January 23, 2017

Nonprofits will benefit from 2017 IMPACT San Diego program participants’ expertise and leadership

LEAD San Diego directly brings about positive change in our region through Leadership Action Teams (LATs), the service learning component of LEAD’s flagship 10-month program, IMPACT San Diego. IMPACT not only provides participants with a greater understanding of the critical issues and key players in our region, it also motivates participants to use their skills to become engaged with community organizations and causes.

The 58 members of LEAD’s IMPACT San Diego Class of 2017 have been divided into six LATs, each with nine to 11 participants. Each LAT has been matched with a local nonprofit agency that can benefit from the team members’ expertise and leadership to work on an individualized project.

Here are the six Leadership Action Team nonprofit partner agencies selected to work with the 2017 IMPACT class, along with a description of their projects:

Angels Foster Family Network – Angels Foster Family Network is dedicated to ensuring that babies and toddlers in foster care in San Diego get the best start in life. The organization works with the San Diego County Department of Child Welfare and complies with all state and federal health and safety guidelines, but they are an independent organization. LEAD’s LAT will develop a communications and marketing plan to increase the organization’s visibility in the community, thus increasing the number of parents/families who will foster. For more information about Angels Foster Family Network, go to angelsfoster.org

Home Start, Inc. – Home Start is committed to a community-based collaborative effort to reach children and families at risk and prevent child abuse and neglect. Throughout Home Start’s diverse and expansive network, there is a shared commitment from staff and partners to assure every child has a safe, stable and nurturing home. The LEAD LAT will develop a business and marketing plan for the Home Start Thrift Boutique social enterprise. The Thrift Boutique provides a way for homeless mothers to obtain work experience and develop their work skills. To learn more about Home Start, go to home-start.org

Outside the Lens – Since 2001, Outside the Lens (OTL) empowers youth to use digital media to create change within themselves, their community, and their world. OTL has delivered its adaptable curriculum to 13,000 children in weekly classes, after-school programs, summer sessions, workshops and teacher trainings. Students tell their unique personal stories through photography, video and other digital media forms while under the guidance of writers, journalists, filmmakers, photographers, artists and teachers. LEAD’s LAT will develop a targeted marketing plan for OTL’s Cameras in the Classroom program, a cumulative yearlong program which teaches youth digital photography and video skills; increase creative engagement in the classroom; encourage youth to explore the topics of identity, family, community, and the environment; and, promotes media literacy to help youth critically evaluate messages conveyed by the media. Cameras in the Classroom targets Title I schools in traditionally underserved neighborhoods. For more information about Outside the Lens, go to outsidethelens.org

San Diego Performing Arts League – The San Diego Performing Arts League (SDPAL) is a membership-based, nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote San Diego’s performing arts. SDPAL also provides educational seminars and workshops for performing arts professionals in the San Diego region, and provides them with the opportunity to network and gain insight into common issues. The LEAD LAT will create strong brand awareness for a new SDPAL program, San Diego Theatre Week. To learn more about San Diego Performing Arts League, go to sdartstix.com

Serving Seniors – Since 1970, Serving Seniors has been the leading provider of programs and services for low-income seniors in San Diego County. They are the only organization in San Diego, and one of the few in the country, which provides such a broad base of vital services to a vulnerable, at-risk population of older adults. LEAD’s LAT will create a targeted engagement plan for community leaders and key stakeholders, creating strategies to ensure further agency engagement. For more information about Serving Seniors, visit servingseniors.org

United Women of East Africa Support Team – United Women of East Africa Support Team (UWEAST) is a nonprofit organization comprised of more than 200 East African women with the goal of responding to the overlooked health needs of East African women and their families that affect their well-being. UWEAST is meeting City Heights’ overwhelming request to address the physical and mental health related needs of East African refugee women. The LEAD LAT will develop a three-year strategic plan for UWEAST’s core programs. For more information about UWEAST, go to unitedwomenofeastafrica.org

LEAD San Diego’s six LATs have already begun work with their nonprofit partner agencies. LEAD’s LATs will present their completed projects at the IMPACT San Diego graduation and community showcase, which is free and open to the public, on Friday, June 2, 2017 at the Irwin M. Jacobs Hall on the Qualcomm campus, 5775 Morehouse Drive, San Diego 92121. Qualcomm is host and sponsor of the Class of 2017 graduation, which provides an opportunity for the community to support the nonprofit partner agencies and hear first-hand about the work team members have contributed over the six months.

