Here’s to the trailblazers, the innovators, the rising stars, and the industry icons. From breweries to biotech and healthcare to hospitality, San Diego is infused with dynamic companies making their mark in their respective industries and in the local business ecosystem.
“Small and medium-sized companies are driving the economy and growth here in San Diego, and this is the time for us to celebrate these companies,” says Jennifer Henry Storm, executive director of EDC’s Foundation. “We’re looking for the best in class in a broad set of industries and categories—early-stage companies with deep local commitments, companies that have exceptional creativity in product development, disruptive startups that are changing the world, and tried and true companies that have weathered the economic ebbs and flows.”
Though San Diego is home to many large businesses and household names, small and medium-sized companies are the backbone of the region’s economy. Small businesses that employ fewer than 100 people make up 99 percent of total business in San Diego County, and represent 60 percent of total employment, according to EDC.
The goal is to also highlight high-growth companies—the types of companies that are on their way to being major employers in the region, says Aaron Ryan, San Diego region manager of middle market banking at JPMorganChase.
“This is a good opportunity to shine a spotlight on that segment of the business community,” he says. “When businesses start to become successful and reach that mid-size, high-growth part of their evolution is when they begin to be able to make a major impact in terms of meaningful employment which enables all of San Diego to grow. It resonated with EDC and also with JPMorganChase because we serve companies of all sizes.”
Nominations in the following categories are being accepted through September 24. Applicants must be headquartered in San Diego and have been in business for at least two years.
Early-stage companies with revenues of at least $5 million with year-over-year growth
Rising stars demonstrating staying power within the marketplace with revenues of higher than $20 million with year-over-year growth
Established heavyweights with revenues of approximately $100 million or more that are growing and committed to staying in San Diego
Pre-revenue companies on the cusp of changing the marketplace
“While one of the benchmarks we are looking for is growth, there are other companies that are pre-revenue and doing really interesting things in the innovation economy,” says Ryan. “We also want to create a space to recognize these firms. Sometimes they’re not seeking recognition or only have an awareness with their client base. But these pre-revenue companies eventually gain traction and become high-growth, revenue-generating businesses. We want to shine the spotlight on San Diego’s economic growth and future and that means recognizing companies at different stages of their lifecycle.”
Honorees will be selected by a panel of industry experts, with awards presented at a cocktail event at Scripps Research Auditorium. More than 200 people are expected to attend.
“We want to hear the cool stories. We want to hear about companies that are thriving here. We want to hear about companies that you might not hear about every day that are really changing the way something is delivered to the marketplace,” says Storm. “With so much economic uncertainty and noise at the national level, this is the time for us to celebrate San Diego, and we have thriving companies here that are driving our competitiveness.”
A perfectly designed home rarely happens by accident. Those kitchens that feel effortless and rooms that seem to tell a story the second you walk in? They’re usually the work of someone who knows exactly what they’re doing.
It’s knowing which ideas will actually work, which materials will hold up over time, and how to turn a collection of choices into a space that feels intentional. That’s where a professional interior designer comes in.
For the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) California San Diego Chapter, the goal is to help people see interior design as more than just the finished look. Behind every well-designed space is a process built on technical expertise. Designers are educated in everything from professional software and construction details to building codes, space planning, materials, and functionality.
Courtesy of ASID
“People don’t always realize how much goes on behind the scenes,” Kirsten Recce , current president of the ASID California San Diego Chapter, says. “Our designers are not just doing furniture placement and color selection and picking out new fluffy pillows. That’s not what they’re trained for.”
ASID members bring formal education, continued learning, and industry knowledge to their projects, helping create spaces that are not only beautiful, but designed to work. A paint color that changes completely depending on the lighting. A material that looks beautiful in a showroom but doesn’t make sense for everyday life. A layout that photographs well but doesn’t function for the people living there. These are the details where professional guidance can make all the difference.
Still, one of the biggest misconceptions about hiring an interior designer is that it’s reserved for massive renovations, luxury homes, or people who already know exactly what they want. The process can feel intimidating. Where do you begin? Is a designer worth the investment? What if you only need help with one room?
ASID’s answer: start with one hour.
