BLU Lapis Media – formerly known as IQ Podcasts – hosted their inaugural BLU Lapis Leadership Awards Summit on Monday, May 20, where they honored outstanding community leaders and individuals in Southern California, five of whom come out of Coronado.
BLU Lapis Media produces a range of content, including podcasts, magazines, events, films and productions. Since 2020, they have hosted the San Diego Academia Awards, celebrating the best in education – from teachers, custodians, to secretaries, cafeteria staff and more.
CEO Brett Davis and Executive Director Sarah Morga initially conceptualized the idea of the Leadership Awards Summit as a way of continuing their mission of celebrating outstanding individuals from a diverse range of communities.
Coronado’s Marco Zannoni, Claudia Ludlow, Arlene Inch, John Duncan and Myssie McCaan immediately came to the BLU Lapis board’s mind when thinking of community leaders.
Marco Zannoni: “Restauranteur of the Year”
Co-owner of the local Italian restaurant, Buona Forchetta, Marco Zannoni will be the face of the BLU Lapis magazine that announces the top leaders of the year.
Zannoni will be given the “Restaurateur of the Year” leadership award at this year’s ceremony, celebrating his success in the restaurant business and philosophy of hospitality.
“His food is so authentic, so clean, and he has various types of foods for people from all walks of life,” said Davis. “There’s so many things that he’s involved with and he doesn’t tell people about it because it’s just the kind of person he is. He’s a giver. It makes sense that we honor somebody like him because he isn’t doing those things for accolades, he’s doing them because he has a lot of heart.”
Zannoni, who made his start in the restaurant business as a bartender in Italy at the age of 14, has worked his way up in the industry. He initially came to San Diego at the age of 27, where he was bussing tables because he didn’t speak English.
After learning the language, moving on to work as a server, graduating from San Diego State University and experimenting with various restaurant ventures, he eventually crossed paths with his current partner of Garage Buona Forchetta, Matteo Cattaneo.
Since opening four years ago, Garage Buona Forchetta has seen huge success on the island.
“You can go there any day and he has people who just want to meet him and see him because he’s very hands on,” said Davis. “He puts in long hours; he’s not doing it from the sideline. This is his life and his business, and you can see he really cares.”
Zannoni reflects on the award and success built over time as a product of setting his eyes on a goal.
“I’m a strong believer of the fact that if you want to reach somewhere, you need to have a vision,” said Zannoni. “In total honesty, awards are not something that I seek, but it feels good. It’s really satisfying to see that in time, we have been able to build something.”
Claudia Ludlow: “Hospitality Excellence”
Claudia Ludlow’s name may be on many Coronado residents’ minds every June 21, considering the city literally declared the date “Claudia Ludlow Day” – a day dedicated to celebrating her contributions. But on May 20 this year, Ludlow will again be recognized for her impact on Coronado.
BLU Lapis will be awarding Ludlow with the “Hospitality Excellence” leadership award for her work with the Glorietta Bay Inn.
“Hospitality is not a sacrifice for her; it’s an honor and she gives it her all. She is one of those people who gives 200% of herself.”
-Sarah Morga, BLU Lapis executive director
“Hospitality is not a sacrifice for her; it’s an honor and she gives it her all,” said Morga. “She is one of those people who gives 200% of herself.”
For the past 22 years, she has served as the general manager of the Glorietta Bay Inn – formerly a mansion where sugar baron and San Diego developer John D. Spreckels lived. Now operating as a hotel, the Glorietta Bay Inn has provided a temporary home for thousands who come in annually to stay in one of the property’s historically-rich rooms.
Her attentiveness has made her a standout individual in the hospitality industry.
“She is very community-driven and never too busy for anyone,” said Davis. “When you go there, she always makes time for not only the guests, but for the community and for people that just have questions.”
Arlene Inch: “Excellence in Leadership”
Arlene Inch will be presented the “Excellence in Leadership” award from her former Navy SEAL friend Paul Plumb, who she attended Coronado High School with. She will be celebrated for her work as the chairwoman of TransPak, a woman-owned company dedicated to cost-effective design, crating, packaging and global logistics that has been in the Inch family since 1969.
“I never dreamt about being a business woman, it just kind of fell into place – it was my destiny,” said Inch.
Over the years, she has grown TransPak from a small packaging company to an international business with around 70 locations.
John Duncan: “Public Servant”
John Duncan, a candidate for Coronado mayor, will be receiving the “Public Servant” leadership award for his deep involvement in the Coronado community. From his activism with the Tijuana sewage crisis – going all the way to Washington D.C. to provide a voice to the issue, to his involvement in various Coronado clubs and organizations, Morga describes him as the “man in every corner.”
Myssie McCann: “Entrepreneur of the Year”
Myssie McCann, a figure within the Coronado community for her work with the Coronado Shores real estate company, will be receiving the “Entrepreneur of the Year” leadership award. Although some may know her as the wife to John McCann, the mayor of Chula Vista, many who have come into contact with her recognize her for her deep dedication to her work in real estate.
Since buying the company seven years ago, McCann has more than doubled the amount of units Coronado Shores manages. Primarily managing within the Coronado Shores Towers, she overlooks roughly 400 units in the luxury condominium complex.
Her work with the company comes after previously retiring from real estate to be a full-time stay-at-home mom. It was her desire to better the real estate industry that pulled her back into the workforce.
“I feel like there’s so many poorly-run management companies that it was always kind of my goal to have a good one that really represents the owners and understands what they’re looking for,” said McCann.
Her work in real estate is equally matched by her involvement in the community – whether it is sponsoring a band in the summer concerts every year, sponsoring a little league team or the Coronado Flower Show, Coronado Shores has spread its name across the island.
Her award will honor the entrepreneurial efforts she put toward growing the company.
“I’ve always been kind of the woman behind the guy (John McCann) who gets all the accolades, which is fine with me, he supports me also – he’s very flattering in terms of how much he thinks I’ve done,” said McCann. “But I’m so honored that they chose me for this award. It’s not anything I necessarily think I deserve, I’m really just one of the lucky people who is very blessed to actually do what they love.”
A total of 34 people will be honored at this year’s Leadership Awards Summit. The night will feature the celebrational ceremony, as well as live music and comedy. The event will run from 6-8 p.m. at the Coronado Performing Arts Center; tickets can be purchased for $20 at the door.
