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Most Influential: Meet Orange County’s 100 top influencers for 2019

Damien Arrula, Placentia’s city administrator, couldn’t get the Orange County Fire Authority to budge on rising service costs, so he took on a big challenge: starting a new city fire department. He bought equipment and is looking to hire firefighters and a chief so the department can begin operating in July 2020. (File photo by Bill Alkofer, Orange. County Register/SCNG)

Orange County Democratic Party leader Frank Barbaro died April 15 but his influence continues as the local party grows in dominance. During the attorney’s second stint as county party boss, 2001 to 2013, he saw Republicans’ long-dominant edge among voters shrink from 17-percentage points to 10 points. The trend continued: In August, county Democrat voters surpassed GOP voters. (Photo courtesy Frank Barbaro)

Tara Campbell became the youngest female mayor in California’s history when she was appointed mayor of Yorba Linda at age 25 in December 2018. For most of 2019, she was the youngest female mayor in the country at age 26. Campbell has served on Yorba Linda’s City Council since 2016. (File Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Todd DeShields Smith is the director and CEO of the Orange County Museum of Art. He was brought in to jumpstart the museum’s long-stalled move from Newport Beach to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. The new museum at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa broke ground in September. (Photo courtesy Todd DeShields Smith)

Michel Gonzalez Reynoso is the CEO of Anaheim-based Northgate González Market is expanding the family chain from the coastal markets inland, pushing the Latino supermarket into the Inland Empire for the first time. He also received a “Legends of the Industry” award this year. (File photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Heather Huszti, chief psychologist at Children’s Hospital of Orange County, oversaw the construction of, and now heads, the inpatient psychiatric center at CHOC. The center exclusively serves children ages 3 to 17 with mental illness who are at immediate risk of hurting themselves or others. (Photo courtesy Heather Huszti)

Connie Jones is the granddaughter of the woman who started Southwest Community Center in 1970, out of her garage in Santa Ana. She kept the center operating through lean times and was finally able to retire this year after working with Community Action Partnership to acquire the center. (File Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Young Kim, pictured, and Michelle Steel are vying to be the first Korean American congresswomen in U.S. history. Steel, a county supervisor, is running for the 48th Congressional district to represent the coastal communities. Kim is running again for the 39th Congressional district to represent communities such as Fullerton and Yorba Linda. (Photo courtesy Young Kim)

Orange County Senior Deputy District Attorney retired this year to work at a private firm that helps victims of sexual abuse and take a job in television. He got a conviction in the Nayeri jailbreak/torture case. (File Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Social Distortion, the band Mike Ness founded while a junior at Troy High School in Fullerton, celebrated its 40th anniversary with a nationwide tour that culminated with a festival-style show at FivePoint Amphitheater in Irvine. (File Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)

Lupe Ramirez, right, led a group of residents in the Rancho La Paz mobile home park to fight significant rent hikes proposed by the park’s new owner. The owner is still increasing the park’s rents, albeit now over time, and the residents also encouraged Fullerton and Anaheim to offer a rent assistance program for seniors. (File Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Michelle Steel, pictured, and Young Kim are vying to be the first Korean American congresswomen in U.S. history. Steel, a county supervisor, is running for the 48th Congressional district to represent the coastal communities. Kim is running again for the 39th Congressional district to represent communities such as Fullerton and Yorba Linda.(File photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

Annette Walker is heading up the development, announced this year, of a $1 billion comprehensive cancer campus next to Orange County Great Park. It will be the only hospital in OC exclusively focused on cancer research and treatment. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Jinger Wallace is an environmentalist who co-founded Laguna Bluebelt, a non-proft to protect the ocean and beach environment. She was selected by Cox as the state’s environmentalist of the year and given $10,000 to donate to the nonprofit of her choice. (File photo by Kyusung Gong, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Kay Warren, who founded the Saddleback Church ministry with her husband, Pastor Rick Warren, is rallying faith groups and health care providers to address mental illness. The church launched a mental health ministry this year and created The Gathering on Mental Health and the Church, which featured speakers including the surgeon general and Orange County Bishop Kevin Vann. (File photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)

In June, Orange County supervisor Lisa Bartlett alleged Assemblyman Bill Brough of sexual harassment when they were both serving on the Dana Point City Council in 2011, which he’s denied and attributed to political motivations. Her and others’ allegations pushed the Republican Party of Orange County to ask Brough not to run for reelection in 2020. (File Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Doug Bauder is the vice president of decommissioning and chief nuclear officer at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. Hauled in by Southern California Edison after a series of high-profile mishaps, Bauder’s mandate is to restore public trust as well as shepherd the tear-down of the iconic twin domes. (Photo courtesy Southern California Edison)

