and has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego since 1996. He has one of the world's most significant collections of art by Christo and Jeanne-Claude.

Robert Crouch
B.S. - Purdue
M.S. - MIT Aeronautical Engineering

-Spent time at Allison Division General Motors and Lockheed on numerous gas turbine and aircraft/space vehicles.

-Was Corporate Chief Scientist-Propulsion.

-Loaned to White House Science and Technology office 1961-62 for initial planning of the US Space Program

-Returned to Lockheed Missles and Space Co. as Assistant Director of Research.

-Later joined North American Aviation Corporation Planning which merged with Rockwell International. Became Operational President of three divisions.

-Moved to Del Mar as an International Business Consultant.

-In mid-eighties, purchased a small mushroom farm north of Escondido. Originally it produced 500 lbs/week and was expanded to 15,000 + lbs/day at present with 72 full time employees and $7 million dollars in sales. The business was sold in 2008.

-Served on several business boards including the Western Farm Credit Bank and non-profits like the California Center for the Arts and the SD Chamber Orchestra.

-My wife, Elisabeth and I are music lovers, very active in community affairs and benefactors to numerous charities from the YMCA to the California State University, San Marcos.

-Currently vice chairman of the Palomar Pomerado Health Foundation, board member on the North County Economic Development Council and member of the CSUSM Presidents Council.

Peter V. Czipott, Ph.D. is a consultant in applied physics and technical marketing. He came to San Diego to study at UCSD in 1971 and attended his first San Diego Symphony concert while still an undergraduate. Remaining at UCSD to earn his Ph.D., he put down roots here and pursued a scientific career in local industry, most recently serving as Chief Scientist of the San Diego subsidiary of GE Security, a part of General Electric. His work has concentrated on applying magnetic sensing technology to solving problems in security (such as detecting concealed weapons and explosives) as well as other uses (such as physiological measurements). His career has included two expeditions to the Arctic Ocean and an experiment on an uninhabited island in the Caribbean. To date, he is co-author of nearly fifty technical publications in refereed journals and co-inventor on eleven U.S. patents, with several others pending. His current consulting work adds renewable energy development to sensors for security and health applications.

Peter’s musical tastes embrace the range from medieval chant to much of contemporary classical music; his favorite composer is a rapidly varying function of time. As an adolescent, he studied piano for a couple of years (from a pupil of Bartók, no less) but mastered neither score-reading nor the instrument; today he conducts the stereo (usually in the car, to the alarm of nearby motorists).

In addition to music, Peter enjoys literature (translating Hungarian poetry and prose), theater, tennis, travel, nature and photography. Several of his poetry co-translations have been published in periodicals in the U.S., U.K. and Australia. Peter is a recipient of the 2010 Bálint Balassi Memorial Medallion for services to Hungarian literature. He has been married to Marisa, an active supporter of the Zoological Society of San Diego, the Escondido Humane Society, and the Old Globe Theatre, for 16 wonderful years (and counting!).

EDUCATION
1983 Ph.D., Physics: University of California, San Diego
1975 B.A., Physics: University of California, San Diego, summa cum laude

Karin Eastham has over 30 years experience in financial and operations management, primarily in life sciences companies. Ms. Eastham serves as a director for Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Illumina, Inc., Genoptix, Inc., Geron Corporation and Trius Therapeutics, Inc. She also serves on the board of the UCSD Moores Cancer Center.

Ms. Eastham is a frequent speaker and moderator on issues in corporate governance. Past directorships include SGX Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tercica, Inc., Molecular Probes, Inc. and Salmedix, Inc. until the sales of these companies were consummated. Ms. Eastham has also served on the board of Corporate Directors Forum, which is focused on promoting best practices in the boardroom.

From May 2004 to September 2008 Ms. Eastham served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and as a member of the Board of Trustees of Burnham Institute for Medical Research, a non-profit corporation, engaged in basic biomedical research. She also served as Senior Vice President, Finance,
Chief Financial Officer, and Secretary of Diversa Corporation, where she led the company’s IPO, raising over $200 MM. She previously held similar positions with CombiChem, Inc., a computational chemistry company, and Cytel Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company.

Ms. Eastham also held several positions, including Vice President, Finance, at Boehringer Mannheim Diagnostics, from 1976 to 1988. Ms. Eastham received a B.S. and an M.B.A. from Indiana University and is a Certified Public Accountant. Ms. Eastham is the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the 2004 Women Who Mean Business Award, the UCSD Athena 2007 Technology Pinnacle Award and the Corporate Directors Forum 2007 Director of the Year Award in Corporate Governance.

