The San Diego Business Journal on Aug. 14 will recognize San Diego’s Next 40 Top Business Leaders Under 40. The event will be from 4-7 p.m. at the Westin San Diego Gaslamp Quarter. Here are some of the 150 finalists, listed alphabetically. Ten names will be released each day for 10 days starting July 30, 2018. LIST TO DATE
Richie Ploesch Director of Partnerships Autism Spectrum Therapies Ploesch supports AST’s clinical leaders across the U.S. in major cities, including San Diego, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit and Baltimore in order to provide additional services to children with autism while educating the community. During his time at Grossmont Union High School District, Ploesch revolutionized the system for delivering behavioral support services districtwide and the number of students receiving quality support increased each year. Ploesch has also operated his own private international consulting company, which allowed him to bring the latest teaching technologies to families of children and young adults with autism in India and the Philippines.
Anthony Pretto Vice President of Operations The Kobey Corp. Pretto is the third generation to work in his family’s business, Kobey’s Swap Meet. As a little boy, he was the poster child of advertisements and in 2007 he joined the company full time focusing on social media and advertising. Over the past 11 years, he has continued to learn every aspect of the organization while working alongside his mother and father every day. Today, he handles the operations of Kobey’s Swap Meet. This year, Pretto is spearheading a Nonprofit Day at Kobey’s, where he plans to invite over 250 nonprofit organizations to have an information booth or garage sale for free.
Mariangela Pretto Digital Sales Manager Entravision Communications MariangelaPretto manages a team of five account executives and handles all of the digital advertising sales for San Diego, Imperial counties and Tijuana. She works with over 50 clients with yearly advertising budgets ranging from $5,000 to over $500,000. Pretto was named the Top Performing Sales Executive in San Diego and was award Rising Star in 2015 by her organization. She is an active member of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and the advertising organization, SDX. Pretto is fluent in English, Spanish and Italian. She is known by her nickname “Cookie.”
Matt Price Vice President of Sales Reliant Funding In 2018, Reliant Funding surpassed $1 billion in total funding and has serviced over 31,000 small businesses with the coaching, sales and revenue leadership Matt Price provides. Price has been with Reliant since the beginning. He joined the founder of Reliant Funding to develop a small business funding startup in 2008 and was integral in the research and execution of process related to capital need and selling to American small businesses. Price has grown 3 departments within the company (direct sales, wholesale, underwriting) by at least 20 percent each in the past 90 days, which will bring the company to new heights by the end of the year.
Alicia Quinn Director of Programs Mission Edge In 2018, Alicia Quinn launched the Social Enterprise Accelerator and Impact Lab (SAIL). Through this program. she has engaged 28 San Diego nonprofits in 2-4 month curriculums to build their social enterprise models and increase their sustainability. Quinn is a board member at Barrio Logan College Institute, a San Diego-based nonprofit that aims to break the cycle of poverty by preparing students to be the first in their families to go to college. Quinn has recently been named the VP of Programs at Natural High.
Renata Ramirez Marketing and Communication Director University of San Diego Renata Ramirez is one of the youngest marketing directors of a business school, overseeing all marketing and communication strategies for the entire school. She helped successfully launch its latest program, which is an experiential learning opportunity that gives San Diego-based students the opportunity to live, work and gain professional experiences in 5 countries in less than a year. Through her marketing strategies and efforts, she tripled the number of students enrolled in the graduate programs offered at the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies. Ramirez is fluent in three languages and is learning a fourth.
Eric Ramos Director of Analytics BusinessOnline Eric Ramos has promoted a data-driven culture at BusinessOnline with the development of the marketing technology platform, Data Weld. This allows analysts to be more efficient and productive with their time. Analysts are saving up to 28 percent of their time on reporting which, for an agency with 60 clients, would be equivalent of close to $500K in hours that can be applied to more client value work such as optimization and driving insights. Through Ramos’ work, Data Weld platform won the SEMPO (Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization) Best Use of Technology/Tool, recognizing the game-changing technology.