January 18, 2017

Continuing the tradition of honoring outstanding leaders and their work to improve the San Diego and Northern Baja California region, LEAD San Diego is hosting the 2017 Visionary Awards, Southern California’s premier leadership recognition event, on Thursday, June 8 at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina.

“Leadership is the catalyst for positive change, providing a better future for our region,” said Lorin Stewart, CEO of LEAD San Diego. “We are excited to recognize these engaged, civic-minded leaders who give selflessly of their time and talent to make a difference in our community.”

The following individuals will be honored at the June 8 event:

Anne Ledford Evans

The Neil Morgan Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement

The Neil Morgan Memorial Award, named for the late San Diego journalistic icon, is awarded annually to individuals who have provided long-term quality leadership in our region. This year, the award will be presented to Anne Ledford Evans, who founded Evans Hotels with her late husband William D. Evans. Named chairman emeritus of Evans Hotels in 2014, Anne Evans presided over the company as chairman of the board for 30 years. In 1953, Evans Hotels was awarded the first long-term lease on Mission Bay for the Bahia Resort Hotel; the company developed the Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa, also on Mission Bay, in 1958, and opened The Lodge at Torrey Pines in 2002. Evans is a member of the California Tourism Hall of Fame and serves on the board of advisors of the UC San Diego Rady School of Management. She’s also a member of the Founders Circle of The Preuss School UCSD. Evans is a former chair of the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau and the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, and served as secretary of the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation. She has received the lifetime achievement award from Corporate Directors Forum and has been named Hotelperson of the Year by the San Diego Hotel-Motel Association.

Shara Fisler, Class of 2003

LEAD Graduate of the Year

The LEAD Graduate of the Year Award is presented to a graduate of LEAD San Diego’s flagship issues-focused education program who epitomizes excellence in community leadership. This year, the award will be presented to Shara Fisler, founder and executive director of Ocean Discovery Institute (ODI), a nonprofit organization that uses ocean science to empower young people from underserved urban communities to transform their lives, their community, and ultimately our world as scientific and environmental leaders. Through the past 15 years, Fisler’s leadership has enabled ODI to engage more than 65,000 young people in rigorous, ongoing science programming that enables curious youngsters to grow into aerospace engineers, environmental consultants, molecular biologists, and other professionals who make a difference. Fisler’s dedication to program integrity and business development have allowed the organization to grow into a nationally recognized model. She leads a full-time staff of 25 and manages a $2.3 million annual operating budget. Recognition of Fisler’s accomplishments include the 2016 CNN Hero Award; the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring; the California Society for Ecological Restoration President’s Award; the Union Bank/KPBS Local Hero Award; the Sunset Magazine Coastal Hero Award; and the Western Society of Naturalists’ Naturalist of the Year Award.

 Joe Panetta

The Ronald Kendrick Memorial Award for Regional Collaboration

Named for the late banking executive and community leader, the award is presented in recognition of visionary leadership as demonstrated through coalescing diverse communities, focusing on collaborative approaches to shared resources, synergies and problem-solving skills for positive regional outcomes. This year, the award will be presented to Joe Panetta, President, CEO and a member of the board of directors of Biocom, California’s largest and most-experienced leader and advocate for the life science industry. Biocom works on behalf of more than 800 members to drive public policy, build an enviable network of industry leaders, create access to capital development, introduce cutting-edge STEM education programs, and create robust value-driven purchasing programs. Panetta leads an experienced professional staff of 42, with offices in San Diego, Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Washington, D.C. Together with a 60-member board of directors, he advances initiatives that help members produce novel solutions that improve the human condition. Panetta is co-founder of the Biocom Political Action Committee, the Biocom Institute for education and workforce development, and chairman of the California Biotechnology Foundation. He is past chairman of the Council of State Bioscience Associations and founding chairman of the State Medical Technology Alliance. Panetta serves on the board of directors of the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, and CONNECT.

