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2010 OC 50 – REAL ESTATE

George L. Argyros
Chairman, chief executive
Arnel & Affiliates, limited partner
Westar Capital LLC
Born in Detroit, age 73

Lives in Newport Beach (Harbor Island)

Political heavy hitter, former ambassador, philanthropist. Keeping low profile in core business—real estate—during downturn.

Started real estate developer, investor Arnel & Affiliates 40 years ago. Owns apartments, offices, industrial, shopping centers throughout Southern California.

Owns some 20 complexes totaling more than 5,000 apartments in OC. More than 2 million square feet of office, industrial, retail space. Much in OC, also in City of Industry, Carlsbad.

Most prominent local holding: 52-acre Metro Pointe campus in Costa Mesa—280,000-square-foot shopping center, 300,000 square feet of offices, 300 apartments.

Founding partner of investment firm Westar Capital, formed in 1987. Makes investments of $5 million to $25 million. Investments include pet products maker Doskocil Manufacturing, cooler maker Igloo Products, home healthcare provider LifeCare Solutions.

Wealth estimated at more than $1 billion, about half from stocks.

Director at First American, where he’s an investor. Also on board of DST Systems, early Westar investment. Joined board of Costa Mesa’s Pacific Mercantile Bank in March.

Prolific Republican fundraiser. New Majority board member. President Bush’s ambassador to Spain, 2001 to late 2004. Backed John McCain’s presidential run.

Second-generation Greek-American, speaks Greek. Born in Detroit, raised in Pasadena. First job mowing lawns. Was paper boy, grocery box boy.

In 1962, started selling land to oil companies for service stations. Bid on state land as freeways were built in OC. Went on to buy land for restaurants, stores. Made initial fortune.

In 1981, paid $13 million for Seattle Mariners. Sold baseball team in 1989 for estimated $76 million.

Bought AirCal with OC 50er Bill Lyon for $62 million in 1981. Sold to American Airlines five years later for $225 million.

One of county’s top arts patrons. South Coast Repertory stage named in wife’s honor.

Major giver to alma mater Chapman University, where business school, student center, Argyros Forum bear his name. Served more than 27 years as chairman of Chapman’s board, still trustee.

Opening this year: George and Julia Argyros Health Center in La Quinta, part of Eisenhower Medical Center. Made $20 million donation for 90,000-square-foot center, half of total estimated cost.

1993 winner of Horatio Alger Award; association’s treasurer, chairman emeritus. Received group’s Norman Vincent Peale Award in 2004.

In 2007, received Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation’s Semper Fidelis Award.

Along with Chapman, alum of Michigan State. Majored in business, economics. Honorary Pepperdine law degree.

Member, Bethesda, Md.-based Chief Executives Organization. Former chairman, current board member, OC Council Boy Scouts of America. On Caltech board. Chairman, Beckman Foundation. Former chairman, Richard Nixon Library; founding chairman of Nixon Center in Washington, D.C.

Harbor Island neighbor of OC 50er Don Bren. Wife, Julia. Three children, six grandchildren. Enjoys skiing, hunting, fishing, boating, golf, scuba diving, spending time with grandchildren.

Mark Mueller

Donald L. BrenOwner, chairman
Irvine Company
Born in Los Angeles, age 77
Lives in Newport Beach (Harbor Island)

California’s most powerful real estate executive.

Longtime leader of Irvine Company, county’s largest landowner, landlord. County’s dominant businessman. Shaped development here more than anyone.

Remains active chairman. Heads leadership team at Irvine Co., which he’s overseen since 1977. Group presidents include OC 50ers Richard Gilchrist, Dan Young, Greg Lindstrom.

Estimated empire spans 85 million square feet of commercial real estate. Owns 475 office buildings, 41 shopping centers, 116 apartment complexes, three golf clubs, five marinas. Bulk in OC. Substantial holdings in San Diego, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles.

Wealthiest U.S. real estate developer, perhaps in world, according to Forbes. Wealth estimated by Business Journal at $12 billion, even during downturn.

Rents bring in estimated $1 billion in cash flow. In good years, revenue from land sales can double that.

Among few actually developing now. Has taken different tack in downturn by paying homebuilders to put up houses on company land, instead of selling lots.

Company has largest homes development now under way in Southern California. More than 315 home sales in first two months. Plans for another 125 homes recently announced.

