GEORGE LEON ARGYROS
Chairman, chief executive
Arnel & Affiliates,
limited partner
Westar Capital LLC
Born in Detroit, Feb. 4, 1937
Lives in Newport Beach (Harbor Island)
Longtime force in local real estate, where billionaire made his fortune. In news most these days for political, philanthropic efforts.
Started real estate developer, investor Arnel & Affiliates in 1968. Owns more than 5,200 apartments, some 2 million square feet of office, industrial, retail space.
Company’s most prominent holdings: 280,000-square-foot Metro Pointe shopping center in Costa Mesa, 356,000-square-foot Puente Hills Business Center in City of Industry.
Formed investment firm Westar Capital in 1987. Holdings include pet products maker Doskocil Manufacturing, cooler maker Igloo Products, home healthcare company LifeCare Solutions.
Director at First American Corp., where he’s an investor. Prior to ambassadorship, spent 13 years on title insurer’s board.
Wealth estimated at $1.6 billion, about half from stocks.
Tumult in real estate, credit markets could make Argyros more of a player in local, national deals, confidants say. Said to be considering opportunistic investments.
Last year, started Arnel Hopkins Retail Group targeting developments in Southern California,venture of Arnel & Affiliates, Brian Hopkins, former executive with Irvine developer Hopkins Real Estate Group.
Venture plans to invest in two to three projects per year. Well under way on 215,000-square-foot Imperial Plaza shopping center in La Habra. Project valued at $45 million.
Longtime Republican supporter. New Majority board member. President Bush’s ambassador to Spain, 2001 to late 2004.
Backed right horse in presidential run: one of John McCain’s initial finance committee co-chairmen.
Prolific political fundraiser. Ambassador appointment topped years of Republican fundraising, including $30 million for 2000 Bush campaign.
Second-generation Greek-American. Born in Detroit, raised in Pasadena. First job was mowing lawns.
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 $12 million for Seattle Mariners. Sold team in 1989.
Bought AirCal with OC 50er Bill Lyon for $62 million in 1981; sold to American Airlines five years later for $225 million.
Big arts patron. Last year, Argyros, wife gave another $10 million to South Coast Repertory. Money will create Julianne Argyros Stage Endowment.
Major contributor to Chapman University, where business school, student center, Argyros Forum bear his name. Also given to Performing Artscenter, Horatio Alger Association of Young Scholars.
1993 winner of Horatio Alger Award; association’s treasurer, chairman emeritus.
Helping wounded Iraq soldiers with $5 million pledge to Military Veterans Scholarship Program. In October, received Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation’s Semper Fidelis Award.
Recent recipient of Norman Vincent Peale Award.
Alum of Michigan State, Chapman. Majored in business, economics. Served more than 26 years as chairman of Chapman’s board. Still a trustee.
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 Donald Bren. Wife Julia (used to go by Judy). Three children, six grandchildren. Enjoys sailing, golf, fishing, hunting.
,Mark Mueller
DONALD LEROY BREN
Owner, chairman
The Irvine Company
Born in Los Angeles, May 11, 1932
Lives in Newport Beach (Harbor Island)
County’s largest land owner, landlord, most prominent businessman.
Driving force behind Irvine Co., top real estate owner in county. Big player in San Diego. Also in Silicon Valley, Los Angeles.
Shaped county’s development more than anyone. Has owned, directed company for more than two decades. Estimated empire spans more than 30 million square feet of commercial real estate.
Owns some 400 office buildings, 40 shopping centers, 90 apartment complexes, three golf clubs. Rents, land sales drive estimated $2 billion in yearly revenue.
Student of the economy. Moves watched closely for clues about real estate markets. In late 2006, foresaw “loose lending practices” as worrisome issue.
Slowed housing development, sales to local builders in past year. Not in any rush to sell land, unlike other private, public developers.
Biggest push in past year: apartments. Paid estimated $1.4 billion for 90% stake in 16 local complexes owned by Archstone-Smith. Opened Enclave, 890-apartment complex in Costa Mesa, first local development off historic Irvine Ranch. Completed 1,550-apartment Village at Irvine Spectrum Center, first housing within county’s largest business park.