Phyllis Epstein is a California native. After graduating from UCLA, she became a teacher. Later, after raising her two children, she was involved as a community volunteer. She served on the board of the Museum of Photographic Arts, has been President of the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture, and was a member the California Arts Council. She is a co-founder of the California Music Project, which seeks to bring music education back into California schools. Phyllis is on the Board of Councilors of the Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education at USC, the USC School of Fine Arts, and a board member at the UCSD School of International Relations and Pacific Studies (IRPS), serving as the community cultural liaison.

Phyllis is the mother of 2 adult children, and grandmother of three. Her husband, Dan, previously served on the Symphony Board.

Sam B. Ersan was born in 1950 to diplomat parents. First music experiences at age six through the vinyl recordings of Chopin 2nd by Wilhelm Backhaus and Brahms violin concerto by Nathan Milstein while living in Tel Aviv. Attended his first concert at age 10 in Geneva: David Oistrakh played the Prokofiev violin concerto, and later, Sviatoslav Richter recital in Istanbul.

Frequented the concert halls during college. Found solace in and uplifted by Mahler’s music. Received a B.S. degree in Geological Engineering at Middle East Technical University in 1977; also studied the music of Debussy, Ravel and Honegger during this time. 1978-1983 Graduate school in Experimental Psychology. Discovered the Chamber Music Heaven and entered in. I am still there! Please come on in.

1989-2009 Founder and CEO of Spectrum Detention Services, which caters the Department of Justice and DHS. Shostakovich, Bartok and Martinu predominated this period. Founded a residency program for San Diego Symphony musicians at the UC San Diego Music Department in 2008.

-Favorite Symphony: Mahler 5th, and Rachmaninoff 2nd.
-Favorite Orchestral Piece: “Don Quixote” by R. Strauss.
-Favorite uplifting music: “Variations on a Theme by Frank Bridge” by Benjamin Britten.
-Favorite lollipop: Saint-Saens 2nd Piano Concerto.
-Favorite chamber music: Beethoven, Dvorak, Martinu Piano Trios.
-Favorite violinist of all time: Hilary Hahn.
-Schnittke, Schoenberg, Alban Berg and alike: Whoops, I am out of here...

Lisette Farrell holds a Masters in International Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management in Arizona, an MBA from INCAE in Costa Rica, and a BA in Marketing from Universidad Santa Maria La Antigua in her native Panama. She has work experience in strategic planning, marketing, product and project management, consulting and business development. Lisette’s last job, before getting busy with her family, was at Visa International where she was a Manager for the Consumer Credit Products for the Latin America and Caribbean Region. She was in charge of launching Visa Platinum throughout the region and responsible for the management of Visa Gold. Before Visa, Lisette worked at several banks and financial institutions.

Lisette has been volunteering her spare time since college, where she was the Secretary of the Student Government Board of Directors. While getting her MBA, she was the Events Coordinator for the school’s biggest multi-cultural event. She also was elected the Latin America Representative for the Thunderbird Student Government.

Currently, Lisette is a member of the Contemporary Collectors at MCASD, a Director’s Circle member of the Museum of Photographic Arts, and serves on the New Children’s Museum gala committee. Lisette lives in La Jolla with her husband Michael and her two children Camille and James.

James Fitzpatrick is the owner and publisher of San Diego Magazine, LLC. He originally acquired the magazine from Ed and Gloria Self in October 1994 and sold the magazine to Curtco Media, publishers of The Robb Report in 2005. Jim expanded San Diego Magazine’s circulation over 50%, to more than 51,000, and increased advertising over 500%. He launched sandiegomagazine.com, the premier website for San Diego, and he launched the Custom Publishing division of San Diego Magazine. Jim reacquired San Diego Magazine in 2010. Additionally, he helped launch Garden Compass, a multi-media company that includes Garden Compass Digital Magazine, The Garden Compass Planting Guide, syndicated radio programming, gardencompass.com and gardening events.

Prior to acquiring San Diego Magazine, Jim was publisher of Entrepreneur Magazine, headquartered in Irvine.

A native of Chicago, Fitzpatrick holds a M.B.A. from Golden Gate University, San Francisco, and a B.S.B.A. from Valparaiso University, Indiana. A former Air Force pilot, he continues to fly and enjoys playing golf. He is past president of the City and Regional Magazine Association, the past Chairman of the Board of the San Diego International Sports Council, current Chairman of the Salvation Army Community Advisory Board Sierra Del Mar Division, and is active on the boards of many San Diego organizations. He and his wife Jan reside in La Jolla. They have three children and four grandchildren.

Jim received the 2000 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of The Year Award for his turnaround of San Diego Magazine, and the 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award from the City & Regional Magazine Association.