ASID’s Spruce Up events break down one of the biggest barriers between homeowners and professional design: knowing where to begin. Held twice a year, the community program gives homeowners the chance to work directly with an ASID designer through a one-hour, $125 consultation in their own home. Whether you’re looking for advice on furniture placement, window treatments, kitchen and bath updates, remodeling ideas, vacation rentals, color selections or something else entirely, the upcoming September 2026 event offers an approachable way to get expert guidance before committing to a full project. Signups are open through Sept. 7, with consultations taking place Sept. 21 through Oct. 31. Proceeds benefit ASID San Diego’s educational and community programs. Register here!
Courtesy of ASID
“It’s a great opportunity for people who are in that exploratory phase,” Recce says. “Maybe they’re not sure they want to hire an interior designer yet, or they think it sounds daunting or expensive. This gives them a chance to discover what working with a designer is actually like.”
Design is personal. A good designer isn’t just creating a beautiful room; they’re helping create a space that fits the way someone lives.
“We’re a resource to all of San Diego County,” Recce says. “It doesn’t cost anything to pick up the phone and call and ask. We’ll answer.”
Growing up, Laika Nur, MD, Scripps Clinic sports medicine specialist, loved watching beach volleyball when the Association of Volleyball Professionals tour came to her hometown of Chicago. A talented volleyball player herself, she remembers sitting in the stands all day, and once, even got a couple autographs. Years later, Dr. Nur was attending a professional event focused on women’s sports, and the discussion turned to a new professional women’s volleyball league. The general manager and coaching staff for San Diego’s team, the Mojo, happened to be in attendance, and Dr. Nur took the opportunity to ask them if they needed a team doctor. Flash forward to the Mojo’s inaugural 2024 season, when Dr. Nur officially became the team physician. Click here to read more about Dr. Nur and how she incorporates lessons she learned on the court into her practice.
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Your feet and ankles probably aren’t something you give much thought to—until something goes wrong. Orthopedic surgeons at Scripps Clinic are on the leading edge of foot and ankle reconstruction, treating patients with sports injuries, deformities, traumatic injuries and other conditions. That includes repairing torn Achilles tendons with a minimally invasive procedure that shrinks the incision site to less than a centimeter, and performing advanced ankle replacement on some patients with ankle arthritis. Read more about Scripps’ innovations in foot and ankle care here.
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Mai Vue was just 34 weeks pregnant when she delivered her baby. Her pregnancy had been complicated, and she’d had a recent second trimester pregnancy loss, which led to her receiving specialized care from Sean Daneshmand, MD, a Scripps Clinic perinatologist who oversees high-risk pregnancies. Dr. Daneshmand and his team took care of Mai during her pregnancy, through the birth of her healthy baby girl and beyond. Mai was part of a program Scripps launched to provide support to new moms in the weeks and months after delivery. The postpartum program, known as Scripps Health’s Fourth Trimester Continuum of Care, provides care for women with high-risk pregnancies to optimize their health after childbirth and reduce the risk of complications in future pregnancies. Click here to learn more.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
It’s estimated that one in five people in the U.S. will develop skin cancer at some point in their lives. When you factor in living in a sun-soaked city like San Diego and the outdoorsy lifestyle that comes with it, that figure can jump to as high as one in three, which makes early detection and intervention all the more important. Dermatologists at Bighorn Mohs and Dermatology Center are using innovative imaging methods and advanced surgical techniques to diagnose and treat skin cancer. For certain cancers in sensitive spots, like the face, dermatologists perform Mohs surgery, removing skin tissue layer by layer until reaching healthy, cancer-free tissue. They also use a process called immunohistochemistry to view tissue samples taken during Mohs surgery in far greater detail than previous methods. Read more about how Scripps is advancing skin cancer care here.
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When endurance athlete Isaac Sanchez learned he had cancer, he felt blindsided. He was healthy, surfed often and was training for an Ironman triathlon. But he had to put that on hold to undergo treatment. His physicians at Scripps Cancer Center developed a plan to treat the cancer in his tonsil and lymph nodes that included six-and-a-half weeks of near-daily radiation and weekly chemotherapy. He also worked with a Scripps Cancer Center dietitian to enhance his nutrition to promote strength and healing. Today, Isaac’s back to doing what he loves. Read more of his story here.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