Mark Dankberg

Economic Opportunity Award

Each year, LEAD San Diego presents the Economic Opportunity Award in recognition of a visionary leader who has created economic opportunities that, absent their efforts, might not otherwise exist. In 2017, the Economic Opportunity Award will be presented to Mark Dankberg, who co-founded ViaSat (headquartered in Carlsbad) in 1986 and has held the position of chairman of the board and CEO ever since. Dankberg is an acknowledged industry expert in the communications, aerospace and defense sectors, and is the leading visionary for a new generation of ultra-high capacity satellite systems. He holds a number of patents in communications and satellite networking technologies; has participated on Department of Defense advisory panels; and has received a number of innovation leadership awards, including the 2016 Director of the Year award by Corporate Directors Forum, induction into the Society of Satellite Professionals International Hall of Fame in 2015 as well as Via Satellite Magazine’s Satellite Executive of the Year, among others. Dankberg began his career with the Collins Radio Division of Rockwell International, and at Linkabit Corp., where he held positions in engineering, technical management and business segment management. He earned B.S. EE and M.S. EE degrees from Rice University and is a member of the Rice University Electrical and Computer Engineering Hall of Fame.

Dr. James W. Turpin

The Charles Nathanson Memorial Award for Cross-Border Region Building

The Charles Nathanson Memorial Award is named for the late champion of cross-border communication and development and recognizes visionary leadership demonstrated in addressing joint solutions to cross-border issues, further uniting San Diego and Baja California for a common future. This year, the award will be presented to Dr. James W. Turpin, founder of Project Concern International (PCI). While a physician in Coronado, Dr. Turpin volunteered at a health clinic in Tijuana, where in 1961 he saved the lives of two small children who were dying of pneumonia. The experience inspired him to found PCI to fight disease and poverty among the world’s most vulnerable people. Dr. Turpin led the organization for almost 15 years, heading its expansion to areas of need in Asia, Africa and the Americas, while always staying active in Tijuana and the border region. Building on Dr. Turpin’s vision to improve the health and well-being of the most vulnerable people in Tijuana, PCI has facilitated health and development programs throughout the region for more than five decades in areas spanning maternal and child health; infectious disease (HIV/AIDS and TB); community and public health; violence prevention; gender equity; and local capacity building, urban upgrading, and resilience. After his official role with PCI ended, Dr. Turpin re-entered private practice in North Carolina. Now retired, Dr. Turpin continues to advocate for PCI; because of his legacy, PCI helps empower more than 19 million people annually to end hunger, enhance health and overcome hardship.

The recipient of the 2017 Community Spotlight Award, which recognizes unsung community heroes who improve lives in our region through extraordinary dedication to people, organizations or causes and comes out of the monthly 10News LEADership Awards, will be announced at the Visionary Awards on the evening of June 8.

Title Sponsor of the 2017 Visionary Awards is Bank of America. Other confirmed supporters to date include Southwest Airlines, Anchor Sponsor; Wells Fargo, Community Spotlight Sponsor Reception Sponsor; Union Bank, General Reception Sponsor; WD-40 Company, Theme Sponsor; CBRE, SDG&E, Qualcomm, San Diego Business Journal, and 10News, Presenting Sponsors; Moss Adams, Sweet Endings Sponsor; and WD-40 Company, Trumpfheller Libation Station Sponsor.