Dan Giordano was born in Wellsville, New York, in 1951. His family moved to the Southern California area in 1953. He grew up in Temple City, California. He attended the University of La Verne, where he obtained both his undergraduate degree in Business Administration and Masters degree in Business Administration. Dan worked in the banking industry for 10 years, 7 years with Bank of America and 3 years with Wells Fargo. In 1984, Dan had an opportunity to enter into the automotive industry. After 10 years in the retail auto industry with Longo Toyota and the Penske Group, he and his family moved to San Diego. He is currently the Vice President/General Manager and Managing Partner of Bob Baker Toyota/Scion, a position he has held since the dealership's inception in 1994. He has served several times as President of the San Diego Toyota Dealers Association, as well as serving in other offices in the SDTDA. Dan is very active in the community and is involved in many charitable concerns. Dan lives in the Carmel Valley area. Dan and his recently deceased wife of 30 years, Kathy, have three adult children: Heather, Kellie, and Nicholas. In his spare time, Dan is an avid golfer and a big Chargers fan.

Janet Gorrie is San Diego-born and grew up in the Point Loma area. When her grandparents downsized, her parents acquired a 1929 Steinway & Sons piano. At age 7, she began taking piano lessons. Today that piano resides in her Carmel Valley home where she continues to play.

Janet graduated from UCLA in 1973 with a B.S. and became a Registered Nurse. For over 30 years, she has worked in many different healthcare settings. She and her husband, Roland, also known as Wil, live in Carmel Valley. Their son, Seth, attends USD and is majoring in finance and accounting. They have a 14 year old German Shepherd named Sappho. She is very dear to them.

Wil was in the Supply Corps of the US Navy for many years. He retired as a Captain in 1996. He worked a business consultant following his retirement. Since fitness and health are important to Janet and Wil, they became certified personal trainers in 2004. Their garage has been transformed into a state of the art Fitness Center. He trains about 22 people per week. On Wednesday nights, they host an adult yoga group which has been going on since 2008.

This year Janet has taken on the challenge of learning duplicate bridge and plays about two times a week. She also takes conversational Chinese classes. Wil and Janet enjoy traveling and plan to go to China soon. Last summer, Janet planted an organic garden and loves dabbling around in it. It is such a pleasure to walk outside and pick fresh lettuce and tomatoes from your own garden. Janet is also a member of the Board of Directors at Seacrest Retirement Villages and is really looking forward to becoming a part of the San Diego Symphony.

K. Alan Lonbom has extensive experience serving clients in the energy & utilities industry and currently serves as Deloitte’s lead partner for Sempra Energy, based in San Diego.

Alan has served as Lead Client Service Partner (LCSP) for several of Deloitte’s largest energy clients. Alan has been in the energy & utilities’ practice for most of his 33 year career, and has experience with both regulated and non-regulated entities. Clients Alan has served include, FPL Group, Sempra Energy, Pinnacle West, Sierra Pacific Resources (NV Energy), Progress Energy and Cinergy Corp.
 
Alan formerly served as the Southeast regional managing partner of the Energy Resources Group.  In this role, he coordinated with Deloitte’s national industry leaders and other LCSP’s in providing services to their extensive group of energy clients in the Southeast. 

As a manager, Alan served in Deloitte’s National Auditing Services Department, providing research and decision-making assistance to practice offices on technical auditing issues, and helping in the design of new auditing polices and approaches.  He was one of the principal authors in the development of audit technique that still today is one of the major components of the firm’s audit approach.

Alan was Partner in Charge of Assurance for the Raleigh/Winston-Salem D&T office for eight years.  During this period he also led Growth Companies Services for North and South Carolina, as well as served as lead partner for several large public companies.

Alan left Deloitte briefly to become CFO for a technology start up.  In this capacity, he worked with a major Wall Street investment bank positioning the company for financing.  He returned to the Deloitte January of 2002 to lead the firm’s Southeast Energy practice.

K. Alan Lonbom has served as Chairman for two different Junior Achievement boards, an organization that he has been involved with for more than 15 years, and he also served briefly on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Symphony in Raleigh, NC.

Alan earned a  BS and Masters of Accountancy degrees from the University of Illinois. He is a Certified Public Accountant. He has been active with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and he is Founder and Treasurer for Palm Beach Enterprise Forum.

Alan and his wife, Jennifer, have a 7 year old son. As a family they enjoy snow skiing, golf, music, and travel vacations. Jennifer is very active in the communities in which she has lived, and was formerly the CFO of a technology company.

