Leadership Award at San Diego

By Karen Robes Meeks

Nonprofit environmental group Ocean Connectors recently honored Port of San Diego’s Board of Port Commissioners Chairman Robert “Dukie” Valderrama with its Leadership Award.

Valderrama was recognized for his outstanding service and dedication to the community of National City and for his environmental stewardship of San Diego Bay.

“The Port is committed to protecting the environment, including the wildlife of San Diego Bay and the tidelands,” said Chairman Valderrama. “This award demonstrates how seriously the Port takes that responsibility and I commend the Port’s staff for their progress with supporting environmental education."

The award was presented at the organization’s 10-year anniversary event honoring its founding funders, which included the port, key supporters and nonprofit partners.

San Diego Annual Report Award

By Karen Robes Meeks

For the third year in a row, the Port of San Diego has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, by the Government Finance Officers Association for the United States and Canada, a nonprofit group representing about 17,500 government finance professionals.

The association also gave an Award of Financial Reporting Achievement to the port’s Financial Services Department for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.

The port was presented with the recognition July 11.

“The fact that we have received this award for three consecutive years shows the port’s dedication to having an open and honest relationship with the public,” said Port Chairman Robert “Dukie” Valderrama. “We, as an organization, embody the ‘spirit of transparency’ that the Government Finance Officers Association strives to promote.”