#sandiegosymphony
Terry Atkinson has spent over 30 years in the investment banking industry including tenures at Salomon Brothers, PaineWebber and UBS. He served as a board member for UBS for a number of years. While actively working in investment banking he involved himself with many charitable efforts such as the Harlem Day School and Sheltering Arms – shelter for women and children. He also was the national lead for Juvenile Diabetes for PaineWebber. He currently sits on the board of The Campanile Foundation of San Diego State University, which is their fundraising arm. He splits his time between San Diego and Tiburon, California.
Claude D. Benchimol, Ph.D. is the President of Damol Innovation LLC, a consulting practice he founded in 2012, focused on technology-based innovation in healthcare (medical devices, pharma & biotech, healthcare IT). Engagements address, in a uniquely coordinated approach, a comprehensive array of innovation drivers: product planning, technology differentiation, processes, organization, competencies and culture. Clients span companies from small start-ups to large public Companies ($2B-$28B).
Passionate about innovation, he has a 35 year success history of building, leading and inspiring vibrant global organizations responsible for the introduction of high impact, complex technology products.
Previously, he held several senior executive roles at Invitrogen, which became Life Technologies, a $4B Life Sciences Company headquartered in Carlsbad, California, leading the development of biological reagents and instruments like DNA sequencing machines. Under his leadership, the rate of product introductions quadrupled and the top line grew 5x during his tenure.
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. Playing and listening to music have always been central to his life.
Claude and his wife Veronique currently reside in Solana Beach, California.
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 M. 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.
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. CLICK HERE for a recent San Diego Union-Tribune profile on Julia R. Brown.
Sophie Bryan was raised in New York and Connecticut, and moved to California in 1996 to attend college and graduate school. In 2000, she graduated from the California College of the Arts in the Bay Area with a degree in illustration, and she later moved to Los Angeles to pursue graduate studies in psychology at Loyola Marymount University. She obtained her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2006, and became a registered art therapist in 2008.
After graduating, Sophie gained professional experience as a primary psychotherapist by working at residential facilities for eating disorders and chemical dependency programs, as well as several outpatient mental health agencies in the Los Angeles area. She is currently a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a private practice in La Jolla and Long Beach, and has extensive experience counseling patients who suffer from anxiety, depression, chemical dependency, eating disorders, infertility and women’s issues.
Sophie has previously served on the board of the Southern California Art Therapy Association, and currently serves on the board of the Dillon Foundation and the Clarence and Anne Dillon Foundation in New York. Sophie and her family have been strong supporters of the arts community for many years. She currently resides in La Jolla with her husband Matt Lueders.
Born and raised in Chula Vista, Mary Casillas Salas' South Bay roots run five generations deep. She has dedicated her career and life's work to family and to the community she loves. Ms. Casillas Salas has two daughters Michele and Sara and is the proud grandmother to Michael, Adriana, and Marissa. Ms. Casillas Salas is a product of local schools, graduating with honors from San Diego State University.
She began her public service on the Chula Vista Civil Service Commission in 1991, and she was then appointed to the City’s Planning Commission in 1993, where she served until elected to the Chula Vista City Council in 1996. In 2000 she was reelected with 66 percent of the vote. After leaving the Council in 2004, she served as a Director of the Sweetwater Authority/South Bay Irrigation District. In 2006 she was elected to the California State Assembly where she chaired the Committee on Veteran's Affairs. She also served on the Jobs, Economic Development and Economy Committee, the Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee and the Health Committee. Her love of community spurred her to once again seek election to the City Council. She was elected to the City Council in 2012, and in 2014 she made history as the first elected Latina mayor in Chula Vista and the County of San Diego.
Serving her hometown has always been Ms. Casillas Salas' passion. Her effective leadership and consensus-building skills are her strength. Her work to move Chula Vista forward is evident throughout the city. She led efforts to secure funding for new urban parks, formed strategic partnerships with various government agencies to ensure completion of Olympic Parkway and other major traffic thoroughfares and played a key role in the planning of the award-winning communities of Eastlake, Otay Ranch and San Miguel.
