JAMES F. ALBAUGH
Senior Vice President, The Boeing Company
President, Boeing Space & Communications Group
Born in Richland, Wash., May 31, 1950
Lives in Long Beach
“When people think of Boeing, people think of airplanes. We are changing our image into a space company,” Albaugh says.
Runs the fastest-growing division of the monolith aerospace company. Recently named chief executive of the Seal Beach-based group and given more autonomy to manage the unit.
Boeing made $5.25 billion in acquisitions last year, $3.75 billion of which were merged into Albaugh’s operations.
He oversees company efforts in launch services, including the Delta family of rockets, Sea Launch and X-vehicles, and on-orbit payload servicing; human space flight and exploration, including the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station; missile defense and space control; and information and communications, which provides intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and battle management capability to government customers, as well as mobile communication service products to commercial users. His group employs about 14,000 in OC.
Prior to current assignment, was president of Boeing Space Transportation, which was absorbed by Boeing Space and Communications. Came to Boeing after a brief stint as president of Rocketdyne Propulsion & Power, a Canoga Park-based unit of Boeing Space Transportation.
Was named to Rocketdyne’s top position in April 1997 after serving as the unit’s vice president of production operations.
Is an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, an elected member of the International Academy of Astronautics, member of the American Astronautical Society, a member of the Air Force Association and the California Business Roundtable.
Also sits on the boards of a variety of corporate and charitable organizations.
Albaugh is a Gold-and-Silver Knight of the National Management Association, and was named NMA’s executive of the year in 1999.
Wife, Audrey; no children. Enjoys golf, boating, snow skiing.
,David Orloff
PHILIP JOSEPH CARROLL JR.
Chairman, CEO, Fluor Corp.
Born in New Orleans, Sept. 24, 1937
Lives in Laguna Beach (Smithcliffs)
Took over in 1998 as first outsider to lead Fluor and has overhauled the global engineering and construction giant.
Last year, oversaw spin off of Massey Energy. After going separate ways, both Fluor and Massey are thriving.
“After studying a host of options and strategies, which included keeping Massey as one of our business units, selling it outright, or making it a stand-alone public company, we concluded that a spin-off would allow us to greatly enhance the value of both companies.”
Heads fourth-largest OC public company by yearly sales with $10 billion in revenue last year. Construction backlog recently reached new high of $10 billion, a 10% increase from a year earlier.
Laid off some 5,000 in 1999. Recently engineered a management reorganization that created the new position of president, COO, which longtime Fluor veteran Alan Boeckmann fills. Move seen by many to be the long missing Fluor succession plan. Carroll’s employment contract ends in 2003.
Came to Fluor from Houston after 37 years at Shell Oil. Reputation at Shell as visionary, renaissance man; took heat from critics for company operations in Nigeria. Left Shell due to mandatory retirement age of 62 in search of new challenges in corporate world.
Scientist by training: holds master’s in physics from Tulane University and bachelor’s in same field from Loyola University, New Orleans.
Steadily rose through the Shell ranks after joining in 1961 as petroleum engineer. Held posts in New Orleans, Texas, New York and Los Angeles. Worked for one year in Washington as director of the National Energy Conservation Council.
Returned to Shell in 1974, became VP of public affairs in 1979, VP administration in 1988, and CEO, president in 1993.
Active in a wide variety of civic, professional, charitable and arts organizations; is the chairman of the OC United Way 2000 campaign, a director of the OC World Affairs Council and California Business Roundtable. Nationally, he is a director of the Points of Light Foundation, National Fund for the U.S. Botanical Garden, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, American Air Museum in Great Britain, National Petroleum Council, U.S. ASEAN Business Council, and Pacific Council on International Policy. Is on the boards of Boise Cascade, Vulcan Materials.
Wife, Charlene, and three grown children and four grandchildren. Avid reader, photographer and art collector.
,Chris Cziborr
ROBERT E. GRAY
Co-founder, Chairman,
St. John Knits International
Born in Minneapolis, Oct. 14, 1925
Lives in Newport Coast
HUBERT W. MULLINS
CEO, St. John Knits International
Born in English, W. Va., Sept. 8, 1951
Lives in Newport Coast
Mullins joined OC’s first family of fashion in February, becoming second CEO, succeeding family patriarch Robert Gray.
Former Neiman Marcus exec plans to diversify the luxury apparel maker’s business much like rivals Chanel, Prada, Gucci. Look for the debut of a St. John cosmetics line, expanded handbag and shoe lines and more retail stores, he says.
Company has six product lines: knitwear, sport, Griffith & Gray, shoes, accessories and fragrance. Makes 90% of its products in-house.
Gray active chairman. Wife Marie is chief designer. Daughter Kelly is president, creative director and company’s signature model. Some believe Robert never will retire completely. Family took company public in 1993, but didn’t take well to quarterly scrutiny of analysts, investors. Took it mostly private in 1999. The $520 million reorganization, financed by New York-based Vestar Capital Partners, kept Grays in control. Family owns 15%, Vestar 78%; 7% held by former public shareholders.
The company’s fashions worn by Hillary Clinton, Barbara Walters are found in upscale stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom. Retail division operates 23 boutiques, 10 outlet stores and sells merchandise in 20 countries. Operates three St. John Home furnishing stores.
In its first full year since going essentially private, St. John Knits has seen its 2000 profits rise 46% to $19.6 million (before $15.1 million in one-time fees and costs). Sales were up 14% to $336.5 million.
Fashion model and “Queen for a Day” TV show hostess Marie Gray used stage name St. John, founded St. John Knits in 1962 in the San Fernando Valley. Fianc & #233; Robert (a USC grad) provided marketing help. Grays moved company to OC in 1973. In 1989, sold an 83.5% stake to Escada AG, which cashed out in the 1993 IPO. In 1997, St. John expanded Irvine facility, opened a plant in Tijuana in 1998.
Besides Kelly, Gray has two sons from prior marriage, including Michael, CEO of Sweet Life Enterprises.
Mullins, 49, moved to OC from Dallas, ending a 10-year career at Neiman Marcus Stores in December, 11 months after being promoted to chairman and chief executive.
Prior to Neiman Marcus, held various store posts at Macy’s San Francisco and Foley’s in Houston. Bachelors in education from Concord College, West Virginia. Hobbies include golf, and exercising at home weight room or running on the beach at Crystal Cove. Divorced. Daughter Alexandria, 17.
, Susan Schaben
MARK W. HUTCHINS
Vice president,
Ford Motor Co.