Working on his crown jewel: Resort at Pelican Hill. First phase of golf courses, restaurant, shop opened in November after two years of work. Opening final phase of 500-acre resort in late 2008. To include upscale hotel, resort facilities, remaining restaurants. Sparing no expense, aiming to be among top resorts.
Playing active role in project. Involved in all aspects of planning, such as Renaissance-inspired architecture to smaller details like restaurant table settings, staff uniforms.
Saw biggest change in years in Irvine Co. core executive team in past year or so. Shifts at top spots of residential, office, government affairs, resort operations.
Promotion for company No. 2, OC 50er Michael McKee to chief executive in June. Bren remains active chairman, involved in vision, strategy. Management needed adjustment for company’s larger profile, geographic scope, he says.
New faces in what many believe to be company’s top three spots after Bren, McKee.
OC 50er Dan Young, former Santa Ana mayor, tapped to lead planning, development of housing projects. Replaced retired Joe Davis.
Rick Gilchrist, OC 50er, former president, co-chief executive of Los Angeles-based Maguire Properties, brought on in mid-2006. Heads company’s investment properties group.
New to executive team: Gregory Lind-strom. Like McKee, lawyer brought on from Latham & Watkins. Oversees legal department, human resources, risk management, internal audit, corporate affairs, reports to former colleague McKee.
Bren in news for philanthropy in past year. Nearly $30 million in donations.
In August, gave $20 million to UC Irvine’s law school to open in 2009. Being named Donald Bren School of Law. Has given $60 million to UCI overall.
Gave $8.5 million in February to Think Together, Santa Ana nonprofit that offers after-school programs. Earlier gave $1.5 million to group.
Company’s annual Student Leadership Awards has provided more than $4 million in scholarships to almost 700 students.
Avid outdoorsman. Recent years devoted as much to conservation as development. In 2001, set aside extra 11,000 acres as open space.
Has donated $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. Large chunk of Irvine Ranch designated as national natural landmark in 2006, state landmark in April.
Twenty years of development left on Irvine Ranch. Company has evolved into real estate manager.
Private, some insist shy. Gentlemanly, sharp. Sets decidedly old-school tone. Suits are required attire.
Stays out of spotlight. Comes to Newport Center office nearly every day, involved in all details, down to project colors, design. Inspired by coastal Mediterranean hillside towns.
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 later 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 Athelie Clarke for their shares.
Became 100% owner in 1996.
Among upper echelons of political influence. Sun Valley ski buddy of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Early John McCain backer, contributor. Key member in New Majority formation.
Caltech trustee. Big giver to UCI, UC Santa Barbara. Awarded UC, UCI Medals. En-dowed more UC distinguished faculty chairs than any other donor.
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 was married to movie producer Milton Bren, later steel magnate Earle M. Jorgensen, who died in 1999.
Even with promotion of McKee, 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 active in local real estate here, head their own companies.
In 2005 moved to Harbor Island mansion built on double lot. Splits time between Los Angeles, Harbor Island. Accomplished skier. Also windsurfs, sails, plays tennis.
,Mark Muelle
JONATHAN MOSHEIM JAFFE
Chief operating officer
Lennar Corp.
Born in New York, Sept. 21, 1959
Lives in Laguna Beach (Emerald Bay)
EMILE KHALIL HADDAD
Chief investment officer
Lennar Corp.
Born in Beirut, Lebanon, June 14, 1958
Lives in Nellie Gail
Lennar’s operations duo, in good times and bad.
Key players for Miami-based homebuilder. Jaffe No. 2 at Lennar, after Chief Executive Stuart Miller. Haddad oversees investments, asset management, including massive California projects.
Duo runs daily operations for company from Aliso Viejo. Miami headquarters handles Wall Street.
Depressed housing market making for tough choices. Emphasis on balance sheet, cash generation, protecting key holdings. Nationally, Lennar forfeited several hundred million dollars in land options.
Stopped active sales at Irvine’s Central Park West housing development, delayed big plans for condo towers, shops, restaurants in Anaheim.
Jaffe “plow horse” in recent months, figuring out what to keep, sell. Did much of work in December deal for 11,000 lots with Morgan Stanley.
Biggest homebuilder sale so far during downturn. Sold lots for 40% of stated value. Other builders expected to use deal as model.
