PEOPLE ARE WHAT ELEVATE SAN DIEGO from a beautiful beach town to America’s Finest City. San Diego is a city of entrepreneurs, experts, and influencers, who drive their respective industries forward and pioneer new ideas. The innovators featured here are moving the needle in health care, finance, real estate, fitness, and more. Meet the 2024 […]
PEOPLE ARE WHAT ELEVATE SAN DIEGO from a beautiful beach town to America’s Finest City. San Diego is a city of entrepreneurs, experts, and influencers, who drive their respective industries forward and pioneer new ideas. The innovators featured here are moving the needle in health care, finance, real estate, fitness, and more. Meet the 2024 Faces of San Diego.
The Face Of Aesthetic and Regenerative Medicine | Margo Aura Emami, MD
COMPASSIONATE AND INTUITIVE BY NATURE, Dr. Margo Aura Emami embodies the art and science of natural beauty. “True beauty begins at the cellular level and is intimately tied to our physical and mental health,” she explains. This Harvard-trained physician with 30 ears of experience and fellowships in aesthetic, regenerative, and anti-aging medicine founded AURAE MD as a comprehensive center for preventive and restorative therapies.
Known for her warm bedside manner, Dr. Emami performs each procedure herself. including nonsurgical face and neck lifts, radio frequency micro needling, PL, lasers, fillers, and Botox. (She is one of the first to offer Daxxify, the new wrinkle relaxer that lasts for six months.)
“Patients desire minimally invasive, comfortable treatments with little to no downtime and natural results. It’s important to use the most highly proven and effective technologies and to know how to choose the right treatment in the right combination for each patient.”
AURAE MD extends beyond aesthetics, offering customizable wellness plans that help reduce fat, tighten skin, and tone muscle without surgery. From state-of-the-art skincare to Hydrafacials, acne management, regenerative therapies, and nutritional support, AURA MD stands as the ultimate destination for aesthetics and wellness.
9850 Genesee Avenue, Suite 840La Jolla, California 92037 I 858-461-8543 I auraemd.com
The Face OfNonprofits
Fresh Start Surgical Gifts | Shari Brasher and Michelle Pius
FRESH START SURGICAL GIFTS IS COMMITTED TO TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF DISADVANTAGED YOUTH with physical deformities by providing comprehensive reconstructive surgery at no cost to the patient and their family. World-class medical professionals generously donate their time and talent to deliver much needed medical care, and 100% of all financial contributions directly benefit the children’s medical program. Every dollar donated allows Fresh Start to gift five dollars in medical services. “Since 1991, Fresh Start has transformed the lives of 9,017 children, infants, children, and teens with highly specialized medical care and related services valued at over $59,664,350 at no cost to patients or their families,” says CEO Shari Brasher. Headquartered in San Diego, the nonprofit has expanded into multiple regions throughout the U.S. and globally. Fresh Start accepts ongoing applications, with the goal of making screenings, medical care, and treatments available to as many children as possible.
2011 Palomar Airport Road, Suite 206 Carlsbad, California 92011 I 760-944-7774 | freshstart.org
The Face of Marketing, Branding, and Advertising | InnoVision Marketing Group
As A FULL-SERVICE MARKETING AND ADVERTISING “ANTI-AGENCY” WITH GLOBAL REACH, InnoVision Marketing Group combines strategy, storytelling, and creativity to create campaigns that drive results. One of San Diego’s largest marketing firms, InnoVision serves clients around the world in hospitality, travel, retail, restaurants, healthcare, and more, including an extensive Hispanic marketing division. CEO/Executive Creative Director Ric Militi leads a stellar team of creatives and business strategists who are no strangers to industry accolades, having earned San Diego Business Journal’s Best Places to Work 2022; San Diego Business Journal’s CEO of the Year Award 2022-Ric Militi; North San Diego Business Chamber Emerging Leader 2022-Alanna Markey; Content Marketing Award 2023 Sandie Awards: and San Diego Business Journal’s Leaders of Influence in Advertising, PR, & Marketing 2023-Ric Militi. Committed to giving back, InnoVision offers preferred pricing and pro bono services to multiple nonprofits including Fresh Start Surgical Gifts, Solutions for Change, the National Native American Human Resources Association, and the Fentanyl United Crisis Coalition. “We’re a culture-first company who provides every client an experience so extraordinary, they will feel as if they’re our only client,” says Militi FACES OF SAN DIEGO
5961 Kearny Villa Road San Diego, California 92123 | 619-356-3020 | teaminnovision.com
WITH A MISSION TO HEAL, COMFORT, AND PROMOTE HEALTH IN THE COMMUNITIES IT SERVES, Palomar Health is recognized as the largest healthcare district in California. In 2022, Palomar Health was designated the Association of California Healthcare District’s District of the Year, which speaks to Palomar Health’s unwavering commitment to excellence. “The impact we have on our community is what I find most rewarding,” says CEO Diane Hansen. “Our success is rooted in our compassion. We don’t just treat patients; we embrace them as family, extending a level of care that goes beyond medicine and resonates with empathy.” With top quality, comprehensive services, Palomar Health has built a coordinated system of care that emphasizes technology, expertise, and access anchored by two hospital campuses. Palomar Health offers an array of acute care services, obstetrics, rehabilitation, behavioral health, orthopedics, a full trauma center, innovative robotics, oncology services, and neonatal intensive care. Hansen notes, “We strive to ensure that the patients and members in our district don’t have to travel outside of their community to receive top-notch, state-of-the-art care.”