President,
Lincoln Mercury
Born in Needham, Mass., June 18, 1945
Lives in Newport Coast
VICTOR H. DOOLAN
Executive Director, North America,
Marketing & Distribution Strategy,
Premier Automotive Group
Born in Kinglangey, England, Nov. 7, 1940
Lives in Newport Beach
Hutchins runs “Ford Motor West” in Irvine, overseeing operations for Lincoln Mercury. Spent the past few years redefining Lincoln as a luxury brand and now bent on taking Mercury out of a sales slump by rolling out new models. Has 17 offices and 5,000 employees under him, selling 589,291 cars in 2000. Reports to Wolfgang Reitzle, Ford group vice president, Premier Auto Group chairman, in London.
A company man, left behind a downtown Detroit skyscraper for two-story complex in Irvine Spectrum with conference rooms named after Henry Ford, Edsel Ford, Albert Einstein and John Wayne. This summer, set to move into building currently under construction in Spectrum.
Joined company in 1965, quickly moved through a number of field positions. Starting in 1984, served in marketing positions with Lincoln Mercury in Detroit. Prior to current post, served as CEO of Ford Canada.
Bachelor’s in business administration from Northeastern University in Boston, MBA from American University in Washington, D.C. Wife Peggy, four children. In his garage: a Ford Cobra, original 64 1/2 Mustang, Harley.
Doolan is responsible for administrative, organizational duties of Premier Auto Group, now including Land Rover, which he merged with the group.
Technically, he only has four employees beneath him in the Premier operation, but all of the brands worldwide sold about 350,000 vehicles.
Moved to current position in July 1999 from president of BMW of North America. Reports to Reitzle.
Doolan also was president of BMW Canada and vice president of BMW South Africa.
Doolan graduated from Watford College in the U.K.
He has received awards for his philanthropy, including the 1998 Marjorie Guthrie Leadership Award and the 1996 Automotive Industry “Good Scout” award from the New York Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
Wife Ann.
JAMES HENRY JANNARD
Founder, Chairman, CEO, Oakley Inc.
Born in Los Angeles, June 8, 1949
Lives on Spieden Island, Wash.
Fashion iconclast, tough-dealing entrepreneur who’s survived the ups and downs of Wall Street. Proved this past year that his unconventional inventions are apt to become tomorrow’s trendy styles.
One of his most unusual pairs of sunglasses fit over the head instead of behind the ears. Debuted last year at the Sydney Olympics. Turns his rare public appearances into performance art: once gave a store opening speech wearing a gas mask, talking through a megaphone.
Reclusive. Refuses to have picture taken, rarely grants interviews. Raises “Oakley English Setter” show dogs. Company name taken from that of a favorite dog.
Oakley President Colin Baden holds the No. 2 spot. In 1999, turned over CEO reins to former Gatorade exec William Schmidt, only to return five months later to continue Oakley’s foray into athletic shoes. Investors, Schmidt, saw it as a money loser. But after a few stabs at some spacey designs done in OC, Oakley debuted a complete line of footwear last year. Division reached profitability in the third quarter.
“Great to be back in the saddle again” he said at recent annual meeting, wearing black trench coat, orange Oakley shoes, a beret, sunglasses.
Friends warn not to bet against him. More than a year after Jannard’s return, a more diversified Oakley has seen its stock price surge from a low of about 5 in January 2000 to its 52-week high of around 22 in November.
Company branched out into watches and apparel in 1999; also opened a signature “O” store at Irvine Spectrum Center, and a new outlet store Oakley Vault. 2000 sales of $364 million, net income of $51.1 million.
Celebrities and high-profile athletes often seen wearing Oakley’s chic shades; Michael Jordan is a director. Oakley, which has 1,485 employees, distributes in more than 70 countries. Jannard says the “Oakley brand stands for mind-blasting creativity and gutsy, even at times deviant, behavior.” Staunchly battles knockoffs in the courts.
Jannard began in 1975 peddling motorcycle handle grips from his station wagon, moved on to goggles and then sunglasses. Took company public in 1995. Since 1996, has foregone salary or bonus while buying back some stock. Has 60.7% stake in the company.
In 1997, paid $22 million for Puget Sound island once known as “Safari Island” for big-game hunters. Stopped all hunting, has worked to save rare Ryuku sika deer found on island. Wife Bobbie, seven children. Cigar aficionado.
,Susan Schaben
ROBERT B. MCKNIGHT JR.
Chairman, CEO, Quiksilver Inc.
Born in Pasadena, Aug. 17, 1953
Lives in Emerald Bay
Big Kahuna. People who know McKnight describe him as the granddaddy of the surfwear industry, but he’s no old fuddy-duddy.
Still finds time to hit the waves on his custom surfboards. But these days more likely to be found on the greens with buddies John Ashworth and surfer Kelly Slater.
Most everyone in the surfwear industry has paid their dues working for McKnight at Quiksilver, including Volcom Board Wear founder Richard Woolcott, Counter Culture CEO Mike Lesher.
The company’s flashy Surf City USA headquarters in Huntington Beach houses some 800 employees,many, like McKnight, are surfers themselves.
While best known for surfwear brands Quiksilver, Quiksilver Roxy, Raisins and Radio Fiji, company also has aligned itself with other extreme sports such as snowboarding and skateboarding. This past year, the company developed its first contemporary women’s line, Alex Goes. Also purchased skateboard apparel business Hawk Clothing and signed founder skateboarding pro Tony Hawk on as a celebrity team member. Most recently partnered with golfer Ashworth to develop first golf line, Fidra. Company’s biggest acquisition last year was Quiksilver International. Also reportedly shopping for other labels in pursuit of a more diversified business.
Quiksilver’s retail division opened nine company-owned stores during the year. Company designs and makes surfwear, extreme sportswear, casual wear and snow apparel, sold in surf shops, specialty and department stores worldwide; has Boardriders Clubs in the U.S., Western Europe, Mexico, too.
Quiksilver founded in 1969 by Australian surfers Alan Green and John Law. Quiksilver USA founded in 1976 by McKnight and Jeff Hakman as men’s board shorts company, has since added juniors, middle-aged surfers, boys, girls, toddlers; a winter sports division,even makes equipment. Marketing efforts geared toward sponsorship of surfing events and exposure in surfing mags, apparel trade pubs and pubs such as Spin and Rolling Stone.
McKnight has 5% stake (stock and options) recently worth about $21.5 million; earned $1.6 million in salary and bonus for fiscal 1999.
Bachelor’s in business administration from USC. Director of Southern California Entrepreneurship Academy, Co-founder Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (also its first president), Ocean Institute.
Wife Annette, three children. Enjoys surfing, snowboarding, tennis, golf, softball, volleyball, diving.
