Spotlight on the Community

Kevin Leap, publisher of the San Diego Business Journal, talks about the Journal's mission to cover local business news and its focus on small businesses, which make up a huge percentage of the local economy. Leap highlights the importance of shining a light on entrepreneurs and the challenges they face, such as revenue generation and media communication. Leap also discusses the critical role of n...

Sidd Vivek, President & CEO of Junior Achievement (JA) San Diego, discusses the organization's mission to empower young people for economic success. JA programs like BizTown and Mission Fed Finance Park provide experiential learning, teaching financial literacy and career skills. Vivek emphasizes the importance of competency-based education, focusing on critical thinking, communication, and co...

Shandon Harbour, President and CEO of the Associated Builders and Contractors of San Diego (ABC), and Earl Wederbrook, a board member of the San Diego Military Advisory Council (SDMAC), chat about the interconnection between the construction industry and the military.  Harbour discusses her 11-year tenure with ABC, emphasizing the organization's role in training and educating contractors through i...

Patrick Stewart, CEO of the Library Foundation San Diego, discusses the foundation's mission to support the San Diego Public Library through philanthropy, advocacy, and outreach. Stewart highlights the library's 37 branches and the challenges of underfunding and book bans. Stewart emphasizes the importance of literacy and the role of libraries in supporting diverse communities. He introduces the "...

Deacon Jim Vargas, President and CEO of Father Joe's Villages, talks about the organization's mission to prevent or end homelessness in San Diego County. Father Joe's Villages provides comprehensive services, including a new 44-bed detox center, 248 recovery beds, and $90 million in funding for two new buildings, adding 287 units of affordable housing. Deacon Vargas highlighted the need for more b...

Anne Marbarger, CEO of Curebound, a nonprofit dedicated to accelerating cancer research in San Diego County, discusses Curebound's recent investment of $8.5 million to 23 innovative cancer research teams, including a $1 million award for pancreatic cancer research. The organization has funded over 140 collaborative research teams studying 25 different types of cancers. Marbarger emphasizes the imp...

Natalie Hill, Director of Equestrian for TERI Campus of Life, shares her 16-year involvement with the nationally recognized organization that provides life-changing services for individuals with developmental disabilities.  Hill talks about her role in therapeutic riding.  Kathy Sebuck, Founder and CEO of Marchitecture, joins the conversation and explains her transition from corporate tech to stra...

Tim Reuben, an author, lawyer, and mediator, talks about his debut novel, T equila:  A Story of Success, Love and Violence , a legal thriller set in the tequila industry. Reuben, who has practiced law since 1980, discusses the challenges of writing his first novel, inspired by his legal experiences. The book follows the Ramirez family's multi-billion-dollar tequila empire, intertwining success, lo...

Nancy Sasaki, President and CEO of United Way of San Diego County, reflects on her seven-year tenure at the iconic organization that includes United Way's response to the debilitating pandemic.  Sasaki, who will retire at the end of 2025, emphasized the importance of listening and adapting to ever-changing community needs to meet the challenges of fundraising and diversifying revenue sources.  Abo...

Rosette Garcia, President of the San Diego Women's Foundation, and Deborah Martin, CEO of Elder Help of San Diego, talk about the Foundation's mission to foster collective philanthropy for a more equitable San Diego, and Elder Help's services to help seniors remain independent, with a focus on addressing isolation. Garcia and Martin shout out Elder Help's reception of a $60,000 grant from the Foun...

Dr. Fernando Leon Garcia, President of CETYS University in Baja California, chats about the university's mission to develop well-rounded citizens and professionals. The university, which has 8,300 students from 35 countries, emphasizes a liberal arts education with a focus on community and economic development. Dr. Leon Garcia discusses the university's collaboration with U.S. universities, such a...

James Zanewicz, CEO of Connect, discusses his journey from Tulane University to Connect, a nonprofit supporting San Diego County entrepreneurs. Connect focuses on mentorship, access to capital, and programs like Springboard and Cool Companies. Zanewicz talks about the need for more investment in our region, while shouting out the importance of university partnerships, military innovation support,...

Gil Alvarado, Chief Financial and Investment Officer of the Prebys Foundation, is joined by Mike Krenn, Managing Director of Prebys Ventures, to chat about medical research, healthcare and the arts, along with its investment of $50 million in early-stage tech and life sciences companies. Alvarado and Krenn discuss the importance of diversification within San Diego's defense, tech, and tourism sect...