2185 Citracado Parkway Escondido, 92029 I 15615 Pomerado Road Poway, 92064 I 858-613-4000 I palomarhealth.org
The Face of Insurance Services
Chris Williams, Principal and CEO-West Region | Marsh McLennan Agency
“AS BUSINESSES EXPERIENCE DRASTIC CHANGES IN RISK AND THE NEEDS OF TODAY’S WORKFORCE EVOLVE, it’s our job to support our clients in pursuing limitless opportunity,” says Chris Williams, principal and CEO of Marsh McLennan Agency’s West Region.
Marsh McLennan Agency offers a combination of local specialists and global resources, providing innovative business insurance, employee health and benefits, and retirement solutions to businesses and individuals across the region. In addition to its work with clients, the firm prioritizes a mission of being there in the moments that matter for clients, colleagues, and the community through the work of its Barney & Barney Foundation.
In his role, Williams focuses on ensuring top-tier service and support for clients while also finding new ways to pair passion with purpose through giving back.
9171 Towne Centre Drive, Suite 100 San Diego, California I 192122 1-800-321-4696 I I marshmma.com
The Face of San Diego Dining
Matt Spencer | SDCM Restaurant Group
SDM RESTAURANT GROUP IS KNOWN FOR ITS ABILITY TO BALANCE HIGH•END CULINARY AND BEVERAGE OFFERINGS with a late-night lounge scene vibe. The result? SDCM creates spaces with a multisensory experience in mind.
“I got my first busboy job at age 16 and have been in the restaurant and lounge industry my entire career,” says owner Matt Spencer. “I have an innate appreciation for how far dining in San Diego has come, and I’m proud that I’ve been able to contribute to its evolution.”
Spencer has conceptualized, helped design, and opened each of the group’s San Diego venues, which include notable names like Waverly, Kettner Exchange, FIREHOUSE, Vin de Syrah, and Devil’s Dozen.
“We’ve been fortunate to win awards in an array of categories that are so important to SDCM. The Michelin Bib Gourmand and the Orchids for both Design and Architecture are a few of our top accolades.”
Krithi Rao Bindal, PhD, MBA | Aroga Biosciences, Inc.
DR. KRITHI RAO BINDAL, PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF AROGA BIOSCIENCES, believes the development of novel therapeutics for patients should be handled with compassion, commitment, technical expertise, and the utmost adherence to regulatory standards.
At Aroga Biosciences, Dr. Bindal uses her 15 years of experience in biotech and pharma industries to do exactly this. Always following their motto, “strength from science,” Dr. Bindal and her team develop preclinical and clinical research submissions, which are critical to the biopharma industry in drug development-and ultimately, for helping provide better care for ailing patients.
Dr. Bindal and her diverse team at Aroga have been consistently recognized for their work, including being named this year as a Top 40 Under 40 Business Leader by the San Diego Business Journal and Top Medical Writing CRO by Life Science Review. Previous accolades include being named a Top Leader of Influence in Life Science by the San Diego Business Journal and a Top 10 CRO by PharmaTech Outlook Magazine.
6496 Weathers Place, Suite 200 San Diego, California 92121 | 858-925-6145 | arogabio.com
The Face of Rejuvenation and Wellness
Lorena and Jean-Michel | Balensi Balensi Spa
WHEN BALENSI SPA FOUNDERS LORENA AND JEAN-MICHEL BALENSI OPENED THEIR DOORS TWO DECADES AGO, they wanted to offer a place where people could disconnect, relax, and leave satisfied with their service and results. It would seem they’ve more than met that goal: Today, they’re still serving some of the same clients 21 years later. Of course, Jean-Michel says he and his wife don’t see the people they treat as customers or clients; they think of them as guests-“and we’re happy to pamper them,” Lorena adds.
The cozy, peaceful spa specializes in a wide-range of facials and also provides other unbeatable spa treatments. With an emphasis on providing relaxing care, as opposed to aggressive treatments, Balensi Spa‘s professionally trained technicians can repair years of damage to reveal fresher and younger skin.
Beginning January 2024, Balensi Spa is excited to announced it’s offering franchises, allowing these expert services to reach even more guests.
FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, MIKE TERESSO HAS BEEN PRESIDENT OF BAKER HOME ENERGY. He is a trusted energy expert who empowers his customers to save money, live in comfort, and enjoy peace of mind in a world of rising energy costs and grid instability.