MICHAEL A. MUSSALLEM
Chairman, CEO
Edwards Lifesciences Corp.
Born in Gary, Ind.,
Nov. 21, 1952
Lives on Balboa Island
Longtime biomed exec, led spinoff last year of Edwards Lifesciences from Baxter International. Under Mussallem’s watch, heart-valve maker has enjoyed steady stock price growth. Faced first public company test in October, when shares lost nearly half their value in one day after warning about foreign currency issues. First met with employees, then took to road to assuage analysts, investors.
In past year has overseen roll out of a new pericardial heart valve expected to strengthen company’s lead in replacement tissue valve market. Company also jettisoned two less-profitable units and accused rivals Medtronic, St. Jude Medical of infringing on patents.
Edwards had 2000 sales of $775 million; approximately 35% of revenue from outside U.S. Does business in 80 countries. Manufacturing in North America, Europe, Latin America and in Japan through a joint venture with Baxter. Edwards employs 5,000 worldwide, 1,500 in OC.
Mussallem joined Baxter in 1979, worked at Union Carbide prior to that. Named Baxter general manager of access products; promoted in 1986 to vice president, product development for parenterals. Became general manager of Baxter’s pharmaceuticals division in 1987 and president of the Bentley Labs division in 1988. He was named president of Baxter’s critical-care division in 1993 and group vice president of Baxter’s surgical group in 1994. Mussallem then assumed responsibility for Baxter’s cardiovascular business from 1995 until it was spun off.
Is on the boards of AdvaMed, California Healthcare Institute, Medical Technology Leadership Forum, World Heart Corp.
Holds bachelor’s in chemical engineering from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Ind.
Married to wife Linda for 24 years; no children. Enjoys jogging and tennis. A die-hard Chicago Cubs fan who keeps cap in office. Interested in projects for people with special needs because brother has Down’s syndrome. Family is Lebanese.
,Vita Reed
MILAN PANIC
Chairman, CEO, ICN Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, Dec. 20, 1929
Lives in Newport Beach
Colorful, combative figure, made news in November when he proposed splitting business into three separate public companies. Plan would leave ICN in firm control of jewel Ribapharm, a biotech research laboratory and drug business. The other two parts to be separated are ICN International and ICN Americas. Panic to be chairman, CEO of ICN International, nonexecutive chairman of ICN Americas. No role in Ribapharm. Has sparred with 4% shareholder Special Situations Partners over speed of breakup, board makeup.
Panic founded ICN more than 40 years ago with $200. The 71-year-old’s global career has encompassed politics: former prime minister of Yugoslavia and lost 1992 election for Serbian presidency to since-ousted dictator Slobodan Milosevic. In 1999, ICN plant was seized in Yugoslavia, leading to a $235 million write-off. Close to former President Clinton, but opposed Serbian bombing campaign.
Annual sales of $800 million, net income of $100 million last year. Market value of $2 billion at recent check. Panic has contended it should be twice that amount,rare area of agreement with dissident shareholders.
Engaged in running battles with ICN shareholders and has survived several ouster attempts. Dissidents running own directors in showdown set for annual meeting May 30. Has survived three attempts on his life and settled six sexual harassment lawsuits. Also involved in ongoing tangles with SEC. Earlier this year, federal grand jury opted not to indict Panic and other execs over claims they misled investors about drug ribavirin. Grand jury still considering indicting company itself.
As a teen, fought in the Nazi resistance. Defected from communist Yugoslavia to the West during a bicycle race. Attended University of Belgrade, University of Heidelberg, USC. 1986 recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Wife opera singer Milena Kitic. Major Democratic Party supporter who hung out with Rev. Jesse Jackson during last year’s Democratic National Convention. Enjoys bicycling, skiing, tennis, swimming and art.
DAVID E.I. PYOTT
President, CEO, Allergan Inc.
Born in London, Oct. 13, 1953
Lives in Coto de Caza
Sports-car fan Pyott described Allergan’s 2000 as “year we really got that Mercedes V-12 engine on top.” Spent first couple of years restructuring by shutting down plants, eliminating corporate jobs, shifting resources to boost sales and marketing, R & D.;
Investors have taken a shine to Allergan’s turnaround, pushing shares to nearly 100 at the end of December before they were caught in overall market slowdown. Another bright spot: Allergan’s product pipeline. Analysts praise Pyott’s ability to grow Allergan’s earnings per share more than 20% despite big R & D; spending.
Company is global maker, marketer of specialty pharmaceuticals. Flagship product is Botox, a neuromuscular drug designed to treat drooping eyelids, neck and muscular disorders. Big hit with cosmetic surgeons as off-label wrinkle reducer.
Allergan also known for glaucoma treatments Alphagan, Betagan and Propine. Lumigan soon will join those products. Drug was just approved by the FDA and “has the characteristics of a product with great potential,” according to Pyott.
Allergan has 6,200 employees, 1,900 in OC. Last year, the company posted earnings of $215.1 million on revenue of $1.6 billion. Allergan’s revenue was up 11.1% over 1999.
Pyott joined Sandoz, later Novartis, in 1980. Spent 15 years with the company. Appointed head of Sandoz Nutrition Division in 1995, came to Allergan in 1998.
Extensive educational background. Holds a diploma in German and European law from the University of Amsterdam, master’s from the University of Edinburgh, MBA from the London Business School. Raised in Scotland and India; fluent in four languages.
Reigning OCBJ Businessperson of the Year is married, father of four. Enjoys playing tennis.
,Vita Reed
JOHN P. WAREHAM
Chairman, CEO, President,
Beckman Coulter Inc.
Born in Clinton, Iowa, Aug. 12, 1941
Lives in Orange
Wareham runs a biomedical testing company with strong reputation, global presence and long OC history. Beckman employs more than 9,600 people worldwide, with 2,245 locally. Beckman’s 2000 revenue totaled $1.9 billion, up 4.3% from 1999. The company derives a good portion of its sales from offshore markets and has more than 125,000 instrument systems in operation around the world.
Announced in March that Beckman was reorganizing into three divisions in order to take advantage of what Wareham has referred to as the “biomedical testing continuum.” Beckman’s other activities during the past year included establishing a business unit, Immunomics, last summer in San Diego to develop reagents that could speed the search for vaccines to prevent cancer and other immune diseases. It also gained FDA approvals for several new tests, including one for elevated testosterone levels.
Beckman also continued to erase debt from 1997 acquisition of Coulter Corp.; Wareham given high marks for integration.