During her tenure as Mayor, Chula Vista received national and international recognition for its efforts to reduce greenhouse gases and prevent climate change, its smart cities initiatives, and its actions to ensure sustainable development. In this same period, The City obtained ownership of the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center from the U.S. Olympic Committee. Mayor Casillas Salas led the campaign to adopt Measure P to rebuild Chula Vista’s aging infrastructure, and she advanced the development of the Bayfront in partnership with the Port of San Diego with a signed "Letter of Intent" with RIDA Development. She continued to guide major projects, including the development of a four-year university and the revitalization of western Chula Vista.
Pam Cesak graduated with a Degree in Mass Communications from Kings College. She spent more than 15 years as a radio and television personality and held management positions in major market radio and is currently a creative consultant and producer of San Diego Tonight, a new live entertainment television show on KUSI. The show is owned and produced by her company, The Pacific Dream Company. Pam came to San Diego in 1986 to create a new radio station for Sandusky Broadcasting. In 1988 she met her husband, Jerry Cesak, half of the popular Jeff & Jer Radio Show. Pam has been involved in numerous philanthropic organizations in San Diego, including the San Diego Historical Society, 11 years on the Board of the San Diego Museum of Art (including two as its Board President) and five years serving on the Board of the Old Globe Theatre. Pam is most proud of her work with the Rancho Coastal Human Society. Through her family foundation, The Unicorn Foundation (a non-profit organization that provides philanthropy worldwide for causes concerning the arts, animal protection and human rights), they built Dorothy’s Dormitory, a state of the art shelter for cats; they are currently working on building Charlotte’s Medical Center at RCHS. She also works with International Campaign for Tibet, a global not-for-profit organization to promote and protect human rights, religious freedom and the unique cultural identity of the Tibetan people.
Dr. Chukuka S. Enwemeka is Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, San Diego State University (SDSU), San Diego, CA. Dr. Enwemeka’s leadership experience includes an 11 year tenure as Dean and ten years as an academic department chairperson.
Before joining SDSU on July 1, 2014, he served as Distinguished Professor and Dean of the College of Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee from August 2009 to June 2014, and as Professor and Dean, School of Health Professions, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, NY for over six years. From March 1993 to February 2003, he was Professor (with tenure) and Chairman of the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, and from September 1989 to February 2003, he served as Associate Professor of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, and Associate Director of Physical Therapy, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL. Dr. Enwemeka also held a joint appointment as Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy, Cellular and Structural Biology, and Physiology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX from 1986 to 1989.
He earned his Ph.D. from New York University (NYU), and did his post-doctoral research training at NYU’s Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine. Dr. Enwemeka received his M.S. and B.Sc. degrees in physical therapy from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, and the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, respectively. He has authored nearly 100 original research papers, monographs, and book chapters, and has secured millions of dollars in external grant funding. He is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and a Fellow of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, and is listed among Who is Who in Science and Engineering, 1991.
Dr. Enwemeka is one of the foremost authorities in the use of low power light for therapeutic purposes. He is known for using near infrared light, emitted by lasers and other monochromatic light sources, to stimulate tissue repair in experimental animal models of soft tissue injury and clinical cases of chronic ulcers that failed to respond to other forms of treatment. In groundbreaking experiments, he and his team demonstrated that certain wavelengths of blue light effectively kill deadly bacteria; suggesting that blue light is a viable alternative to treatment with chemical agents, such as antibiotics.
As an international figure, he held the Presidency of the World Association for Laser Therapy (WALT) from 1998 to 2000, and served as founder and pioneer chairman of the North American Association for Laser Therapy (NAALT) from 2000 to 2006. He has visited 39 countries either as a visiting professor, invited presenter, keynote speaker, visiting scholar or as an invited guest of other universities.
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 L. 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.
Damon Francis moved to San Diego in 2003 from his hometown of Newton, MA. He majored in English and minored in Legal Studies at Trinity College in Hartford, CT. Damon has spent the last decade working as a banker and is currently a Vice President in The Private Bank of Union Bank where he drives a team of wealth specialists to help clients with wealth planning, investments, risk management, trust and estate services and private banking. Damon lives in Pacific Beach with his wife Erin.
