Making a difference in Costa Mesa

Deirdre Newman

South Coast Plaza is an world-renowned shopping center due in part to

tireless promotion by one man: Werner Escher.

Escher, the center’s executive director of domestic and

international markets, was honored Tuesday with the Individual

Achievement award as part of the fifth annual Costa Mesa Hall of Fame

Awards. The Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce and South Coast Metro

Alliance hosted the awards presentation at the Westin South Coast

Plaza.

Also, David Emmes and Martin Benson of South Coast Repertory

received the Leadership in the Arts award and Orange County Market

Place founder Bob Teller received the Community Spirit award.

The awards recognize exceptional individuals who personify the

qualities of corporate and business leadership.

In a video tribute, Escher was characterized as a commanding

presence who lights up a room and someone who “eats, sleeps and

drinks Costa Mesa and South Coast Plaza.”

Escher displayed a sense of humility in accepting the award. He

pointed out that he is usually the one doing the presenting, not the

receiving and then provided one of the many laughs of the afternoon.

“If I were here,” he said, and then realized what he had just

said, while chuckles reverberated through the audience.

“If I were here presenting myself,” he continued with a smile, “I

would say, ‘Here’s a person who loves every day of life’s work,

cherishes the people who surround him, is much better because of

those who developed a stimulus for development of a caring attitude,

the platform for growth and many memories for making it more

meaningful.’”

Benson and Emmes were described in their video tribute as starting

the theater company “from a bootstrap, handling the cash flow out of

a cigar box.” Emmes is the producing artistic director of the company

and has received many awards for productions he has directed during

the company’s 39-year history. Benson is a director and artistic

director and has received awards for his direction of five major

works by George Bernard Shaw.

In accepting the award, Benson joked about Costa Mesa changing its

name.

“I think Goat Hill Repertory sounds better,” Benson said. “We

wanted Costa Mesa to change its name to TeWinkle or Goat Hill. It’s

been a thrilling ride for 40 years and we’ll keep it going for a

while longer.”

Fair general manager Becky Bailey-Findley lauded Teller in his

video tribute as a legend in the fair industry and the community. He

started a swap meet in 1969 called “Treasures and Trash” that evolved

into the sophisticated Orange County Market Place at the Orange

County Fairgrounds.

“His very enthusiasm and boisterous laugh that we have all enjoyed

-- if you took that boisterousness and enthusiasm as a symbol of

spirit, that is Bob,” Bailey-Findley said.

Teller thanked the community for the award and said he appreciated

being recognized as more than Jeff Teller’s dad. Jeff is the

president of the Orange County Market Place.

“To create a business and have been able, with the support of the

community, to pass it on to your kids is a wonderful, wonderful

experience,” Teller said.