San Diego’s Most Trusted Brands
We present the companies, organizations and institutions that have earned the trust and loyalty of their constituencies by adhering to high standards of professionalism, integrity and accountability.
Donovan’s
Donovan’s was founded in 1999 by Don Wollen and Dan Shea who wanted a hometown place for themselves and their friends that reflected their own passion for dining. The restaurant was founded on the following principles:
• The ambience had to take you back in time to the “classic” old world steak experience.
• The food had to be exceptional, only high quality products to be used and only “prime beef” would be served. This is the two percent of the beef in the U.S. specially raised and aged that can be called “prime.” Only a few restaurants in the United States serve 100 percent prime.
•The service had to be world class and had to “Wow” the customer, thus team service was used from day one.
• From local ownership to staff, all approach service to the customer with the passion for excellence, referred internally as “the Donovan’s way.” Owners set out to make this an exciting and memorable experience for all. And to be a proud and active part of the San Diego community.
Donovan’s supports: The food bank; the military; Big Brothers, Big Sisters; At-risk kids; Make-A-Wish Foundation; San Diego sports; education and the arts.
Donovan’s operates three restaurants in San Diego: Donovan’s La Jolla, Donovan’s Downtown and Donovan’s Circle of 5ths.
Hughes Marino
At Hughes Marino, only tenants are represented in their real estate transactions — never landlords — thereby avoiding the typical conflict of interest found with their competitors. Jason Hughes is the driving force behind Hughes Marino which was formed by Hughes and David Marino in January 2011.Hughes, who is the company president and chief executive, created Hughes Marino after dissolving a partnership with Craig Irving earlier this year. Hughes Marino’s clients range in size from 1,000 feet to 300,000 feet throughout San Diego County, from Oceanside to Otay Mesa and east to Escondido and El Cajon. At any given time, the company’s team of specialists are representing approximately 150 active tenants throughout the county, which gives them real time market knowledge. The Hughes Marino team consists of some of the most highly educated professionals in their industry. They have MBA’s, a J.D., Masters of Enginering, Real Estate and Law. All agents at Hughes Marino are licensed by the state of California as brokers, the highest designation available. Both Hughes and Marino have written extensively about tenant representation as well as more generally about commercial real estate. Marino is a columnist for SD METRO Magazine and Hughes writes for the San Diego Business Journal. Hughes, a graduate of Pepperdine University with an MBA in real estate from the University of San Diego, launched his real estate career in the late 1980s with Cushman & Wakefield in Los Angeles before moving to San Diego. The company lives by its motto: Because where you do business matters.
Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest
For more than 90 years, Planned Parenthood has been America’s most trusted provider of low-to-no-cost primary preventive reproductive health care. One-in-five American women will visit Planned Parenthood at some time in her life to receive life-saving cervical or breast cancer screenings, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, contraception and more. Additionally, Planned Parenthood works with schools, faith organization and community groups offering education about preventive health care.
Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest (PPPSW) serves San Diego, Riverside and Imperial counties, and has been an integral part the region’s health care community since 1964. The agency has 14 centers throughout San Diego County, each year providing nearly 300,000 patient visits to women and men, many of whom have no other access to health care. According to research conducted by the San Diego State Social Science Research Lab, one-in-three San Diego households have a current or former Planned Parenthood patient.
The organization has grown substantially under the leadership of President & CEO Darrah DiGiorgio Johnson, but it has remained focused on personalized reproductive health care. Women and men trust Planned Parenthood to provide non-judgmental, confidential medical care.
Even those who oppose a woman’s right to choose abortion support Planned Parenthood because they realize that no other organization in the United states does more to prevent unintended pregnancy.
Rubio’s
Rubio’s is now Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill and has over 180 locations serving a menu that features made-to-order burritos, soft-shell tacos and quesadillas and salads made with marinated, char-grilled chicken and steak, as well as seafood representative of the Baja region of Mexico, such as mahi mahi, sautéed shrimp and Rubio’s signature Baja-style fish taco. Rubio’s menu continues to expand and evolve, with inspiration from Ralph Rubio’s continued culinary exploration of Mexico. The restaurants now offer slow-roasted port tacos and grilled lean steak tacos. What hasn’t changed is Rubio’s commitment to quality and freshness. Freshly made salsa, beans, quacamole and chips are a cornerstone of Rubio’s. The story of Rubio’s goes back to Ralph Rubio’s college days when he and his buddies would head for the Baja village of San Felipe. One night, a hungry Ralph spotted a taco shop with an unusual specialty advertised in the window: fish tacos. He ordered one, took a few bites, and was hooked.Over time Ralph became pals with Carlos, the man behind the the counter. Carlos showed Ralph how his fish tacos were made. Ralph came back to San Diego and perfected a recipe of his own. Several years later and with his father, Ray, as a partner, he opened his first restauant — a walk-up stand in Mission Bay. Since that day in 1983, Ralph, with the help of a lot of great people, has sold more than 50 million tacos.