A champion of positive solar policy, Teresso was named Solar Power World’s 2022 Top Solar Advocate, and he has testified on solar projects and initiatives everywhere from California to Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, Baker, with over 300 local employees, has been a staple in San Diego for over 85 years. It is a proud local community partner with the San Diego Food Bank and is recognized on a local and national level for outstanding contributions to solar energy in Southern California.
From solar, battery, roofing, and EV charging to cooling and heating, Mike’s mission is to empower San Diego homeowners to cost-effectively generate, store, consume, and manage their own home energy.
2120 Harmony Grove Road, Escondido, California 92029 | 877-578-8080 | bakerhomeenergy.com
The Face of Cabinets and Kitchens
Melissa and Chris Perez | Boyar’s Kitchen Cabinets
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS IN SAN DIEGO, Melissa and Chris Perez have been the face of Boyar’s Kitchen Cabinets for decades and were already managing the operations when they took ownership in 2019. Apart from Chris and Melissa’s titles, little has changed at the company.
Boyar’s has retained its same employees, its same exceptional customer service, and its same top quality that is backed with a lifetime warranty. Melissa says, “Our entire company is committed to delivering the best possible work.”
Boyar’s specializes in cabinet refacing and all new, fully custom cabinets. The true definition of a local, family-owned company, Boyar’s prides itself not just on its work, but on its service. Melissa, Chris, and their staff are people who clients can reach when they need them and who care about every home like their own.
Melissa and Chris Perez are most proud of their dedicated employees and their superior craftsmanship. They’re honored to lead the company, alongside their children and tenured staff, into its next 50 years!
7020 Carroll Road San Diego, California 92121 | 858-549-2000 | boyarscabinets.com
The Face of Authentic Italian Dining
Mario Cassineri | Ciccia Osteria
IF YOU’RE SEARCHING FOR AUTHENTIC, FLAVORFUL, UNIQUE ITALIAN CUISINE AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE POINT, look no further than Barrio Logan’s Ciccia Osteria. Owned by renowned Chef Mario Cassineri, Ciccia Osteria offers a cozy, welcoming atmosphere where guests are made to feel at home. Reservations are suggested as the place fills fast.
But what really sets the restaurant apart is its menu—a beautiful mix of authentic Italian food that honors the recipes of Cassineri’s experience and some from his mother and grandmother, combined with the chef’s desire to take risks and add a modern touch. “We have Italian dishes that you can’t find anywhere else,” Cassineri says.
Whatever guests try, they always leave happy and satisfied. “Cooking is an act of love for me,” Cassineri adds. “My goal is always to serve delicious food and provide cozy, good service, so people leave with a smile.”
2233 Logan Avenue San Diego, California 92113 | 619-674-4069 | cicciasandiego.com
The Face of Wealth Management
Elisabeth Dawson | Copia Wealth Management & Insurance Services
AS THE FOUNDER OF COPIA WEALTH MANAGEMENT & INSURANCE SERVICES and Copia Wealth Management Advisors, Inc., Elisabeth Dawson has 25 years of expertise in the financial industry. Elisabeth’s passion is educating people about their relationship with money so that they can live their dream financial lives while removing any fear and uncertainty surrounding their finances. As a Retirement Income Specialist, Elisabeth shows clients how to create lifetime income that eliminates concerns of running out of money.
Unlike traditional financial planning, Elisabeth offers clients a holistic experience by educating, coaching, and developing strategies for every financial life decision. Each plan is customized for a person’s unique goals and best interests. “We help our clients achieve possibilities they thought were out of reach. Our strategic approach focuses on their wish list so they can live their ideal retirement, protect their loved ones, and never worry about running out of money.”
2333 Camino del Rio South, Suite 240 San Diego, California 92108 | 619-640-2622 | copiawm.com | CA LIC. #0C72164, #0G81294
The Face of Fitness
FireSnake Fitness
AT FIRESNAKE FITNESS, OWNER AMY MINNICK AND HER EXPERIENCED, LICENSED TEAM are the first company in San Diego to provide FDA-cleared, total-body electro-muscle- stimulation (EMS). This innovative, scientifically proven personal training service has been shown to be 20 times more effective than conventional strength training. Due to the full body activation and intensity of EMS training, sessions only need to be conducted once per week for 20 minutes to equal the benefits of 2.5 hours of conventional strength training.
The training can be customized to meet most clients’ desires, whether that’s getting in shape; building lean, symmetrical muscle; improving metabolism; reducing muscle atrophy; or boosting muscle recovery and rehabilitation. No matter where you are on your wellness journey, EMS training can support your needs.
FireSnake Fitness has witnessed the drastic difference that only a few EMS sessions can start to make on clients’ bodies and could do the same for you.
FireSnake Fitness has three locations for your convenience. Mobile concierge is also available.
