A REAL TREAT
Muttropolis founder Janet McCulley, seen here with Lulu, has been named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2007 Award finalist in San Diego. Co-founder and chief marketing officer McCulley has opened five Muttropolis boutiques, including one in La Jolla at 7755 Girard Ave., with more in the planning stages. Winners will be named during a June 12 gala at the Hilton Torrey Pines.

May the best plan win
The student-run Triton Innovation Network at UCSD is ready to announce the winners of its year-long business plan competition.
The winning team and two runners-up will collect $50,000. If the winner’s business is based on tecnology from UCSD, the university’s technology transfer office, TechTIPS, will award an additional 50 percent.
The culmination of the competition is Saturday, June 9, at UCSD’s Atkinson Hall, 9500 Gilman Drive.
Beginning at 10 a.m., judges will review the businesss plans of five finalists. Winners will be announced after lunch.
For information about the event, which is open to the public, visit http://www.ucsd50K.com or e-mail Darby Chan, [email protected].

Volunteers get their just dues
While the average person’s attention span may be only as long as it takes to turn to something new, Deborah Greenhill has risen above that and put in 45 years as a volunteer for the American Red Cross. In turn, the Red Cross recently honored her and another La Jolla resident, Wendelien Oswald, as 2007 Volunteer Award recipients for the local chapter.
“I was absolutely shocked and surprised and thrilled at the same time,” Greenhill said. “We were at the luncheon and they called our names, and it was one of those moments when I thought, ‘that is my name they are calling’ and it was great.”
Greenhill won the Volunteer Service Excellence Award for her longtime service, which includes helping with response logistics during hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and the San Diego Wildfires of 2003. Oswald was acknowledged with the Spirit of Volunteerism Award for her work as a member of the CPR Saturday Committee for more than five years and serving as a safety instructor trainer.
“I enjoy what I do and I am very enthusiastic about volunteering, but not only that, I am giving back to community,” Greenhill said. “I grew up in La Jolla, and if it is in my power to help, then that is what I want to do.”
For additional information, see www.sdarc.org.

Beach & Tennis Club receives top seed
Tennis greats including Jimmy Connors, Bobby Riggs and John McEnroe have played on the courts of the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, 2000 Spindrift Drive, and now the club was recently acknowledged with the Gold Medallion Award for Best Recreation/Club in San Diego.
“We are proud of that award, and we had also won last year, and the winners last year included the La Jolla Country Club, the San Diego Yacht Club and the Crosby,” said John Campbell, general manager of the club. “This is a fine group of clubs, and we are honored to be amongst them.”
The 23rd Gold Medallion Award Dinner was held in early May. Winners are selected by the 400 members of the San Diego County Chapter of the California Restaurant Association (CRA).
“We are very proud to get that recognition within the country clubs of San Diego and Southern California,” Campbell said. “I have been here 13 years, and we are always looking for ways to improve our club and get the word out about what we have to offer.”
For more information, see www.ljbtc.com.