Rancho Santa Fe Insurance
Craig Edwards founded Rancho Santa Fe Insurance over 25 years ago and today it remains the pre-eminent boutique insurance agency in San Diego County. RSF Insurance specializes in high value homeowners, auto, collections, yachts, aircraft and umbrella insurance. The firm represents Chubb Insurance, ACE Private Risk Services, Firemen’s Fund and Chartis Private Client Group. As an independent broker, RSF Insurance is able to shop policies to find the most comprehensive coverage in the industry at the most competitive prices. Providing their clients with exceptional customer service and thorough annual reviews are its top priority. Without compromising coverage, it is able to provide options regarding scheduling, umbrella limits, credits, deductibles and premium management.
One of the agency’s clients calls Rancho Santa Fe Insurance “the Rolls-Royce of insurance companies and John Moores added, “I wanted someone with honor and integrity , someone I can trust and believe in to handle my insurance affairs. Craig Edwards provides that for me.”
San Diego County Credit Union
With $5 billion in assets, SDCCU is the largest locally-owned financial institution in San Diego. It is a non-for-profit, wholly owned and operated by its members. Unlike most financial institutions, SDCCU does not issue stock or pay dividends to outside stockholders. Instead, earnings are returned to members in the form of lower loan rates, higher dividends on deposits and lower fees. SDCCU serves over 213,000 members and continues to thrive as one of San Diego’s premier institutions. It operates 28 branches in three counties – San Diego, Orange and Riverside. San Diego County Credit Union is a community leader. It is the title sponsor of the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl, presenting sponsor of the San Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. SDCCU was originally chartered in 1938 as San Diego Employees Credit Union. It has been voted the Best Credit Union in San Diego for 11 years straight by the San Diego Union-Tribune as well as having been honored with the top slots as BEST in Financial Planning, Home Loan Provider and Place To Work categories. The company’s growth remains steady. Two new branches in Kearny Mesa and Oceanside were opened in 2010. Several new eServices were added this year, including person-to-person payments, SDCCUdirect, Live Chat and Money Tracker. Also, a number of deposit-taking ATMs have been installed in select locations to enhance member convenience.
Schubach Aviation
Henry Schubach, who personally pilots chartered flights, founded Schubach Aviation in 1992 to create a chartered flight business from Carlsbad’s Palomar Airport. Schubach is San Diego’s most experienced charter company and the county’s largest charter fleet. Schubach Aviation has flown more San Diegans to more destinations than any other charter service. All aircraft are meticulously inspected, maintained and flown by seasoned professionals. The company’s flawless track record reflects the knowledge and talent of its pilots, maintenance and ground support staff. Its dedicated maintenance team represents many decades of cumulative aircraft maintenance experience. Its ground support staff has over 150 combined years of aviation industry experience. Schubach’s impeccable track record reinforces the fact that private air charter is one of the safest modes of transportation in the world. Schubach has earned an ARG/US Gold rating, exceeding safety, equipment and crew standards for FAA charter operations. The company makes it a priority to build and maintain long-term relationships since repeat customers from the core of its business. Its highly experienced team is dedicated to providing a seamless travel experience, down to the smallest detail. The company’s goal is to make the Schubach flying experience efficient, comfortable and hassle-free.
Waste Management
Waste Management of San Diego provides residential, commercial and industrial trash collection, recycling services and dumpster rentals in three local cities — San Diego, El Cajon and Santee — from its yard in El Cajon. It also operates a buyback center in El Cajon, where people can bring recyclables to redeem, donate other recyclables or to dispose of e-waste. “Your streets are our streets too,” the company states. “Our drivers traverse them every day, and look out for them just like you do. Your neighborhoods are our neighborhoods as well, which is why our drivers are partnering with the San Diego Police Department as part of our ‘Waste Watch’ program to help support their crime-fighting efforts. We breathe the same air you do, and the quality of that air is important to us. That is why we are so proud of our 120-truck fleet of trash and recycling collection vehicles, powered with low-emitting liquid natural gas (LNG); the reductions in emissions achieved by this fleet is the equivalent of removing 9,000 from San Diego streets every day. The LNG fuel itself has been converted from trash turned to methane at our Altamont facility and is just one example of our pioneering, sustainable closed-loop solutions.” The company uses solar power to compact municipal waste — reducing fuel use, greenhouse gas emissions, collection frequency and overall costs.