The company was founded in 1935 and is a seminal player in Orange County’s biomedical industry. It makes centrifuges for universities and research laboratories, DNA and protein systems for drug and biotech companies, diagnostic systems for body fluids, blood and cell analysis used in doctors, clinical laboratories and doctors’ offices. Company founder Arnold Beckman turned 101 this year.
Wareham, a pharmacist by training, spent 15 years with SmithKline as an operations research analyst and in other positions, including president of Norden Laboratories. He joined Beckman in 1984 as vice president of the diagnostics group and was promoted to president and chief operating officer in 1993.
Bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from Creighton University in Omaha, Neb. MBA from Washington University in St. Louis. Board member of the Advanced Medical Technology Association and STERIS Corp. On the advisory board for the John Henry Foundation; member of the Center for Corporate Innovation in Los Angeles and UCI Executive Roundtable.
Married with two grown children. Enjoys golfing.
SCOTT ALLEN BLUM
Founder, buy.com Inc., Enfrastructure Inc., ThinkTank.com
Born in San Jose, Jan. 3, 1964
Lives in Monarch Beach
Bad boy entrepreneur just got badder. After founding buy.com, the struggling online retailer, Blum launched technology incubator ThinkTank, which offers promising startups investment money, a package of professional services and guidance. Buynow,ThinkTank’s first incubated company,just secured $15 million in funding.
Launched Aliso Viejo-based Enfrastructure, which has $100 million backing from IBM, Microsoft and Avaya. Enfrastructure provides space and services to start-up companies and counts a handful of companies as tenants.
Blum was a teenage troublemaker once expelled for driving his principal’s golf cart into a swimming pool. Dropped out of Saddleback Community College after one year to start his first business, OC memory maker Microbanks Unlimited. In 1987 founded Rancho Santa Margarita-based optical drive maker Pinnacle Micro Inc. with his father.
Mixed track record: accounting practices at Pinnacle brought shareholder suits, SEC scrutiny; Blum settled securities charges without admitting guilt. Bumped from Fortune’s 40 Under 40 ranking last fall after a $1.2 billion drop in his buy.com stake. Unlike other Internet executives, though, managed to take a couple hundred million off the table.
Serial entrepreneur: ”Once you have to bring in management, your vision doesn’t get passed down anymore,” he says.
Became national junior championship swimmer at age 8, continued competing until he “got his car keys.” At 37, he doesn’t seem to be slowing down as he prepares for his next venture, called Internet Motors, which is expected to offer the first wireless vehicle later this year. When he’s not hatching up new businesses in his head, he enjoys golfing, snowboarding and surfing. Married to an ex-Elite model, Audrey, and has twin toddlers.
,Andrew Simons
DWIGHT W. DECKER
Chairman, CEO
Conexant Systems Inc.
Born in Brandon, Manitoba, March 18, 1950
Lives in Irvine
Hard year for 1999’s Orange County Business Journal Businessperson of the Year. Company is OC’s largest chip maker by sales (but second in market value to Broadcom, cross-county rival in one segment of Conexant’s business).
Mild-mannered but fiercely competitive. Former math teacher. Since spinning off from Rockwell International in January 1999, Conexant has had five straight quarters of sales and profit growth. Now weathering chip slump that has hit company harder than others.
Conexant’s market value has seen better days, falling from $12.2 billion last year to $2.1 billion this year.
Conexant announced this year it will lay off 1,500 full-time employees, a 20% cut in staffing.
Oversaw a rapid acquisition pace in 2000, totaling six deals. Says he works an average 12 hours a day, seven days a week. Relatively low profile could be raised as company continues to grow, and he transitions from “selective micromanager” to broader strategic role that’s likely to involve more promotion of company’s image and products. Major force in getting state to end “interruptible” energy program.
Overseeing the spinoff of Conexant’s Internet infrastructure business,dubbed Mindspeed,expected to go out as soon as market conditions improve.
Appointed Raouf Y. Halim, vice president and general manager of Conexant’s Internet infrastructure division, to head Mindspeed.
Recently told analysts the company would undergo a massive cost-saving effort, in the hopes of sparing $200 million in operating costs a year.
Corporate agitator. Nearly got fired from Rockwell a decade ago, insisting his unit shift away from its bread-and-butter custom chip business to make its own line of modem chips, years before the Internet entered mainstream. His gambit paid off; he still plays role of corporate prognosticator.
Has come a long way from his rural Canadian upbringing. Bachelor’s in physics and math from McGill University, Montreal, doctorate in applied math from Caltech. Was a math prof at North Carolina State, Raleigh, from 1978 to 1984; took a sabbatical with modem maker TeleBit Corp. in Silicon Valley, fell in love with the corporate life and stayed.
Joined Rockwell in 1989 as director of data modem products engineering. Made VP and GM of digital communications division in 1993; became president of Rockwell Semiconductor Systems in 1995. Wife Silla.
H.K. DESAI
Chairman, CEO, President, QLogic Corp.
Born in Abrama, Gujarat India March 13, 1946
Lives in Laguna Beach
And he was only supposed to be filling in. Hired in 1995 as QLogic’s interim CEO, has left a clear mark on the company as it transitions from awkward beginnings to a mode of explosive growth. Considers himself more engineer than executive.
Oversaw company’s Cinderella stock performance,shares ballooned more than 1,000% from May 1999 to March 2000. Still, with the company not immune to a tech slowdown, shares now off more than 60% from its highs. Helping QLogic become a key player in storage area networks, Desai has guided the company to be one of the leading developers of fibre-channel technology,the high-speed networking standard behind such new-economy necessities as storage-area networks and network-attached storage.
Company sales grew 50% last year, to more than $300 million, while earnings grew 48%, to nearly $80 million. Recent market cap was $3.8 billion, among the highest of OC public companies.
Guided his company out of its adolescence with new 165,000-square-foot headquarters in Aliso Viejo and prestigious listing on the Nasdaq 100 index; moves underscore company’s break from Emulex Corp. (see fellow OC 50er Paul Folino), which spun off QLogic in 1994 and is now a competitor. With Emulex, QLogic has helped OC become a powerhouse in fibre-channel. Fibre-channel host-bus adapters, the market in which both companies shine, is expected to grow from about $670 million to more than $4 billion over next three years. An Ernst & Young entrepreneur of the year in 2000.
Master’s degree in electrical engineering from UC Berkeley. Was an engineering manager at Unisys for 10 years before joining QLogic in 1990. Left amid management differences in spring of 1995 to become Western Digital Corp. VP. Lured back a few months later after board came around to his view. Post made permanent in January 1996.
Married, two teenage children. Likes skiing and tennis.
,Andrew Simons
ROBERT G. DEUSTER
Chairman, CEO, Newport Corp.