Harry M. Markowitz has applied computer and mathematical techniques to various practical decision making areas. In finance: in an article in 1952 and a book in 1959 he presented what is now referred to as MPT, “modern portfolio theory.” This has become a standard topic in college courses and texts on investments, and is widely used by institutional investors for asset allocation, risk control and attribution analysis. In other areas: Dr. Markowitz developed “sparse matrix” techniques for solving very large mathematical optimization problems. These techniques are now standard in production software for optimization programs. Dr. Markowitz also designed and supervised the development of the SIMSCRIPT programming language. SIMSCRIPT has been widely used for programming computer simulations of systems like factories, transportation systems and communication networks. In 1989 Dr. Markowitz received The John von Neumann Award from the Operations Research Society of America for his work in portfolio theory, sparse matrix techniques and SIMSCRIPT. In 1990 he shared The Nobel Prize in Economics for his work on portfolio theory.

Barbara Katz Maurais moved to Del Mar in 2003, having lived in the Washington, DC area since 1970. A graduate of the University of Maryland, Barbara and her late husband, Bob, were involved with the National Symphony Orchestra and Washington Opera for many years. Barbara served on the Board of Directors of the National Symphony Orchestra until her move to Del Mar. Currently, Barbara is a member of the NSO National Trustees.

Barbara also serves on the Board of the Pacific South Coast (San Diego) chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Elizabeth Hamman Oliver is an active patron of the San Diego arts community. A member of the board of both the Mainly Mozart Festival and University of California, San Diego Arts Gallery, Oliver is also a committee member of the Museum of Modern Art, San Diego.

Deborah Pate, DC, DACBR has been in San Diego since 1984.  She came here as a research fellow in osteoradiology with the University of California, San Diego.  After completing her fellowship she started a private practice and also taught postgraduate courses for several chiropractic institutions.  Deborah continues to maintain a radiology consulting practice and occasionally presents workshops on the topic of osteoradiology.
 
For the past 15 years she and her husband, John Forrest, M.D., have been involved with community projects in San Diego.  They started an after-school program at Roosevelt Middle School that included music and the arts.  Roosevelt now has beginning and intermediate music programs for students, including band and guitar ensemble.  These music programs are now offered in the regular school curriculum,  not just in the after-school program.
 
The couple also fund several projects for Father Joe's Village, including a dual residence in Psychiatry and Internal Medicine program in one of the few free clinics in San Diego County. 

Deborah is a past board member of Planned Parenthood and continues to co-chair their speakers' series.  She is also on the board of Art of Élan. Deborah and Jack have been loyal supporters of the San Diego Symphony, UCSD Art Power, Art of Élan and Orchestra Nova.

Kathy Wood Paulin is the CEO of nScope Innovations (dedicated to nurturing the careers of entrepreneurs, inventors and artists) and is the founder of GONOW Global and Zip-n-Learn.  She is also the co-founder and developer of Padoma Wind Power, LLC. She has previously been an underwriter for RITZ Charity and has experience as a fundraiser and board member for various non-profit organizations. In her spare time Ms. Paulin has been a promoter for “Youth in Country Music and Americana” as well as creator of “ChixnCharge,” a brand for female empowerment in fiduciary education and anti-bullying. Ms. Paulin is currently active with the publication SDPix in promoting Equal Rights for the San Diego Gay Community.

Kathy Wood Paulin maintains residences in La Jolla, CA and Copenhagen, Denmark, and is fluent in English and Danish. She is an international artist and lyricist, a global traveler, and once received from Trans World Airlines an “Award of Excellence” (just one of seven employees world-wide that year) and was promoted to TWA headquarters. Ms. Paulin is a Students in Free Enterprise program board member at San Diego City College. She has degrees from Radford University (Radford, VA) and Rider University (Lawrenceville, NJ).

Shearn Platt is a retired lawyer and real estate specialist and a founding partner of the law firm of Rudick, Platt, Glatt & Getz. He is president of Platt Management, Inc., which is the Managing General Partner of: Golden West Hotel, L.P.; New Plaza Hotel, Ltd.; G.W. Properties, LP; Platt & Wolff Investment Company, LP; and several other syndicated real estate based investments.

Shearn has been a community activist serving as Past President of numerous community organizations including San Diego Hebrew Home for the Aged; San Diego East Village Association; United Jewish Federation of San Diego; San Diego Jewish Community Foundation.

Shearn Platt first joined the Board of Directors of the San Diego Symphony Association in 1982 and served in many important roles before retiring from the Board in 1994. Most recently he rejoined the board and served as a member of the Music Director Search Committee which was instrumental in bringing Jahja Ling to San Diego.

Shearn and his wife Linda have two grown children, ten grandchildren and reside in the Banker’s Hill area of San Diego.

Craig A. Schloss, Esq. is a partner with the international law firm Morrison & Foerster LLP. Schloss specializes in trade secret litigation, and practices labor and employment law on behalf of management, including litigation involving wrongful termination, employee unfair competition, discrimination and sexual harassment. He also represents employers in union matters. He holds a joint degree from the University of Illinois College of Law and Graduate School of Labor and Industrial Relations and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Arizona. Schloss serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee for the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center.