Willis Allen Real Estate
Willis Allen Real Estate’s local roots are as deep as the Pacific Ocean that laps at San Diego’s pristine shores. Independent and family-owned, Willis Allen has been guiding clients in the home ownership process since its founding 95 years ago by Frederick I. Brown of La Jolla. Brown built the company on timeless values that are as important to their clients today as they were in 1914 — superior service, knowledgeable agents and ethical business practices. Willis Allen helped found the Real Estate Broker’s Association of La Jolla, created to promote industry ethics and professionalism. In 1940, the company’s namesake, Willis Allen Sr., bought the business, changed the company name and grew with the city. Under his strategic stewardship, the company opened its second location in Rancho Santa Fe in 1952 and expanded to Del Mar in 1973. Andrew E. Nelson, Willis Allen’s current president and CEO, took over the leadership of the company in 1981. A former Naval officer who flew in the back seat of F-4 Phanton fighter jets, Nelson drew on that leadership experience and training to help the company flourish, even in trying economic times. Willis Allen has doubled in size since Nelson bought it outright in 1995. The company opened a Point Loma office in 1988, a Coronado branch in 2002 and expanded to a revitalized Downtown San Diego in 2004. Most recently, the company has expanded north and east, adding a Fallbrook location in 2007 and acquiring an office in Santaluz in 2008.
Scripps Health
A leader in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, Scripps was named by Thomson Reuters as one of the Top 10 health systems in the United States for providing high quality , safe and efficient patient care. Scripps was founded more than 80 years ago in La Jolla, but the health system now extends from Chula Vista to Oceanside, with more than 20 primary and specialty care outpatient centers. Scripps has earned a national reputation as a premier employer, named by Fortune magazine as one of America’s 100 Best Companies to Work For every year since 2008. Scripps operates four acute-care hospitals on five campuses, employs more than 2,500 affiliated physicians and 13,000 employees and includes Scripps Clinic and Scripps Coastal Medical Center, home health care services and a wide range of health education classes and support services.
In 2009, Scripps community benefit services contributions totaled $311,023,544, which included $255,584,160 in uncompensated care, $39,226,597 in professional education and health research, $538,576 in community building activities and $15,674,213 in community health services. In 2009, Scripps began a pilot program with the San Diego Rescue Mission to provide ongoing care for a unique population of homeless patients that need continued medical care. Some of its recent awards include Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla being ranked nationally as one of the best hospitals for heart and heart surgery.
Jack in the Box
If you’ve ever eaten fast food, then surely you have visited a Jack in the Box restaurant sometime in your life. The San Diego-based company is nearly ubiquitous, operating and franchising 2, 200 Jack in the Box restaurants in 19 states — most of them in California. The company also operates and franchises Qdoba Mexican Grill restaurants with 500 locations in 43 states and the District of Columbia. The company was founded in 1951 by Robert O. Peterson, who opened a small restaurant with a drive-through window and sold hamburgers for 18 cents. The jack-in-the-box clown atop the business became a symbol of the chain and it was later blown up in televison commercials to let the public know the chain was offering more adult fare.
Jack in the Box previously was operated through Peterson’s Foodmaker Co., but in 1999 the company changed its name to Jack in the Box Inc.
Nordstrom’s
Nordstrom’s operates 115 full-line department stores, 86 Nordstrom Rack clearance stores, two Jeffrey Boutiques and one final clearance store (Last Chance) all located in 28 states. In 2011, Nordstrom announced the purchase of HauteLook, a Los Angeles-based online retailer that offers flash sales on designer goods.
• Revenue, $8.57 billion (FY 2009).
• Operating income, $773 million (FY 2009).
• Net income, $401 million (FY 2009).
• Total assets, $5.66 billion (FY 2009).
• Employes, 52,000
• Hall of Fame member of Fortune Magazine’s Best Companies to Work For.
San Diego Padres
For 32 years, 1936 to 1968, the San Diego Padres labored in the minor leagues — theirs was the Pacific Coast League — playing home games in Lane Field at the foot of Broadway. The city built the ballpark for the club on the site of an old racetrack. It was named after businessman Jim Lane, president of Westgate-California Tuna Packing, who had purchased the club in 1955. When San Diego was awarded a Major League Baseball franchise in 1969, the club began a whole new history of baseball lore that continues to this day, 42 years later. Today, the Major League Padres can look back on four decades of memorable feats and not-so-memorable losing seasons, a sucession of owners and managers, a roster of Hall of Famers like Rollie Fingers, Tony Gwynn and Dave Winfield, heroes like Trevor Hoffman and Steve Garvey, and two National League pennants and World Series appearances in 1984 and 1998. The club also can boast five National League West Division titles.