Haddad, asset management team, “assessing, positioning, and in some cases selling assets one at a time,” Miller says.
Longer term, company has plans for close to 15,000 homes in OC. Has several billion dollars worth of investments in early development. Will be ready with homes when market turns, Haddad says.
In 2005, pulled off biggest local real estate deal in recent memory: $1 billion buy of former El Toro Marine base. Paid close to $250 million for land near Angel Stadium of Anaheim, $100 million for Central Park West site in Irvine.
Deals have propelled Lennar alongside Irvine Co., Rancho Mission Viejo, as one of largest developers here.
Biggest drivers of high-density, urban living in OC.
In Anaheim, city officials say company may look at selling land at A-Town project to developer that would build apartments instead. Company planned about 3,000 Anaheim homes, plus commercial space.
No. 1 homebuilder in OC, with 447 homes sold here in 2007. Nearly half were homes at Tustin’s Columbus Square.
Lennar has cut local staff, retrained salespeople. Looking to sublease part of Aliso Viejo offices.
Haddad cheerleads: “I tell everybody, this is the industry we signed up for.”
Jaffe led homebuilder’s charge into California in 1995. Had to buy way into OC’s tight-knit homebuilding club, where big landowners, homegrown builders dominate.
Jaffe oversees 100 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 four years ago.
On national advisory board of HomeAid America.
Undergraduate degree from University of Florida, 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, like boss, has low-key style. Both deflect praise to others. Proud of Lennar’s unique management style, which includes company song, poem.
Led land development in Southern California for Canada’s Bramalea when Lennar bought it in 1996. Became part of executive staff here.
Has civil engineering degree from American University of Beirut, several 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, 17, son, 11.
On board of Children’s Hospital of Orange County, UC Irvine’s Paul Merage School of Business, University of Southern California’s Lusk Center for Real Estate.
Jaffe, Haddad were Business Journal’s Businesspersons of the Year for 2005.
,Mark Mueller
MICHAEL FREDERICK HARRAH
Owner, president
Caribou Industries Inc.
Born in Los Angeles, March 25, 1951
Lives in Newport Beach (Lido Isle)
Santa Ana’s biggest real estate owner, developer.
Owns close to 80 buildings, about 4 million square feet. Played key role revitalizing county’s most populous city. Restored buildings, attracted restaurants, art galleries, others.
Plans for office tower, twin condo building delayed. One Broadway, $300 million office tower in heart of Santa Ana, would be county’s tallest. Initial groundwork, site cleared. Won voter approval three years ago. City requires him to lease half of 600,000-square-foot tower before building. No leases announced.
Has vision for 470-foot condo tower next to One Broadway Plaza. Would have close to 300 homes. In early design stage, delayed amid housing slump. Deal for land still needs to be reached.
Forty-story condo tower in downtown Honolulu finishing up. Multimillion-dollar project nearly sold out.
In past decade has redeveloped much of central Santa Ana. Supporters call him savior for restoring old buildings, reviving city. Critics say he’s changing historic downtown for worse.
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 elk heads on walls.
Honored by Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society as Preservationist of the Year, 2003.
Owns Caribou Industries, development, construction, tenant improvement, property management company with offices on Main Street. Does about $40 million in yearly revenue.
Might have most cluttered office in Southern California,
on top floor of building overlooking One Broadway site. Papers piled high on desk. Pictures strewn about. Stuffed bear
in corner.
Easily distinguishable from rest of local real estate elite. Sports ZZ Top beard, 6 feet, 6 inches tall. Piloted Cobra helicopter in stunts for movies “Austin Powers: 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 Riverside 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 community charities, including education, arts groups such as Orange County High School of the Arts, Boys & Girls Club.
Music fan. Plays drums, trombone, upright bass. Jovial. Likes to ride Harley, pilot helicopter, collect vintage cars, smoke cigars.
,Mark Mueller
WILLIAM H. LYON
Owner, chairman, chief executive
William Lyon Homes Inc.
Born in Los Angeles, March 9, 1923
Lives in Coto de Caza
Icon of local real estate. Weathering housing downturn, working to keep balance sheet in shape.
Homebuilder that bears Lyon’s name sold $1 billion in homes last year, down from $1.4 billion year earlier, $1.7 billion during market’s peak. Expects 2008 to be slower than 2007.