Charles Simpson is the Senior Marketing Manager, Cold Drinks,  for the Coca-Cola Bottling Company. Mr. Simpson grew up in San Diego, is married with two children, has been with Coca-Cola for 30 years, and is involved in many community organizations.

Donald M. Slate
EDUCATION
Graduated Beverly Hills High School, 1949
Graduated Unversity of Southern California, 1954

OCCUPATION
CEO of Bardon Inc., engaged in designing, importing and distributing men's apparel, 1954-1986
Retired, 1986 to present

NON-PROFIT BOARDS
United Jewish Federation, San Diego Symphony, Jewish
Community Foundation, Anti Defamation League, AIPC,
San Diego Chamber Orchestra, and co-founder of Kids Included Together

David R. Synder, Esq. has been a practicing attorney since 1974, specializing in general corporate matters. Principal outside general counsel to numerous public companies and substantial private entities. Lead counsel in over 50 public offerings of equity and debt securities; represented NASDAQ and New York Stock Exchange public companies in their ongoing SEC reporting obligations and handled private placement and public and private merger and acquisition transactions. Have counseled boards of directors in contested takeovers and in stockholder litigation in California, Delaware and federal courts. Broad industry sector experience including utilities, high-tech, biotech, financial services, healthcare and pharmaceuticals. Profiled in The Best Lawyers in America since 1993 and in Chambers & Partners: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. Married to Phyllis Alford Snyder; two children, son Jason Richard and daughter Carrie Snyder Vilaplana.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
1993 – present - PILLSBURY WINTHROP SHAW PITTMAN LLP, San Diego, California. Partner; Chair of Firm-wide Business Department (2005-present); Member of Firm Board (1998-present); London Office Managing Partner (2001-2003) and Executive Vice chair (2004-2006)

EDUCATION
CORNELL LAW SCHOOL, Ithaca, New York
Doctor of Law, with Distinction, June 1974
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, East Lansing, Michigan
B.A. in Humanities, with High Honors, June 1971

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
American Bar Association Committee on Federal Regulation of Securities (1987-present); Chair, Subcommittee on Annual Review of Federal Securities Regulation (1999-present).

CIVIC ACTIVITIES
Director, Corporate Directors Forum (2001-2007); Director, Rady Children’s Physician Management Services Corporation (2004-present); Director,San Diego Regional Disaster Fund of the San Diego Foundation (2005-present)

Hon. Stephanie Sontag
EXPERIENCE

April 2003 – Present
Judge of the Superior Court

1998 – 2003
Procopio Cory Hargreaves & Savitch: Partner
Complex business litigation including partnership and real estate disputes; employment and labor law

1985 – 1998
Post Kirby Noonan & Sweat: Partner, 1990; Associate, 1985-1990; Handled all aspects of litigation of business and real estate disputes

1982 – 1985
Dorazio, Barnhorst, Goldsmith & Bonar
Law Clerk and Associate for real estate and business litigation firm

BACKGROUND AND PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

• University of San Diego School of Law, cum laude graduate, 1983

• San Diego County Bar Association: President, 2000; member of the Board of Directors, 1996-2000; Treasurer, 1998; Vice President, 1999

• Lawyers Club of San Diego: President, 1995-1996; Vice President, 1994;
Treasurer, 1993; member of the Board of Directors, 1992 – 1996

• Lawyers Club of San Diego: Member of the Advisory Board, 1998 – present

• Enright Chapter of the American Inns of Court: Master, 2000 – present;
Barrister, 1996 – 1998

• Southeastern Economic Development Corporation (SEDC): Member of the Board of Directors, 1994 – 1998

HONORS

• YWCA, San Diego Tribute to Women in Industry (TWIN) – 1996
• Women of Accomplishment by Soroptimist International of San Diego – 2000
• San Diego Women Who Mean Business – 2002
• Belva Lockwood Award – Lawyers Club of San Diego – 2004 

DeAnne Steele, CFA, CAIA, is Managing Director and West Investment Executive at U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management.  In this role, she is responsible for leading the Western Division’s investment professionals in their delivery and execution of U.S. Trust investment capabilities, solutions, and thought leadership.  The Western Division manages assets across California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Arizona, and Nevada, and DeAnne serves as the leading investment voice and leader for the firm across the region. 

DeAnne also serves on the firm’s Investment Strategy Committee responsible for promoting the firm’s investment policy and guidance, and is a key contributor to the firm’s tactical and strategic asset allocation process. 

Prior to joining U.S. Trust, DeAnne co-managed a mutual fund and appeared on Bloomberg and Reuters Television.  She has many years of trust and investment experience.  In addition, she has written, co-authored and contributed to articles for publications including the Orange County Business Journal. 