Jeffrey Goldman has been the publisher at Santa Monica Press, an independent book publishing company, since he founded the press 25 years ago. Santa Monica Press publishes an eclectic list of critically-acclaimed and award-winning non-fiction books. Prior to Santa Monica Press, Mr. Goldman spent a decade as an arts and entertainment journalist and editor, working for a variety of newspapers and magazines, both nationally and internationally. He holds a BA in English Literature (Creative Writing emphasis) and an MA in Theatre from UCLA, where he also completed his PhD coursework in both Theatre and Folklore. In addition to chairing the board of Words Alive and volunteering as a writing facilitator at the Monarch School, Jeffrey is also a member of the Board of Trustees at the La Jolla Playhouse, where he serves on the Executive Committee and is the chair of the Education and Outreach Committee. Jeffrey lives in the San Diego area with his wife and two children.
Clark Guy is a Senior Vice President and Market Executive at U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management. In this role, Clark leads a team of financial professionals who deliver holistic planning based solutions for high net worth clientele in the San Diego area.
Clark has worked for Bank of America organization since 1998. His 24 years of experience in the wealth management industry have included positions as; Chief Investment Officer for The Chicago Trust Company of California, Head of the LaSalle Bank Wealth Management Group in California along with extensive experience in portfolio management, marketing, product development, trust administration and sales training. Prior to his current role with U.S. Trust, Clark was responsible for the effective development, implementation and management of clients’ unique investment strategies.
Clark earned his Bachelor of Arts from San Diego State University. He is a third generation San Diegan and currently resides in San Diego with his wife of 16 years and their three children.
Ann Haddad is a native San Diegan, growing up in the Mission Hills area of town. She began piano studies at age seven and still has the 1931 Steinway baby grand piano her parents purchased for her when she was 12. Ann is an alumna of University of San Diego High School (now Cathedral Catholic High School). She holds a B.A. in Music from Smith College and an M.A. in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. From 1986 through 2001, Ann worked in Washington, D.C., including 10 years in the field of international development as well as several years in consumer banking and also orchestra management (her first job after college being with the American Symphony Orchestra League, now the League of American Orchestras). In 2001, she returned to her San Diego roots, where her professional experience included the Salk Institute for Biological Studies (Director of Community Relations and Events) and The San Diego Foundation (a director in the philanthropy department). She has served as the event chair for Girls Scouts Urban Campout, Promises2Kids Summer Concert Gala, American Cancer Society’s (ACS) San Diego Discovery Gala and Huntington Disease Society of America (HDSA) / San Diego Chapter Celebration of Hope. Her board experience includes the ACS Gala Team for California, HDSA / San Diego Chapter, the Kraemer Endowment Foundation, and the Junior League of Washington, D.C. She is currently a gubernatorial appointee to the Board of Governors of the San Diego River Conservancy (2006-present), a mayoral appointee to the San Diego City Board of Library Commissioners (2011-present) and President of the Women’s Golf Association of La Jolla Country Club. She is a 2005 LEAD San Diego graduate. Ann and her husband, Ben, reside in Point Loma and enjoy shared passions for music and the game of golf.
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.
Barbara Katz 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.
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 2012-13 season afte serving in the same capacity for 2011-2012. 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.
After a successful career as a professional recording and concert harpist, church organist and piano teacher, Dorothea Laub went through the change from artistic to business career. College credits were all in music harmony and theory, so she returned to college to become a real estate broker, after which she worked to become a licensed and registered stock broker.
She founded and sold Red Carpet Realty and Monarch Realty in Orange County; owned the Art Leasing Business of Orange County, which she sold when she retired to Point Loma in San Diego in the late 1970s. This was the beginning of community service and support of local projects and charities. She was on the board of the Point Loma Association, which honored her with the “Lighthouse Award” for community service, and she was awarded a “Woman of Distinction” by the Salvation Army. She was a founding member of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra’s Symphony Stars, and she purchased and helped establish the Battered Women’s and Children’s Center on E street. She was an original KPBS Producer’s Club member and sponsored broadcasts of the series All Creatures Great and Small for several years.