Switching gears again: Company plans to put up next phases of homes itself, reviving in-house builder Irvine Pacific, dormant since 1980s.

Opened second big Irvine Spectrum apartment complex this year. Finishing up $100 million revamping of Fashion Island shopping center, including recently opened Nordstrom.

Slowly filling recently built offices. More than 6.7 million square feet of office leases last year, 5 million square feet of that in OC. One of strongest leasing years on record for company.

Lured tenants looking for stability as other landlords struggle with debt, other issues. Prompt commission payments have grabbed attention of brokers.

No major acquisitions in past two years following several billion dollars worth of office, apartment buys in OC, San Diego during boom.

One of country’s most generous philanthropists. Lifetime giving has exceeded $1.3 billion, according to BusinessWeek.

More than $200 million in giving for education. Given $60 million to UC Irvine, including $20 million for law school that opened last year. Also given to UC Santa Barbara. Awarded UC, UCI Medals. Endowed more UC distinguished faculty chairs than any other donor.

Pledged some $10 million since 2006 to Think Together, Santa Ana nonprofit that offers after-school programs.

Custodian of historic Irvine Ranch, assembled by James Irvine more than century ago.

In 2001, set aside 11,000 acres as open space. Has given $50 million to enhance land reserve, created nonprofit Irvine Ranch Conservancy to manage open space, improve public access. Previously gave 21,000 acres to Nature Reserve of Orange County.

More than half of 93,000-acre Irvine Ranch set aside for parks, open space. Most of land designated as national natural landmark in 2006, state landmark in 2008.

Twenty years of development left. Estimated 27,000 acres of developable land, enough for 29,000 housing lots.

Private, some insist shy. Shuns spotlight. Gentlemanly, sharp. Sets decidedly old-school tone. Suits required attire.

In 1958 founded homebuilder Bren Co., now California Pacific Homes. Later started Mission Viejo Co. with O’Neill-Moiso family, others. Sold stake to partners, who sold to Philip Morris in 1970s.

Part of 1977 group acquiring control of Irvine Co. Bought out most partners for $518 million in 1983. In 1991 paid $256 million court award to heiresses Joan Irvine Smith, mother Athalie Clarke for their shares.

Became 100% owner in 1996.

Among upper echelons of political influence. Backing Meg Whitman for governor. Key player in New Majority formation.

On boards of UCI Foundation, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, OC Museum of Art, Caltech.

Former Marine at Camp Pendleton, gave $1 million for chairs at Marine Corps University in Quantico, Va. Did officer training at Quantico in 1957. In 1998 received Semper Fidelis Award for support of Marine Corps University Foundation.

Business administration, economics degree from University of Washington.

Mother Marion Jorgensen died in 2008, was married to movie producer Milton Bren, later steel magnate Earle M. Jorgensen, who died in 1999.

No talk of stepping back. Says Jorgensen, Arnold Beckman are idols. Both worked into 100s.

Married to entertainment lawyer Brigitte Bren, runs international business consultancy. Son born in 2003. Has other children. Two sons involved in local real estate companies.

In 2005 moved to Harbor Island mansion on double lot. Splits time between Los Angeles, Harbor Island. Accomplished skier. Also windsurfs, sails, plays tennis.

Mark Mueller

Kenneth L. Campbell III
Chief executive, president
Standard Pacific Corp.
Born in Hudson, Ohio, age 53

Lives in Laguna Beach

Turnaround specialist who’s brought OC’s largest homebuilder back from brink.

Joined company from hedge fund MatlinPatterson Global Advisers, Standard’s dominant shareholder since 2008. Named director in mid-2008, CEO late that year.

Cut costs, reduced near-term debt that once threatened company with bankruptcy. Focused on preserving cash, improving profit margins that now are among best in industry.

Centralized headquarters into no-frills office building. Tight-knit executive team. Some 800 workers, down from 2,500 at peak of market.

On track for profitability for 2010 after three years of losses. Turned first quarterly profit in years in fourth quarter, slipped back to loss in first.

Eyeing some $400 million in land deals this year as attention turns to growth. More optimistic, says housing market slowly improving.

Partner since 2007 at MatlinPatterson, which saved Standard with $530 million investment in 2008. Twenty years of experience reviving distressed companies. Says he still doesn’t think of himself as a homebuilder.