DeAnne earned her Masters Degree in Business Administration, Finance, from UCLA Anderson School and a Bachelor of Arts, English and Political Science from UCLA.  She has received the Chartered Financial Analyst and Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst designations and is a member of the CFA Institute and CFA Society of San Diego. 

Business owner Sheryl M. Sutton is one of the founders and owners of a local contracting and building services firm. Her expertise in operations, business management, and marketing led the company to success. Under her direction and leadership, the company experienced record success and has now become one of leading companies of its kind. In the past year, Sheryl has chosen to retire from her company and looks forward to devoting time to local and international causes that she has worked on in the past. Throughout her career, Sheryl has received several awards for her leadership and contributions to her industry.

In 1989, Sheryl and her colleagues formed a non-profit organization that focuses on all aspects of business management training and education for the industry including economic forecasts, market trends and solving complex issues for her industry. This past year Sheryl was reunited with 5 of the past Board Presidents to celebrate their 20th year. Throughout her life, Sheryl has been involved in charitable and philanthropic work both locally and internationally. Her experiences living abroad introduced her to philanthropic/relief efforts and sustainable development which she has been involved in throughout her life and career. As a result, Sheryl has ably combined her cultural and business knowledge to help create self-sustaining opportunities for those in need. Sheryl has also worked on various local causes for many years and plans to continue her community work. This year Sheryl will be devoting time to local causes involving community awareness for domestic violence.

Sheryl has a strong appreciation for music and is committed to supporting the San Diego Symphony. She thanks the many wonderful and talented people who contribute their talents, time and energy to bring life to the Symphony and sustain its importance in our community.

Debra A. Thomas is Vice President and Senior Relationship Manager at Union Bank, and a dual employee of Union Banc Investment Services. With a focus on investment, trusts and estate planning, and customized banking solutions, has provided comprehensive wealth management services to entrepreneurs, high net worth individuals, and their families for over 15 years.

Previous experience includes 5 years in Corporate Banking, lending to middle market companies in San Diego, and 5 years with Fortune 100 subsidiary in the Treasury Department with responsibilities in Latin America and European territories.

Community involvement previously includes board membership of the La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego Chamber Music Society, Advisory Boards of the Salvation Army and Lux Art Institute. Member of the Corporate Director’s Forum. Elder at the Village Community Presbyterian Church in Rancho Santa Fe.

BA in Economics Magna Cum Laude from Drake University; proficiency in Spanish obtained from sophomore year abroad in Barcelona. Dual master’s degree MIM/MBA from American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird) in Glendale, AZ. and Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. Holds securities licenses 7, 6, and 63, as well as Life Agent’s license.

Resident of Del Mar for over 20 years, along with her daughter, a recent graduate of Frances Parker School and currently a Freshman at University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA.

Marilyn Elizabeth Thompson is an Investor and President/CEO of an Aviation Corporation and has owned and operated many successful business over the years.

She is an Aircraft Pilot holding an ATP FAA License having flown contract flying for the Navy as well as Jet Charter and Medivac. She currently owns and pilots a Jet Airplane, Jet Helicopter and French Military Twin Jet, as well as having a Seaplane Rating.

She has been very involved in many Aviation Organizations over the years and currently serves as a Board member and Development Committee member, as well as serving on the President’s Counsel for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, She is a Lifetime Member of the Hat In The Ring Society and the National Aviation Association, Helicopter Association International, Experimental Aircraft Association, Seaplane Association, as well as many International Aviation Associations.

Marilyn is passionately involved in helping the underprivileged and disenfranchised who need encouragement and assistance to excel in life through her philanthropic and personal contact. She has developed programs that assist these men, women and children, nationally and internationally, financially, as well as personally.

Currently East Coast and West Coast domiciled, she has been a resident in San Diego for over 30 years and is a patron of all the arts: the Symphony, Opera and Old Globe in San Diego, and Kennedy Center and other venues in the DC area.

Esteban Villanueva is a modern Renaissance man with a diverse background in the fields of business, law and music. He is an individual with a unique balance of education and real world experience. Born in Washington D.C. and fluent in Spanish, Esteban has combined his education and his knowledge of cross-border trends to launch a successful business with his wife. Esteban grew up in La Jolla and attended high school at The Bishop’s School. From there, he attended Dartmouth College and subsequently Pepperdine School of Law where he focused on Entertainment Law. After law school, Esteban ran a music production and publishing company whose recordings ultimately received 14 Grammy Awards for work with artists such as Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Ricky Martin and Carlos Santana. His expertise in Latin music has been called upon by the Grammy Awards, Latin Grammy Awards and Los Angeles Opera who have relied on him to assist with their events.

