Monthly Archives: January 2022

Susan Davis

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Retired-Federal Government-Congress

Susan is a former American politician who was elected to serve ten terms as the U.S. Representative for California’s 53rd district. She was a member of the New Democrat Coalition and portrayed herself as someone who was willing to work across party lines, serving on the House Armed Services Committee, the Education and Workforce Committee, and as a ranking member of the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development.

With two sons and three grandchildren, Susan and her husband Steve have spent their 50 years of marriage helping the greater community where they live. She received her master’s degree in social work before embarking on a political career. She became President of the League of Women Voters in 1977, then President of the Board of the San Diego Unified School District in 1983. From there she was elected to the California State Assembly for three terms, and finally to Congress from 2000 to 2020—totaling 35 years as an elected public servant. Susan’s father was a very loyal Rotarian from whom she learned the importance of service.

While acting as President of the Aaron Price Fellows Program, she mentored our now mayor, Todd Gloria. This, along with her start at the League of Women Voters, influences her passion for joining Rotary committees who engage in mentoring and apprenticeship programs as well as workforce preparation opporunities. The Afghan Refugee Outreach program is dear to her heart as she spent a lot of time working on solutions regarding our Afganistan presence while she was in office.

Susan believes “all Rotarians share a love for our communial responsibilites and caring for one another.”

She is grateful to Amnon Ben-Yehuda, Alan Spector and Richard Eger who are her sponsors.

Brad Saunders

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Real Estate Development

Brad is a San Diego Rotary member returning after the short break he took due to scheduling conflicts. He originally joined in 1981 and was a Paul Harris Fellow. He is a third-generation San Diegan, having grown up in Point Loma, and his father was a member of our club as well. Brad and his wife Alice have been married for 46 years and have three sons and a daughter.

He currently holds memberships at the San Diego Yacht Club and the Rest and Aspiration Society, while formerly serving on the board of directors of Lambda Alpha, the Bishop’s School, San Diego Museum of Photographic Arts, and the San Diego Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. He has been involved in local real estate development projects throughout his career with a combined value in excess of $1.5 billion.

Brad is the founder and CEO of Bricehouse Inc., an organization specializing in the development and financing of public and private projects with a particular emphasis on transit-oriented development. Bricehouse Inc. is currently serving as the Master Concessionaire for the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, in charge of placing retail vendors at various transit stations throughout their network. In addition to their retail activities, his company has a subsidiary that is involved in outdoor advertising. In fact, Brad promises he can “help you do anything you want to do on a bench in San Diego!”

His current sponsor is Will Newbern.

Matthew Ryan

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Financial AdvisorMatt Ryan

Matt started playing basketball at a young age here in San Diego. He graduated from Saint Augustine High School and went on to play as an Olivet Nazarene University Tiger in Illinois, while focusing his studies in Financial Planning. After graduating from college, Matt left the cold winters behind and settled back home where he plays beach volleyball, coaches youth basketball, and has already served as the president of the Pacific Beach Toastmasters.

As a financial advisor at a boutique firm, Creative Capital Management, he works with professionals who seek personal wealth advising through either comprehensive financial planning, or the firm’s investment management services. Whether Matt is taking a deep dive into his client’s finances to develop a road map for their retirement, investments, taxes and estate planning, or, if he is managing their investments and directing their assets—he is steadfast in helping them reach their portfolio goals, creating peace of mind so they can focus on the things that matter most.

With a one-year-old son and a wife who works as an emergency room nurse (who Matt describes as “basically a superhero”), his young family stays quite busy. Still, he is looking forward to being an active member of San Diego Rotary.

Matt is very grateful to Peg Eddy, Duke Sobek and Ben Clay for sponsoring him.

Michael Novak

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Mike NovakInvestment-Fiduciary

In 2021 Mike joined ProFiduciary, Inc. where he serves as trustee, executor, guardian and agent for individuals and families with a focus on accounts concentrated in real estate and/or family businesses. He has worked in wealth management and fiduciary services for over 25 years. After completing his Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology at Lake Forest College, he earned a paralegal certificate and worked for two law firms in Chicago that specialized in estate planning and settlement as well as corporate and real estate transactions. Mike then moved to Washington, D.C., and worked two years in the finance division of The Nature Conservancy managing assets donated to the organization that were not part of its conservation programs.

He is a member of the Professional Fiduciaries Association of California, the North County Estate Planning Council, the Probate Attorneys of San Diego (affiliate member), the Estate Planning Council of San Diego, the National Trust Closely Held Business Association (pending), and the National Trust Real Estate Association. Mike also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the San Diego Opera and sits on its Audit Committee.

Mike and his husband Frank live in La Mesa, California, where they enjoy its annual Flag Day Parade and Fire Department Pancake Breakfast, La Mesa Classic Car Show nights in the summers and the largest Oktoberfest in San Diego County. He has a soon-to-graduate stepdaughter at home and he is delighted to continue his community outreach efforts through San Diego Rotary.

 

Sponsored by Chris Christopher, Stan Hartman and Jan McDonough.