SAN DIEGO - s4story -- TEAM Referral Network San Diego, the region's premier relationship marketing organization, hosted its highly anticipated "Summer Celebration: Mix & Mingle" on July 16th at the prestigious Heights Golf Club. The event brought together over 50 of San Diego's top entrepreneurs and business professionals for an evening of high-level networking and strategic partnership building.

The organization is led by franchise owner Laura Bashore, who was recently honored as the 2026 recipient of the "Entrepreneur of the Year" award by the San Diego Business Chamber (formerly the North San Diego Business Chamber).

"80% of our members are business owners — decision makers. It makes a difference in the way we show up and engage," said Bashore. "We have a stake in building a community that's driven by trust and the ability to commit and deliver. The best part of owning a business is choosing how you spend your time. We invite you to spend your time with us."

A central highlight of the celebration was the recognition of the Summer Celebration MVPs, members who have shown exceptional dedication and leadership within the professional community. This year's honorees include:

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▶ Aracely Serna (Pacific Beach)

▶ Casey Baker (Scripps/Poway)

▶ Dan Palmer (Coastal Connectors)

▶ Sara Freund (Solana Beach)

▶ Hayley Shams (San Marcos)

▶ Mikhak Ghorban (Rancho Bernardo Connections)

▶ Rosemary Reed (Executive Ventures, B2B)

▶ Alejandra De La Rosa (LeadHERship Collective, Women's Network)

Hear from the MVPs:

Casey Baker – Sungiea Solar, "I'm incredibly grateful for the trust and support I've received from this community and the wonderful (and badass) business owners I've gotten to know so well. Thank you for allowing me to be part of building something meaningful together and creating a community where everyone has the opportunity to grow and succeed."

Alejandra De La Rosa – Western Alliance Bank, "Honored and grateful to receive this MVP recognition. A sincere thank you to my team and chapter for your unwavering support, collaboration, and commitment to excellence. This recognition is a reflection of the collective effort, shared knowledge, and teamwork that make our success possible every day.

Sara Freund – State Farm Agency Owner, "My business has changed a lot since I joined, and this group has evolved right along with me. Some of my best business 7 years later still comes from the people in this room. That's what this award represents to me. Dedication and investing in each other."

Beyond the awards, attendees enjoyed high-speed networking sessions, a unique tarot reading experience by Daisy, and a curated selection of light appetizers on the veranda. The event's high-energy atmosphere was felt by all. "Congratulations on a great event last night," said guest Tom Schultz of SDPrinters.com. "That crowd was one of the best I have seen at a networking event. Very engaging."

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The celebration was made possible through the support of valued partners and sponsors, including The Heights Golf Club and Clickwave

Join the Best Community in San Diego

TEAM Referral Network is currently accepting applications for new members who are ready to grow their business through relationship marketing.

Apply for Membership: https://tinyurl.com/JoinTEAMSanDiegoCounty

Become a Partner or Sponsor: https://teamreferral-sd.com/sponsors

For more information, visit the TEAM Referral Network San Diego Regional Page: https://teamreferralnetwork.co (https://teamreferralnetwork.com/san-diego-regio... (https://teamreferralnetwork.com/san-diego-region/) or connect with us via our Linktr.ee at https://linktr.ee/teamreferralsd.

MEDIA CONTACT

Laura Bashore

Franchise Owner, TEAM Referral Network San Diego laurab@teamreferralnetwork.com

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