8127 La Mesa Blvd, Studio 306 La Mesa, California 91942
1022 N El Camino Real, Studio 109 Encinitas, California 92024
3055 University Avenue, Studio 105 San Diego, California 92104
Ankur Bindal, MD and Randi Maples, PsyD | KAB Medical Group (KMG Psychiatry)
DR. ANKUR BINDAL IS THE FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF KAB MEDICAL GROUP INC., an integrative psychiatry practice that provides quality, compassionate, individualized care for every patient. Looking to help individuals heal, discover their strengths, and live fulfilling lives, KMG Psychiatry takes pride in helping underserved populations and specializes in treating depression and PTSD for military personnel. It also helps individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, panic disorders, and autism spectrum disorders, among other things.
Dr. Bindal is a board-certified psychiatrist and board-certified sleep specialist with over 16 years of experience in medicine. His comprehensive care includes medication management, cognitive-behavioral therapy, sleep medicine, intranasal ketamine treatments, and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.
He has been named a Diamond Circle Provider for three straight years, and received the Outstanding Leadership Award and Outstanding Corporation Award by Health Conference 2.0. He serves on multiple boards for Artificial Intelligence companies, is a commercial real estate entrepreneur, and is an appointed Board Member of the Department of Consumer Affairs’ Structural Pest Control Board.
765 Third Avenue Suite 100 Chula Vista, California 91910
6496 Weathers Place Suite 100 & 110 San Diego, California 92121
1968 Via Center Suite 100, Vista, California 92081
THE KEBAB SHOP HAS COME A LONG WAY SINCE IT OPENED IN EAST VILLAGE 16 YEARS AGO. Today, the Mediterranean eatery has 45 locations across three different states. But in every location, you’ll find the San Diego Wrap on the menu. That’s because San Diego isn’t just the restaurant’s birthplace. “San Diego is at the core of everything we do,” says Wally Sadat, chief marketing officer and co-owner of The Kebab Shop. No matter how much the restaurant has grown, it has stayed a social, fun, and laidback place, reflecting the energy of San Diego itself.
The Kebab Shop is still growing. “We focus on creating a memorable experience for every guest with not just great food, but also service and convenience features that are similar to what they get from large national brands,” Sadat says.
The result? The restaurants continue to change the kebab game by mixing convenience and innovation with awesome feels and mom-and-pop shop flavors. In other words, totally San Diego.
IN APRIL, MESA DENTAL OPENED A NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART FAMILY AND COSMETIC DENTAL OFFICE in the heart of San Diego. The beautiful office is equipped with the most advanced technologies available in dentistry along with the award-winning service that Mesa Dental is known for.
The office is led by Dr. Qadeer, a self-professed perfectionist who has received several Best Service Awards among multiple dental insurance providers for his patient care.
As a Gold provider for Invisalign with the latest Itero scanner and offering an in house CBCT, Mesa Dental makes it easy for patients looking for cosmetic, orthodontics, implant, and restorative dentistry treatments.
“Many patients avoid dental work due to fear and anxiety. We eliminate fear with one simple rule: love,” he says.
Dr. Qadeer is a proud member of the San Diego County Dental Society, California Dental Association, the American Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.
6215 Beadnell Way, San Diego, California 92117 | 858-514-4290 | mesadentalsd.com
The Face of Audiology and Hearing Aids
Linda Oliver AuD | Oliver Audiology & Hearing Aid Services
LOCATED IN OLD TOWN SAN DIEGO,Oliver Audiology & Hearing Aid Services has become the benchmark for best practices in hearing health since it opened in 1996. The practice was founded by Dr. Linda Oliver, who mixes expert hearing healthcare with a compassionate, personal touch. Utilizing the newest technology, including 3D digital ear scanning and real-ear measurement, as well as the latest research and methods, Dr. Oliver is always on the leading edge of best practices.
Still, what truly sets her apart is her genuine compassion for everyone who enters her office. Dr. Oliver listens to her patients’ needs and creates comprehensive approaches that target entire hearing healthcare. She understands there are moments in life you don’t want to miss, and you should hear your best when the moment matters.
3990 Old Town Avenue, Suite C-207 San Diego, California 92110 | 619-297-3131 | oliveraud.com
The Face of Spas
Matt Stewart | Pure Infrared Sauna Studio
SWEAT. SOAK. SALT. LIGHT. RECOVER. This is Pure Infrared Sauna Studio, San Diego’s first fully immersive wellness recovery studio and spa.
Pure is owned by Matt Stewart, a certified health coach and athlete who spent 30 years working in the hospitality industry, specifically luxury resorts and spas. He’s also dealt with years of injuries, surgeries, ailments, and prescribed solutions that sent him on a quest to find the fountain of youth and a path to holistic body and wellness recovery.
With services including infrared saunas, cold plunges, salt and red-light therapy, compression, and PEMF therapy, Pure Infrared Sauna Studio offers clients a path to a pain-free, productive, and enjoyable life. Guests will find numerous biohacking options that support detox and weight loss and will leave feeling more youthful and energized.