Builds in California, Arizona, Nevada,all seeing big sales drops, mortgage fallout. Lost $349 million last year.
Selling off land. Cutting workers.
Managing downturn as private company after 2006 buyout. Paid about $275 million to buy quarter of company he didn’t already own. Final deal valued William Lyon Homes at about $950 million. Still reports financials for debt holders.
Company owned by Lyon, two of his trusts. Giving more responsibility to Bill Lyon, 34-year-old son. Younger Lyon expected to inherit top role.
William Lyon Homes sold 294 homes in OC last year, up 11% from 2006. Second-biggest homebuilder here in 2007, behind Lennar. Developing portion of Tustin Marine base with OC 50ers Jon Jaffe, Emile Haddad of Lennar. Also working on Irvine Co. developments in Irvine.
In homebuilding for five decades. Built close to 70,000 homes during career. Started Luxury Homes with brother Leon in Fullerton in 1954. Started William Lyon Co. in Newport in 1972.
In 1987 acquired Newport’s Presley Development. Hit hard by downturn of early 1990s.
Started William Lyon Homes in 1993. In 1999 combined William Lyon, Presley creating William Lyon Homes, just in time for housing boom.
Owns majority stake in William Lyon Property Management. Company owns, manages about 10,000 apartments, primarily in OC. Helps cushion against homebuilding downturn.
Known as “the general.” Retired Air Force major general, served as chief of Air Force Reserve, 1975 to 1979. Seventeen combat decorations. Pilot during World War II, Korea.
Aviation buff: In 1981, he, fellow OC 50er Argyros paid $62 million to buy 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. Once owned Martin Aviation.
Avid car collector: has some 100 classic, antique cars, including 10 Duesenbergs (only 480 made). Has old warplanes collection.
Politically connected. Board member, New Majority. Among top givers to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Early John McCain backer.
Attended Dallas Aviation School and Air College, University of Southern California. Received honorary USC doctorate in 2002.
Supporter of Performing Artscenter, Boy Scouts, Orangewood Children’s Foundation, where he’s founding chairman.
Funny. Known for droll, deadpan sense of humor. Frequent lunchtime visitor at Irvine’s Pacific Club.
Lives with wife Willa Dean in mansion on 130-acre Coto estate. Five children. Pilots Gulfstream 4 business jet.
,Mark Mueller
HADI MAKARECHIAN
Chairman, chief executive, president
Capital Pacific Holdings Inc.
chairman, Makar Properties LLC
Born in Tehran, Iran, Jan. 30, 1948
Lives in Newport Beach (Big Canyon)
Biggest project yet under way.
Early development of parks, model homes in works at massive Colorado project. At 21,400 acres, Banning Lewis Ranch could hold 75,000 homes, 180,000 people in next five decades.
Northtree, first Ban-ning Ranch neighborhood of about 1,000 homes, held grand opening in fall.
Not worried about launching long-term project in down market: “We are going to be here for a long time.”
Homebuilder, developer Capital Pacific known for building coastal McMansions. Makar Properties, run by son Paul Makarechian, owns hotels, developing condos, other real estate.
Capital Pacific has yearly sales of about $700 million, went private in 2006. Builds in California, Arizona, Colorado, Texas. NDC Development unit has tentative plans to build two Santa Ana high-rises on 200-acre parcel between Santa Ana, Costa Mesa freeways.
Like all builders, feeling pinch of housing downturn.
Makar owns hotels St. Regis in Dana Point, Hilton Anaheim, Wyndham Orange County in Costa Mesa. Planning Costa Mesa condos.
Makar’s big project: 31-acre Pacific City in Huntington Beach. Estimated $750 million effort includes 200-room boutique W hotel, 191,000 square feet of shops, restaurants, offices, more than 500 condos.
Bought Hilton Anaheim, OC’s largest hotel, in 2006 for estimated $160 million. Upgrades, renovations worth about $50 million under way.
Paul taking most of family limelight. Was Capital Pacific senior VP, now chief executive, owner of Makar.
New Majority member, founder, chairman of Generation Next, party-minded young Republican group.
Hadi remains key Republican fundraiser at state, national level. Big supporter, contributor to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Backed Mitt Romney’s presidential bid. Alternative energy supporter.