Peter Blake is a Laguna Beach councilman who has prompted change and discussion in the city this year by challenging the status quo that has helped govern Laguna for the last 50 years. (File Photo by Mark Rightmire,Orange County Register/SCNG)

Scott Boras is a Newport Beach-based baseball agent whose clients were among the highest paid in early 2019 (Bryce Harper) and have been again late this year (Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg, Anthony Rendon). (File Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Shawn Buckley, founder of Just Food For Dogs, is growing his dog food company, landing $68 million in venture capital to build Just Food For Dog pantries in hundreds of Petco stores nationwide. Buckley wanted to make better food for his ailing dogs, and less than a decade later, he’s on the cusp of a fresh pet food empire. (File Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

From humble roots, Daryl Carter built a 10,000-unit empire of affordable apartments designed to provide better homes for low-income residents. The Irvine CEO and former National Multifamily Housing Council chairman recently received an MLK award from Christ Our Redeemer AME Church. (File Photo by Scott Varley, Daily Breeze/SCNG)

With the Houston Astros last season, Gerrit Cole, who graduated from Orange Lutheran High, was one of the most dominating pitchers in baseball. He signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)

Cameron Collins co-founded Brew Ha Ha Production, which presaged the craft beer boom in OC. Its initial event, Brew Ha Ha, celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2019 and has created events such as the holiday-themed Brew Ho Ho and recently announced Logger Festival. (File Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

David Cordero, executive director of the Apartment Association of Orange County in Santa Ana on Monday, December 16, 2019. Cordero has engaged the organization in Orange County United Way’s Welcome Home OC initiative(Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

FivePoint CEO and chairman Emile Haddad secured approval for USA Water Polo to move its headquarters to the Great Park, brought the StoryCorps project to record Orange County stories and donated $1 million to USC to support real estate education and research on sustainable communities. (File Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

John Hsu is the CEO of Whittier-based STC Management, which took over ownership of the struggling GardenWalk near Disneyland and breathed new life into the mall. Most of the vacant storefronts have been leased, there’s a smorgasbord of international dining options and regular events aim to draw locals as well as tourists. (Photo courtesy John Hsu)

David Ivers, who formerly led the Arizona Theatre Company, launched his first season as artistic director and co-CEO of South Coast Repertory, Orange County’s preeminent theater company and a major incubator of new playwrights and their works. (File Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

As CEO of the Orange County Transportation Authority, Darrell Johnson is overseeing a $1.9 billion expansion of the 405, including replacement or renovation of 18 bridges. He also helped resolve a multi-agency stalemate over plans for the 91 and 241, and launched construction of the OC Streetcar. (File Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

Trabuco Mesa Elementary teacher Mandy Kelly is one of the five 2020 California Teachers of the Year. She and her class have led a movement to have students do a random act of kindness; nearly 200 classes around the world have accepted the challenge. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Santa Ana’s MainPlace Mall will be getting a major overhaul, thanks in part to Steven Levin. The CEO of mall owner Centennial Real Estate Co. won city approval for his vision of “a European marketplace,” with specialty stores, food carts and spots to sit and relax, plus new entertainment offerings and hundreds of apartments. (Photo courtesy Steven Levin)

Mark Lowry is the longtime director of the Orange County Food Bank, an arm of Community Action Partnership. Lowry worked to get legislative support and state funding for OC’s first diaper bank, expected to open sometime soon. (File Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Michael McDowell, along with his wife, Susan Flanigan and Kathleen Isabel Bourque, their son’s fiancee, has been fighting to create awareness to the increasing training deaths in the military nationwide. Their efforts were prompted by the death of Conor McDowell, who died at CP in a rollover accident. Since Conor’s death in May, the family has vigilantly pursued lawmakers to see what can be done to stop the spate of training fatalities and accidents. They’ve taken up the cause for themselves and five other families who have lost service members in training accidents this year. The Government Accountability Office notified the Pentagon in October that it will officially begin to study fatal training accidents. (File Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Sylvia Mendez continues to advocate and inspire more than seven decades after she was rejected from a local “white” school in Westminster. This year, the very school district that once turned her and her siblings away honored her with a monument and plans to build a historic, interactive trail that will teach future generations about the Mendez case, which led to the repeal of segregation laws in California and paved the way for the landmark Brown v. Board of Education. (Courtesy of the Westminster School District)

