La Jolla Concours d’Elegance Committees

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

G. MICHAEL DORVILLIER
CO-CHAIRMAN, LA JOLLA CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE

The La Jolla Historical Society welcomes back Michael Dorvillier as Chairman of the La Jolla Concours d’Elegance, one of the Society’s major fundraising events. A Registered Principal and Financial Advisor with Symbio Financial Partners and LPL Financial, Michael is a passionate antique car collector who is committed to the ongoing success of the La Jolla Concours d’Elegance. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Michael moved to New Hampshire in 1979. He graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1989 and relocated in Southern California to start his professional career. He lives in La Jolla and is the father of two wonderful children, Madeline and Blake.

ROBERT F. KERNER, JR.
CO-CHAIRMAN, CHAIR OF CONCOURS CAR SELECTION COMMITTEE, LA JOLLA CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE

Bob Kerner, a seasoned 24-year insurance producer, specializes in private client risk management and has served seven billionaire families. His expertise lies in catering to clients with family offices, utilizing best-in-class practices and a dedicated team. He extends his services to emerging affluent clients, with a minimum of $5 million investible, up to ultra-wealthy families.

Bob’s passion for collector cars is evident through his involvement as a Board Member for the La Jolla Concours d’ Elegance and his longstanding membership in the Classic Car Club of America. His contributions to the Petersen Automotive Museum and his three appearances on the Cars Yeah podcast underscore his dedication to the automotive industry.

In 2021, Bob was chosen as Co-Chairman of the La Jolla Concours d’ Elegance, where he aims to work side by side with Michael Dorvillier and our organizing committee to host world-class events tailored to sponsors, entrants, and patrons, aligning with our vision of showcasing the most remarkable automobiles and top-notch judging.

As a sales executive at Marsh McLennan Agency, Bob’s practice covers all risk transfer needs for ultra-wealthy families globally.

Laurel McFarlane

Laurel offers her clients over 20 years of hands-on event planning experience and relationships. With a flawless reputation in the community for executing the most popular and prestigious events, Laurel offers her clients her creativity, contacts, and most professional attention to detail.  As Founder and President of the San Diego Event Coalition, she is a leader in the industry and always spearheading new trends and innovations for her clients.

Lauren Lockhart
La Jolla Historical Society Executive Director

Lauren Lockhart is an arts administrator with nearly 20 years of experience collaborating with artists, architects, designers and cultural institutions. As Executive Director of the La Jolla Historical Society, she executes the Society’s mission of making La Jolla’s past a relevant part of contemporary life through a diverse roster of exhibitions, publications, education programming, archival research, and historic preservation.

Lockhart is the former Arts Program Manager for San Diego International Airport (2013-2021), where she oversaw public art commissions and contributed to a comprehensive Arts Master Plan to guide the Arts Program’s vision and growth. She also implemented outreach programs to increase the airport’s engagement with diverse audiences. Lockhart is currently Chair of the Board of Directors of ARTS (A Reason to Survive), a Board Member of the San Diego Museum Council, and an Advisory Committee member for Murals of La Jolla. She received her BA in Art History/Criticism from the University of California, San Diego, and MA in the History of Art from the University of California, Riverside.

NIGEL MATTHEWS
Chief Judge

Originally from Oxfordshire, England. Nigel has enjoyed the past 49 years living in Vancouver and 29 Years of his 50-plus years automotive career.   He has judges at a total of 140 Concours events worldwide.

The past 28 years of his 50-year automotive career has been in the classic and exotic car insurance industry as a specialty vehicle damage appraiser, underwriter and ten years as the Administrator of the British Columbia provincial government collector and vintage vehicle licensing and insurance programs. He is currently the Global Brand Ambassador for Hagerty

He wrote a weekly classic car column in the Canadian press from 2003 until 2014.

Nigel is a founding member of ICJAG and the current Chairman. He has judged at a total of 123 Concours events worldwide over the past 20 years, including Pebble Beach since 2005 and more recently at Villa d’Este. He has been the Chief judge at 32 Concours.

Amber Anderson

Since starting her career in real estate in 2009 with one of the world’s most trusted brands, Sotheby’s International Realty®, Amber has had the opportunity to work with the top real estate professionals on a global level. Her years of industry experience and knowledge make her a highly sought-after professional. With a client list which includes many Fortune 500 corporate executives, pro athletes, and countless institutional investors, Amber has distinguished herself as an elite broker in San Diego County.

Having sold some of San Diego’s most luxurious properties, Amber’s success can be attributed to her expert knowledge of the luxury market and her ability to attract highly qualified buyers from around the world, using the global network Sotheby’s provides.

In addition to her passion for real estate, Amber also enjoys sharing her knowledge with other agents through keynote speeches at various real estate conferences throughout the world. From Canada to Holland, Indonesia, Australia, and even Russia, Amber’s goal to empower agents in becoming their best versions has no borders.

