Quite a root system behind our front-page story on Villa Real Estate, a new residential brokerage that’s starting operations this week with an eye on OC’s luxury market. Among the brokers signed on as cofounders are Steve High, Tim Carr and Evan Corkett, who have left Coldwell Banker Previews for Villa. All three also have roots in Strada, a brokerage they cofounded and eventually sold to Coldwell in 2003. Jon Flagg and Kim Bibb have joined Villa from HOM, which leads to another branch of the root system: Bibb is the sister-in-law of Danny Bibb, who cofounded Coast Newport, which was acquired by Coldwell in 1999. And here’s an offshoot: Gary Legrand, another Coast Newport cofounder. He eventually left Coldwell and now is a principal with Surterre, one of the brokerages his old partner’s sister-in-law will go head-to-head against as part of Villa …
An OC commercial broker did his own math on a recent personnel change outside the industry. UCLA grad Barry Saywitz, who’s known to host fundraisers for his alma mater at his Belcourt home, said he saw the writing on the wall for recently fired basketball coach Ben Howland when the school scaled back plans for an upcoming event, putting the focus on football coach Jim Mora, Jr. Saywitz picked up on vibe before the Bruins bowed out in the first round of the NCAA tournament—and Howland’s dismissal a few days later …
Then there’s the local hockey scene, which goes beyond the Anaheim Ducks. Darin Pastor, CEO of Irvine-based wealth management firm Capstone Affluent Strategies, says he’s in talks to buy the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes. Pastor’s grandfather and great-uncles bought the minor-league Buffalo Bison Hockey Club in 1956, when the previous owner attempted to move the team. They sold the club in 1971, after Buffalo got an NHL franchise …
Former Broadcom exec Bill Blanning’s hockey team used to have a sponsorship from the chipmaker for league play at the Aliso Viejo Ice Palace. The roster was made up mostly of Broadcom employees, but folks came and went until there were no more Broadcomers left, leaving the team in need of a new name and jerseys. Blanning recalled from his Montana skiing days a beer called Moose Drool Brown Ale from Big Sky Brewing in Missoula, and had recently noticed the brand showing up at Total Wine, a sign that it’s trying to break into the Southern California market. He gave the company a call on a whim, and explained that his team needed a new sponsor. Big Sky Brewing came through with cool jerseys, matching socks—and a few beers …
Upcoming honors: UCI Law School Dean Erwin Chemerinsky will be the honoree at the Anti-Defamation League of OC/Long Beach’s 2013 Jurisprudence Awards & Centennial Celebration on May 2 at Island Hotel. FivePoint Communities boss Emile Haddad is in line for the same treatment at the High Hopes Invest in Children Luncheon co-sponsored by the Merage Foundations, the Orange County Community Foundation, and the Orange County Children and Family Commission on May 8 at the Marriot Fashion Island Hotel. The event will raise funds for El Sol Science and Arts Academy in Santa Ana.