ROY’S RESTAURANTS ARE KNOWN FOR OFFERING A UNIQUE DINING EXPERIENCE infusing “Hawaii-Inspired Euro-Asian Cuisine” with their signature Aloha Service. Chef Blaine Villasin hails from Hawaii, and his cuisine is influenced by the many different cultures found there. “Here in San Diego, we have access to the freshest seafood and exceptional local produce. I enjoy experimenting in the kitchen whether it’s creating a new sushi roll, entrée, or dessert,” he notes. “Our food is unique. It’s a reflection of the many different cultures in Hawaii. We combine bold Asian flavors, classic European techniques, and the freshest local ingredients—when a guest asks for a recipe, that makes my night!”
333 Harbor Drive San Diego, California 92101 | 619-239-7697 | roysrestaurant.com
The Face of Fertility
San Diego Fertility | Michael Kettel, MD; Sandy Chuan, MD; Susanna Park, MD; Brooke Friedman, MD; Said Daneshmand, MD
FOR OVER THREE DECADES, the highly skilled team of physicians at San Diego Fertility Center have played a pivotal role in achieving remarkable outcomes for patients not only in San Diego, but globally. The center’s fertility experts are widely recognized for their expertise and consistently prioritize personalized fertility treatment plans, including services such as IVF, PGT testing, egg donation, surrogacy, and fertility preservation (egg freezing).
“What sets us apart is that we lead with both innovation and compassion,” says Dr. Brooke Friedman.
“Our comprehensive approach begins well before the initial physician consultation, with a dedicated team providing steadfast support to navigate each patient through the entire process.”
Dr. Friedman recalls one former patient who stated, “I’ve often heard that it takes a village to raise a child. Now, I can attest that it takes a village to conceive one!”
For Dr. Friedman and the entire team, being part of an individual’s journey during one of life’s most fulfilling experiences is a privilege. “We collaborate closely with our patients to help them realize their dreams of parenthood. Because of this, I genuinely believe I have the most rewarding job in the world!”
11425 El Camino Real San Diego, California 92130
591 Camino De La Reina, Suite 1250 San Diego, California 92108
44274 George Cushman Court, Suite 201 Temecula, California 92592
San Diego Humane Society | Gary Weitzman, DVM, MPH, CAWA
AS A NATIONAL LEADER IN ANIMAL WELFARE, Gary Weitzman has served as the president and CEO of the San Diego Humane Society (SDHS) since 2012. He has also served as chair of the board of the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and is currently a board member for California Animal Welfare Association, Shelter Animals Count, and Project Chimps.
Under Dr. Weitzman’s leadership at SDHS, San Diego has become the largest city in the U.S. to keep healthy, treatable shelter animals from being euthanized. Thanks to his vision, the organization’s scope goes beyond adopting animals; it offers programs that strengthen the human- animal bond, prevent cruelty and neglect, provide medical care, and serve as a safety net for pet families to stay together. A U.S. Air Force veteran, Dr. Weitzman is also the author of nine books published by National Geographic, all intended to help pet owners become the best they can be!
Campuses in El Cajon, Escondido, Oceanside, Ramona, and San Diego | 619-299-7012 | sdhumane.org
The Face of Divorce Law
Christopher J. Sunnen, Esq., CFLS, and Adrian S. Doty, Esq. | Sunnen Law
SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES PEOPLE CAN EXPERIENCE IN LIFE ARE A DIVORCE, child custody issues, restraining order, or a combination of these events. At those times, Sunnen Law will be there with hands-on support and solutions for any problems that arise. The firm is headed by founder Christopher J. Sunnen, who is certified by the state bar as a Certified Family Law Specialist.
Over a 20-year career, Mr. Sunnen has advocated for countless clients in high conflict courtroom situations throughout the county of San Diego and beyond. In every case, Mr. Sunnen utilizes his trial experience to provide advice and settle cases, when possible, to obtain the best results for clients. His zealous approach is also present with his senior associate, Adrian Doty, who focuses on mediating matters but litigates all family law matters when needed.
No matter what type of family law issue is at play, the firm is always ready to assist and is prepared to make a difference for its clients.
2550 Fifth Avenue, Suite 515 San Diego, California, 92103 | 619-255-9551 | sunnen-law.com
The Face of Personal Injury Law
Thorsnes Bartolotta McGuire LLP
FOUNDED IN 1978, THORSNES BARTOLOTTA MCGUIRE LLPspecializes in personal injury, wrongful death, elder abuse/ nursing home neglect, medical malpractice, and other areas of plaintiff litigation. As a founding partner, Vincent J. Bartolotta Jr. specializes in plaintiff’s litigation with an emphasis in business disputes, condemnation, and major injury cases. A tenacious trial lawyer, he has also been recognized by CAL-ABOTA as the number one trial lawyer in the state of California, named annually for over three decades by Woodward/White as one of the Best Lawyers in America, and is in the top 1% of trial lawyers in the United States. “There’s really no secret about what I do,” he says. “I really do care for my clients; each case gets the same kind of attention my family would get.”