Lacey Newman, a survivor of the mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest music festival in Las Vegas, now works with a national nonprofit that trains non-medics in how to stop blood flow among victims in mass-casualty emergencies. Newman was named the West Coast ambassador for CitizenAID. (File Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Helen Nguyen is a wife, mother and nurse. But this past year, she’s taken on another role, as an advocate for her husband, imprisoned in Vietnam. Working with Democratic and Republican lawmakers, she flew to D.C. twice — once to testify before a Congressional subcommittee. A quiet, religious woman, she juggles two jobs while caring for her four daughters in Orange and continuing to bring attention to the plight of her husband. (File Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Cottie Petrie-Norris, in her first term in the Assembly, is reaching across the aisle to work with state Sen. Pat Bates and others on meaningful reform of the addiction treatment industry in California. (Courtesy of Votecottie.com)

California assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva (CA-65) has championed legislation on homelessness and affordable housing. She has been personally touched by the issue with the loss of her brother, a homeless man who struggled with alcoholism and died last year, and by the 2011 police beating and death of Kelly Thomas when she was mayor of Fullerton. (File Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

As Lake Forest’s city manager, Debra Rose led the construction of the city’s Civic Center, dubbed Lake Forest’s “100-year home,” which opened Dec. 16. The city has also paid off its bond debt, becoming one of just a few cities in California to be debt free with no unfunded pension liability. (Photo courtesy John McGuire)

Laguna Woods residents Esther Wright and Lois Rubin, from left, formed a grassroots group, “Non-Toxic Laguna Woods,” to convince the Laguna Woods Village boards of directors to adopt the use of organic, nontoxic herbicides instead of Roundup. Their efforts led to a ban on the use of Roundup throughout the community of 18,000 residents. (Courtesy photos)

Katie Rucker, center, is the co-chair with Charles Antis, right, of the capital campaign to double the size of the Ronald McDonald House Orange County. After quietly raising funds, she and Antis went public with the effort that will lead to the house having room for 44 families who have children being treated at CHOC. They are pictured with Noel Burcelis, left, the executive director for the Ronald McDonald House Orange County during the kick off campaign. (File Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Keith Swayne has been a longtime supporter of Orange County Community Foundation, founded 30 years ago by his late wife, Judy, with community leaders. From working-class beginnings in Santa Ana, Swayne found success in the food industry and his years of giving back earned him the honor of 2019 Outstanding Philanthropist for National Philanthropy Day Orange County. (Courtesy of Jacques Garnier)

Khloe Thompson, the 12-year-old founder of Khloe Kares, was a recipient this year of the George H.W. Bush Points of Light Award. Khloe Kares, which she started when she was 8, has given out thousands of care packages to homeless people on LA’s Skid Row. (Courtesy of Action for Nature)

Joy Torres is a former homeless woman turned advocate who won the Mental Health Association’s Hope and Courage Award in 2019. Her advocacy helped land her a job as night coordinator at The Link shelter in Santa Ana. (Courtesy of Thu Huyen/Mental Health Association of Orange County)

Just about every nonprofit in Fountain Valley and Huntington Beach knows David Truong, 44, owner of Mimi’s Jewelry. In 2019 alone, Truong donated thousands of dollars in his hand-crafted trinkets to fundraisers for Orange Coast Memorial, the Rotary, Kiwanis, PTAs, the Vietnamese American Cancer Foundation and more. (File Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Hannah Weinmeister, a junior at JSerra Catholic High School, has studied dance since she was 2. This summer she started her own nonprofit and launched a free dance program for underprivileged kids at the Boys & Girls Club in San Juan Capistrano. (File Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Megan Browning, 29, is the first U.S. Marine to be recruited as a vocalist. In June, she began her career with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing Band at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. Browning was the lead singer in her band called Harley Boone before she joined the Marine Corps. The band played sold-out shows at state fairs and music festivals and had opened for country recording artist Justin Moore. (File Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Hugh Hewitt, tapped by President Richard Nixon as the first director of the presidential library, returned this year to lead the Nixon Foundation. He’s been expanding its influence and work beyond the walls of the library, beyond OC, and has used his connections to bring a caliber of speakers and visitors to the library. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Tierney Center for Veterans Services director Denton Knapp, who served in the U.S. Army for 30 years, is an important voice in suicide prevention, overseeing the Tustin center’s role in a national study on military suicides. It’s been his passion since 2006, when his son died from suicide while at college. (File Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