Grew up in Iran. Family owned largest construction, development company that built U.S. military bases, other big projects. Came here in 1960s to study civil engineering, economics at State University of New York, Buffalo.
Earned degree, got married, returned to Iran to family business, country’s largest developer at time.
Fled to Florida with wife after Islamic revolution in late 1970s. Company nationalized.
Started over. Couple settled near her relatives. Took construction job. Saved money, began building condos in Florida.
When recession hit Florida in early 1980s, moved to Washington, D.C. Built high-rises along subway line in Maryland. Sold business when others started doing same thing.
Moved to California in 1990 at age 41. Enjoyed brief retirement at Big Canyon. In 1991, started Capital Pacific. Bought J.M. Peters in 1992 for $47 million. In 1994 combined Capital Pacific with J.M. Peters.
2008 Horatio Alger Award recipient. Supporter of Chapman University, served on board. Also supports State University of New York.
Other son, Cyrus, 30, is technology VP at Makar. Wife Barbara. Couple splits time between Big Canyon, Montecito home.
,Mark Mueller
MICHAEL DALE McKEE
Vice chairman, chief executive
The Irvine Company
Born in Clinton, Ill., Jan. 2, 1946
Lives in Laguna Beach (Emerald Bay)
RICHARD I. GILCHRIST
President, Investment Properties Group
The Irvine Company
Born in Los Angeles, March 6, 1946
Lives in Newport Coast
DANIEL H. YOUNG
President,
Irvine Community Development Co.
The Irvine Company
Born in Orange, Dec. 15, 1950
Lives in Coto de Caza
Three key executives after Don Bren at Irvine Co.
Young, eight-year company veteran, late last year replaced retired Joe Davis, former OC 50er, head of company’s community development efforts since 1997.
Gilchrist took over dominant investment properties group in 2006 from longtime Bren adviser Clarence Barker.
Young, Gilchrist join Bren confidant McKee in managing Irvine Co.’s core operations: land planning, community development, real estate management, corporate finance, strategy.
McKee is No. 2 to Chairman Bren, stand-alone OC 50er. Big promotion in June to chief executive. First person at Irvine Co. to have title in more than 30 years.
Oversees day-to-day executive operations, including land development, asset management, administration, financial, legal affairs, technology.
McKee also remains vice chairman. He, Bren form two-person operations management committee overseeing company.
Started legal career in 1970s with Latham & Watkins. Worked on some of earliest real estate investment trusts. In 1994, was brought in as company’s chief legal officer, Bren’s personal attorney.
Instrumental in deals allowing Bren to buy out minority shareholders, become 100% owner of company, as well as Bren’s 2002 buyback of apartment unit.
Became chief financial officer in 1996. Not a developer by training, though his legal, finance background are key to company that’s more financially complex, focused on investment, asset management.
Has forged a close working relationship with Bren, both of whom have complementary styles. Pleasant demeanor, sense of humor.
Board member, Hoag Hospital Foundation, Health Care Property Investors, Donald Bren Foundation. UCLA law degree. Wife, Cindy. Two children, two grandchildren. Avid golfer. Workout enthusiast.
Gilchrist’s group manages some 400 office buildings, 40 shopping centers, 90 apartment complexes, three golf courses, two hotels, five marinas.
Like others, county’s biggest office landlord seeing slower leasing, especially for new towers in Spectrum, near John Wayne Airport. Dropping some rents at new buildings from prior expectations.
On retail front, Fashion Island adding Nordstrom, Dean & DeLuca. Irvine Spectrum Center seeing solid retail sales.
New apartments nearly full. Another complex opening in Costa Mesa, first ground-up development in OC not on historic Irvine Ranch. Paid estimated $1.4 billion in 2007 for 90% stake in 16 Archstone-Smith apartment complexes.
Pursuing development, acquisitions in San Diego, Silicon Valley. San Diego now second-largest market for company. Investing in apartments, offices there.
Gilchrist joined as president, office properties, after brief time as consultant. Prior to Irvine Co., served as president, co-chief executive of Maguire Properties in Los Angeles, now OC’s second-largest office landlord.
After promotion, Gilchrist’s office properties title passed on to Val Wheeler, formerly executive vice president of asset management for office division.