Born in Milwaukee, June 17, 1950
Lives in Coto de Caza
Daring chief executive who saw one of the county’s oldest tech firms and caught wave of enthusiasm for fiber optics. Company’s shares skyrocketed to nearly 190 last summer, leaving many investors with deep pockets.
Heads one of OC’s oldest tech companiestarted in 1969 as Newport Research Corp. Company’s first products were steel-clad, honeycomb core tables designed to isolate laser experiments from vibration. In 1971, Newport began distributing products through the Newport Catalog, a recognized source for precision electro-optic, opto-mechanical products.
Deuster started fiber-optic division in 1996. Took two years for the unit to make a profit, but its production automation equipment is a hot seller. Lab products now a dwindling part of Newport. Last year, sales in the fiber-optic segment increased 243%, semiconductor industry sales increased 278%. Together these markets totaled 67% of sales in the fourth quarter, up from 39% a year earlier.
Passionate, competitive. GE-trained manager.
Recently acquired Kensington Laboratories, which Deuster said would contribute significantly to earnings. Still, Deuster is watching out. Says customers have been more cautious.
Pretty casual around the office. Walks around halls to see what employees are working on. Owns 2% of the company, or 38 million shares. At a recent check, stake worth $1.4 billion before exercising options. Has worked for Applied Power.
Spends 30% of his time traveling, works 50 to 80 hours a week. Enjoys sailing and golf. Is married and has two children, Patrick, 17, and Betsy, 14.
Holds a bachelor’s in electrical engineering from Marquette University in Wisconsin. Left school to work only two years into his studies, came back and finished degree seven years later.
PAUL F. FOLINO
President, CEO, Emulex Corp.
Born in Seattle, Jan. 23, 1945
Lives in Coto de Caza
Watched his company’s shares do a triple lindy last year when a college student issued a fake news release that wiped out $2.5 billion in market value in 15 minutes. Folino received kudos for quick response that helped stock bounce back.
Now battling tech downturn, though Emulex and data storage sector were among the last to fall. Good sense of timing: sold 200,000 shares worth $20.7 million in January before steep plunge. Strike-suit lawyers pounced.
Has overseen company’s growth from sleepy maker of networking cards for printers to leading maker of fibre channel products for storage area networks. Counted $200 million in sales last year, up 101%. In 1994, oversaw QLogic spinoff, which today has a bigger market value than its former parent.
Emulex counts the top three storage suppliers,IBM, Compaq and EMC,as its biggest customers. Looking for new OC HQ that reflects company as “technology mover and shaker.” Also seeking acquisitions; bought Giganet in March. Despite downturn, Folino cites researchers saying need for stored data growing at 80% per year.
Putting wealth to use: Donated $2.5 million to South Coast Rep, where he is board president. Gave $2 million to Chapman University for Aquatic Center that will bear family’s name; gave $500,000 to Chapman film studio; $500,000 to Ocean Institute for new children’s technology center that will bear family’s name. Co-chaired Chapman’s Global Citizen Gala honoring former President Ford with OC 50er George Argyros. New Majority backer.
Honored as a tech industry “difference maker” by search firm BridgeGate last year. Forum for Corporate Directors’ 2000 OC director of the year for high growth technology. 1999 Ernst & Young co-OC entrepreneur of the year for technology. Recently addressed OC United Way Young Leaders Society.
Graduated cum laude with a bachelor of arts from Central Washington State University. Received MBA from Seattle University. Prior to Emulex, worked for Boeing, Xerox, Thomas-Conrad. Advisory board member of JatoTech Ventures, an Austin, Texas, venture firm. Chapman board of trustees.
Wife Daranne, daughter Courtney, 14.
,Andrew Simons
KENT B. FOSTER
CEO, Ingram Micro Inc.
Born in North Carolina 1944
Lives in Dallas
OC’s Lone Star State executive. Tall, white-haired former Air Force captain lives, works in Dallas, visits OC occasionally. No plans to get a home here, aides say.
Oversaw management shake-up, new pricing strategy last year at world’s largest computer products distributor. Looking to gain share in wake of industry consolidation. Faces headwinds of tech downturn. Recently named longtime executive Michael Grainger president.
Has seen bet on e-commerce sour with trouble at buy.com and other online retailers. Plenty to fall back on: company also handles logistics for Dell, other big names.
Shifting away from traditional distribution to logistics services, from product markups to service fees. Ingram is OC’s largest public company by sales; annual revenue of more than $30.7 billion. Employs more than 2,900 in OC (16,500 overall). Closing Fullerton plant to cut costs.
Longtime Texan, telephone industry veteran described as “intensely private” but personable; had rejected several job offers before signing on to replace prior Ingram CEO Jerre Stead. Started at GTE as engineer, worked way up to president in 1995. Left after Bell Atlantic bought GTE. Help modernize GTE, fought for right of phone companies to buy cable operators.
Bachelor’s in electrical engineering from North Carolina State University, master’s in management from the University of Southern California. Began career at GTE in Southeast in 1970 as a supervising engineer, named vice president for operations in 1976. Until 1999, was a member of GTE’s board of directors since 1992, vice chairman of the board since 1993. A director of Campbell Soup, J.C. Penney, New York Life Insurance, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Opera.
HENRY NICHOLAS III
Co-chairman, CEO, President
Broadcom Corp.
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Oct. 8, 1959
Lives in Laguna Hills
HENRY SAMUELI
Co-chairman, VP of R & D;,
Chief Technology Officer
Broadcom Corp.
Born in Buffalo, N.Y., Sept. 20, 1954
Lives in Newport Beach (Corona del Mar)
Poster execs for OC’s emergence as tech power. Currently weathering industry slowdown. Duo started, heads OC’s most valuable chip company. After leaking that customer orders had slowed and changing the way warrants given to customers are accounted for, stock dove from 250 last fall to 21 last month; back up around 40 of late. Both men have sold some shares, seen deals dilute ownership: each now owns 13% compared to 17% last year. Combined stake of more than $2 billion at recent check. Company more than doubled revenue in 2000, to $1.1 billion, profits rose 172%, to $271.4 million. Offered new options to employees to replace those put underwater by share-price dive.
Under the Henrys’ stewardship, Broadcom acquired a dozen companies in 2000, advancing into more markets. Acquired companies include BlueSteel Networks, Digital Furnace, Stellar Semiconductor and Altima Communications. Despite recent buys, doubtful whether Broadcom will keep growing at the same rapid clip in short term. Company may have hit a down cycle as customers of its biggest customers delay ordering new gear until economy improves.
Broadcom designs chips used in a variety of high-speed networking devices from TV set-top boxes to cable modems to wireless networks. Competes with a host of companies hoping to cash in on the burgeoning demand for high-speed networking.