The Angels have had four straight losing seasons, and Moreno has been instrumental in making the decisions to try turn that around such as hiring Manager Joe Maddon and signing free agent third baseman Anthony Rendon. He also reached an agreement to buy Angel Stadium and the land it’s on from the city of Anaheim. (File Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Fram Virjee became Cal State Fullerton’s president in March. Virjee had been serving as interim president since early 2018, succeeding Mildred Garcia, to oversee Orange County’s largest university. This year, Virjee introduced plans to transform the commuter campus into a residential campus, with more housing and amenities on site. (File Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Quarterback Bryce Young led Mater Dei back to the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 championship game with one of the more impressive seasons in Orange County history, was selected the Register’s offensive player of the year and was named the Gatorade state player of the year. He had been committed to sign with USC but switched to Alabama and signed this month with the Crimson Tide. (File Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Pro surfer Kolohe Andino not only ended the year as the highest-ranked surfer from the USA on the World Surf League rankings, but also has earned a spot at the surfing’s Olympic debut next year as one of two from the USA. He’ll be joined by Huntington Beach surfer Kanoa Igarashi, who will surf for team Japan. Kolohe Andino of the United States surfs at Off the Wall on December 15, 2019 in Haleiwa, Hawaii. (File Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Sydnie Beidleman, 12, a seventh grader at Horace Ensign Intermediate, has been involved with multiple projects for Project Hope Alliance that have brought awareness to the needs of the homeless youth in the area to her school district and the neighboring community. She was the spokesperson for her elementary school and was involved with all aspects from development and advertising to collecting and distributing the Hygiene Kit Project and two district-wide Snack Bag Projects, and the Festival of Children honored her as their 2019 FRED Award recipient (For Really Exceptional Doers) for her advocacy and efforts on behalf of her peers experiencing homelessness. (Photo courtesy Sydney Beidleman)

Ada Briceno, the longtime labor leader, is wrapping up her first year as chair of the Democratic Party of Orange County. With her at the helm, the county in August flipped from red to blue in terms of voter registration. And activists say she’s making the party more inclusive than ever by bringing in Spanish speakers and other once marginalized groups. (File Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Ally Carrier of Placentia has amassed a huge following of animal lovers, plucking strays and forgotten pets from area streets and backyards and rehoming them with help from her massive network. In her short term running Ally’s Animal Assistance Network, she’s kept hundreds of pets from ever landing in kennels or on shelter euthanasia lists. It’s a remarkable thing to see such social activism in action.(Courtesy of Ally Carrier)

As the committee chair of BSA Troop 7272, Monique Chrisope, top left, recruited dozens of scouts to create the first all-girl Boy Scout troop to register in Orange County. The troop has earned more than 140 merit badges in its first year. (File Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Greg Conger, the president for the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 324, was a key contract negotiator this summer for thousands of supermarket workers demanding better pay and benefits. Conger, who was at the table for the contentious grocery walkout in 2003-04, has put his negotiating skills to rest, retiring in October after 35 years with the UFCW local. (Photo courtesy Greg Conger)

Rep. Lou Correa, a second-term congressman from Santa Ana, sat on the House Judiciary Committee that drew up specific articles of impeachment of President Donald Trump. (Courtesy of House Judiciary)

Jason Dadakis is the head of water quality for the Orange County Water District is a leading regional expert on PFAS, an emerging contaminant found in some public wells. The potential carcinogen comes from chemicals used for waterproofing and extinguishing fires. Dadakis is helping lead the way toward addressing the issue. (Photo courtesy Jason Dadakis)

For better or worse, Tai Do, new to the council has been a constant thorn in the side of the majority, which tends to vote in unison, accusing the three of corruption. He was influential in the recall effort underway. (File Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

At age 72, Jim Doti, former president of Chapman University, donated a kidney to save the life of 52-year-old grandfather Jose Tolento. (File Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Having experienced homelessness as a child, Jennifer Friend is the CEO, founder and driving force of Project Hope Alliance, which in 2019 partnered with Newport Mesa Unified School District to serve students experiencing homelessness in all 32 of its schools. Project Hope Alliance also teamed up with Second Harvest Food Bank to open a fresh food pantry at Fullerton’s Pacific Drive Elementary. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Holly Hagler was elected to the national Meals on Wheels board in September. She is the president and CEO of Meals on Wheels Orange County (formerly SeniorServ), which provides 10,000 meals a day to seniors and shut-ins in Orange County. (File Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Sarah Heath is the young, progressive pastor at First United Methodist Church. She stepped up to have the congregation host the first public mural about homelessness as part of Orange County United Way’s United to End Homelessness campaign. (File Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Becks Heyhoe, a native of Northern Ireland, makes a difference in her adopted home as the director of the United to End Homelessness effort. She and other leaders in the group took on the challenge of funding 30 federal vouchers in 30 days this summer to prove to HUD officials that it was capable of handling more to help people get off the street. (Photo courtesy Becks Heyhoe)