Restructuring jobs include running Ohio’s Ormet, aluminum maker “everyone had written off,” New York-based Railworks, transit construction company. Began turnaround career at Kaiser Engineers of Virginia.

Spent time in former Czechoslovakia during Velvet Revolution.

Calls himself “small-town Ohio person.” Still has family, friends in Buckeye State.

Graduate of Connecticut’s Wesleyan University. Business master’s from Wharton.

Deadpan sense of humor. Moved to OC from New York on appointment, usually starts conference calls with Wall Street analysts giving updates on OC weather.

Mark Mueller

Richard I. Gilchrist
President, investment properties group
Irvine Company
Born in Los Angeles, age 63
Lives in Newport Coast

Gregory P. Lindstrom
Executive vice president, general counsel
Irvine Company
Born in Hollywood, age 57
Lives in Laguna Beach (Emerald Bay)

Daniel H. Young
President, Irvine Community Development Co.
Irvine Company
Born in Orange, age 59
Lives in Coto de Caza

Power trio at county’s most powerful company.

Key Irvine Company executives after Chairman Don Bren, stand-alone OC 50er. Young in charge of housing development. Gilchrist manages offices, shopping centers, hotels, apartments, other investment properties. Lindstrom oversees corporate functions—legal, finance, communications, HR, technology.

Three serve in Office of Chairman with Bren, managing land planning, development, real estate management, corporate finance, strategy.

Ten-year veteran Young became head of community development in 2007. First projects with his fingerprints on them going up in Irvine. Work currently grabbing local, national headlines. Leading “OC’s own economic stimulus package.”

Quick with numbers to show demand for new homes in Irvine, even during housing slump. More than 300 sales in two months, best pace since 2005.

Irvine Co. financed building, paid builders to put up homes under “executive builder” program. Now plans to put up next phases of homes itself, reviving in-house builder Irvine Pacific, dormant since 1980s.

Joined Irvine Co. in 1999. Up to 2007 promotion, was responsible for political affairs, getting projects approved by governments. Now oversees implementation. Considered key part of the company’s inner circle.

Graduate of Santa Ana High School. Eight years as Santa Ana’s mayor, 11 years on City Council. City’s soccer field named for him.

On board of Santa Ana’s Taller San Jose, which provides education, job skills for at-risk young adults. New Majority member.

Bachelor’s from Cal State Fullerton, master’s in public administration from USC.

Wife, Leslee, three children. Avid golfer.

Gilchrist took over dominant investment properties group in 2006. Managing portfolio during downturn, focused on filling space. Nearly 7 million square feet of office leases last year, including 5 million square feet in OC.

Group manages 475 office buildings, 41 shopping centers, 116 apartment complexes, three golf courses, three hotels, five marinas.

Fashion Island shopping center getting $100 million upgrade. Added Nordstrom this month. Dean & DeLuca recently pulled out of plans for store.

Apartment division still growing. Opened 1,456-unit The Park, second big Irvine Spectrum complex. Opened first ground-up development in OC not on historic Irvine Ranch in 2007, in Costa Mesa.

Also oversees offices, apartments in San Diego, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles.

Joined as president of office properties, after brief time as consultant. Prior to Irvine Co., served as president, co-chief executive of Maguire Properties in Los Angeles. Held exec role with Commonwealth Atlantic Properties.

Chairman of Whittier College Board of Trustees, where he received bachelor’s. Law degree from UCLA.

Wife, Nina, four children, two grandchildren.

Lindstrom went from consultant to insider in past three years, coming from San Francisco office of Latham & Watkins. Was one of Latham’s heavy hitters. Served as managing partner for OC, San Francisco offices. Specialized in antitrust, intellectual property, securities, unfair business practices.

Tried more than 30 lawsuits. Clients included Apple’s Steve Jobs, Oracle’s Larry Ellison.

Took over many duties handled by former Irvine Co. Chief Executive Michael McKee, for-mer Latham colleague who left in 2008. Ex-perience in real estate, land use, environmental law for landowners, developers, builders.

Counts long ties with Irvine Co., Bren. Served as legal adviser to company for more than 25 years. Handled Committee of 4000 litigation brought by land lease holders, landmark trial about title to Newport Back Bay islands.

Law degree from University of Chicago. Undergrad from UCLA. Fellow of American College of Trial Lawyers. Grew up in OC, Foothill High grad.