Flamboyant, strident, hard-driving Nicholas (“Nick”) is athletic 6-foot-6-inches. Partial to corporate fast lane with penchant for skiing, scuba diving, exotic cars. Parties at 15,000-square-foot wired hilltop mansion are the bane of neighbors. Former Air Force Academy student. Was Samueli’s first Ph.D. student at UCLA before turning business partner. Wife Stacey, three young children. Last year, couple gave $1.24 million to South Coast Rep.
Samueli, married to wife Susan with three children of his own, plays nurturer to Nicholas’ flogger. Donated $50 million to UC Irvine and LA campuses, which renamed engineering schools after him. UCI med school also a beneficiary. Recently pledged $1 million to University Synagogue in Irvine for new temple, $10 million to OC Performing Arts Center. Wrote $1.5 million check for new tech program at Chapman University. Described as one of the greatest engineering minds.
Before starting Broadcom, pair worked together at TRW designing ultra-fast integrated circuits for the military, then helped start PairGain Technologies of Tustin.
,Andrew Simons
Susan B. Parks
Senior Vice President, Business, Gateway Inc.
Born in Rockford, Ill., March 10, 1957
Lives in Laguna Niguel
Born and raised Midwesterner, joined Gateway Business,600-employee division that sells to companies and used to be ALR,in September to help bolster sales. Oversaw Gateway’s shift away from selling to large corporations to smaller businesses.
Company credits her with expanding “beyond-the-box” sales, or additional products, services associated with computers. Joined the company just before founder Ted Waitt took back the reins as chief executive.
The move caused speculation inside the company that Gateway would no longer focus on business sales,a claim Parks disputes.
Oversaw the company’s move of its business computer manufacturing to North Sioux City, S.D., resulting in 140 layoffs in OC. Now wrestling with overall PC downturn, corporate changes. Gateway relocating HQ from central San Diego to Poway,about an hour’s drive from Lake Forest.
Prior to Gateway, Parks was senior vice president at Qwest, now part of U.S. West. Spent five years in senior positions at U.S. West, most recently heading business and government solutions division, a 3,500-worker unit with $2.6 billion in yearly sales. Earned bachelor’s in industrial administration in 1979, Iowa State University.
Golfer: shoots 105 to 110. Likes U2, Joe Walsh, Boz Skaggs, Carly Simon, Bob Seeger. Enjoys horseback riding, skiing. Has a 20-year-old cat that’s moved with her eight times. Married, three stepchildren.
LEE D. ROBERTS
Chairman, CEO, FileNET Corp.
Born in Southampton, England, Jan. 8, 1953
Lives in Irvine and Seattle
Runs OC’s largest software company by revenue and employees with 800 local workers, 1,800 worldwide. Makes document-management software. Seeing delayed orders from big corporate buyers. In April, company cut 10% of work force, or about 170 people.
Revenue grew to $398.6 million in fiscal year 2000, up from $347.1 million a year earlier. Profits soared to $42.2 million from $19.7 million.
FileNET sells to more than 3,000 customers, including Automobile Club of Southern California, Ingram Micro, Mercury Insurance, Orange County Superior Court, PacifiCare, Southern California Edison and UC Irvine.
Roberts joined the company as president, COO in May 1997. Named CEO in April 1998, chairman in December, replacing founder Ted Smith. Brought marketing savvy.
Has spearheaded move to globalize FileNET’s sales, marketing and support to build on the company’s presence in more than 92 countries. Met with Prince Charles last year as part of a technology training program in Britain.
Roberts joined FileNET after 20 years at IBM in a variety of sales, marketing, product and general management roles.
Earned two bachelor’s degrees from California State San Bernardino, MBA from Riverside.
Named one of two CEOs of the year by Software Council of Southern California last year.
Engaged to be married in September. He has two daughters: Heather 23, Hillary 16. Roberts enjoys climbing, mountain biking, hiking, swimming. Has run 30 marathons, competed three times in the 100-mile run through the Sierras. Finished the Ironman triathlon three times. Says climbing Everest on agenda.
,Andrew Simons
VINCENT C. SMITH
Chairman, CEO, Quest Software Inc.
Born in Baltimore, Feb. 8, 1964
Lives in Newport Beach
Orange County software wunderkind, became multimillionaire (and for a few days a multibillionaire) when company went public in 1999. Still, Wall Street pummeled Quest’s market value in 2000 as shares closed down 71% for the year. Company still boasts a recent market cap just under $1.3 billion. Quest counts $165 million in annual sales, 160 OC workers out of 560 in all.
Company says it is “very optimistic” about 2001 prospects, claiming it is starting to operate more efficiently. Quest says it is gaining market share in the lucrative market developing Oracle-based software and it has complete application-monitoring products it hopes will take off. Expanding to IBM, Microsoft database platforms. Develops software designed to make databases more reliable and easier to use.
While Quest may have seemed like another instant tech sensation, President David Doyle labored for years to build a business for the obscure Irvine-based company; he co-founded company in 1987 with a business associate who has since cashed out.
Things changed when Smith, an investor who had made his fortune founding his own technology company, grew bored with the Colorado ski slope; Smith replaced Doyle as CEO in 1997. An Ernst & Young entrepreneur of the year in 2000. Director, Emergent Information Technologies.
Smith spends much of his off time with wife and two children, often on ski slopes; Doyle prefers expanding his 10,000-bottle wine collection (converted a spare bedroom, bathroom and closet into a wine cellar for them) or driving his custom “canyon red” BMW 750. Says he still takes out the trash.
JOHN TU
President, Kingston Technology Co.
Born in Chongquing, China, Aug. 21, 1941
Lives in Palos Verdes
DAVID SUN
Vice President, Kingston Technology Co.
Born in Tai-Chung, Taiwan, Oct. 12, 1951
Lives in Irvine
Supermen with timing and generosity to boot. Made national headlines in 1996 by handing out $100 million in bonuses to workers after selling 80% of Kingston to Japan’s Softbank Corp. Repurchased Kingston in 1999 for fraction of what Softbank paid. Said Tu of the repurchase: “Kingston is a family, and you don’t walk away from your family.”
As memory makers struggled with a glut of inventory, company laid off employees for the first time in its history recently.
More than $1.5 billion in annual sales. Employs 1,700-plus locally, 2,000 worldwide. OC’s fourth-largest private company and No. 3 computer hardware firm last year. Thanks to the repurchase, once again easily OC’s largest minority-owned company in sales.