Chairman of Whittier College Board of Trustees, where he received bachelor’s. Holds law degree from UCLA. Started out career as a lawyer. Held exec role with Commonwealth Atlantic Properties.
Wife Nina, four children, two grandchildren.
Young directs development of communities on ranch, selling land to homebuilders. Slowing down pace of development at 7,700-acre Northern Sphere with housing market in flux.
Company developments include Wood-bury, Northpark Quail Hill, Turtle Ridge, Woodbridge in Irvine, luxury Crystal Cove and Newport Coast projects along ocean.
Portola Springs opened in 2007. Future developments include Orchard Hills, long-planned communities east of Orange, Anaheim Hills.
Buzzworthy promotion in 2007 upon retirement of Davis. Previously responsible for getting Irvine Co.’s housing projects approved by governments, now oversees implementation of plans.
Joined Irvine Co. in 1999, most recently serving as executive vice president of entitlement, public affairs. Considered key part of the company’s inner circle by local politicos.
More than 20 years of experience in commercial, housing development, consulting work.
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.
Served on board of Metropolitan Water District, Orange County Transportation Authority. 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 University of Southern California.
Wife Leslee, three children. Avid golfer.
,Mark Mueller
ANTHONY RICHARD MOISO
Chief executive, president
Rancho Mission Viejo LLC
Born in West Los Angeles,
Sept. 17, 1939
Lives in Laguna Beach (Emerald Bay)
Public face of county’s No. 2 landowner.
Heads all aspects of historic family ranch: real estate development, leasing, cattle, farming.
Moiso-Avery-O’Neill family traces roots here to 1882,marking 126 years of family ownership of ranch that once covered 200,000 acres, stretching from El Toro Creek in Lake Forest to Oceanside (including all of what’s now Camp Pendleton). Ranch now 23,000 acres in county’s southeastern corner.
Early work under way for next big project on ranch, county’s largest swath of developable land. Planning 14,000 homes, 5 million square feet of commercial development on quarter of land. Remaining 17,000 acres set for open space.
Pursuing settlement with Transportation Corridor Agencies in dispute over ranch land. Moiso, family claim 1996 deal to provide 250 acres of grassland for toll road project became void when new alignment for Foothill South toll road was picked.
Family set to continue farming, ranching on land amid changes. They have 500 acres of citrus, barley, other crops as well as 450 mother cows.
Company’s last major development was Ladera Ranch, 4,000-acre masterplanned community near Mission Viejo.
Moiso says he, Uncle Richard O’Neill, soon to be 85, and mother, Alice O’Neill Avery, 91, talking about future. Family members could run operation or bring in managers overseen by family board.
Along with land, Moiso, family own shopping centers, golf courses, apartments, senior complexes, medical offices, other commercial buildings.
Holdings include San Juan’s El Adobe de Capistrano restaurant, Los Swallows Inn, Mission Promenade.
Family is longtime supporter of Mission San Juan Capistrano. Moiso is president of Mission Preservation Foundation, which works on fundraising for preservation, education programs, tours.
Republican. Uncle is former chairman of state Democratic Party. Moiso earned history degree (minor in political science) from Stanford, 1961.
Served two years in Army as infantry officer. Started Mission Viejo Co. with fellow OC 50er Donald Bren. Became Moiso-Avery-O’Neill clan’s top exec in 1967 after Bren left as Mission Viejo Co. president.
Philip Morris bought Mission Viejo Co. in 1972. Moiso revived family’s development activities under Rancho Mission Viejo in 1973.
In California Building Industry Foundation’s Hall of Fame. Benefactor, Heart of Jesus Retreat Center, Santa Ana. Co-chair with wife Melinda of annual fundraiser for center in which prominent local men model clothes.
Four daughters (Katrina, Cristy, Anne Marie, Francesca), 11 grandchildren.
Known for devotion to family, loyalty to friends. Believes “your handshake is your bond.”
Hosts annual Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo (which has raised more than $700,000 for local charities). Also bikes, hikes, rides horses and plays golf.
,Mark Mueller
IGOR MICHAEL OLENICOFF
Owner, chief executive
Olen Properties Corp.
Born near Moscow, Russia
Sept. 19, 1942
Lives in Laguna Beach (Emerald Bay)
Billionaire developer managing slowing real estate market, this month resolved long-running legal, tax dispute with government.