2550 5th Avenue, 11th Floor San Diego, California 92103 | 619-236-9363 | 800-577-2922 | tbmlawyers.com
The Face of Fine Jewelry
Unicorn Jewelry & Watch Boutique | Fred Nasseri and Minoo Anvari
SINCE 1981, UNICORN JEWELRY IN RANCHO BERNARDO HAS BEEN THE LARGEST FAMILY- OWNED JEWELRY STORE IN SAN DIEGO. Recognizing that jewelry marks some of the most important moments in our lives, the family has been fortunate to help San Diegans celebrate life’s milestones with the perfect gifts, spectacular engagement rings and wedding bands, the widest selection of certified loose stones, and truly one-of-a-kind creations that make clients’ dreams a reality.
“We are so proud to represent our community, and it brings us great joy to see the special memories we help our clients create that can be cherished by everyone. For many generations, it has been our clients and their stories that we will remember most when it comes to helping them find the perfect jewelry for every occasion,” says Fred Nasseri, one of the owners of Unicorn Jewelry.
Generations of families have visited Fred, co-owner Minoo, and their team of on-site craftsmen, trusting Unicorn Jewelry for all their fine jewelry and watch needs.
16781 Bernardo Center Drive, San Diego, California 92128 | 858-487-6454 | unicornjewelry.com
The Face of Gaming
Valley View Casino & Hotel
VALLEY VIEW CASINO & HOTEL IS SAN DIEGO’S FAVORITE FOR A REASON, offering the thrill of your favorite slots and table games, beautifully appointed hotel rooms, eight outstanding restaurants, six bars and lounges, and unparalleled guest service.
“Our commitment to personalized guest service is second to none,” says Todd Jackson, Vice President of Gaming Operations and Information Technology. “Guests appreciate the comfortability of our casino floor and the hundreds of brand new games that have been added in the last few years.”
The casino underwent two expansions in 2023 and boasts over 2,000 of the newest slot machines and table games, as well as San Diego’s most rewarding Players Club.
“Our variety of table games include all of the most popular games,” adds David Spence, Director of Gaming Operations. “Our recently expanded casino floor also offers our guests more options than ever in a sophisticated, spacious environment.”
With welcoming and exceptional hospitality, Valley View Casino & Hotel is hands down Southern California’s premier gaming destination.
Finding a gift that feels truly personal can be surprisingly difficult. In a sea of generic options — flowers, gift cards, candles, and the like — Xplosion Box offers something more lasting: a customized keepsake built around the photos, messages, and memories that matter most.
Founded by Southern California entrepreneur Jay Vijay, Xplosion Box LLC creates fully customized explosion gift boxes that arrive professionally designed, printed, assembled, and ready to gift. Each box opens layer by layer to reveal personal photos, heartfelt messages, pull-out albums, origami-style photo pockets, and hidden notes, turning a simple gift into an emotional reveal.
The brand was built for people who want to give something meaningful without spending hours printing photos, cutting paper, folding cardstock, or assembling a DIY project. Customers simply choose a box, upload their favorite photos, add personal messages, and the Xplosion Box team transforms those details into a polished keepsake that feels thoughtful, personal, and beautifully made.
Xplosion Box offers personalized gift boxes for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, graduations, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Christmas, proposals, bridesmaid gifts, long-distance relationships, and thoughtful “just because” moments.
Customers can choose from flexible customization options starting at $27. The Mini Surprise Box includes 10 photos, three message cards, and one hidden secret note, while the Mega Surprise Box offers a fuller keepsake experience with 40 photos, three message cards, and one hidden secret note.
What sets Xplosion Box apart is its high level of customization combined with convenience. Filled with personal photos, custom text, decorative details, and layered surprises, each box gives customers the freedom to create a gift that feels one-of-a-kind — without having to make it themselves.
At its core, Xplosion Box helps people turn favorite photos, stories, and words into something tangible: a keepsake that can be opened, revisited, and remembered long after the occasion has passed. asion has passed.
If you’re anything like us, it can be easy to get so caught up in taking care of everyone else, that your own needs get lost in the ether. But while this may be a cliché, that doesn’t make it any less true: You can’t give your best self to other people unless you’re taking care of yourself.
Sometimes, that looks like stopping in for your regular acupuncture or chiropractic appointment. Other days, it means giving your body the fresh, organic fuel it needs to truly feel and function at its best. And some other times still, it involves leaving your responsibilities behind for a weekend to pamper yourself at an incredible resort and spa.
Only you can decide what your truly need. We’re just here to help you find the best ways to get it.
Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa
Island living meets desert luxury at the Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa in Indian Wells. When you step onto the 11-acre property, you’ll be surrounded by sweeping view of the Santa Rosa Mountains with olive trees and fragrant citrus groves decorating the grounds. In other words, everything about this relaxed but refined resort is primed to help you let go of the stress from home and enjoy easy sun-soaked days and gorgeous starry nights.