Company sells to “Corporate 1000.” Makes peripheral products, processor upgrades, but memory still 90% of sales. Founders have investments in Personable.com, an application service provider that specializes in hosting Microsoft Office 2000 applications, and Payton, Kingston sister company that does semiconductor packaging.
Court recently threw out a suit Sun Microsystems filed against Kingston, claiming exclusive rights to basic architecture in memory module technology. David Sun had challenged Sun CEO Scott McNealy to a golf game to settle the issue. In early ’80s, duo founded Camintonn in garage; lugged around memory chips in back seats of their cars. Became division VPs when AST Research bought Camintonn. Left to start Kingston in 1987.
Corporate yin and yang: Tu soft-spoken public face, Sun boisterous operations man. Seldom wear ties, sit in cubicles with other employees. Both have electrical engineering degrees, Tu from Technische Hochschule Darmstadt in Germany, Sun from Taiwan’s Ta-Tung Institute of Technology. Tu moved to U.S. in 1972, Sun immigrated in 1977. Tu’s wife Mary; two children. Sun’s wife Diana, two children. Tu plays drums, movie buff; Sun an avid golfer.
,Andrew Simons
KATHLEEN ARDEN BRONSTEIN
Vice Chairman CEO, Wet Seal Inc.
Born in Miami, Sept. 17, 1957
Lives in Irvine
Even with a reputation for picking winning styles that has made her one of OC’s most prominent female CEOs, Bronstein has faced challenges, including fashion missteps.
Looking to refocus the specialty retailer on “what we’re good at”,high fashion. Spent much of 2000 recovering from a botched move toward casual wear.
Sales of $580 million for 12 months ended Feb. 3, up 11%. Profit up 37% to $19.5 million. Has moved quickly to hire new vice presidents to fill void left by last year’s departure of president Edmund Thomas, who left with $1.6 million severance.
Expanding and retooling: plans to spend $44 million this year opening 30 new stores. Last year, opened 36 stores, closed 32, remodeled another 20. Discontinued 26-unit Limbo Lounge chain; stores being converted to Wet Seal or Contempo. Operates 552 stores, employs 2,265.
Eyeing “tween” market of 7- to 13-year-olds with recent buy of 18 Zutopia stores from Gymboree. Wet Seal, Contempo chains geared toward teens; newer chain Arden. B targets 20- to 30-year-olds. Hopes to be “retailer for girls and women of all ages.”
In past year, scrapped catalog, pulled back on advertising for Blue Asphalt brand, misjudged some trends leading to big markdowns, merchandise clearances.
Stock plunged from 40 in May 1999 to about 10 last summer. Enjoyed runup early this year before reporting “slightly down” sales in March. Shares in high 20s last week.
Bronstein one of the higher-paid execs in OC: 1999 salary of $771,548, $834,470 bonus. Early this year sold 130,000 shares, worth about $4 million.
Began her career as an assistant buyer of men’s belts for small chain. Joined Wet Seal in 1985 as EVP, merchandising manager. Named president in 1992.
Daughter, Arden. Enjoys golf and tennis.
,Susan Schaben
PHILIP L. CARTER
CEO, Apria Healthcare Group Inc.
Born in England, June 10, 1948
Lives in Coto de Caza
LAWRENCE MEAD HIGBY
President, Chief Operating Officer
Apria Healthcare Group Inc.
Born in Pomona, June 15, 1945
Lives in Newport Beach (Lido Isle)
Duo has worked together to revive Apria, the nation’s largest home healthcare provider with more than $1 billion in annual revenue.
After heavy losses in 1997 and 1998, Apria has two years of profitability under its belt. 2000 net income was $57 million, vs. $42.4 million in 1999. Company provides home infusion equipment, wheelchairs and other products. The home care provider’s stock has risen in recent months on higher profits and a renewed interest in healthcare after the tech bust.
Apria created by the 1995 merger of Abbey Healthcare Group Inc. and Homedco Group Inc. A trying marriage marked by culture clashes, board scrums, system glitches and piles of uncollected accounts receivable.
Carter, a corporate turnaround specialist, came to Apria as CEO and board member in 1998 after spending three years turning around MacFrugal’s Bargains-Closeouts Inc., parent of the Pic ‘N’ Save discount store chain, and overseeing its sale to Consolidated Stores Corp. for $1 billion. Also served at Lion Nathan, a big Australian beverage group, and Progressive Enterprises, a publicly traded New Zealand company.
Higby was Apria’s interim CEO prior to Carter’s arrival. Pre-Apria career includes running 76 Products Co., a Costa Mesa-based oil refining and marketing company. Negotiated 76 Products’ 1996 sale from Unocal Corp. to Tosco Corp. for $2.1 billion.
Carter and Higby came to the company representing different factions. Carter came via the company’s “swing” faction, led by Chairman Ralph Whitworth, and that now controls the company. Higby is associated with old Homedco faction, once led by fellow OC50er George Argyros, who resigned as a director in 1998.
Higby’s political activities include serving as a principal aide to H.R. Haldeman, President Nixon’s chief of staff, and as a leader of the New Majority, a socially moderate GOP business group. Professionally, Higby’s past includes serving as Taco Bell Corp.’s top marketer and president of the Los Angeles Times’ Orange County edition.
Higby has his bachelor’s degree in political science from UCLA, and attended its business school. His board memberships include, Southern Counties Oil, Center Club and Orange County Center for the Performing Arts. Married to Dee, former chairperson of South Coast Repertory; three sons and a daughter, ages 21 to 29. Likes skiing, running, music, theater and boating.
Australian Carter described as “very private.” Works as hard or harder than he expects his people to, said one former colleague.
WILLIAM PATRICK FOLEY II
Chairman, CEO,
Fidelity National Financial Inc.
Chairman, CKE Restaurants Inc.
Born in Austin, Texas, Dec. 29, 1944
Lives in Santa Barbara
Has catapulted Fidelity National to the top tier of title insurers after completing Chicago Title buy last year, but CKE continues to have indigestion from its pickup of the Hardee’s chain.
Chicago Title has doubled the size of Fidelity, which rivals Santa Ana’s First American Title, run by OC 50ers Parker and Donald Kennedy.
The merged company has more than 1,000 offices, 7,000 agents, 30% market share. On the heels of the merger, Fidelity’s earnings for 2000 were $122 million, up $51 million from 1999. Its revenue increased 102% to $2.7 billion.
Investors have given their nod to the deal: Fidelity’s stock was among the best performing in the OC, rising 161% in 2000. But in 2001, stock took some beating on concerns of a slowdown in the economy and the real estate market.