Julian Psaila

Hailing originally from Weybridge, Surrey in the UK, a stone’s throw from the historic Brooklands racing track and a short jaunt to Brands Hatch, Julian Psaila has had a lifelong passion for motor racing and cars, especially anything British or Italian from the 1960’s and 1970’s.

After a career in semiconductor sales and marketing, working with companies like Hitachi, Ltd., Quantum Effect Devices, PMC-Sierra, Electronics for Imaging, and Renesas Electronics America, he is thrilled to have the opportunity to apply his organizational and leadership skills to the planning and execution of La Jolla’s world-class Concours d’Elegance.

Julian is currently tasked with recruiting, preparing, and managing the 250+ team of dedicated and selfless volunteers who turn out annually to give life to the jewel of motor car events.

Vahid Moradi

Born in Tehran, Iran, Vahid Moradi came to La Jolla at a young age where he attended La Jolla High School and then the University of San Diego. At the age of 19 while still in college, he started working in the jewelry industry. His passion, dedication, and commitment to the industry led him to become the respected owner of CJ Charles Jewelers in La Jolla.  His accomplishments have also led him to be a respected contributor to the village of La Jolla. Purveyors of fantasy, CJ Charles has been a Californian institution since 1986. Family owned and operated by Moradi, all team members make it a mission to fulfill their tagline, Exceeding the Extraordinary. Over the years, he has made it his mission to support philanthropic causes including the UCSD Moores Cancer Center, Miracle Babies, and Promises2Kids. He is dedicated to making a difference in the local community and continues this endeavor by joining the La Jolla Concours Executive Committee in 2022.

Claudette Berwin
Tour d’Elegance Co-Chair

Claudette has been a classic car aficionado from a very young age. She remembers early days at the Pebble Beach Concours with picnics on the 18th green amongst collections from Ralph Lauren, Arturo Keller and a few Jerry Seinfield Porsches as well as the inaugural event at the Quail Lodge. She has twice served as a chase car for the Italian Mille Miglia, attended the Monte Carlo Grand Prix and raced Formula Fords, Mercedes Benz’s and BMW’s on multiple tracks.

Claudette Berwin has had an impressive career as a real estate broker for almost 4 decades in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego Counties. Her experience includes owning her own brokerage firm in the Village of La Jolla for 17 years, which was subsequently purchased by Coldwell Banker in 2019. After receiving her BA in Business Administration from Pepperdine University, she joined one of the largest apartment syndication firms in Southern California before venturing into new construction mixed use developments in La Jolla and residential real estate sales throughout San Diego County. Her international client base includes several dignitaries, financial institutions and CEO’s of major corporations. Claudette has served on various boards including the Newport Beach association of realtors and the La Jolla Village Merchant’s Association.

Claudette and her husband Bill have been involved with the La Jolla Concours d’Elegance since 2010 in multiple capacities including silent and live auction chairs, VIP events and since 2022, the significant role as chairs of the Tour d’Elegance.

William A. Berwin
Tour d’Elegance Co-Chair

Having grown up in La Jolla, Bill has always felt a strong sense of commitment to give back to this wonderful community. Volunteering for community involvement is the best way to improve and enhance our beautiful seaside village. Bill served on the Bird Rock community council as Chair of the streetscape beautification committee and the La Jolla (PDO) planning committee approving development projects in the village of La Jolla.  With his passion for vintage cars, Bill is proud to serve on the La Jolla Concours d ’Elegance executive committee as well as Co-Chair, with his wife Claudette, on the La Jolla Tour d ‘Elegance helping to shape and elevate this world-class La Jolla event.

As founder and president of Coastal Development Company, Bill has over 45 years’ experience in the Real Estate industry and has focused the last 25 years on La Jolla infill developments. Bill holds a California General Contractors license and a California State Brokers license and was inducted into Lambda Alpha International, an Honorary Land Economics society with the purpose to foster the study of real estate and land economics and further the highest ideals of integrity and honesty in the real estate business.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Weston Anson (Sponsorship Committee)
Alan Taylor (Awards Co-Chair)
Gordon Clark (Motorcycle Chair)
Peter Corrente (Ultimate VIP Package Chair)
JC Dumas (Awards Co-Chair)
Phil Kendro (Air Show Mission Control)
Rich Kenney (Air Show Chair)
John Peek (Volunteer Booth Coordinator)
Kevin Sisterson (Motorcycle Vice-Chair)
Verne Wochnick (Volunteer Awards Corridor Coordinator)
Jahlel Hunter (LJHS Board of Directors Liaison)

CAR SOURCING COMMITTEE

Robert F. Kerner Jr.
Wayne Craig
Robert Escalante
Patrick Scruggs
Tom Billick
Carl & Vicki Zeiger
Brad Brindley
Jim Davidson
Gordon Clark (motorcycles)
Kevin Sisterson (motorcycles)

EVENT & PROMOTION

Jacob Henderson

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Chuck Spielman
Neal Wichard
Lee Daub
Ed Gilbertson
Chris Kramer