His Olen Properties has more than 6 million square feet of commercial real estate, much in OC. Counts close to 2,000 tenants, 380 buildings locally, including Olen Pointe Brea, site of most recent development in 2005. Built 135,000-square-foot office building.
Also owns more than 11,000 apartments in California, Nevada, Florida.
Trophy property: Chicago’s One South Dearborn tower. Forty-story skyscraper bought in 2006 for reported $362 million. First deal in Midwest.
Paid about $135 million in early 2005 for pair of 13-story office towers on Irvine’s Main Street. Company’s first big local high-rise office acquisition.
Owns 1,400 acres of land in Temecula, Nevada, Arizona, Florida. Plans in works for condos, shopping centers, offices, hotels in South Florida, Phoenix, Las Vegas.
Local slowdown. In early 2008 withdrew plans to build close to 900 apartments, including pair of eight-story towers, around John Wayne Airport. Would have been Olen’s biggest housing development in county.
One of many developers in Irvine, county to back away from projects in face of declining housing, commercial markets. Irvine plans could be revived if conditions improve.
In news this month for resolution of tax dispute with IRS. Federal judge sentenced him to two years probation, 120 hours of community service as part of January plea agreement.
Government late last year charged Olenicoff with felony count of willful filing of false tax return for 2002. Settling IRS claims for about $50 million in back taxes, penalties as part of deal. Has headquarters in one of more distinctive OC buildings: huge, museum-like structure on Corporate Plaza near Fashion Island. Shrewd businessman, knows how to get around obstacles to get projects done.
Russian-born. Parents fled Soviet Union due to ties with Czar Nicholas II. Family went to Iran, then came to U.S. when he was 15.
Olenicoff, parents, brother arrived in New York with $800, four suitcases. Robbed upon arrival. Headed west.
Worked way through University of Southern California where he graduated with four degrees,bachelor’s in finance and engineering, business master’s, master’s in statistics, quantitative analysis.
Fluent in English, Russian, Farsi.
Worked for Shell, Touche Ross, Motown Records. 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, company’s director of asset management. Joined in 2004. Natalia playing larger role after untimely auto death of son, heir apparent Andrei in 2005.
Enjoys snow, water skiing, off-road motorcycle riding. Owns 120-foot yacht.
,Mark Mueller
HENRY THOMAS SEGERSTROM
Managing partner
C.J. Segerstrom & Sons
Born in Orange County, April 5, 1923
Lives in Newport Beach
One of modern OC’s founding fathers.
Public face of family developer, real estate manager, which owns South Coast Plaza, office buildings in and around Costa Mesa.
Driving force behind area’s transformation from lima bean farm into economic powerhouse, center of OC’s arts community.
Best known for ritzy South Coast Plaza, first U.S. shopping center to hit $1 billion in yearly sales. Yearly revenue now about $1.5 billion at 2.8 million-square-foot mall. Said to have highest sales per square foot of any California mall.
Family part of group that owns, runs Costa Mesa office high-rises, including Plaza Tower, Center Tower, Park Tower. Plaza Tower designed by architect C & #233;sar Pelli in 1992, considered among county’s premier office buildings. Segerstrom offices largely escaped subprime meltdown hitting rest of OC’s landlords.
Developing or considering more office towers, luxury condos, hotel.
Promotion of arts seen most attention in recent years. 2006 saw opening of $240 million Ren & #233;e and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, crown jewel of Performing Artscenter expansion. Milestone moment in county’s cultural development.
Concert hall designed by Pelli, acoustician Russell Johnson. Opening reinforced South Coast’s reputation as county’s cultural center, despite cost overrun.
Family business dates back to 1898. Grandfather C.J. Segerstrom was Swedish immigrant farmer. By 1950s, family was leading lima bean grower.
Cousin-in-law Jeanette Segerstrom, former co-managing partner, died in 2001.
Raised during Great Depression. Enlisted, rose from Army private to field artillery captain. Received Purple Heart in World War II. Spent more than two years in military hospitals.
Business bachelor’s, master’s from Stanford. Honorary doctorates of law from Western State, Whittier Law School. Presented with 2008 Arbuckle Award by Stanford Graduate School of Business Alumni Association.