Wife, Carol, vice chairman of Deloitte. Two daughters. Makes acclaimed Napa Valley cabernet.

Mark Mueller

Michael F. Harrah
Owner, president
Caribou Industries Inc.
Born in Los Angeles, age 60
Lives in Newport Beach (Lido Isle)

Biggest real estate force in county’s biggest city.

Owns close to 80 buildings, about 4 million square feet in Santa Ana’s downturn, Civic Center. Led revival of city. Restored buildings, built concert theater, restaurant, attracted other eateries, art galleries, shops.

Biggest ambition still unrealized: One Broadway office tower.

Ambitious, 37-story office building proposed for heart of Santa Ana. Would be county’s largest at 491 feet. Project stalled. City requires leasing half of 600,000-square-foot tower before building. Said to be courting leases with county of Orange, Fortune 500 company.

Owns Caribou Industries, development, construction, tenant improvement, property management company.

In 2005, opened lavish theater, OC Pavilion, spending more than $20 million to convert former bank building. Earlier, converted old auto dealership into Original Mike’s restaurant. Eats there weekly. Shot elks whose heads hang on walls.

Bought, restored Hawaii’s Hotel Coral Reef Hotel, developed Pinnacle Honolulu condo tower.

Easily distinguishable. Sports ZZ Top beard, 6 feet, 6 inches tall. Piloted Cobra helicopter in stunts for movies “Austin Powers in Goldmember,” others.

Born in Los Angeles, grew up in Whittier. Son of machinist and Whittier High School teacher. Attended Rio Hondo College, Cal State Long Beach. At 19, worked as framing carpenter, then general contractor by 21, building Riv-erside apartments. Made small fortune by 25.

Large Lake Havasu deal led to 1990 bankruptcy. Emerged, turned to Santa Ana at time when city was left for dead.

Supports Orange County High School of the Arts, Boys & Girls Club.

Music fan. Plays drums, trombone, upright bass. Jovial. Rides Harley, pilots helicopter, collects vintage cars, smokes cigars.

Mark Mueller

Jonathan M. Jaffe Chief operating officer
Lennar Corp.
Born in New York, age 50
Lives in Laguna Beach (Emerald Bay)

Emile K. Haddad
Chief executive, president
Five Point Communities Management
Born in Beirut, Lebanon, age 51
Lives in Laguna Hills (Nellie Gail)

Changes playing out for duo behind county’s biggest homebuilding plans.

Jaffe No. 2 at Miami-based Lennar, country’s third-largest homebuilder by revenue, yearly sales of $3 billion. Second-largest builder in OC last year with 158 new home sales.

Runs Lennar’s daily operations from Aliso Viejo. Miami headquarters, Chief Executive Stuart Miller handle Wall Street.

Haddad stepped down as Lennar chief investment officer last year to take top spot at Five Point, new company in charge of developing five of Lennar’s largest land holdings in California, including Irvine’s former El Toro Marine base.

Lennar owns 60% of Five Point. Haddad put $1 million of own money into venture, has final say. Brought more than 20 local Lennar employees with him to Aliso Viejo-based company.

Five Point also overseeing LandSource Communities Development land in Valencia taken out of bankruptcy last year, along with projects in San Francisco area. In all, projects could hold more than 30,000 homes.

Initial work at former El Toro expected to start later this year. Plans for 4,900 homes, commercial space still some time away.

In 2005, Jaffe, Haddad led acquisition of former base for $1 billion, biggest local real estate deal in recent memory. Deal, others, propelled Lennar alongside Irvine Company, Rancho Mission Viejo, as one of largest developers here.

Lennar moving ahead with homes in Irvine’s Woodbury development. Also planning to re-sume sales at Irvine’s mothballed Central Park West development later this year. Partner al-ready selling high-rise condos at Astoria project.

Big plans in Anaheim for condo towers, shops, restaurants still on hold. Paid close to $250 million for land near Angel Stadium of Anaheim during boom, prompted rush of other developers to pursue condo projects. Most of those built now operate as apartments after condo crash.

Jaffe led Lennar’s charge into California in 1995. Had to buy way into OC’s tight-knit homebuilding club, where big landowners, homegrown builders dominate.

Oversees homebuilding, land divisions in 15 states. Became executive officer with Lennar in 1994, vice president in 1999. Promoted to current post from Western region president six years ago.