The rooms blend calming, woven textures with Tommy Bahama’s signature tropical prints and feature private lanais, making it easy unwind the moment you walk in the door. If you book one of the four Villa Suites, you’ll be treated to exclusive Tommy Bahama furniture and unique personal touches to further that feeling of instant ease.
At the award-winning Spa Rosa, the expert team will help reset and recharge your body and mind using methods and rituals inspired by the desert. The 12,000-square-foot retreat includes outdoor soaking pools, eucalyptus steam rooms, and outdoor cabanas, as well as massages, facials, and body masks—all aimed at creating a day dedicated to you. We’re particularly partial to the Day Long Escape, an indulgent all-day affair of CDBs soaks, renewing scrubs, life changing massages, and transformative facials.
Following your treatment, continue the experience with a meal on the patio at Grapefruit Basil. We love the Hamachi Crudo, a light, citrus-forward dish featuring premium yellowtail, house-made ponzu, creamy avocado, and fresh seasonal garnishes.
Whether you’re strolling the gardens, relaxing beside its saltwater pools, or indulging in a restorative treatment, you’ll be able to escape in style and relax in luxury at the Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa.
Healcove Chiropractic
There’s no shortage of ways to stay active in San Diego—but if you really want to enjoy everything the city has to offer, you’ve got to make sure you’re giving your body its tune-ups. Enter: Healcove Chiropractic. The board-certified chiropractors and wellness professionals at Healcove are experts at addressing that stage where you’re not injured, exactly, but you’re not at 100%, either. Maybe you’re feeling a bit tense or stressed out. Or it could be that you’re not quite moving the way you want to. Sometimes, it’s just that the accumulation of days, weeks, or even years of daily strain is starting to take a toll. No matter what stage you find yourself at, the Healcove Chiropractic team can provide integrated, preventative care centered on long-term, science-backed approaches that ensure you can always stay active and live the life you want to live pain-free.
This starts by providing truly individualized care. Every patient can expect a thorough 60-minute consultation session that includes a posture and movement screening. This allows the team to develop a completely personalized plan. That plan might include chiropractic care, acupuncture, or massage therapy, as well as functional fitness training, vibration and sound therapy, and Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization, a clinical rehabilitation method that retrains the body’s stabilization systems. Whatever the team recommends, you can be sure that it’s tailored to meeting your body’s needs today and the future.
There’s a reason that San Diego Magazine named Healcove the “Best Chiropractor in San Diego”—don’t wait until you’re struggling with an injury to find out why. Book an appointment today for holistic, integrated care that helps ground and heal your body before it reaches a crisis point.
Juice Holler
West Coast wellness culture meets the community feel of Southern Appalachia at Juice Holler. Juice Holler’s menu consists of made-to-order smoothies and smoothie bowls, as well as grab-and-go cold-pressed juices, wellness shots, salads, and more. It operates from the blissfully simple premise that fueling up with food and drink that’s guilt-free and good your body should be simple, accessible, and, above all else, delicious. And if you haven’t yet made it out to the Encinitas café, which opened just this year, let us be the first to tell you: Juice Holler delivers on each and every of these fronts.
We love the Supercharger smoothie, a mood-lifting and body-fueling option made with banana, almond butter, blue spirulina, maca, grass-fed whey protein, raw cacao nibs, medjool dates, and coconut milk. We’re also partial to the Thrive Alive smoothie bowl, where avocado, mango, sea moss, spirulina, mint, coconut milk, and agave are mixed and topped with coconut, chia seeds, strawberry, mango, and chocolate drizzle. The wellness shots include the Detoxifier, a cleansing blend of kale, cucumber, lemon and spirulina, plus a shot specially designed to fight inflammation (named, fittingly, Anti-Inflammation). Probiotic overnight oats, lemon turmeric bars, and strawberry shortcake chia pudding are other standouts on the grab-and-go menu.
Much of the vibe feels beachy North County chic—think green tile with orange and pink accents, grounded with greenery and natural wood—but Juice Holler founder Kelly Sergott, a longtime Encinitas local, has also enfused the space with her Kentucky roots. In Appalachia, a holler is small valley between hills and mountains, where nature reigns, community is king, and nourishment comes right from the land. At Juice Holler, Sergott has created a holler for the busy modern times, using local ingredients to create a spot for people to come together and enjoy fresh, fast, feel-good fuel for their day.
Everwell Acupuncture
We’ve all had that experience with a medical professional where we’ve felt rushed, ignored, or misunderstood—and ultimately, like we didn’t get the answers that we needed. But at Everwell, the holistic acupuncture practice located in Solana Beach, the care team wants to transform your understanding of what healthcare can look like.
Patients at Everwell experience care rooted in intentional listening and radical empathy—and trust us, those aren’t just corporate buzzwords. This place actually puts those ideas into practice. You will always be given the time you need to tell your story— initial in-take appointments are two hours long—and you can rest assured that your story will be believed. Every single question and concern will be addressed by a dedicated practitioner who wants to find the specific solutions that work best for you, and you’ll receive care that’s aimed at healing the body, mind, and spirit.
