Goals and accomplishments

Minute-by-minute, community and business leaders at the Leadership Luncheon on Tuesday shared their most significant accomplishments in 2005 and their most important goals for 2006.

Realtor Bobbi Cox, who founded the event and has chaired it for 19 years at Hotel Laguna, designed the luncheon for 90 participants -- which allows one minute per person. She keeps a close watch on the timer -- in fact she had a backup.

"I am ruthless," Cox said. "We'll be doing more listening than talking."

If you had been there, this is some of what you would have heard.

Accomplishments

Mayor Elizabeth Pearson-Schneider: "My most significant accomplishment was finding money to help get through the crisis caused by the [June 1] landslide."

Martha Lydick wore two hats to the luncheon. As president of the Laguna Beach Taxpayers Assn., she cited support for the sales-tax increase; as Friends of the Library president, she announced that painting would begin on the exterior of the library next week, funded by the Friends.

Patricia Tournier, local artist and member of the taxpayers board and Laguna Art Museum advisory board: "I arranged events for Bowers Museum, but no one listens to my advice."

"We do," interjected Lydick.

Peggy Ford, president of the Laguna Beach Woman's Club: "Last year we started a face-lifting project [for the clubhouse] and we raised $20,000 [with $50,000 to go]."

Chris Lutz, Prudential Realty: "I lost 45 pounds last year."

Kim Maxwell, Boys and Girls Club executive director: "We acquired TLC [formerly the Laguna Club for Kids] in May."

Jeannie Harrell, Laguna Beach High School: "Working with many of the organizations here today, we raised $175,000 in scholarships in 2005."

Cindy Prewitt, Laguna Beach Live: "We started a summer jazz series here at the Hotel Laguna in 2005."

Jennifer Miller, Friendship Shelter: "Our biggest accomplishment was hiring me. I am the first development director even though the shelter is 18 years old."

Darrel Cavanaugh, State Farm Insurance, said his major accomplishment was opening his own business.

Peggy Ahern, Shamrock Marketing: "I introduced Laguna Beach to the world. At the Cannes Film Festival, it was the French Riviera meets the California Riviera."

Veronica Nice, Nice Touch Chiropratic and the Woman's Club: "The club's resource center had the largest low-income family back-to-school event ever."

George Collins, Capri Laguna Inn at the Beach: "We began promoting the hotel as a wedding site."