Ms. Laub is on the Board of the Point Loma Playhouse and Point Loma Assembly. She received both the City and County Proclamation awards, which established Dick and Dorothea Laub Day in San Diego. She is a strong supporter of the NTC Foundation, Hubbs Sea World Research Foundation, San Diego Ballet, San Diego Dance Theatre and Spreckels Organ Association. One of her main projects was to establish the endowment fund for Friends of Balboa Park, for which she serves on the advisory board. Her hobbies include ballet and jazz dancing.
Dorothea Laub was married 63 years to Richard, has one son and two grandchildren and many, many very close friends for whom she participates in their lives as a “sounding board.”
Jeff Light grew up in Buffalo, NY, where his father was editor of the local newspaper. Over the last three decades, he has worked for newspapers and their websites. He has been an editor, a reporter, an intern, even a “hopper” – the person who throws the bundles of papers from the delivery trucks in the dead of night. He believes that journalism is one of society’s greatest callings. That is to say, he feels it is one of the best things a person can do with his or her life.
Mr. Light holds a bachelor’s degree from Brown University, magna cum laude, and an MBA from the University of California, Irvine, where he graduated first in his class.
He started as a newspaper reporter in Syracuse, NY, in the early 1980s. He was deputy editor, then vice president for interactive publishing at the Orange County Register, where he worked from 1993 to 2010.
As a newspaper journalist, he was a member of a Pulitzer-Prize winning staff in 1996, and led project teams that were Pulitzer finalists in both 2004 and 2005. In the interactive business, he led the growth of the Register’s news site (whose traffic doubled in just over two years) and helped to develop internet strategy for Freedom Communications.
Jeff Light joined The San Diego Union-Tribune as editor and vice president in March 2010 as part of Platinum Equity’s turn-around team for California’s second-largest newspaper. He helped to reinvent the company, redesigning its print and digital products and refocusing the newsroom around a digital-first strategy while embracing the diversity, creativity and intelligence of the community. He served as president and chief operating officer from January through May of 2015, when the company was sold to Tribune Publishing. In March 2016 he was promoted to the dual role of publisher and editor in chief.
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.
Papa Doug Manchester is chairman of Manchester Financial Group. He is a true industrialist with accomplishments on a national and international scale in telecommunications, radio broadcast, medical instrumentation, publishing and real estate development. Papa Doug is considered father of the San Diego Convention Center after his generous contribution of the property for its development. The completion of the second largest Marriott and Hyatt hotels in the world anchored its success and gave birth to the vast downtown redevelopment still continuing today. In addition to the San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina and the Manchester Grand Hyatt, his investment and development projects include The Grand Del Mar Resort & Spa, Manchester Executive Center, Manchester Financial Building, the Whitetail Lodge and Golf Club and soon a convention center hotel in Austin, Texas. Papa Doug was the catalyst for the now famous Biotech cluster at Torrey Pines. Currently, Papa Doug is Chairman and Publisher of U-T San Diego.
A graduate from San Diego State University, he is a former trustee of the University of San Diego and Wake Forest University, founder of the San Diego chapter of the Alexis de Toqueville Society and currently serves as a member of The Sanford Burnham Medical Research Institute Board of Trustees. In 1973 he joined Young Presidents’ Organization and co-founded its San Diego chapter, as well as the Idaho chapter, the Rio Platte chapter and the Vietnam chapter. He has served as chairman of the San Diego chapter and was voted Man-of-the-Year. He joined CEO in 1992 and served as a member of the Board and chaired the Vatican College. Papa Doug has five children and 11 grandchildren. He enjoys golf, tennis, marathon running, heli-skiing, travel, and “making positive memories.”
(DECEASED) Rear Admiral Riley D. Mixson, USN, retired from active duty in the US Navy in February 1994 and founded RDM Associates, an aerospace consulting firm that provides senior-level consulting and advisory services in both the defense and commercial sectors. His clients include major international corporations that are involved in aerospace manufacturing, integrated systems support, and software development. His naval career included positions in command of the Red Sea Carrier Strike Force during Desert Shield and Desert Storm, a carrier battle group, a combat logistics support ship, a carrier airwing, and a light attack squadron. As a carrier pilot he participated in the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War, and Desert Shield/Storm. Shore assignments included Director Air Warfare for the Chief of Naval Operations (OP-05/N-88), Executive Director of the Joint Strategic Defense Planning Staff for the United States Space Command, Deputy Director Systems Analysis Division (OP-96), and Avionics Procurement Officer, Naval Air Systems Command.
