FOUNDERS
James H. Ackerman
Dr. Vance Caesar
Brent Hunter
Dr. Curtis McCray*
Gloria St. Michael
Peter Ridder*
Gina Rushing
Donald Westerland
James H. Ackerman
Dr. Vance Caesar
Brent Hunter
Dr. Curtis McCray*
Gloria St. Michael
Peter Ridder*
Gina Rushing
Donald Westerland
Jim Ackerman Alumnus of the Year Award Recipients
James H. Ackerman was a celebrated Long Beach attorney but he was so much more to all who knew him. Jim was a generous man who gave his time and talent to many organizations, and Leadership Long Beach was one of them. Jim was a founding member of LLB in 1989 and was a member of the Honorary Board of Governors. Throughout his life, Jim remained a major program supporter of Leadership Long Beach. Even in his passing, the family of James H. Ackerman proudly continues the legacy of giving to and supporting Leadership Long Beach. The Jim Ackerman Alumnus of the Year Award was established by Leadership Long Beach in 1994 and in 2000 was named in honor of Jim’s fine example of leadership, integrity, commitment, and community trusteeship.
1994 – DARICK SIMPSON, LLBI ‘92
1995 – JILL ROSENBERG, LLBI ‘92
2000 – GAYLE CLOCK, LLBI ‘90
2001 – PAM SPOO, LLBI ‘96
2002 – JUDY ROSS, LLBI ‘90
2003 – MINNIE DOUGLAS, LLBI ‘94
2004 – WENDY CHANG, LLBI ‘98
2005 – DAVE NEARY, LLBI ‘95
2006 – ANNE EMIGH, LLBI ‘01
2007 – ANTHONY W. BATTS, LLBI ‘94
2008 – CJ HARMATZ, LLBI ‘01
2009 – LOU ANNE BYNUM, LLBI ‘93
2010 – DENNIS SMITH, LLBI ‘99
1989-1991 Peter Ridder Former Publisher Press-Telegram
1991-1992 Curtis McCray Former President California State University, Long Beach
1992-1994 Gayle Clock (LLBI ’90) Retired
1994-1995 Jill Rosenberg (LLBI ’92) Realtor Coldwell Banker
1995-1997 Henry Taboada Former City Manager City of Long Beach
1997-1998 Wayne T. Kistner (LLBI ’93) Attorney at Law Bennett & Kistner
1998-1999 Lou Anne Bynum (LLBI ’93) Vice President, Economic Development Long Beach City College
1999-2000 Wilma Powell Retired Director Port of Long Beach
2000-2001 Dave Neary (LLBI ’95) President Westland Construction, Inc.
2001-2002 Minnie Douglas (LLBI ’94) Principal Douglas Consulting
2002-2003 Mike Murray (EQS ’F95) External Public Affairs Manager Verizon
2003-2004 Dennis C. Smith (LLBI ’99) Co-owner Stratis Financial Corporation
2004-2005 Chirstina Pizarro Winting (LLBI ’94) City of Santa Monica Human Resources Department
2005-2006 Wendy Chang (LLBI ’98) Director Dwight Stuart Youth Foundation
2006-2007 CJ Harmatz (LLBI ’01) Government Relations Representative Long Beach Memorial Medical Center
2007-2008 Colleen Bentley (LLBI ’93) Director, Special Projects CSU Chancellor’s Office
2008-2009 Denny Moore (LLBI ’06) Commercial Real Estate Broker Sperry Van Ness
2009-2010 Carolyn Smith Watts (LLBI ’01) President Bolphs’ Specialty
2010-2012 Tom Farrand (LLBI ’08) President Farrand Research Corporation
2012-2013 James Kruger (LLBI ’08) President/CEO Expertow
2013-2015 Rolando Cruz (LLBI ’10) Executive Vice President Long Beach Transit
2015-2016 Veronica Davalos (LLBI ’09) Vice President Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles
1989-1992 Patti Mitchell
1992-1995 Norm Reed (LLBI ’91)
1995 (Interim) Judy Ross (LLBI ’90)
1995-1997 Daphne Ching (Jackson)
1998-2005 Janey Roeder (LLBI ’96)
2006-2007 Michelle Perrenoud (LLBI ’02)
2007 Paul Fornell (LLBI ’00)
2007-8 (Interim) Margaret Brewer (LLBI ’93)
2008-2010 Peter Bostic
2011-2019 Jeff Williams (LLBI ’08)
2019-2020 Kerri Cisna