Sharp HealthCare
Sharp is San Diego’s largest health care system with more than 18,000 affiliated doctors, nurses, staff and volunteers who work at Sharp hospitals. Sharp’s mission is “to improve the health of those we serve with a commitment to excellence in all that we do.” In fiscal year 2010, Sharp provided $335.9 million in unreimbursed community benefit, programs and services. This translates to one of every seven dollars of Sharp’s net revenues being spent in direct support of the community. More than $3.5 million was contributed to local schools to promote interest in health care, community flu vaccination clinics and health screenings, participation in community health fairs and events and the participation of Sharp leadership and staff in numerous community organizations, committees and coalitions to improve the overall health of the San Diego community. Sharp also spent nearly $2.8 million in a fund for medications, transportation and other needs to assist patients who cannot afford to pay and for community-wide effort to ensure the safety of seniors in their homes.
San Diego State University
Montezuma Mesa is the home of San Diego State University and more than 34,000 students. Founded in 1897 as the San Diego Normal School, the university has become a nationally ranked research institution and is renowned for its academic excellence in such top programs as education, international business, social work, speech-language pathology, biology and public administration. Students can choose from 85 undergraduate majors, 75 master’s programs and 14 joint doctoral degree programs and two independent doctoral degree programs. In 1960, SDSU became part of the California State College system — now the California State University system — and in the early 1970s became San Diego State University. In 1966, Stephen L. Weber became SDSU’s seventh president. He is scheduled to retire this summer. Sixty percent of San Diego State graduates stay in San Diego to pursue careers.
University of California at San Diego
UCSD, founded in 1960, is one of the top institutions in the country for higher education and research and covers 1,200 acres of coastal woodland along the Pacific Ocean. It boasts an academic portfolio that includes six undergraduate colleges, five academic divisions and five graduate and professional schools. The university is led by Chancellor Marye Anne Fox, who has served in that capacity for nearly five years. According to university officials, UCSD contributes more than $7.2 billion in direct and indirect spending and personal income each year to the California economy and generates 39,400 jobs. With 26,000 employees, it is the third largest employer in San Diego County. The university has collected numerous accolades over the years. Notably, it was ranked the ninth greenest university in the country by the national publication Greenopia, while the Sustainable Endowments Institute listed it as one of the nation’s greenest campuses in its 2010 Sustainability Report Card.
University Club
Even before its multimillion-dollar renovation, the University Club atop Symphony Towers was a marvel of breathtaking views and exquisite cuisine. Situated on the 34th floor of one of Downtown San Diego’s tallest towers, the club has stunning views of the skyline and meals that command admiration. The renovation, completed this year, added 3,600 square feet and included the expansion of the bar, new dining venues and four new meeting rooms to accommodate meetings and social functions. To the businessman or businesswoman, the club is an ideal place to conduct business. The Touchdown Rooms offer free high-speed wireless and a place to conduct business. Other facilities include the 1909 Founders’ Room, the Crescendo and Encore private dining rooms and the Laureate Ballroom, where holiday parties, wedding celebrations and special occasions can be held. The University Club also offers a wide assortment of cultural, educational and business-oriented programs. In addition, it can provide full professional catering services for any occasion.
University of San Diego
The University of San Diego, a Catholic university located on 180 acres of a wind-swept mesa, is actually the result of the merger of two schools — the College for Women, which broke ground in 1949, and the College for Men and the School of Law, which began classes in 1954. The two colleges merged in 1972 and formed what is now USD. The founders were Mother Rosalie Hill of the Society of the Sacred Heart and Bishop Charles Francis Buddy of the Diocese of San Diego. The campus centerpiece is the blue-domed Immaculata Church, consecrated in 1959. School leaders like to say that the university has fully embraced the spirit of ecumenism, pointing out that more than 30 percent of the undergraduates profess to faiths other than Catholicism. Today, USD has more than 800 faculty members and nearly 8,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students. It is governed by a board of trustees and has six academic divisions — the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Law, the School of Business Administration, the School of Leadership and Education Science, the Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science and the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies.
San Diego Zoo
No one ever calls the San Diego Zoo the San Diego Zoo. It’s always called the world famous San Diego Zoo. For good reason. It is known worldwide for its more than 4,000 rare and endangered animals — representing more than 800 species and subspecies — its botanical collection with more than 700,000 exotic plants, and for its conservation, education and recreation programs. The 100-acre zoo is a major feature of Balboa Park, but it also operates Safari Park in the San Pasqual Valley, an expansive wildlife sanctuary that contains more than 3,500 animals representing more than 400 species. The zoo was founded on Oct. 2, 1916, by Harry M. Wegeforth. It has a 12-member board of trustees. It’s the largest zoological membership association in the world with more than 250,000 member households.