1994 – Present: As President of RDM Associates in San Diego, Rear Admiral Mixson has participated in executive level planning, contracting, and implementation of key Department of Defense programs specializing in manned and unmanned aircraft, surface, and sub-surface platforms and systems, C5ISR system integration, and logistics support. He has been active in DoD transformation process, serving as advisor and board member on various projects for DARPA, the Defense Science Board, the Naval Studies Board, and the Air Force Science Advisory Board. He’s been a team leader in bringing the F/A-18 Super Hornet to fruition as the backbone of carrier aviation for the next 20 years.
Education: Rear Admiral Mixson has earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Vanderbilt University, a Master’s Degree in Business Management from the U.S. Naval Post Graduate School, and a Master’s Degree in International Affairs from George Washington University.
Board Affiliations: Rear Admiral Mixson has been associated with the Boards of the USS Midway Museum, Rolls Royce, GKN Aerospace, Augusta Westland, Thales, QinetiQ, SERCO, Celerant Federal Consulting and Hitachi Federal Consulting.
Groups and Associations: Rear Admiral Mixson has been active in the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs, the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, Lexington Institute, Heritage Foundation, Sharp Hospice Foundation, US Naval Institute, Naval Aviation Museum, National Defense Industrial Association, the Association of the U.S. Navy, Coalition for the Common Defense and the San Diego Yacht Club.
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.
Margaret Paddock is the regional managing director for Wells Fargo Wealth Management in San Diego/Inland Empire, California. As a senior leader in the region, Ms. Paddock is accountable for delivering an exceptional experience for clients of Wealth Management and Wells Fargo Private Bank; driving business planning and execution; and recruiting, retaining, coaching and developing talent. She actively leads advisors who help clients meet their wealth management needs through a variety of wealth planning, investment management, private banking, trust services, insurance and integrated financial solutions.
Prior to joining Wells Fargo, Ms. Paddock worked at U.S. Bank Wealth Management for 10 years, where she served as a Market Leader for Chicago, Milwaukee and the Twin Cities. She has been in the financial services industry for over 20 years.
Ms. Paddock earned a Bachelor of Arts from Northern Illinois University. She is also a recipient of the 2014 Top Women in Finance Award as well as the 2015 Top Women in Banking – Team Award.
A long supporter of her communities, Ms. Paddock is a past board member of the Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Science Museum of Minnesota and the Economic Club of Chicago, to list a few. She currently serves on the board of the Lux Art Institute.
Ms. Paddock recently relocated her family from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to La Jolla, California, where she lives with her husband, Mike. In their spare time, they enjoy spending time with their two adult children and three rescued dogs. They look forward to continuing to appreciate the outdoors as well.
Jacqueline L. Parks is a Senior Vice President and Wealth Strategist in Wealth Planning Solutions at U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management. In this role, Jacqueline is responsible for providing comprehensive wealth management strategies in the areas of estate planning, intergenerational wealth planning, charitable giving, stock option planning, retirement planning, income tax planning and cash flow analysis. She coordinates the efforts of outside professional advisors, such as attorneys, accountants and insurance agents, to ensure the proper implementation of these strategies.
Jacqueline joined U.S. Trust ® in 2009. Prior to joining U.S. Trust ®, Jacqueline spent ten years practicing as an estate planning attorney, working with high net worth individuals and families in the areas of income tax, estate and gift tax and philanthropy. Jacqueline has also served as a planned giving advisor for the United Way, the Junior League, the San Diego Symphony and Ronald McDonald House Charity of San Diego.
Jacqueline received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from John Carroll University, her Juris Doctorate at Case Western Reserve University School of Law, and her LL.M. in Taxation from the University of San Diego School of Law. She is a member of both the California State Bar and the Ohio State Bar, as well as the San Diego County Bar Association. In her role with U.S. Trust®, Jacqueline does not provide legal advice.
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.