On national advisory board of HomeAid America.

Undergrad degree from University of Flori-da, graduate studies in architecture at Georgia Tech University. Joined Lennar out of college.

Wife, Karen, three sons. Enjoys tennis, beach life, coaching Little League.

Haddad led land development in Southern California for Canada’s Bramalea, which Lennar bought in 1996.

Has civil engineering degree from American University of Beirut, California licenses in engineering, contracting. Member, Urban Land Institute.

Left troubled Lebanon with now-wife, Dina. Couple had engagement party in Lebanon, married in Vegas. Daughter, son.

On board of Children’s Hospital of Orange County, UC Irvine’s Paul Merage School of Business, USC’s Lusk Center for Real Estate.

Mark Mueller

William Lyon
Owner, chairman, chief executive
William Lyon Homes Inc.
Born in Los Angeles, age 87
Lives in Coto de Caza

Legendary homebuilder, airman, icon of local real estate.

Spent much of past two years shoring up namesake Newport Beach homebuilder amid industry downturn. Sold land to generate cash, reduce debt.

Turning corner: $20 million loss in 2009, down from 2008’s $112 million in red ink. Posted recent quarterly profit, making selective land buys in improving markets.

Builds in California, Arizona, Nevada. Bulk of recent local sales at former Tustin Marine base, Irvine’s Portola Springs. Strong reception at Ivy project in Irvine Company’s Woodbury East development.

Most notable development of past year unrelated to housing: Lyon Air Museum, 30,000-square-foot collection of World War II planes, military vehicles, cars, other memorabilia next to John Wayne Airport.

Retired Air Force major general calls museum labor of love. Spared no expense.

Owns homebuilding company through family trusts. Turning over day-to-day to Bill Lyon, 36-year-old son.

Younger Lyon named president, chief operating officer last year. With company since 1997, director since 2000. Stanford grad.

Elder Lyon in homebuilding for five decades. Built estimated 100,000 homes during career. Started Luxury Homes with brother Leon in Fullerton in 1954. Started William Lyon Co. in Newport in 1972. Named to California Building Industry Foundation Hall of Fame, 1985.

Started William Lyon Homes in 1993. In 1999 combined William Lyon, Presley creating William Lyon Homes, just in time for housing boom.

Owns majority of William Lyon Property Management. Company owns, manages about 10,000 apartments, primarily in OC.

Long history in aviation. Served as chief of Air Force Reserve, 1975 to 1979. Seventeen combat decorations. Pilot during World War II, Korea.

In 1981, he, OC 50er George Argyros paid $62 million to buy airline AirCal. Sold five years later for $225 million.

In late 1980s, formed Air/Lyon with former AirCal exec, provided ground services for airlines, private aircraft.

Avid car, plane collector. Has some 100 antique cars, including 10 rare Duesenbergs.

Politically connected. Board member, New Majority. Big giver to Republicans.

Attended Dallas Aviation School and Air College, USC. Honorary USC doctorate.

Director, Fidelity National Financial. Chairman, investor Commercial Bank of California.

Supporter of Performing Arts Center, Boy Scouts, Orangewood Children’s Foundation, where he’s founding chairman.

Funny. Droll, deadpan sense of humor. Frequent lunchtime visitor at Newport’s Pacific Club.

Lives with wife, Willa Dean, in mansion on 130-acre Coto estate. Five children.

Mark Mueller

Anthony R. Moiso
Chief executive, president
Rancho Mission Viejo LLC
Born in West Los Angeles, age 70
Lives in Laguna Beach (Emerald Bay)

Public face of county’s No. 2 landowner.

Heads land development, real estate leasing company of Moiso, O’Neill, Avery families. Families behind creation of Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, Las Flores, Ladera Ranch.

Moiso heads all aspects of historic family ranch, which dates back to 1882. Along with development, leasing, oversees cattle, farming.

Ranch once covered 200,000 acres, stretching from Saddleback Mountain to Oceanside (including all of what’s now Camp Pendleton). Now spans 23,000 acres in county’s southeastern corner.

Planning 14,000 homes, 5 million square feet of commercial development on quarter of land. Doing some early work, no rush to build during downturn.

Majority of land, 17,000 acres, set for open space. Family to continue farming, ranching on land. Has 500 acres of citrus, barley, lemon, avocado, other crops, 450 cows.

