OUR LAGUNA: Business spirits of Laguna

The Chamber of Commerce shortened its annual presentation of Spirit of Laguna Awards and installation of new officers to just more than two hours, although the celebration continued for some at a post-dinner party.

Mayor Jane Egly installed President Jeff Redeker, President Elect Kimberly Stuart, Vice President Michelle Clark, Secretary Laura Poochigian, Treasurer David Hicok, Past President Dave Sanford and directors William Buus, John Campbell, Steven Dicterow, Ibrahim Guirguis, Dennis Junka (also a past president), Chris Lange, Chuck Robinson, Tom Simpson, Ora Sterling, Chris Taylor and Catherine Wilkinson.

“We are doing some wonderful things,” Redeker said. “I was lucky to have worked with Dave and Dennis. They did the heavy lifting.”

Chamber spokesman Pat Barry said there have been changes in the past few years.

“I think have seen a reduction in the adversarial attitude between the business community and the residents — and the chamber wants that,” said Barry, formerly the city’s Recreation Department director.

The 2008 installation was followed by the presentation of awards. The program was short, but long enough for former Mayor Dicterow to tell a joke or two, one of which he was the butt of.

“I can’t believe it has been a full year since we last met and a full year since I served on the council.” Dicterow said, “People ask me if I am still remembered.”

Indeed.

He recently attended a performance at the Laguna Playhouse and there was a loud shout — “Steve Dicterow is in the audience.”

Punch line: “I have to admit I was a little embarrassed that I had yelled that out.”

The awards included one created especially for City Manager Ken Frank as Government Person of the Year, presented by Dicterow.

Normally, Dicterow said, awards are conceived and then presented. In Frank’s case, the chamber decided to honor him and then devised the award to honor his years of dedication to the city.

“Hey, I hired him,” yelled City Councilman Kelly Boyd.

Councilwomen Cheryl Kinsman and Elizabeth Schneider and City Clerk Martha Anderson also attended the dinner.

“I am fortunate to have a council that works well together — it makes my life easier,” said Frank, who normally shuns the limelight.

“And it helps to have money [city revenue]. Most nights I go to bed praying for the Montage [Resort].”

Frank said the $5 million in bed taxes from Montage will fund the city’s capital improvements next year.  

Frank was the only nominee for the award, just as Harry Lawrence was the only nominee in 2003 for chamber’s inaugural Person of the Year Award, which was named for him the following year.

Subsequent winners included June Neptune in 2004; Sande St. John, 2005; Schneider, 2006, during her year as mayor; and the Laguna Beach Community Clinic’s Korey Jorgeson, 2007.

Hotel Laguna owner Claes Andersen was the winner this year, nosing out Laguna Beach Seniors Inc. activist Louise Buckley and Friendship Shelter founder the Rev. Colin Henderson.

“It is a pleasure to live in this town with so many wonderful people,” said Andersen. “I go to work and look at the ocean and say, ‘Thank you, Laguna Beach.’”

Buckley didn’t even know she was nominated until she arrived at the installation dinner. “For what?” she said when congratulated before the nominees were announced.

“We didn’t tell her; it was a surprise,” St. John said.

Numerous nominations were submitted for Merchant of the Year honors, but the chamber whittled it down to three: Crystal Image, Mozambique and the Old Pottery Place, which won.

Redeker said the redevelopment of The Pottery Shack in the 1200 block of South Coast Highway had revitalized the area and created something really special.

Developer Joe Hanauer accepted the award.

The Small Business of the Year Award went to Ganahl Lumber, which has carved out its own niche in Laguna, replacing the Jahrus family-owned lumber yard.

The other nominees were La Casa Del Camino hotel, with its popular, although controversial, roof-top bar, and Super Dave’s Print, Mail and Marketing, opened by Dave Sanford about six months ago in Laguna.

Premier Business of the Year honors went to South Coast Medical Center, a not-for-profit enterprise. Doctor’s Ambulance Service and Montage Resort and Spa were also nominated.

Laurie Porter was recognized as the Chamber Ambassador of the Year; Rebecca Brady was honored for her 20 years as a chamber volunteer. Redeker singled out Executive Director Rose Hancock “as the person who makes everything happen at the chamber.”

“All of the nominees are Spirits of Laguna,” Redeker said.

Among the guests signed in and seated by chamber volunteers Skip Levin, Nancy Pearlman and Beverly Holt: Karyn Philippsen and Judy Bijlani from the Laguna Beach Visitors Bureau; John Hoover, Festival of Arts board member; Geri and Curt Stenley, chairman of the South County Chamber of Commerce and new member of Laguna’s chamber; Chris Loidolt, Hearts of Montage member; Richard Moore, who presented the flag for the salute; and South Coast Medical Center chaplain Bucky Weeks, who invoked a blessing on the business community.

Also Nancy Frank, Steve Dotoratos, Michael Kinsman, Roy “Andy Anderson, Laguna Books owner Jane Hanauer, artist Lu Campbell, Michelle Boyd, Catrina Dicterow and hotelier Chris Keller.

OUR LAGUNA is a regular feature of the Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot. Contributions are welcomed. Write to Barbara Diamond, P.O. Box 248, Laguna Beach, 92652; hand-deliver to Suite 22 in the Lumberyard, 384 Forest Ave.; call (949) 494-4321 or fax (949) 494-8979.