Alan Prohaska is PNC Bank Regional President. Mr. Prohaska’s Regional President’s Office is responsible for coordinating PNC’s efforts throughout San Diego and implementing all local sponsorships and philanthropic investments that align with PNC’s community-based goals and initiatives, like Grow Up Great. He is also responsible for leading the overall growth of PNC in San Diego County, with a specific focus on Corporate Banking. He leads a team of bankers that serve both investment and non-investment grade clients and prospects across all industries.
Mr. Prohaska started his career in Los Angeles with Citibank as a Financial Associate. Over the next seven years, he worked in C&I and CRE lending to middle market companies in Los Angeles and also built a specialty skill set in entertainment lending (film, TV, sports and music). In 2010 he joined Wells Fargo after the Wachovia acquisition to help found and grow an Entertainment Industries lending practice. In 2014 he was promoted to be the Loan Team Manager of the San Diego Middle Market Bank, where he was responsible for managing the credit approval, compliance and regulatory process for all new and existing customers. In 2018 he was promoted to be the Business Risk Manager for the Western U.S. Responsibilities, included implementing risk programs for credit, BSA/AML, financial crimes, compliance and reputation. And in 2019, Mr. Prohaska was promoted to run Wells Fargo’s San Diego Middle Market Bank.
Mr. Prohaska has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California at Santa Barbara, an award in accounting from the University of California at Los Angeles, and an M.B.A. in finance and organizational behavior from the Anderson School of Business at UCLA. He also sits on the boards of the Regional Economic Development Corporation and the YMCA.
Alan Prohaska is married with 3 children: 2 girls and 1 boy. He lives in Encinitas and enjoys cooking, scotch, philosophy, golf, boxing and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Craig A. Schloss, Esq. practices law with the firm Jackson Lewis LLP. He was previously 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.
Jathan A. Segur is Executive Vice President, Director of Premier Wealth Management for California Bank & Trust. With more than 20 years of financial services experience, Jathan recently moved to San Diego from Arizona where he was Director of Wealth Strategies and Marketing for National Bank of Arizona. His record as an active volunteer reflects his strong commitment to community service. Jathan is past chairman of the Arizona Leadership Forum and a former board member of the Center for the Future of Arizona and Ballet Arizona. He has served on various executive and fundraising committees for organizations including Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Phoenix Symphony, the 2015 Super Bowl Host Committee and many others. He was honored as one of the top “40 Under 40, Class of 2015” by the Phoenix Business Journal and as “Arizona’s Finest Single” in 2012 by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Since his move to San Diego, Jathan has been recognized for his ongoing community engagement as an award recipient of the San Diego "Best Dressed" supporting the San Diego Civic Youth Ballet.
Over the past five decades, Christopher D. Sickels has developed office and industrial parks, mobile home parks, medical centers and single and multi-family residences. A native San Diegan, Mr. Sickels has been active in numerous civic, charitable and community organizations. He holds a bachelor’s degree in education from San Diego State University and was a teacher in San Diego city schools for gifted and emotionally disturbed boys before entering the real estate development industry. He has two grown daughters and a lovely wife, Karen, of 42 years.
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
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.
Elizabeth Gabriel Taft is a community representative and a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles. She and her late husband, Joseph, have been involved with arts and education in San Diego for several years.
She has been on the Board of the La Jolla Music Society and is a founding member and past President of Town and Gown at the University of California, San Diego, where she presently serves on the Program Committee.
Other nonprofit affiliations include: UCSD Chancellor’s Associates, La Jolla Music Society, KPBS, San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art, Friends of the Stuart Collection Council and the Salk Institute.
She lives in La Jolla.
Dr. Maneck Wadia has made a name for himself as a professor of higher education, a prolific author whose books have been used by over 150 universities worldwide and as a consultant to over 500 local and national organizations. Dr. Wadia’s clients include all major branches of the US Military, the FBI, United Technologies, General Dynamics, Westinghouse, General Electric, Hewlett-Packard, the San Diego Unified School District and numerous University of California campuses. He has been listed on the “Who’s Who list of Contemporary Authors” and the “Who’s Who list of the West.” He has served on the faculty at Indiana University’s School of Business and at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. Dr. Wadia has also been awarded a Ford Foundation Fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh. In addition to Dr. Wadia’s many successful ownership interests, ranging from financial institutions, manufacturing organizations, to real estate companies and restaurants, he has been President and CEO of Wadia Associates in Del Mar since 1965.
