As Laguna Niguel’s circle of neighbors expands and looks to the future, these 2020 Visionary Leaders of the community bring individuality and resolve to business, communication and government.
“Believe in yourself, do what’s right, and family first. remember to count your blessings along the way.”
Rischi Paul Sharma
Assembly Pointe Financial
By all counts, Rischi Paul Sharma’s story is one of the American Dream. Originally from an idyllic small farm in rural Indiana, his life’s journey has taken him to Southern France; Indiana University School of Law; and, since 2006, to where he and his wife Alexis call home, Laguna Niguel.
Knowing no one, and with only twenty dollars in his pocket, just like in the movies, for a short stint, he even lived out of his car.
“The challenge was certainly real,” Sharma acknowledges. Yet, he persevered. Dedicated to his vision, he worked three jobs while studying for his professional credentials.
Fast forward 25 years, he is a successful business owner, devoted husband, and proud father of four.
“I would not be who I am but for my family and those who have trusted me along the way,” Sharma says. “Now it is my turn to give back.”
For more than two decades Sharma, both a Certified Financial Planner™ Professional and Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist™, has been at the helm of a thriving financial services firm specializing in corporate benefits and wealth management. With a strong professional team and supportive family, Sharma is indeed poised to “give back” to his community.
To this end, Sharma is a sitting member on both the City’s Investment Banking & Audit Committee as well as the Laguna Niguel Military Support Committee. He serves as an Ambassador for the Chamber of Commerce and has amassed a decade of experience as both member-elect and president of his community’s HOA Board. Sharma recognizes that, “further strengthening the core of Laguna Niguel for years to come necessitates active involvement.”
Sharma has come to know Laguna Niguel as a “hidden gem. A vibrant city with a strong tradition of family and community.” Harkening back to those who fought to preserve this city’s legacy through incorporation, he recognizes some of the same small-town qualities he experienced growing up, Sharma notes, “where entire families got involved.” Don’t be surprised to see Sharma at a Chamber event or even a City Council meeting with one of his children.
Rischi Paul Sharma, owner and CEO of Assembly Pointe Financial, will be the first to tell you, “Believe in yourself, do what’s right, and family first. Remember to count your blessings along the way.”
Sandy Rains
Laguna Niguel City Council Member
Laguna Niguel City Council Member Sandy Rains’ journey to achieving the American dream has been one of overcoming challenges. This daughter of immigrants gives credit for her success to her parents who immigrated from Greece.
“My parents came from poverty and persecution to build a new life,” Sandy says. “They instilled in me the gratitude for the opportunities we have as Americans. I learned early in life the value of work ethic and character.”
Being raised in a poor community of immigrants with English as her second language taught Sandy to have compassion for all social and cultural differences.
“My journey started many years ago as a newspaper delivery girl and working in the family catering business,” she says. “I started my own business and never looked back. Having the flexibility to put faith and family before work was my driving force.”
Sandy’s guiding principle for success is to focus on people not profits.
“We give not from abundance, but for who we become as a result of our gifts to others,” she says. “Serving has been a key principle in our family. I feel blessed to be living this life and want to give back.”
Sandy is married to a retired Army Major and author and is the mother of two amazing young women. The family moved to California when her husband was transferred for work. They fell in love with South Orange County and made Laguna Niguel home.
“I am most proud of raising my strong and successful daughters. One serves our country as an officer in the Navy and the other is completing her vocational education.”
A member of Chambers of Commerce in every community she has lived, it’s no surprise that the first thing she did when moving to Laguna Niguel was to join the Chamber. Prior to being elected to Laguna Niguel City Council, Sandy served on the Board of Directors for the Laguna Niguel Chamber of Commerce. She continues to take time to get to know others, encourage them and share her successes to help others achieve their full potential.
“I always believed that you don’t have to know everything to start, just be willing to start.”
www.cityoflagunaniguel.org • (949) 362-4300
“I always believed that you don’t have to know everything to start, just be willing to start.”
“I would like to thank my colleagues on the City Council for expressing their confidence in me to serve as
our beautiful City’s Mayor.”