Married to Elizabeth, third wife, naturalized U.S. citizen. Daughter Andrea, sons Anton, Toren from first wife. Anton, son-in-law David Grant involved in business.
,Mark Mueller
PETER OWEN SHEA JR.
Chief executive, president
J.F. Shea Co.
Born in Farmington, N.M., Feb. 17, 1967
Lives in Newport Beach
COLM WILLIAM MACKEN
Chief executive, president
Shea Properties
Born in Dublin, Ireland, May 21, 1958
Lives in Rolling Hills Estates
ROBERTO FRANCISCO SELVA
Chief executive, president
Shea Homes
Born in San Francisco, Jan. 2, 1962
Lives in Newport Coast
Ruling trio at commercial builder, homebuilder. Moving ahead with development at OC’s other big military base, Tustin.
J.F. Shea’s homebuilding, commercial arms overseeing more than half of 1,500-acre redevelopment of former Marine base. One of largest remaining developments in county, along with former Marine base El Toro.
Aliso Viejo-based Shea Properties working with Walnut’s Shea Homes, city of Tustin on Legacy Park at former base. Former homebuilding partner Centex dropped out a year ago.
At 820 acres, project calls for 2,100 homes, 6.7 million square feet of offices, restaurants, shops, hotels in next six, eight years. Fewer homes than Irvine’s Great Park, more commercial development.
With housing market in flux, Tustin focus now on Shea Properties to build offices, retail, restaurants, hotels.
Grading under way on first phase: 200,000-square-foot office park project dubbed Shea Technology Campus. Speculative buildings set to start midyear, finish in mid-2009.
Trio of hotels, including county’s first Kimpton boutique, set to be built at Legacy Park starting next year, alongside restaurants, shops.
First batch of homes at Legacy Park, overseen by Shea Homes, pushed back. Should be ready for development in 2010, if market improves. Development price on Legacy Park estimated at $3 billion. Two-thirds tied to commercial development, rest for homes.
Biggest project in years for Shea family’s real estate empire, which includes homebuilding, apartments, offices, industrial, retail, land. J.F. Shea also has heavy construction business, financial services division.
Peter Shea taking over operation of family company based just over county line in Walnut. Picked up chief executive, president titles four 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 oversees Shea Properties, commercial real estate owner developer, owner. Portfolio valued at more than $1.3 billion. Fastest growing part of company.
Macken joined in 2006. Oversees 7,000 apartments, 5.2 million square feet of office, industrial, retail space. Moved to new headquarters last year at company’s Vantis development in Aliso Viejo.
Projects in works total more than 10 million square feet of commercial, retail space, 1,200 apartments. Tustin: biggest project yet. Mid-rise offices planned within walking distance of homes, shops, hotels.
Twenty years of real estate experience. Macken 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.
Homebuilding arm, headed by Selva, one of most active in OC. Largest privately held homebuilder in nation, annual revenue of more than $3 billion.
No. 4 homebuilder in OC last year, with 185 sales. Building homes in Tustin. Also building at Vantis project.
Low-key, easygoing executive, gets along well with Shea family. Joined in 1996. Worked way up company
ranks.
Named “CEO of the Year” by Builder and Big Builder magazine in 2006.
Bachelor’s in business from University of Southern California, master’s from UCLA. Wife Cindie, three children.
,Mark Mueller
HONORABLE MENTION:
ROBERT “BOB” A. ALTER
Founder, chairman, chief executive
Sunstone Hotel Investors Inc.
WILLIAM FLAHERTY
Senior vice president
Maguire Properties Inc.
WILLIAM “BILL” HALFORD
Chief executive, president
Bixby Land Co.
MICHAEL HAYDE
Chief executive
Western National Group
DOUGLAS HOLTE
West regional partner
Hines Interests LP
FRANK JAO
Founder, chairman, chief executive
Bridgecreek Group Inc.
PAUL MARSHALL
President, Southern California
Opus West Corp.
JOHN B. PARKER, RUSSELL J. PARKER,
LEE REDMOND
Chairman, vice chairman, chief executive
Parker Properties LP
TUSHAR PATEL
Chairman
Tarsadia Hotels Inc.
H. LAWRENCE WEBB
Chief executive
John Laing Homes
