By Tainá Fonseca • Times of San Diego
Copyright timesofsandiego
The San Diego Chamber of Commerce is celebrating San Diego’s leadership.
On Sept. 18, LEAD San Diego brought together business, community and elected leaders for its 23rd annual Visionary Awards. Six awards were given for honorees’ contributions to positive changes in the community and leading San Diego into the future.
Among those recognized was Jim Gruny, a community liaison officer and former Marine. With three decades of service and more than twenty moves with the Marine Corps, Gruny said he found himself at a crossroads in 2019.
“During 30 years of active duty service in the Marine Corps my family and I had over 20 addresses,” Gruny said. “We moved quite a bit and never had the opportunity to develop deep ties or become productive members of a community in which we lived and worked.”
Today, Gruny serves as a community liaison Officer for Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and the Western Recruiting Region. In this role, he works to build bridges between the military and the greater San Diego community.
“I represent MCRD on multiple non-profit and civic Boards and Committees and actively support the San Diego region’s military community through advocacy and hands-on volunteer efforts,” he said.
“I work hard to bring San Diego community leaders aboard MCRD to educate them on what we do and explain the how and why recruiting and making of Marines means so much to San Diego and our national security.”
Gruny’s commitment to service was recognized this year as he was named the LEAD Graduate of the Year, which recognizes outstanding community leadership.
“I can’t think of a more meaningful honor and affirmation for community service effort than the LEAD Visionary Award for LEAD Graduate of the Year,” Gruny said. “I’m truly honored to receive the award.”
Those who know Gruny best, like LEAD San Diego executive director Veronica Perondi, would describe him as “committed.”
As Perondi put it, “He is so committed to the work that he does. He is a Marine through and through, and he really wants to welcome the Marine community into San Diego and welcome the San Diego community into and get connected to his world within the military and Marines specifically.”
Gruny’s story is one of service to his country and his community. Through his work, he continues to bridge the gap between the military and civilian worlds, ensuring that both thrive together in San Diego.
Among other honorees was Dr. Ellen Neufeldt, who was awarded the Innovation & Economic Opportunity Award for her creation of the California State University San Marcos Foundation Innovation Hub, among other projects.
According to Emilie Hersh, a former chair of the CSUSM Foundation Board, the CSUSM Innovation Hub is a space where students, faculty, and industry collaborate to solve real-world problems and create economic opportunity.
Hersh felt that Dr. Neufeldt was the ideal honoree because of her unwavering belief that higher education is not just about degrees, but about transforming lives and building a more inclusive economy.
“This award is really the campus’s award,” Dr. Neufeldt said.
“It’s the work we do together for the success and social mobility of our students. I’m so grateful to work alongside so many scholars, innovators, and partners to advance what higher education should and must become.”
Other great honorees awarded were Walt Ekard, former chief administrative officer for the county of San Diego; Kerri Verbeke Kapich, chief operating officer of the San Diego Tourism Authority; and superintendent and president of Southwestern College, Dr. Mark Sanchez.
“I would say the one thing that is the tie line between all of them is that they care,” Perondi said.
“They care about the region, they care about the people that they work with. They’re doing this work for something bigger than themselves that is focused on creating that positive change within the greater San Diego region.”
