Monthly Archives: September 2021

Samantha Beck

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Associations – LEAD San Diego

Samantha Beck is the Executive Director for LEAD San Diego, which is a nonpartisan, leadership arm of the San Diego Regional Chamber.  LEAD offers a diverse suite of programs designed to mobilize leaders by enhancing knowledge of key regional issues, strengthening personal leadership skills and establishing strong community connections.

She is originally from Sacramento.  She left to attend Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri where she earned a degree in International Relations.  She then returned to Sacramento and became the Membership Director for the Sacramento Metro Chamber.

Growing up with a minister as a father, volunteering and service to her community are in her DNA. As a child and teen, she was actively involved in homeless outreach. As an adult, she volunteered and served on the board of Team Giving, a non-profit that serves as the matchmaker for corporate and individual volunteers with non-profits in need.

Samantha says it was always her dream to live in San Diego.  She would often visit Petco Park to watch her San Francisco Giants play.  So she says she was lucky to have found a position with the San Diego Regional Chamber that met a lot of her passions and skill sets.  She moved to San Diego in June of 2020.

Divya Kakaiya, Trevor Blair and Wendy Urushima-Conn were her sponsors.

Al Joyner

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Athletics-Track & Field

Al Joyner is a track and field star who won the gold medal at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles for the triple jump, the first American in eight decades to win the event and the first African American.  He attended Arkansas State University, where he later returned as a coach, and was the winner of the prestigious Jim Thorpe award, honoring the best American field athlete at the Olympics.  He was married to the late track legend Florence Griffith, who came to be known as “Flo Jo”.

In 1997, Al was inducted into the Arkansas Track and Field Hall of Fame, and in 1999 the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.  In August 2000, he returned to the track and field staff at UCLA as assistant coach and women’s jump coach.

In 2003, he accepted a job as track coach for the U.S. Olympic Training Center and directs the Flo Jo Community Empowerment Foundation and the Final Kick Marketing Group.  Currently, he is training athletes for the 2021 Olympics, but more importantly, he is training others to follow their dreams.

Tracy Sundlun, Paul Nestor and Phil Blair were his sponsors.

Vicki Gee Horiye

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“Research-Gemology”

Vicki Gee Horiye is the Director of Product Marketing for the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).  Established in 1931, GIA is the leading source of knowledge, standards, and education in the gem and jewelry industry.

Service to the community became a significant part of her Vicki’s life by the age of 16.  She was involved at the club and district levels of another service organization during high school and college, serving in roles including club president, lieutenant governor and district secretary.  During her undergrad, she re-chartered the club at UCSD and she is proud that it remains active today.

The San Diego Foundation, Jackie Robinson YMCA, Francis Parker School, and the Asian Business Association Foundation are amongst the organizations she has been involved in.  She is interested in joining our Senior Services Committee, Camp Enterprise and our Badge Committee.  But says she will continue to “shop” the other committees because she wants to meet everyone!

Vicki is a marketer by passion having earned her MBA at SDSU.  Her greatest joy is her 18-year-old son Carter, who is a freshman at Northeastern University.  Her husband is Joe Horiye, a Club member for the last 20 years.

Wendy Urushima-Conn, Andrea da Rosa and Valerie Attisha were her sponsors.

Valerie Gomez

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Insurance  – Consumer, Additional Active

Valerie Gomez is Director of Operations/Agent for Farmers Insurance.

She is a native San Diegan and attended Valhalla High School.  Before going into sales, she tried a career in web design and in pastries.  Now while working in insurance, she has started her own business selling gemstones and crystals because she really enjoys teaching customers about them.  But first and foremost, she is mom to her 4-year old son.

Valerie enjoys networking and says she couldn’t think of a more better place than Rotary.  She says it was the warmest group of people she has ever met! And she says what better way to connect with others than to do work alongside them in service.

Duke Sobek, Stephanie Saathoff and Annie Rodriguez were her sponsors.

 

Jimmie Gruny

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Community Liaison-MCRD, Additional Active

Jimmie “Jim” Gruny is the new Community Liaison Officer for MCRD San Diego.  He is responsible for high level community engagement on behalf of the MCRD and is also responsible for resolving conflicts between the depot and the city, port and Airport Authority related to land use.

Jim is a retired Marine Colonel.  His 30 years of service in the Marine Corps as an Armor Officer included two combat tours in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Born and raised in Kentucky, he holds a BA in Economics from Vanderbilt University and a Masters in Management from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA.

Prior to his current position, Jim was the COO for Workshop for Warriors. He and his wife, Teresa, have been married for 35 years and they have 2 sons and 1 grandson.

Rick Huenefeld, Doug Taber and Rachel Inmon were his sponsors.

 

Peter Callstrom

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Human Resources-Job Training, Additional Active

Peter Callstrom is the President & CEO of the San Diego Workforce Partnership (SDWP) which funds job training programs to empower job seekers to meet the current and future workforce needs of employers in San Diego County.

Peter had led nonprofit organizations in the San Diego region since 1986, including services to people with disabilities, the homeless, and under-represented job seekers.  He has led the SDWP since 2012 and was awarded the 2021 Nonprofit CEO of the Year by the San Diego Business Journal.

A Minnesota native, he moved to San Diego in 1986. He and his wife, Patricia, have been married for 26 years and they have 2 daughters.  On his free time, he enjoys racquetball with his favorite “target”, President Phil Blair.

Peter is a returning Club 33 member (2013-2018).