People

Spotlight on achievers

Mary Johnson and Ace Yeam

Citizens of the Year, Seal Beach

Seal Beach citizens chose Johnson and Yeam as Woman and Man of the Year.

Johnson, a former registered nurse, is a past president of the Seal Beach Junior Woman’s Club and has worked with a number of school and community organizations.

She took part in efforts to refurbish several city parks and was co-chair of the committee that created the Publishing Center and Science Center at McGaugh Elementary School.

Yeam, a World War II combat veteran, was honored for his role as co-founder of the College Park East Neighborhood Assn.

He was the 1994 Founder’s Day Parade chairman and is a volunteer with the city’s graffiti removal program and the annual Toys for Tots drive.

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Sandra Berger

Irvine resident

Berger was installed as a trustee of the Alliance of the American Dental Assn. at its recent annual meeting in New Orleans.

The national organization for spouses of dentists conducts community programs to promote dental health.

Berger is a past president of the Alliance of the California Dental Assn. and the current newsletter editor for the Alliance to the Orange County Dental Society.

She is married to Bill Berger--a general practice dentist in Laguna Hills-- and works as the office manager for her husband’s practice. Berger and her husband have four children.

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Richard M. Sax

Physician, Fountain Valley

The chief of staff at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center has become Chapman University’s first physician to obtain a master’s degree in health administration.

Sax, who has been in the medical profession for 20 years, said he went back to school to enhance his medical knowledge with executive skills.

“In the 21st Century, health care organizations will be complex networks of hospitals, doctors and other health providers focused on cost-effective medical care,” Sax said. “To work effectively within such networks, physicians need to better understand the role of management and play a pivotal role in managing health service resources.”

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Shirley Rice

Bus driver, Anaheim

Rice has driven 200,000 miles over 18 years as a bus driver for the Irvine Unified School District and Ryder Transportation Services, which honored her with a Pacific Region Driver of the Year Award.

Ryder selected Rice because of her accident-free record. She is one of eight regional bus drivers honored by Ryder.

Rice, an Anaheim resident, transports pre- kindergarten-age children in the school district’s Head Start program.

--COMPILED BY LESLEY WRIGHT, WITH DEBRA CANO AND RUSS LOAR