Hope Reilly Senior Manager of Public Affairs & Chief Social Media Strategist Southwest Strategies Hope Reilly manages more than a dozen projects and oversees all social media strategy development and implementation at Southwest Strategies. She has been recognized with more than two dozen awards, including two prestigious Silver Anvil awards, the highest distinction bestowed upon public relations professionals by the National Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. She is an active member of the Junior League of San Diego and served as co-chair of the league’s 2018 Food & Wine Festival, which is its largest annual fundraiser.
Chris Ross Executive Vice President JLL Chris Ross is co-leader of a three-person, full service real estate team at JLL that specializes exclusively in health care leasing and sales. Ross’ most impactful accomplishment in 2018 was assisting a large healthcare provider with securing a 60,000-square-foot lease. He also advised this client on several strategic acquisition and expansion opportunities. He has closed over 350 transactions valued in excess of $360,000,000. Ross played a major role in JLL San Diego’s earning the business of its largest client. Ross earned a degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s in business.
Angela Ryan Studio Manager Ware Malcomb Angela Ryan expertly juggles the design, planning and pursuit of projects for Ware Malcomb. Recently, she worked alongside her team, and lead specific phases of the following projects: 3D Systems, Trellisware Technologies, Goodix Technology, Novasyte and ACE Fitness. Ryan is CID and NCIDQ certified, which is the industry’s recognized indicator of proficiency in interior design principles and a designer’s commitment to the profession. Ryan is a member of a number of nonprofit organizations and is also EDAC certified (Evidence-Based Design Accreditation and Certification). Ryan is an associate professor at the NewSchool of Architecture and Design.
Dr. Marjan Rashedi President, Medical and Dental Director North County Dental Surgery Center Dr. Rashedi has led SmileBuilders Children’s Dentistry and the North County Dental Surgery Center since 2013 and 2016, respectively. She is also a staff member at Rady Children’s Hospital. She belongs to the American Dental Association, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, California Dental Association, San Diego County Dental Society, and the California Society of Pediatric Dentistry. She graduated from the Boston University School of Dental Medicine, after completing her undergraduate work in molecular, cell and developmental biology at UCLA.
Kyle Sandsmark Marketing Manager Host Healthcare Inc. Kyle Sandsmark has helped Host Healthcare achieve remarkable accomplishments during his tenure there. He has helped increase total website traffic by 31 percent, increased organic traffic 124 percent and increased leads by 48 percent, leading to more sales. Sandsmark is not only a leader at Host Healthcare, but he is also a leader in the marketing industry. He has been on the board for the San Diego American Marketing Association for three years. Sandsmark has led several philanthropic events with Host Healthcare, leading beach cleanups and organizing events that give back to Rady’s Children Hospital.
Katie Sawyer CEO San Diego Women’s Foundation In Katie Sawyer’s first year as executive director, SDWF granted $200,000 to support homeless youth and welcomed over 30 new female philanthropists as members. Sawyer worked with other funders to offer San Diego’s first-ever learning opportunity specifically for the members of collective giving circles, in partnership with San Diego Grantmakers, Social Venture Partners, Women Give San Diego and RSF Women’s Fund. She was recognized by Assembly Member Todd Gloria as one of District 78’s 2018 Women of the Year.
Rachel Scatizzi Thompson Partner Smith &Scatizzi LLP Rachel Scatizzi Thompson is a founding partner of an all-female San Diego law firm, Smith &Scatizzi LLP, and the 2016-2018 president of the Junior League of San Diego, a local nonprofit focused on training women to effect community change. Rachel was the first woman to hold this position for two years. She also managed a caseload of more than 30 contested family law matters at any given time and increasing her firm’s revenue to its highest level in three years. She has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star for four consecutive years and is recognized in the legal community for her passionate advocacy and results.
Zachary Schalgel Assistant Director of Government Affairs UC San Diego Health Schalgel is a longtime advocate for public health, having joined UC San Diego Health in 2007. He is the creator of the award-winning Here initiative to expand healthcare access, provide workforce education and development, and promote clinical research for underserved South Bay and southeast San Diego communities. He also works closely to promote events and services with The LGBT Center and manages all external volunteer activities for staff throughout UC San Diego Health. Prior to joining UC San Diego Health, Zachary worked as a community representative for Congressman Bob Filner, advising the politician on health, environmental and educational issues. Zachary is studied political science and government at UC San Diego and Grossmont College.