FRED MINAGAR
Laguna Niguel Mayor Pro Tem
Laguna Niguel Mayor Pro Tem Fred Minagar likes to build, and his career as a civil engineer on both sides of the continent has made him thoroughly qualified to assist the Laguna Niguel community as it builds its future.
Minagar and his wife moved to Orange County from New York City in 1989. In 1993 he launched his private engineering and planning consulting firm, Minagar & Associates, Inc., growing it from ground zero to a nationally recognized firm. Minagar also began building his public service career on the Laguna Niguel Traffic and Transportation Commission. Throughout the next two and a half decades Minagar applied his engineering sensibilities to the Laguna Niguel community on the Planning Commission; Traffic and Transportation Commission; City Council and the Mayor’s office, among other public service leadership organizations.
“I would like to thank my colleagues on the City Council for expressing their confidence in me to serve as our beautiful City’s next Mayor Pro Tem,” Minagar told Patch Media in November 2019. “And I am honored to have the opportunity to serve under the leadership of Mayor Laurie Davies.”
Minagar’s skills were also demonstrated regionally by his election to two terms as Chairman of the Transportation Corridor Agency as well as serving on the Orange County Council of Governments and the Southern California Association of Governments.
In the mid 1990s to early 2000s, his support of the movement to defeat the El Toro Airport highlighted Minagar’s dedication to enduring community infrastructure and quality of life. This proposed repurpose of Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) El Toro launched a decade-long county-wide political upheaval. Minagar is proud to have supported the movement to defeat the plan. With grass-roots organizations and other like-minded activists, the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority fought for a ballot measure that protected Laguna Niguel and nearby communities from untold noise and air pollution.
In more recent years and as his commitment to the City Council has continued, Minagar has fought for fiscal responsibility and to nurture Laguna Niguel’s public safety; the efficiency of its small government; and to develop more business-friendly policies. As the new decade looms, Minagar is also focused on addressing the difficulties of homelessness in South Orange County and advocating for Laguna Niguel’s proposed new City Center.
Although Minagar’s engineering, teaching and community service qualifications provide him professional opportunities across the region as well as across the country, Laguna Niguel is fortunate that Minagar considers this community “home.”
www.cityoflagunaniguel.org • (949) 362-4315
Stephanie Winstead, ESQ.
Winstead Law Group, APC
“When I discovered Laguna Niguel, I made it a goal to move here,” says Winstead Law Group, APC, President and Founder, Stephanie Winstead. “This is where I wanted to start and raise my family.” In 2009 she and her husband accomplished this goal. Later that year Winstead Law Group, APC, was born.
While an exceptional attorney, she was not an experienced business owner. To help grow and market her business, her father-in-law suggested she become involved with the City and join Laguna Niguel’s Chamber of Commerce. Winstead says it was a wise decision.
“In 2019 Winstead Law Group, APC, celebrated its 10-year anniversary,” she says. “That’s because of developing relationships with my clients, Chamber members, and being an active member of the community.
“It’s very personal and I get emotionally invested with my clients and their families. These people are my friends and neighbors. I run into them at Costco and Pavilion’s. I have to do an amazing job for them.”
Winstead’s dedication to her clients, the Chamber and to the City is genuine and committed. Since moving to Laguna Niguel, she has volunteered as Board Member of both the Laguna Niguel Chamber of Commerce and the Laguna Niguel Lions Club and was a founding member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 281. Winstead has served on both the Investment, Banking and Audit Committee and the Traffic and Transportation Commission for the City of Laguna Niguel. She also had the distinct privilege of chairing the Traffic and Transportation Commission during the last two years of her term (’17 & ’18) and was Chair of the Chamber of Commerce (’19). Winstead currently serves on the City’s Parks and Recreation Commission and the Military Support Committee.
This 2019 Chamber of Commerce Board Chair knows that communities thrive when local businesses succeed.
