Spotlight on Select Members of the Class 2013-2014
- Cheri Ketner works at Surterre Properties, a boutique luxury residential Brokerage serving all of Orange County. Prior to her job in real estate, she owned and ran a local chiropractic clinic for 10 years. She has been married for 26 years to her husband, Ken, and has 4 beautiful daughters and 2 grandchildren. As a doting mother and grandmother, she spends much of her vacation time flying to see them in Anchorage, Alaska. In her spare time she loves to read historical fiction books and volunteers her time working to find homes for abandoned pets. In addition to her travel to Alaska, she has traveled to India and Israel on ministry trips. If she could wave a magic wand and change one thing about her community she would break down self-erected barriers that leave people unwilling to readily get to know and help their neighbors.
- Dan Miller owns and operates two restaurants; The Village Inn in Newport Beach and the Black Diamond Tavern in Big Bear Lake. He thoroughly enjoys the challenges of the restaurant business as well as the social, cultural, organizational, and financial learning and growth opportunities. In addition, he enjoys coaching, mentoring and developing leaders and enhancing his cultural awareness through travel. Dan grew up playing soccer and enjoyed a collegiate career at Saint Mary’s College of California as well as a professional stint playing in Germany. He was married in 2011on the Amalfi Coast in Italy to his lovely wife Jessica and has a one year old daughter Lilah. If Dan could wave a magic wand and change anything in his community, he would recommend that all young people engage in some sort of military or civil service for 2 years to gain a better understanding and appreciation of the operation and infrastructure of our communities.
- Larry Smith works for the Surterre Properties as a Real Estate Broker in Newport Beach. Prior to his career in Real Estate, Larry worked in the home building industry with William Lyon Homes and Presley Homes in their Sales, Marketing, and Merchandising departments. Although passionate about his career, he also is interested in business related to the Harbor and boating. Larry is a true California native, born and raised in Newport, he now lives with his wife Natalie in Eastbluff. He has 2 grown children, Blake and Alyssa who he refers to as “great people!” In his spare time Larry enjoys boating, running (he recently placed 1st & 2nd in 5 & 10K runs in Avalon), mountain biking, traveling (especially to Catalina, Palm Desert, Paris, and Italy), golfing, USC College Football, and Ducks hockey. One interesting fact about Larry is that he worked in the oil fields as a “Roughneck” shortly after college. If he could wave a magic wand and change anything about his community Larry would reduce air traffic out of John Wayne Airport by turning back the clock and approving the El Toro base to be developed as an airport.
- Rukshana Virany is the Accounting Manager for the City of Newport Beach where he oversees the general ledger, internal controls, audits, capital asset maintenance, long term debt, forecasting, and research and development amongst other things. If Rukshana did not work in accounting, she would be a leaf-blower, out in the sun and getting a workout in at the same time! Although she has lived in California for 27 years, Rukshana was born and raised in Africa and lived in England for 7 years prior to coming here. She has a 24-year old daughter and enjoys reading, gardening, cooking, movies and listening to music. In addition, she enjoys traveling to visit her family in Africa and has travelled to India, Turkey, and Hawaii. If Rukshana could wave a magic wand and change anything about her community, she would help the elderly
- Joshua Manuel Fieldson is Mika’s Volunteer Coordinator and Leader of Program Evaluation. In the future he would like to become a professor and advisor for non-profit groups. The youngest of 2 boys, Joshua grew up in Southern California playing every sport under the sun. He especially enjoys basketball and volleyball. He is deeply involved with his Church’s El Salvador ministry, which is what sparked his passion for community development and career with Mika. In addition to traveling to El Salvador, where he has zip lined through the jungle 6 times, Joshua enjoys experiencing new places with good food and great beaches. In his spare time, Joshua enjoys reading the news about local and international health, governments, education, justice, and stories about people making a difference in their communities. If he could wave a magic wand and change one thing about his community, Joshua would change people’s hearts to care more for the poor.