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.
(DECEASED) J. William Weber and his wife Sue Weber have lived in Rancho Santa Fe since 1998, following Bill’s retirement after more than thirty years at Hughes Aircraft Company and General Motors. While at Hughes, he was product line manager for airborne displays, program manager for automotive crash avoidance systems, and head of strategic planning. At the same time, he was director of a community bank in northeastern Colorado. Since retiring, he has dedicated himself to leadership and community service for non-profit organizations throughout San Diego County.
Bill served for six years on the board of the San Diego Chamber Orchestra, including two as its president. He also led development of its educational outreach programs. He has been a director on the Corporate Board of the San Diego County YMCA, chairing its Marketing and Communications Committee. He led the Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club’s successful six-year, $12 million clubhouse renovation. More recently, he was Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Cambridge School, a remarkable classical Christian academy in Rancho Peñasquitos that has grown from 9 students in 2006 to 250 students today. He remains involved with the school as Chair of its Advisory Board. Currently, Bill chairs the Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club’s Long Range Planning Committee, and a committee to develop a sustainable, alternate source of water for the club.
Although a native Californian, Bill graduated from high school in Buenos Aires, and then moved to Boston, where he earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Civil Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. During college, he rowed competitively, winning the national championship in 1963 and placing second in the 1964 Olympic Trials. Following an undefeated season as the Harvard varsity lightweight crew coach, he moved to Los Angeles, where he met his wife, Sue. They have been married for more than 45 years and are active in the community through involvement with the Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club and the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation. Together they enjoy music, photography, golf, travel, and spending time with family and friends.
William Weber passed away in September 2023, during his service as Officer and Board Member of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra Association.
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.
Margarita Wilkinson is Senior Vice President of the Entravision media outlets in San Diego, California and Tijuana, Mexico including KBNT-TV Univision, XHAS-TV Telemundo, KDTF-TV Unimas and XDTV-TV MyTV. In June 2010 Wilkinson moved to San Diego, marking a new chapter in her extensive career with Entravision Communications. Her tenure in San Diego has brought about even more success for the Executive, as Wilkinson has managed both the Entravision Spanish and English language television stations with effectiveness and unparalleled community vision.
Wilkinson’s tenure with Entravision Communications includes her successful management of the media outlets in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which included KLUZ-TV Univision, KTFQ-TV Telefutura, KRZY-FM Jose and KRZY-AM La Tricolor. Over her 13-year stay in Albuquerque, Wilkinson brought the stations to new levels of success with her management style, her community footprint and her focus on generating new streams of revenue. The Entravision stations of San Diego and Tijuana now benefit from Wilder’s experience and foresight, as they are consistently top of mind with Hispanic viewers and the advertisers who wish to reach them.
Wilkinson began her broadcasting career with Entravision in 1991 at KINT-TV, El Paso. During that time she served on the Board of Directors for CNM Foundation Board and the New Mexico Broadcasters Association. In addition, Wilkinson was board member of the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, the Red Cross and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. In San Diego, she serves on the boards of Big Brothers Big Sisters, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and OneSanDiego.
Penny Wing is the CEO and Founder of Brojure.com, a SaaS software company which moved from London to San Diego in 2015. Brojure was developed as an inspiring and contemporary way to present content through visual storytelling. You can create a digital brochure in minutes using Brojure templates and fill them full of high resolution photography and video. The software creates engaging content, proposals and presentations in a cloud-based application.
This is Penny’s fourth company. Her first three companies were in the international event industry. She has created multi-million dollar programs around the world for IBM, CBS Television, Viacom and many other Fortune 500 companies. She designed and managed events for The White House for up to 50,000 attendees. Her company was the official travel company for the 1996 Olympics and managed 13 Super Bowls. In 1995 she created Military Historical Tours specializing in Pacific Tours for World War II veterans. Penny was the first to land on Iwo Jima with 1,200 veterans since the end of the war.
Penny is an Army Brat, born in Germany and raised all over the world. San Diego was her 36th move at the age of 21. She was educated in Washington DC and Tokyo and has degrees in mathematics and business.
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.
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