Esteban now runs a successful bilingual binational magazine (GB Magazine), which focuses on culture, society and arts for the San Diego and Tijuana region. Esteban and his staff often reach out to the community by supporting and promoting fundraising events for local charities. Part of his focus with the magazine is to shatter the stereotypical image many have of Hispanics.

In 2008, Esteban and his magazine were invited by the Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to attend the 26th Annual Border Governors Conference in Los Angeles for their positive impact in the community and the positive image of Hispanics in the region. Esteban and his wife Danitza enjoy our region and all that it has to offer.

William Theodore Walton, III (Bill) was born on November 5th, 1952, in San Diego, California.

He was introduced to the game of basketball while in the fourth grade at Blessed Sacrament Elementary School by coach Frank "Rocky" Graciano. Walton then attended Helix High School, where the basketball coach was Gordon Nash. At Helix, his team won the California Interscholastic Federation High School title two years in a row, while winning their final 49 consecutive games.

Walton enrolled at UCLA in 1970. He played center for John Wooden's Varsity team for three seasons (1972-1974), after a year with the freshman team in 1971. He was a member of two NCAA championship teams compiling an NCAA record 88 consecutive game winning streak.

Bill Walton is a three-time recipient of the NCAA Player of the Year Award, 1972, '73 and '74. Walton is a 3 time All-American College Player and winner of the Sullivan Award for the United States Best Amateur Athlete of 1973. He was named to the Pacific 8 All-Conference first team 3 times and was conference player of the year for three consecutive years. At UCLA Walton was a scholar-athlete who also earned Academic All-American honors three years in a row. He graduated with honors with a B.A. in history.

Walton's professional career began when he was the number one overall pick in the 1974 NBA Draft by the Portland Trailblazers. He was a member of their championship team in 1977. Nine years later he earned another championship title, this time with the Boston Celtics in 1986. He played with the Trailblazers 1974-1979, the San Diego Clippers 1979-1984, the relocated Los Angeles Clippers in 1985, and The Boston Celtics 1985-1988.

Bill Walton was the NBA's Most Valuable Player, 1978; all-NBA First Team, 1978; NBA All-Star Team, 1977 and 1978; NBA Playoff's MVP, 1977; all-NBA second team, 1977; winner of the NBA Sixth Man Award, 1986. Walton is also the second of only five players in the history of the NBA to lead the league in both blocked shots and rebounding in the same season.

He remains active in basketball through clinics, camps, coaching, and television commentary. He started his broadcasting career in 1990 as an analyst for the then Prime Ticket Network. Walton worked for CBS Sports in the early 90's during the NCAA Final Four and then for NBC for many years, including work on the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Summer Olympic Games. Over the last 15 years he has worked for ABC, ESPN, NBC, CBS, Fox, MSNBC, Turner Sports, KCAL, and the NBA. Walton is also involved in numerous internet ventures providing content and business acumen.

Walton received the 1991 NBPA's Oscar Robertson Leadership Award. In 2002, he received the NBA Retired Player's Association Humanitarian Award. In 1992, 1993, 1995,1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000, the Southern California Sports Broadcasters Association honored Walton with the Best Television Analyst/Commentator award. In 2002, he was hired as the lead analyst for ESPN/ABC's coverage of the NBA. He is also a regular contributor to ESPN.com, NBA.com, ESPN The Magazine, and ESPN Radio. During the 2002 NBA Playoffs, Walton exhilarated in the Love It Live Tour of America - a 30 game, 30 day extravaganza - covering over 40,000 miles. This life-changing experience was chronicled in a daily journal published on NBA.com, and consists of over 56,000 words, hundreds of photos, and endless fun.

Walton has also been the lead subject of his own reality TV show: Bill Walton's Long Strange Trip, a dramatic saga that still plays continuously.

In 1993, Walton was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. Walton also became a member of the Academic All America Hall of Fame during the spring of 1994. For his television broadcasting work, Walton has been nominated for several Emmy awards and in 2001 won an Emmy for best live sports television broadcast. In 1997 Walton was selected as one of the NBA's fifty greatest players of all time. Also in 1997, Walton was inducted into the National High School Sports Hall of Fame, making him the first male basketball player to be so honored from the state of California. The NCAA honored Walton with their Silver Anniversary Award in 1999 for having made significant professional and civic contributions since he completed his intercollegiate eligibility 25 years ago.

In 1979 Walton received an Emmy for his work on an environmental documentary filmed on location in the Philippines. He has also had roles in feature films such as: Little Nicky, He's Got Game, Forget Paris, Celtic Pride and GhostBusters. And he is a regular contributor to television shows including The Wheel of Fortune, The Jeff Foxworthy Show, The Sentinel, Pacific Blue, Inside Schwarz, and The Weakest Link. His commercials include: Tostitios, Reebok, Anacin, and Best Western Hotels.