- Keith Krallmann is a Sergeant with the City of Newport Beach Police Department assigned to Crimes Against Persons (Robbery/Homicide) and Economic Crimes. He truly enjoys his work and has an interest in getting involved in local or county government positions such as Assistant City Manager or working with the County Supervisor Staff. Keith has been married for 16 years and has three boys. He loves camping and fishing with his family, especially in the Sierra Nevada. He is on the Children’s Needs Taskforce in Huntington Beach, where he resides, and teaches 7th graders at his local church. In addition, he teaches Personal Leadership for the Business and Computing Department at Orange Coast College. If Keith could wave a magic wand and change one thing about his community he would improve the current mental health system ensuring there are enough services for those with mental illness to be treated by health professionals instead of in the criminal justice system.
- Kim Sherman works for the Irvine Chamber of Commerce as the Director of Membership Services. Kim was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but moved to Orange County at the age of 5. She graduated from CSU-Long Beach with a BA in Arts and ran her own design firm for 25 years before working at the Chamber. She has two beautiful daughters, Kasey and Megan, and they love to travel together. An interesting tidbit about Kim is that she use to paint murals on the walls of homes and restaurants! If she could wave a magic wand and change one thing about her community, she would clean up the beaches and ocean.
- Emma Craig works for Youth Employment Services, a non-profit that helps young people get jobs by working through local employers, teaching seminars to prepare the youth for employment, and counseling youth one-on-one regarding their work related issues. Originally from Vallejo, Emma moved to Orange County to go to Vanguard. Upon graduation Emma moved to an immigrant community in Costa Mesa and began delivering pizza for Papa John’s and teaching herself Spanish, developing a love for the language and Mexican culture. In her spare time she enjoys dancing, reading, and watching independent movies and documentaries. If Emma could wave a wand and change one thing in her community, she would make sure kids are going outside and to the beach instead of sitting inside watching TV.
- John G. Dayer works for Irvine Ranch Water District and oversees staff charged with maintaining vehicles, equipment, and facilities. He loves his job and sees himself staying in it until he retires! John is a single father of two grown children and is retired from the US Navy. While in the Navy John, incredibly, spent 19 days “on the ice” at McMurdo Station in Antartica completing a facilities project for the Naval Petroleum Office! If John could wave a magic wand and change one thing about his community he would implement a test to guage voter competency. He believe that the problem in society is no that people don’t care enough to vote, but that the do not care how they vote.
- Torrey Olins is the Director of Communications and Marketing for Sage Hill School. She loves her work, but is always open to where ever else life may lead her, whether that be in marketing and communications in the private sector or expanding her knowledge in digital marketing. Torrey is married with 2 daughters and is a third generation Los Angeles native who moved to Orange County in 1996 after exploring other areas of the state and country. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and Standford Law School and remains active with both alumni associations. When not at work you can find her cheering on her children at sporting competition or getting her own workout in at the gym or on the trails at Crystal Cove. In fact, Torrey enjoys working out so much that one time she participated in a running relay that covered 200 miles in 2 days from Calistoga to Santa Cruz. If Torrey could wave a wand and change anything about her community she would make recycling mandatory in every home and business and ban plastic water bottles!
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Lobsterfest 2014
Once again held outdoors on the beautiful Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina property, Lobsterfest 2013 was a tremendous success. An estimated 2,000 lobsters were flown in fresh the morning of Saturday August 10 for the event, which also featured a buffet of tri-tip, corn-on-the-cob, salads and dessert, as well as live music and plenty of dancing!
Lobsterfest 2014 was able to grant the wish of one child with Make-A-Wish® Orange County and the Inland Empire, as well as provide scholarships for some of newest class members in Leadership Tomorrow.
Mark your calendars for next year’s event on Saturday, August 9, 2014.
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Spotlight on Alumni
Shawntee Holland, Leadership Tomorrow Class ’12 and current Board member, was recently promoted to Community Services Supervisor overseeing Special Events for the City of Irvine.
Joe Stapleton, Leadership Tomorrow Class of ’09 and current Chairman of the Board, was recently appointed as the new Chairman of the Board at the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce.