Mo Honarkar has acquired at least six properties, including Hotel Laguna, with a plan to redevelop them. This is the first time in Laguna Beacj history that one developer could have this level of impact on the city’s future. Two projects he’s already finished are showing success. (File Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Orange County Registrar of Voters Neal Kelley has had a busy year planning a complete overhaul to how OC votes. He bought a new $15.3 million voting system, he’s hiring poll workers and is finding locations for nearly 200 new “vote centers,” and he’s preparing a big publicity campaign to spread the word. (File Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Blackmarket bakeries owner Rachel Klemek won Food Network’s “Chopped,” the “Sweets Showdown: Cake” program. This year marks the 15th anniversary of her bakeries which have expanded into San Diego; she’s opening a second location in the East Village that will devote a considerable amount of space to teaching classes. (File Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register, SCNG)

Father Dennis Kriz, the St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church pastor, is at the forefront of the faith community’s movement urging Fullerton to do more to address its homelessness. His congregation’s advocacy pushed the city to create the county’s first safe parking program, and to work to create a 150-bed shelter. (File Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Avalon Lafosse became the first teen to win a Segerstrom Center for the Arts Leadership Award. She created A.R.T. – Art for Relaxation Therapy, a nonprofit that helps hospitalized children cope with emotions and stress through art. (File Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Justin Levitt is a demographer who has turned his skills into a cottage industry as cities and school districts throughout OC and beyond are forced to go to by-district voting. He is everywhere, divvying up cities into sections based on racial makeup. (Photo by Sean DuFrene/Strategic Communications, CSULB)

Judie Mancuso has sponsored 36 bills for animal rights, and nearly half have been approved and turned into legislation. This year a bill she helped write went into effect on Jan. 1 that forbids the sale of puppy mill pets in California stores. She has also been on the forefront of fighting to stop the death of horses at Santa Anita. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

As manager of Orange Coast College’s $23 million planetarium that opened in March, Scott Mitchell is helping teach astronomy and the wonders of the universe to college students, school children and the public with shows in the traditional domed theater and other exhibits and programs. (File Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Jose Moreno is the minority voice on the Anaheim City Council, but he doesn’t stop pushing his colleagues to get the concerns of the community heard regarding negotiations with the Angels, the need for rent control or assistance, workers rights and more. (File Photo by Ana Venegas, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Tom Piechota, Chapman University’s vice president of research, shepherded the university through the opening of its $130 million Keck Center for Science and Engineering, as well as the Fowler School of Engineering. He has been at the forefront of Chapman’s efforts to become a more research-driven university. (Photo courtesy Chapman University)

One week after Laguna Beach High School sophomore Gavin Pike completed a pilot lifesaving program, he used his new skills to rescue a mother and 20-year-old son from a rip current at Thalia Street Beach. Pike was waiting at the beach for his mom to give him a ride when he jumped into action. (File Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a graduate of Fountain Valley’s Los Amigos High, made headlines regularly in 2019. Controversies included his defense of pulling troops from Syria, his statement that Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank don’t violate international law and his role in the Trump administration’s communications with Ukraine. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

In her first year in Congress, Katie Porter regularly draws national headlines and makes viral videos for her tough lines of questioning in committee hearings. It’s led her to be dubbed the “next Elizabeth Warren.” She’s also the only single parent in the House, and she isn’t afraid to show up to the Capitol wearing a Batgirl costume on Halloween. (File Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Frank, center, and Joann Randall, left, gave $50 million in November to the Banning Ranch Conservancy to help buy the 401-acre Banning Ranch, contingent on a purchase deal being worked out. It’s the largest undeveloped privately owned coastal open space in Southern California. Frank Randall, who made his fortune redeveloping shopping malls, is a lifelong hiker and the couple are longtime environmental philanthropists. (File Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)

Jon Reiser (formerly of Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa and Observatory in Santa Ana), along with his partners Viet Tran and Angel Zaragoza, officially launched Garden Amp in downtown Garden Grove in 2019. The newly renovated concert venue has already seen a slew of successful concerts and festivals and will continue to be instrumental in the revitalization of the surrounding area. (Photo courtesy Jon Reiser)