In 1999, Foley turned over CEO duties at the struggling Anaheim-based CKE Restaurants (Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s chains) to sidekick Tom Thompson, who Andrew Puzder replaced last year. Foley also dropped chairmanship of Rally’s Hamburgers Inc. but still remains chairman of Checkers Drive-In Restaurants Inc., and the Santa Barbara Restaurant Group Inc. Also a director of Micro General Corp., Miravant Medical Technologies Inc. and American National Financial Inc.
Jets between his main office in Santa Barbara (where he has oceanfront home) and Fidelity HQ in Irvine.
Fiercely competitive, whether at business, cards or golf.
Turned around CKE, then catapulted it with 1998 purchase of Hardee’s to No. 3 in burger universe, behind McDonald’s and Burger King and ahead of Wendy’s. But merger problems persist. CKE stock trades at about the price of a hamburger, down from 1998 high of 46.
Graduate of West Point, where he honed strategic skills playing bridge, chess and board game “Blitzkrieg,” which he seldom lost; played the stock market, too. Followed dad’s footsteps into the Air Force. MBA from Seattle University, law degree from University of Washington.
Began in business as real estate attorney and investor in Phoenix. Joined Fidelity in 1981 as CEO, in 1984 led an LBO, in 1986 moved company to OC. OCBJ’s businessperson of the year for 1997.
A vintner with two Solvang wineries in the Santa Ynez Valley near his Santa Barbara home. Backed Republicans, delegate to the 1996 and 2000 national conventions.
Wife Carol, two sons, two daughters.
,Rajiv Vyas
WILLIAM H. GROSS
Founder, Managing Director
Pacific Investment Management Co.
Born in Middletown, Ohio, April 13, 1944
Lives in Laguna Beach
WILLIAM H. THOMPSON
Managing Director, CEO
Pacific Investment Management Co.
President, Allianz Asset Management
Born in St. Louis, Aug. 7, 1945
Lives in Laguna Beach
Together guided PIMCO to become largest bond manager with assets of $220 billion under management. Last year skillfully pulled off sale to German insurer Allianz AG to create global powerhouse with more than $600 billion under management, almost half managed by PIMCO. Allianz has 70% stake in PIMCO.
Were leaders in formation of PIMCO Advisors in 1994 after spinoff from Pacific Mutual Life Insurance (now Pacific Life Insurance, run by fellow OC 50er Thomas Sutton).
Thompson made president of Allianz Asset Management. Continues as PIMCO CEO and also is responsible for more than $80 billion of Allianz’s fixed-income investments. Company employs close to 500 around the world,400 in Newport Beach.
Goes to Germany five to six times a year and spends close to 20% of his time traveling in his role for Allianz Asset Management. Currently focused on expanding global reach of PIMCO in Europe and Asia.
Prior to joining PIMCO in 1993 as co-CEO, Thompson spent 18 years with Salomon Brothers including two in Tokyo as chairman, Salomon Brothers Asia Ltd. Guided PIMCO from managing $40 billion in 1993 to more than $200 billion in 2001. His personal mantra: reward people on merit, not hierarchy.
Involved with the Hoag Hospital Foundation where he is in three-year term as board chairman. Embarked upon a $50 million fund-raising project for the hospital set to be completed by year’s end.
Has 29 years of investment experience, holds bachelor’s in engineering from University of Missouri, Columbia. MBA from Harvard.
Married to Nancy for 32 years. Couple is into yoga, physical training, local charities. Three children: William III, 28, at University of Chicago Graduate School of Business; Emily, 25, Bucknell University alum currently doing graduate studies at Chapman University; Brad, 22, attending University of Oregon. Hobby is golf (14 handicap).
Gross is widely acclaimed, oft-quoted bond manager. Dubbed “Baron of Bonds” by Barron’s. Also said to be the highest-paid executive in Orange County. As a retention bonus, Allianz gave him a $200 million package deal spread over five years.
In 2001, Gross and his team won Morningstar Fixed Income manager award,only money manager to win twice. TV shows, wire agencies, newspapers feature him regularly for commentary on economy, bonds, Greenspan, interest rates. Prolific writer: his monthly piece “Investment Outlook” on PIMCO’s Web site has a huge following.
Has a 21-year record of outperforming bond market by an average of 1.25% annually. First portfolio manager inducted into the Fixed-Income Analysts Society, 1996. With bonds outperforming stocks in 2000, Gross has achieved superstar status. Bond guru broadcasts market commentaries from PIMCO’s own TV studio in Newport Beach.
When the Nikkei or the Wall Street Journal call for interviews, sometimes has to pass in favor of clients. Gross turns the lights on in the morning and turns them off at night. In 1997 wrote, “Everything You’ve Heard About Investing is Wrong.”
Received bachelor’s degree from Duke, MBA from UCLA. Jogger and, with wife, Sue, yoga student. Philanthropic: He and Sue funded the James Hines Foundation, which contributes $100,000 annually to Orange County Teachers of the Year. Recently donated $1.5 million to the new Sage Hill private school in Newport Beach. Grosses have three children: Jeff, 27, Jennifer, 24, and Nick, 11. Hobby: stamp collecting.
CYNTHIA HARRISS
President, Disneyland Resort
Born in Huntington, W.Va., June 12, 1952
Lives in Laguna Beach
One of Disney’s top officials in OC, along with Tony Tavares, head of Anaheim Sports. Harriss came to Disneyland in 1997 as VP, succeeding Paul Pressler when he was promoted to president of Walt Disney Attractions, the company’s theme-park division. In January 1999, made executive VP; became president in December 1999. Harriss, like Tavares, who oversees Disney’s sports teams, reports to Pressler, now chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.
In the spotlight during past year as Disney unveiled new California Adventure park, Downtown Disney and the Grand Californian Hotel. First woman to head the resort, which already has created 8,500 new jobs, bringing Disney’s total to 20,000 in OC and re-affirming company as OC’s undisputed largest employer. Has had to deal with accidents, glitches, rainy opening for new park. Despite increased responsibility, says she’s the “luckiest person alive” to have opportunity to oversee resort. Next up: new park expansion and third park.
Previously was senior VP of stores at Disney Stores, which grew in number from 140 to 460 in North America during the five years of her leadership. Before that, was an exec with the Paul Harris Stores in the Midwest. Personable, well-liked by businesspeople, employees, Disney fans.
Has bachelor’s in liberal arts from St. Louis University in St. Louis, Mo. Has been recognized by Who’s Who of American Women and Community Leaders of America and has received the International Distinguished Leadership Award. Recently received Tree of Life Award from Jewish National Fund. Resides in Laguna Beach, loves travel, beach and theater. Is a trustee of the Laguna Playhouse.
,Sandi Cain