Family also owns shopping centers, golf courses, apartments, senior complexes, medical offices, other commercial buildings. Holdings include San Juan Capistrano’s El Adobe restaurant, Los Swallows Inn, Mission Promenade.

Started Mission Viejo Co. with fellow OC 50er Don Bren. Became Moiso-Avery-O’Neill clan’s top exec in 1967 after Bren left.

Philip Morris bought Mission Viejo Co. in 1972. Moiso revived family’s development as Rancho Mission Viejo in 1973.

Earned history degree (minor in political science) from Stanford, 1961. Served in Army.

Wife, Melinda. Four daughters (Katrina, Cristy, Anne Marie, Francesca), 11 grandchildren. Richard “Dick” O’Neill, Moiso’s uncle, family patriarch, died last year.

Devoted family man, loyal to friends. Believes “handshake is your bond.”

Longtime supporter of Mission San Juan Capistrano. Stepped down as Mission Preservation Foundation president last year, after 12 years of service. Remains on board. Hosts annual Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo (which has raised more than $700,000 for local charities).

Bikes, hikes, rides horses, plays golf.

Mark Mueller

Igor M. Olenicoff
Owner, chief executive
Olen Properties Corp.
Born in Mazandaran, Iran, age 67
Lives in Laguna Beach (Emerald Bay)

County’s second-largest commercial landlord after OC 50er Don Bren.

Owns more than 6 million square feet of commercial real estate, about 10,000 apartments in California, Nevada, Florida. Much of portfolio local. Counts close to 2,000 tenants, 380 buildings locally.

Holdings include low-rise offices, pair of office towers near airport, Olen Pointe office campus in Brea.

Trophy property: Chicago’s One South Dear-born tower. Forty-story skyscraper bought in 2006 for reported $362 million.

Owns 1,400 acres in hard hit Temecula, Nevada, Arizona, Florida.

Said to have low debt, shielding Olen from issues facing other developers. Refinanced large portion of local industrial portfolio earlier this year.

Ongoing lawsuit against UBS, following 2008 resolution of tax case with government. Sentenced to two years probation, $52 million in penalties in tax evasion plea deal. Says case “is what it is.”

Involvement in UBS case led to massive changes in secretive Swiss banking laws, affecting thousands of wealthy Americans, plenty of global press for Olenicoff.

Suing UBS, others for $500 million, citing fraud, racketeering, other issues. Says would give any money from lawsuit to charity.

Has headquarters in distinctive building: huge, museum-like structure on Corporate Plaza near Fashion Island. Decorated with czarist-era sculptures, paintings.

Born in northern Iran, then under World War II Soviet occupation. Parents left Soviet Union for Iran after Russian Revolution, due to ties with Czar Nicholas II. Family went to Iranian mining town, then came to U.S. when Olenicoff was 15.

Worked way through USC where he graduated with four degrees—bachelor’s in finance and engineering, business master’s, master’s in statistics, quantitative analysis. Remains close to fraternity brothers.

Fluent in English, Russian, Farsi.

Worked for Shell, Touche Ross, Motown Records. Bean counter for Berry Gordy. Founding partner in real estate syndicator Gemini Pacific. VP of operations at Dunn Properties before starting Olen in 1973.

Wife, Jeanne. Daughter, Natalia, a USC grad, Olen’s director of asset management. Playing larger role after untimely 2005 auto death of son, heir apparent, Andrei. Opened restaurant last year in late son’s memory.

Enjoys boating, snow, water skiing, off-road motorcycle riding.

Mark Mueller

Henry T. Segerstrom
Managing partner
C.J. Segerstrom & Sons
Born in Orange County, age 87
Lives in Newport Beach

One of modern OC’s founding fathers. Visionary behind Costa Mesa’s business, arts district.

Public face of family developer, real estate manager, owner of South Coast Plaza, office buildings, land in, around Costa Mesa.

Best known for ritzy South Coast Plaza, first U.S. shopping center to hit $1 billion in yearly sales. Yearly revenue now about $1.1 billion at 2.8 million-square-foot mall. Said to have highest sales per square foot of any California mall. Some 23 million visitors a year, 30% from outside 100-mile radius.

Seeing improving conditions. Holiday sales up slightly from year earlier. Center’s core group of luxury retailers said to be holding up better than retail market at large.

