Badger of the Year Award
This award is given to a UW-Madison graduate who has distinguished themselves in Orange County as a volunteer and through their dedicated service to our community and their profession. Congratulations to our Badger of the Year for 2013:James G. Harker, Esq. BA'70
Jim Harker is a native of Janesville, Wisconsin who received his B.A. from the University of Wisconsin in January 1970. From 1970 through 1973, Jim served on active duty as a Marine Corps Flight Officer. Following his military service, Jim worked at the Orange County Employees’ Association and studied law at Western State University in the evenings. He received his J.D. from Western State in August 1976, passed the February 1977 California Bar Exam and started his private practice in August 1977. Over the past 40 years, Jim’s law firm (now Harker, Campbell & Belfield LLP) has engaged in the civil practice of law with emphasis on labor and employment law, corporate and small business representation, estate and trust planning and administration, real estate and related litigation services. Jim is a co-owner of SoMa Cellars, a producer of fine wines from Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino Counties, as well as Bordeaux. SoMa Cellars wines are marketed direct to consumers at somacellars.com. Jim and his wife Ilene work to support several charitable causes including I Padrini di Antonellos’, Covenant House and Crest Education Center. Jim and Ilene are avid Badger and Packer fans who reside in Newport Beach and enjoy vacationing in Wisconsin whenever possible.