Hugo Villar, Dean of UCSD's Division of Extended Studies, and Josh Shapiro, the division's Chief Impact and Strategy Officer, highlight the division's role in providing lifelong learning opportunities, including pre-college programs, workforce upskilling, and post-retirement courses. They emphasize the importance of skills over degrees, citing a report showing 60% of jobs don't require a formal de...

Jeff Forbes, Founder and CEO of The Patriot Group, discusses the organization's mission to support veterans and military families. Formed in 2016, the Patriot Group helps veterans buy homes and provides innovative logistics solutions. The Patriot Group have around 60-70 clients.. Jennifer Cortes, VP of Strategic Partnerships for the organization, highlighted the importance of workforce readiness a...

Stephanie Ortega, COO of Promises2Kids, and two Promises2Kids Guardian Scholars -- Monica Quintero and Laura Hernandez.-- chat about creating a brighter future for foster children in San Diego County through programs such as Guardian Scholars, Camp Connect, Foster Futures, and mentoring. Guardian Scholars provides advocacy and professional development for former foster youth. The organization's ho...

Colleen Ster, CEO and founder of Reflections Publishing Company, talks about the company's mission to create global change makers through educational resources. Ster discusses the company's focus on equipping students with tools for mental health and resilience, emphasizing the importance of addressing issues such as self-harm and anxiety. She highlights the Resilience Game Plan, which includes ve...

Majors Rob and Amy Reardon, both Divisional Secretaries of the Salvation Army San Diego, chat about the organization's 160th anniversary, whose mission is to serve communities without discrimination, providing essential services like food banks, drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs, and senior lunches. They emphasize the importance of belonging and community, with initiatives such as the Pathw...

Liz Bui, CEO of Yulex Brands Corporation, discusses the company's mission to replace petroleum-based materials like neoprene and spandex with plant-based natural rubber. Yulex collaborated with Patagonia to develop natural rubber foam for wetsuits. Bui highlighted the challenges of transitioning from petroleum-based products, including the need for new manufacturing processes and the reluctance of...

Eric Thompson, Director of Communications and Marketing for the Alzheimer's Association of San Diego and Imperial Chapter, and Julia Chang, a volunteer community educator for the Association, discuss the challenges faced by the 600,000 caregivers in San Diego County, the importance of early intervention and the Association's $20 million in research funding. Julia shares her personal experience as...

Sandy Young, CEO and owner of J. Walcher Communications, chats about her journey and the evolution of PR. Sandy discusses her transition on June 1, 2025, and her 16-year tenure with the company. She highlights significant changes in PR, including the shift to digital, the rise of social media, and the impact of AI. She also shares insights on crisis communication, advising clients to avoid "no com...

Jamie Moraga, CEO of Franklin Revere, hosts a special edition of Drew Schlosberg's Spotlight on the Community podcast at the Mount Soledad National Veterans Memorial. Jim Wheyland, Veteran of the Year, shares his background, including his service in the Marine Corps and his involvement with the memorial since 2018. Wheyland discusses the memorial's history, its significance, and the unique experie...

Jamie Moraga, CEO of Franklin Revere and author of "Revered: The Power of Female Leadership," hosts a special edition of the "Spotlight on the Community" podcast at the Mount Soledad National Veterans Memorial. Miles Bower, a 2004 Naval Academy graduate and Marine Corps officer, discusses his involvement with the Memorial Association, highlighting its unique role in honoring both living and deceas...

Jamie Moraga, CEO of Franklin Revere, hosts a special edition of the "Spotlight on the Community" podcast at the Mount Soledad National Veterans Memorial. Nathaniel Donnelly, a Marine Corps veteran and trustee of the Mount Soledad Memorial Association, shares his journey from joining the Marines to founding the student veteran organization at San Diego State in 2006. Donnelly discusses the creatio...

Jamie Moraga, CEO of Franklin Revere, hosts a special edition of Drew Schlosberg's Spotlight on the Community podcast from the Mount Soledad National Veteran Memorial. Denise Larkins, Director of Operations, discusses her 18.5-year tenure and the memorial's mission to honor veterans from all wars. She recounts the memorial's evolution, including the purchase of land in 2015, which ended legal disp...