In 2007, Walton was named one of the top 10 pundits in America by Forbes. That same year he was also named one of the top 20 Business Athlete representatives by TSE Sports and Entertainment Group.

In 2009, Walton was named one of the top 50 broadcasters of all time by the American Sportscasters Association.

In June 21, 2001, Bill was named as the inaugural inductee into the Grateful Dead Hall of Honor, and signed memorabilia is available. All proceeds go to benefit the Rex Foundation, the non-profit charitable organization founded by members of the Grateful Dead and friends.

Walton currently resides in his hometown of San Diego with his wife Lori. They are the proud parents of four sons: Adam, Nathan, Luke and Chris.

Joseph Waters and his wife Leslie have been part of the San Diego Symphony family since 2005. Joe retired after 37 years in group travel and event marketing management in the telecommunications industry. Classical music and opera have been part of his entire life, starting with his family’s association with the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY where he grew up. Most recently, he has been actively involved in supporting classical music with the Dallas Symphony and the Aspen Music Festival and school. He has served as a voting member on the Aspen Festival Corporation Board. Joe and Leslie maintain homes in both the San Diego area and in Aspen, CO. They are principal owners of Waters Holdings, LLO for diversified real estate properties. Joe serves on the marketing committee of the San Diego Symphony Board.

Jim Wendler is President of Fish Market Restaurants, Inc., the operator of seafood restaurants in California under the names The Fish Market and Top of the Market. Prior to joining The Fish Market organization in 1998, Mr. Wendler was with Chart House Enterprises, Inc., then a Solana Beach-based national restaurant company, for the previous 12 years, leaving as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

Mr. Wendler received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from San Diego State University in 1981. Upon graduation, he joined the San Diego office of Arthur Andersen & Co. and spent the next four years there.

He lives with his wife, Sybil, and teenage son, David, in the Carmel Valley area.
 

Penny Wing is the founder and president of Incentive Travel Inc, a full service incentive, event and meeting company that specializes in consulting on strategic event design, as well as in designing, producing and orchestrating special events worldwide.

Penny has created special events and incentive programs in over thirty countries for up to 19,000 guests at a time. She has designed and produced memorable incentives for Fortune 500 customers such as IBM, CBS Television, Viacom, Sprint, Bank of America and GlaxoSmithKline. Special events for the White House for 50,000 attendees and managed 80,000 in group business to the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. She created Military Historical Tours specializing in Pacific tours to World War II veterans to Quam, Iwo Jima, Saipan and more.

Stephen Worland, Ph.D. is the President and CEO of Anadys Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Dr. Worland joined Anadys in 2001 as Chief Scientific Officer and was appointed President of Pharmaceuticals in 2006. Prior to Anadys, Dr. Worland was at Agouron Pharmaceuticals, a Pfizer company, most recently as Vice President, Antivirals. Dr. Worland has been in the biotechnology industry in San Diego for more than twenty years, focusing his professional efforts primarily on the discovery and development of new treatments for viral diseases and cancer. After receiving his B.S. in Biological Chemistry from the University of Michigan and his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, Dr. Worland completed his postdoctoral training at Harvard University. 

Gary Yin is a Senior Vice President - Investment, Senior Financial Advisor, International Wealth Management Advisor, PIA Program Portfolio Manager and a Certified Financial Manager in the Merrill Lynch district headquarter office in Downtown San Diego, California. Gary offers more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry.  He possesses a unique interest in the financial concerns and needs of Asian people and is well qualified to provide customized advisory services.  Gary specializes in financial planning strategies and providing Consulting Services to businesses of all sizes, as well as high-net-worth individual clients.  He also specializes in international banking, global asset management, international trust services, and international loan. Currently Gary manages over $300 million USD assets and is the Principal of the Yin’s Wealth Management group Merrill Lynch.

Gary holds a B.A. degree from the University of Miami and an M.A. degree from the University of California, San Diego.  He is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of California, San Diego.  Gary is a Certified Financial Manager (CFM) designated by Donald T. Regan School of Advanced Financial Management and is Series 7, 31, 63, 65 and Life insurance licensed.  Gary’s volunteer activities include serving as honorary president and board member of the U.S.-China Entrepreneurs Association and Board Advisor of Chinese American Science and Technology Association (CAST).

Gary was invited as main speaker of International Financial Conference at the Third China International Hi Tech Week and the Fourth China International Hi Tech Week in 2000-2001. In 2002, Gary was invited by State Council of China to attend the Financial reform Conference in Beijing China.  Gary also is a guest professor of EMBA program in Chongqing University.  Gary Yin was frequently interviewed and reported by China Central TV, Beijing TV, Shenzhen TV, Southern TV, Liaoning TV, Heilongjiang TV and People’s Daily.