“The Chamber is the champion of small business owners,” Winstead says. “These are Mom and Pop shops; your friends and neighbors; the people who sponsor your kids’ soccer team. Shopping local and supporting their businesses is integral to the quality of life in Laguna Niguel.”
www.winsteadlaw.net • (949) 639-9606
“The chamber is the champion of small business owners.”
“This is a very special place,” she says. “And the goal is to continue to work on these projects but always to keep the values of the city in mind, which is that Main Street feel and that close-knit community that it is.”
TAMARA LETOURNEAU
Laguna Niguel City Manager
When Tamara Letourneau came to Laguna Niguel as the new City Manager in August 2019, she brought with her a surfeit of experience. With more than 30 years in city and county management, Letourneau’s touch has been felt in municipalities from Yorba Linda to Costa Mesa; from Sierra Madre to Arcadia. And her arrival in Laguna Niguel quickly made a positive impact.
Among her first projects tackled was developing and completing the first-ever strategic plan for the City. “Laguna Niguel: 2050–The Pursuit of Happiness” is a 30-year forecast to shepherd the community through the next decades with responsible foresight grounded in the desires of the populace. With just under 70,000 people to consider, getting feedback was no small feat. But Letourneau and her colleagues used every electronic and hard copy resource available.
“We mailed surveys to every business and household in the community because it was so important,” Letourneau explains. “And yes, many people are getting their news and information on their smart phones, but not everyone. And we have to continue to remember that. We actually had more mailed back than were submitted electronically.”
That input framed the core goals of the Strategic Plan. Adopted by the Council in November 2019, the project is posted on the city’s website. Letourneau says the response is no surprise in this gem of a community.
“This is a very special place,” she says. “And the goal is to continue to work on these projects but always to keep the values of the city in mind, which is that Main Street feel and that close-knit community that it is.”
She believes honoring those principles is crucial to future growth.
“We have to be mindful in everything we do. That we’re not changing (Laguna Niguel’s) character while moving forward.”
Letourneau appreciates the level of engagement she’s found throughout the community.
“When the City Council is supportive and works together, the staff is top notch and works together as a team … that we’re all working together with the community, with the Chamber, with the businesses. And that’s why the city has developed the way it has. And I want to see that continue.
She adds, “It’s about communication. There’s no such thing in my book as too much communication.”
www.cityoflagunaniguel.org • (949) 362-4315
Scott Alevy
Laguna Niguel Chamber of Commerce
Scott Alevy may be Laguna Niguel’s newest and biggest advocate, and he’s excited to tell you why.
“This is a great place to live, work and dream,” the Laguna Niguel Chamber of Commerce’s new President & CEO says. “I’m still a new guy here, but this is my home. Our members want to make a difference and they do so every day – not just in their own lives, but in the lives of their neighbors and customers.”
A proud U.S. Air Force veteran, Alevy has spent his career in public service, public relations, nonprofit management and, early on, broadcast journalism. But it’s the potential impact community-based organizations offer that really gets him excited…particularly in the Chamber, where newfound outreach and advocacy are key elements.
“Our events and services for our members are a key,” he explains. “Take our Educating Professionals series, for example, where seasoned business operators have something to share, like financial information, legal insight or social media savvy. Our members walk away with a strong and tangible advantage over their competitors because they took the time to learn from others.”
2019 Chamber Chair Stephanie Winstead played a key role in bringing Alevy on board. She’s confident Alevy’s success with the Chamber is because for him, this isn’t just a job.
“He’s in this because it’s in his heart and soul. He enjoys the networking and interaction aspects.”
Alevy is excited that Laguna Niguel is rich with citizens who are committed to participating in the process of building the city together.
“Volunteerism is alive and well in this community,” he says.
He points out the success of the city’s 30th Anniversary community carnival as an example.
“We had more than 50 volunteers contributing more than 270 hours over two and a half days. And our Ambassadors form a core of around 20 volunteers who put in hundreds of hours each year. Just amazing!”
Alevy believes that this dedication, and a strong partnership with the City government, will help the community grow while keeping its “Main Street charm.” But he is willing to consider other influences as well.