Family part of group that owns, runs Costa Mesa office high-rises, including Plaza Tower, Center Tower, Park Tower. Plaza Tower, by architect César Pelli, considered among county’s premier buildings.

Offices largely unscathed from meltdown hitting rest of county’s landlords. But downturn keeping development plans for towers, luxury condos, hotel from moving ahead.

Huge arts promoter. 2006 saw opening of $240 million Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, crown jewel of Performing Arts Center expansion. Recently joined Carnegie Hall board of trustees.

Family business dates back to 1898. Grandfather C.J. Segerstrom was Swedish immigrant farmer. By 1950s, family was leading lima bean grower.

Raised during Great Depression. Enlisted in Army, rose from private to field artillery captain. Received Purple Heart in World War II.

Business bachelor’s, master’s from Stanford. Presented with 2008 Arbuckle Award by Stanford Graduate School of Business Alumni Association. Honorary doctorates of law from Western State, Whittier Law School.

Married to third wife, Elizabeth. Daughter Andrea, sons Anton, Toren from first wife. Anton, son-in-law David Grant involved in business.

Mark Mueller
Peter O. Shea Jr.
Chief executive, president
J.F. Shea Co.
Born in Farmington, N.M., age 43
Lives in Newport Beach

Colm W. Macken
Chief executive, president
Shea Properties
Born in Dublin, Ireland, age 51
Lives in Rolling Hills Estates

Roberto F. Selva
Chief executive, president
Shea Homes
Born in San Francisco, age 48
Lives in Newport Coast

Trio behind one of county’s largest homebuilders, commercial developers. Like others, hunkering down during downturn.

Planning to get out of biggest local project: redevelopment of former Tustin Marine base.

Company says it couldn’t come to terms with city on reworking agreement for stalled project. City openly frustrated with lack of progress, says company in default on devel-opment pact. Formal exit expected by summer.

Future unclear for project, one of largest remaining developments in county, along with former El Toro Marine base (see OC 50ers Jon Jaffe, Emile Haddad).

J.F. Shea’s homebuilding, commercial arms have been overseeing more than half of 1,500-acre redevelopment. Plans called for 2,100 homes, 6.7 million square feet of offices, restaurants, shops, hotels.

Former base, known for iconic blimp hangars, still largely empty. The District at Tustin Legacy mall, some housing, nonprofit operations now in place.

Shea family’s real estate empire includes homebuilding, apartments, offices, industrial, retail, land. Walnut-based J.F. Shea also has heavy construction business, financial services.

Diversification helping to weather downturn, according to company. Heavy construction doing well with projects under way in New York, elsewhere on East Coast.

Shea Properties, headed by Macken, oversees 6,000 apartments, 5.5 million square

feet of office, industrial, retail space in California, Arizona, Colorado. Shea Prop-erties headquarters at company’s Vantis development in Aliso Viejo. Offices among hardest hit company holdings in downturn.

Walnut’s Shea Homes, led by Selva, was OC’s largest homebuilder last year with 165 homes sold.

Peter Shea heads up operation of family company based just across county line in Walnut. Picked up chief executive, president titles six years ago; was chief operating officer. John Shea is chairman, mentor.

Personable, unassuming. Worked up company ranks. Got start as miner in Shea’s rock, gravel quarry in Redding.

Bachelor’s in civil engineering from UC Berkeley. Wife, Debbie, four children. Likes golf.

Macken joined in 2006. Division sees annual revenue of about $220 million. Sold off more than $200 million of apartments, retail projects in past year.

Previously served as president, COO of Forest City Enterprises’ West Coast commercial group. Developed $1 billion worth of projects in 11 years.

Degree in mechanical engineering, University College in Dublin. Business master’s from UCLA. Married to Lomena. Three teen kids. Likes sports, fitness.

Selva runs largest family-owned homebuilder in nation, annual revenue of more than $3 billion at peak of market. Building in Aliso Viejo, La Habra, Yorba Linda. Cut staff by more than half from peak.

Says Shea didn’t overextend as much as some others during boom. Benefiting from rise in California home prices, seeing bottoming in other markets.

Low-key, easy going, gets along well with Shea family. Joined in 1996. Worked way up.

Bachelor’s in business from USC, master’s from UCLA. Wife, Cindie, three children.

Mark Mueller

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