24th Annual Strictly Business Awards Dinner JVS SoCal

Thank you to everyone who helped make our 24th Annual Strictly Business event a success!

We at JVS SoCal are grateful to all of our generous sponsors and supporters for coming out to celebrate Dr. and Mrs. Berger and Mr. and Mrs. Leanse.

Founder’s Award Honorees

The Founder’s Award is presented to an outstanding JVS SoCal volunteer who has demonstrated excellence in philanthropic leadership, guidance, and generosity.

Barbara & Tom Leanse

Barbara and Tom Leanse have been steadfast leaders and generous supporters of JVS SoCal since 2008. As a Council Member of the JVS SoCal Women’s Leadership Network, Barbara has successfully co-chaired Woman to Woman Conferences. Barbara is an active member of the JVS Scholarship Committee and the WoMentoring Program. Barbara is also a member of the CHLA Board of Trustees, Women Helping Youth and Lion of Judah. Barbara and Tom are members of the ADL National Commission and Regional Executive Committee. Tom is a long-standing member of the Cedars-Sinai Board of Directors and Barbara is a member of the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors.

Corporate Sponsorship Award Honorees

The Corporate Partnership Award is presented to an outstanding corporate partner in recognition of their significant accomplishments in corporate social responsibility and their role as philanthropic leaders in their industry.

RadNet is the national leader in outpatient imaging. With over four decades of experience, RadNet delivers high-quality, cost-effective solutions for the 375 centers in the RadNet Network and for its numerous strategic partners. RadNet has supported JVS SoCal for the last several years by employing over 30 JVS SoCal graduates.

Accepting the award on behalf of RadNet are Howard G. Berger, M.D. and his wife, Karen Kaplan Berger.

Howard G. Berger, M.D.
President and Chief Executive Officer

Howard G. Berger, M.D. founded RadNet in 1980 and serves as its President and Chief Executive Officer. He began his career in medicine at the University of Illinois Medical School, following attendance at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. He is Board Certified in Nuclear Medicine and trained in an Internal Medicine residency program as well as in a master’s program in medical physics at the University of California Los Angeles. Dr. Berger’s extensive expertise in radiology and business operations, knowledge of the marketplace, and personal relationships within the industry give RadNet the leadership insight and experience necessary to successfully compete in a dynamic marketplace.

Karen Kaplan Berger

Karen Kaplan Berger is an attorney who practiced as a health care lawyer for over 35 years both as in-house legal counsel and in private practice. Karen’s area of expertise was the representation of hospitals and large physician groups in their contract negotiations with third-party payors including insurance companies and health plans. She frequently lectured to hospital administrators, physician groups, employer groups, insurance companies and health plans regarding managed care contracting and other related healthcare issues. Karen serves on the Board of Trustees for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Inspiration Award Honorees

Shantell Polk is a graduate of CareerWorks Medical; and with six kids (ages 14, 12, 12, 11, 8 and 3), she is juggling a lot. Today she’s going to school to become a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) which will allow her to do more patient care work.

Ernesto Sanchez is re-entering society after serving 15 years in state prison. Today, he is working through JVS SoCal’s America’s Job Centers of California (AJCC) / WorkSource center to help other re-entering men and women trying to find work and remaining on track.

Laura Behary was getting back into the workforce with JVS SoCal’s support when she learned about the CareerWorks Medical program. RadNet hired her straight from the graduates job fair, where she has already been promoted.

Our Host

Fritz Coleman

Fritz Coleman is a Southern California broadcasting icon known for his 40-year career as NBC4’s weathercaster. We are honored to have him back as our distinguished host and grateful for his longstanding dedication to JVS SoCal’s mission.