“I think the Moulton Niguel Water District just might be putting something in our water to make this place so special.”
www.lnchamber.com • (949) 363-0136
“We had more than 50 volunteers contributing more than 270 hours over two and a half days. And our Ambassadors form a core of around 20 volunteers who put in hundreds of hours each year. Just amazing!”
Gary Capata
Capata CPA
When Capata CPA founder Gary Capata launched his own accounting firm in the mid 80’s it didn’t take long before he relocated his family and business.
“I was looking for places in Southern California,” he explains. “I saw Laguna Niguel and fell in love with it. The design of the city just flows together.”
As his business grew, Capata invested his energies in helping the community grow as well.
“I wanted to get involved and joined the Chamber of Commerce,” Capata says. “That’s one of the main reasons why the firm has been successful. When you get involved, you get out more than what you put in.”
In addition to the Chamber, Capata has served on the Laguna Niguel City Council—twice as Mayor—plus several other commissions and civic organizations. It’s a lot of activity, but Capata says the people of Laguna Niguel make it worth the effort.
“People are collegial,” he adds. “The community safety, the community spirit, there’s a feeling of belonging. It’s the right place to be.”
www.capatacpa.com • (949) 364-0334
Malinda Goller
Partners Bank of California
It’s accurate to say the banking industry is a legacy for Partners Bank of California Vice President Malinda Goller. Her grandmother opened Monarch Bank in 1980.
“The idea was to provide a true community bank in what was then unincorporated Laguna Niguel,” Goller says. “When I was in high school, I started working (at the bank) too.”
Goller has nurtured that opportunity into a banking and finance career spanning more than three decades, the vast majority of which has been spent right here in Laguna Niguel.
“Grandma used to drag me to the Chamber sponsored Chili Cook-offs,” Goller laughs. “That’s when I started being really involved in the community. Ever since then I’ve been involved with this Chamber of Commerce.”
Goller has watched firsthand the financial community and the Chamber itself grow with the town.
“We have been so blessed to have dedicated community members and quality local government take control and build this city,” she says. “Laguna Niguel has benefited from smart leadership that wants to protect and preserve this special place we have here.”
www.partnersbankca.com • (949) 732-4604
Rick Riegle, CFP®
Edward Jones
In an Edward Jones office located on Town Center Drive east of Alicia Parkway, Rick Riegle, CFP®, strives to “deliver a comprehensive strategy” that combines his and his teams’ vast collective experience and all available technology for every client’s benefit.
That’s no small offering, considering the Anaheim native’s CFP® designation alone guarantees long-term commitment to fiduciary education, multi-tiered ethics requirements and ongoing additional training.
“It’s years of study and time in the field to bring the level of services, expertise and dedication to our clients.” he says.
Insurance and annuities, taxation advice and retirement income plans of action are just a few of the areas on which Riegle focuses. But his almost decade of Edward Jones experience in Laguna Niguel doesn’t stop with his time caring for clients. His belief in family and this growing community is also evident in time spent volunteering with the Laguna Niguel Lions Club and the Chamber of Commerce.
www.edwardjones.com • (949) 249-08248
Dean Vigus
F45 Training
F45 Laguna Niguel location manager Dean Vigus, and the rest of their team wants to help you experience the best 45 minutes of your day. Located on Golden Lantern at the Laguna Heights Marketplace, this fitness concept has revolutionized team-based training by providing one of the most advance fitness concepts accommodating different skill levels using the combined benefits of technology, certified fitness instructors and group fitness approach. F45 is functional group training that encourages participants through innovative exercises that result in body transformations in as little as 12 weeks.
The F stands for functional and the 45 is the duration of the class. Exercises are divided into 45-second intervals with 15-second rest periods. All workouts are scientifically designed for ages 16 to 70, making F45 accessible to people from all different backgrounds and fitness levels. Considered the fastest growing fitness concept globally with more than 1400 studios, it’s transforming bodies across the world. Many celebrities adopted the F45 concept since it’s now the ‘in’ thing for getting fit fast, including Mark Wahlberg, Hugh Jackman, Erin Heatherton and others.
www.f45training.com/lagunaniguel/ • (949) 274-9797