Everwell’s highly trained, doctorate-level practitioners blend evidence-based acupuncture with the practice of classical Chinese medicine. (If you’ve never tried acupuncture before or aren’t sure if the team will be a fit, we’d highly recommended Everwell’s complimentary 20-minute consultations.) Research shows that by stimulating specific points on the body, acupuncture activates a natural healing response in the body, helping to restore balance, regulate the nervous system, and improve overall wellbeing. This allows the practice to address an incredibly wide range of conditions from chronic pain and autoimmune disorders to digestive issues, from stress and burnout to headaches migraines, fertility and postpartum struggles, hormonal imbalances, sleep concerns and more.
At Everwell, you can expect to feel heard, trusted, respected, and cared for. This is a space that doesn’t want to be just another healthcare provider you visit; it wants to provide patients with dedicated partner who will be there for their entire health journey.
You’ve Tracked Your Macros, Your Sleep, Your Steps. What About Your Drinking?
The Unconscious Moderation app is helping health-conscious professionals take an honest look at their drinking, without pressure, and without quitting as the only option.
San Diego runs on optimization. Early mornings, clean eating, training logs, sleep scores. The people here take their health seriously and the results usually show. Most of them also have two drinks most nights, not because anything is wrong, but because the day was long and the glass is right there and it has always been right there.
That routine doesn’t get the same scrutiny as the rest of the stack. It doesn’t feel like something to examine. It feels like a reward.
Which is exactly what your brain has decided it is. When something reliably moves you from one state to another, your brain files it under things to repeat. Do it consistently enough and the cue stops requiring a decision. It’s 6pm, the laptop is closed, and some part of your brain has already placed the order.
Most habit-change tools work on the number. They count drinks, set weekly targets, send check-in texts. That’s useful for seeing what the pattern looks like. It doesn’t tell you where the pattern came from, or change it at that level.
Unconscious Moderation works underneath the habit. The app uses guided hypnotherapy sessions, structured journaling, and daily movement to address the subconscious associations that make reaching for a drink feel like the obvious next thing. The journaling isn’t a diary. It’s built to surface what your brain is actually reaching for, so you can meet that need directly rather than through a substitute.
The program runs 90 days. At day 30, you choose your own direction: cut back, drink more intentionally, or stop altogether. The app treats both as equally valid outcomes. The point isn’t to follow a rule you set on a Sunday. It’s to understand the pattern well enough that whichever path you choose, you’re choosing it clearly.
The people who tend to get the most out of it are not in crisis. They’re the ones who have tried tracking apps and found the count drifting back up regardless. They know exactly how much they drink and why. The awareness just hasn’t moved the habit. At some point, the work needs to happen somewhere the count sheet can’t reach.
San Diego’s wellness culture already knows that surface numbers tell only part of the story. What you eat matters, but so does why. How much you sleep matters, but so does the quality. The same logic applies here.
Chemotherapy and radiation have long been considered gold standards of cancer treatment, but they can cause severe side effects. A promising new approach called theranostics—a combination of “therapeutics” and “diagnostics”—could offer patients with certain types of metastatic cancers new hope. It’s a two-step process that uses a drug that binds to specific receptors on cancer cells. Advanced imaging detects this radioisotope, allowing doctors to then use a second radioisotope that binds to the cancer cells and destroys them. Click here to learn more about how specialists at Scripps Cancer Center are using theranostics.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
Daniel A. Kaplan is a founding partner of Panakos LLP with more than three decades of civil litigation experience in both state and federal courts. Mr. Kaplan pursues and defends legal claims on behalf of companies, entrepreneurs, and business owners in high-stakes disputes. He focuses on business disputes including breach of contract, unfair competition, trade secret theft, securities disputes, fraud/misrepresentations, and employment matters.
“The best advocacy combines preparation, perspective, and a client relationship built on trust and candor.” — Daniel A. Kaplan
His clients include real estate investors, private and public corporations, and individuals seeking sophisticated legal counsel. Known for practical judgment and strategic advocacy, he works closely with an experienced and diverse legal team to protect, enforce, and defend his clients’ interests.
555 W. Beech Street, Ste. 500, San Diego, California 92101 619-8000-LAW Panakos.law
At Naumann Law Firm, PC, William Naumann and his team have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in damages litigating construction defects, insurance, and government claims. Mr. Naumann has spent his career fighting for people in their hardest moments, from winning $7 million for homeowners after landslide damage to advocating for victims of 9/11.
“We always believe in working as hard as we can to maximize the recovery for the client.” — William Naumann, Esq.
Combining a personalized approach with a results-driven strategy, he’s helped homeowners associations, property owners, and individuals win against the largest developers, builders, insurers, and municipalities. His commitment is to secure the best possible results efficiently, whether through settlement or at trial.
10890 Thornmint Road, Suite 200, San Diego, California 92127 858-792-7474 naumannlegal.com