Since taking the city manager’s post in Irvine, John Russo has pushed to get projects going at the Great Park, including the USA water polo facility and talks with the American Museum of Natural History about opening a western branch. (Courtesy of city of Irvine)

Riley Russo, 17, is a volunteer for the Traumatic Intervention Program, the youngest in the county. Photographed at her home in Laguna Beach on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Carlos Salgado, chef and owner of Taco Maria. received a Michelin star for his Costa Mesa restaurant in 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Ron Salisbury, owner of The Cannery in Newport Beach, opened swanky Louie’s By the Bay and it will celebrate its first anniversary in January. Salisbury is CEO of Restaurant Business Inc., parent company of the El Cholo group which turned 96 this year. (File Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

Within a month of being sworn in as Anaheim’s mayor, Harry Sidhu had resurrected negotiations with the Angels and in the last year has shown he’s got the council majority firmly behind his priorities. (File Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Brett Simpson gained fame as two-time champ of the US Open of Surfing. But this year the Huntington Beach surfer made his coaching debut and helped earn gold for Team USA at the ISA World Junior Championships held last October in his hometown. (File Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Mike Trout won his third American League MVP award even though the Angels struggled as a team. And when Trout signed a contract for 12 years and $426.5 million, he committed to the Angels until he is 39.(Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)

Scott Trowbridge, the portfolio creative executive at Walt Disney Imagineering, led the team that designed and created Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the new 14-acre themed land that opened at Disneyland on May 31. (File Photo by Matt Masin, Orange County Register, SCNG)

Betty Valencia didn’t win an Orange City Council seat in 2018, but the council’s decision to not appoint her to fill a vacant slot brought a lawsuit that ultimately prompted Orange to elect its council members by districts. As a result, the city’s internal politics, which had long been dominated by Republicans, could see a drastic shift. (File Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Bishop Kevin Vann oversaw the $72.3 million remodel of Christ Cathedral. In July, he led the spectacular dedication ceremony in front of 3,000 attendees. (File Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

While the former Anaheim veterinarian is now based at UC Davis, Winston Vickers’ primary research work focuses on the mountain lions of the Santa Ana Mountains. In 2019, a CalPoly study he helped launch a study of possible wildlife crossings at the I15 Freeway that could be key to the cats’ long-term survival. (File Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Soon after winning a seat on the OC Board of Supervisors, Don Wagner started asking what would it take to get Irvine Lake reopened and helped negotiate a way out of the stalemate that had kept it shuttered. Now folks are regularly casting their fishing lines. (Photo courtesy of Don Wagner)

Mark Whaling is a retired fire battalion chief who runs a firefighting equipment business and invented the Heli-Hydrant, a remote-controlled reservoir for water-dropping helicopter pilots to draw from during a wildfire. The 2,700-gallon water tank was installed in October in the hills above Yorba Linda. (Photo courtesy Mark Whaling)

The day after a photo showing students from Newport-Mesa Unified playing beer pong with cups in a swastika design went viral, Leslie White, a Holocaust instructor at Tarbut V’Torah school in Irvine, brought the teens in to educate them on the Holocaust. She’s continued those efforts. (File Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Michelle Wulfestieg, who herself nearly died from a stroke, now helps others find peace in their final days. Director of Costa Mesa-based Southern California Hospice Foundation, she assists low-income patients with meals, transportation, bills and last wishes – such as, in July, a Westminster man’s desire to wed his girlfriend. (File Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Army Brig. Gen. Laura Yeager a decorated Black Hawk helicopter pilot who flew aeromedical evacuations in Iraq, is the first female in history to lead a U.S. Army Infantry Division. The Fountain Valley native took command of the storied 102-year-old 40th Infantry Division in the California National Guard, in a ceremony June 29 at Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos. A U.S. Army poster prompted her to begin a 33-year Army career. (Courtesy of Sarah M. Lifshin/ Joint Task Force North)

Ahmad Zahra, the country’s first openly LGBTQ Muslim city councilman, had his first full year on the Fullerton City Council in 2019. He pushed Fullerton to consider a rent subsidy program, to display the Pride flag at City Hall and kickstarted efforts to restore murals near Lemon Park. (File Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Two years ago, a cannabis research center at UC Irvine was on Daniele Piomelli’s wishlist. This year, under his leadership, it’s a thriving entity, regularly hosting forums that draw top researchers from around the world and landing large grants to fund groundbreaking marijuana studies.