GEORGE LEON ARGYROS
Chairman, CEO, Arnel & Affiliates;
Limited Partner, Westar Capital LLC
Born in Detroit, Feb. 4, 1937
Lives in Newport Beach (Harbor Island)
Back in local real estate game, where fortune was made. Continued role in Republican politics, fund raising.
Named one of Sen. John McCain’s 13 national finance committee co-chairmen in bid for 2008 presidency.
Joins fellow OC 50er Donald Bren, Cisco Systems chief John Chambers as finance co-chairs.
Argyros, Bren, OC 50er William Lyon, others hosted Irvine fund-raiser for McCain last month.
Member, New Majority.
Third year back in OC at helm of Arnel, his real estate development, management company. Absent from local business scene while ambassador to Spain from 2001 to late 2004. Leaves much of company’s operations to executives who ran company while he was gone.
Ambassador appointment topped years of Republican fund raising, including $30 million for the 2000 Bush campaign.
Longtime force in local real estate. Was prominent figure in push for El Toro airport in early 1990s.
Founded Arnel in 1968. Company owns more than 5,200 apartments, 2 million square feet of office, industrial, retail space. Among holdings: 280,000-square-foot Metro Pointe in Costa Mesa, 356,000-square-foot Puente Hills Business Center in Industry.
Big project in works: Arnel, partner Hopkins Real Estate of Irvine building 215,000-square-foot Imperial Plaza shopping center in La Habra. Project, valued at $45 million, replaces Kmart vacated in 2002. Tenants include 135,000-square-foot Target, 35,000-square-foot Circuit City.
Shopping center announced back in 2005,first project by Argyros after return from Spain. Construction started early 2007.
Formed venture capital 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, where he’s an investor. Prior to ambassadorship, spent 13 years on title insurer’s board.
About half of estimated $1.6 billion net worth comes from stocks.
Second-generation Greek-American. Born in Detroit, raised in Pasadena. First job was mowing lawns.
Worked way through school at Mayfair grocery market in Orange. Became assistant manager. Sent to manage Palm Springs store, becoming grocer’s youngest manager.
Says he left grocery business “to make some money.” Earned licenses in securities, insurance, real estate.
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.
Realized it wasn’t how much money you made, “but how much you kept.” Started building, owning real estate.
Made initial fortune. In 1981, paid $12 million for Seattle Mariners. Had never been to Seattle before.
Lost $30 million on team in next five years. Made money back selling team in 1989.
Bought AirCal with Bill Lyon for $62 million in 1981: “I thought baseball was nuts. Then I bought an airline.”
AirCal ownership marked by recession, high oil prices, interest rates, air traffic controller strike. Says he happily sold to American Airlines five years later for $225 million. Played reluctant seller in negotiations. Lyon played eager one.
Major contributor to Chapman University, where business school, student center, Argyros Forum bear his name. Also given to Performing Arts Center, including $2 million for concert hall. Supported college scholarships to Horatio Alger Association of Young Scholars (designated for Southern Californians).
Helping wounded Iraq soldiers with $5 million pledge to Military Veterans Scholarship Program.
1993 winner of Horatio Alger Award; association’s treasurer, chairman emeritus. 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.
Neighbor of Irvine Co.’s Bren on Harbor Island.
Wife Julia, nicknamed “Mrs. Ambass-adorable” in Spain. Has three children, six grandchildren. Enjoys sailing, skiing, 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)
OC’s most prominent businessman, considered Southern California’s most powerful name.
Driving force behind Irvine Co., largest real estate owner in county. Quickly becoming dominant real estate player in San Diego, too.
2006 marked by big office, apartment buys, development, national landmark designation for Irvine Ranch. Says year was among most demanding, satisfying since taking over Irvine Co. in 1977.
Year of honors in 2006: Named Business Journal’s Businessperson of Year. L.A. Times named him most powerful man in Southern California. BusinessWeek named him one of the nation’s most generous philanthropists.
This year, picking up where he left off.
Paying reported $1 billion for Blackstone Group’s San Diego office buildings once owned by Equity Office Properties Trust.
Deal makes Irvine Co. dominant landlord in La Jolla. Seventeen buildings, 2.1 million square feet of high-rise, low-rise buildings acquired in February deal. Moved swiftly for buildings once Blackstone got them, put them on block.
Also in February, announced plans to build 34-story office tower in downtown San Diego, where company has bought close to $1 billion in offices in recent years. Would be largest office building yet by company.
Major OC office projects started nearly two years ago now bearing fruit. Eight building, 700,000-square-foot campus for chipmaker Broadcom at University Research Park opened in March.
Still looking for tenants for three high-rises near John Wayne Airport, Irvine Spectrum. Not budging from premium asking rents for buildings, due to open later this year. First high-rises built by company here in 15 years.
OC’s richest man by far at conservative Business Journal estimate of $9 billion.
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 offices, shopping centers.
Owns some 400 office buildings, 40 shopping centers, 90 apartment complexes, three golf clubs. Rents, land sales drive estimated $2.3 billion in yearly revenue.
Moves watched closely for clues about real estate markets. Recent deals show big faith in offices, especially upscale towers. Said he turned bullish on office market about two years ago. That’s when company decided to start building, looking at acquisitions.
“It was a matter of time before office would regain its footing, and I think we caught it on the upswing,” he says.
Student of the economy. Calls housing slowdown “short-term pause.”
Heavy interest but slower sales seen at new Northern Sphere projects Portola Springs, Woodbury. Still moving ahead with housing developments there as well as on 7,700 acres in Anaheim Hills, where 2,500 homes are planned, and in Orange. Building apartments at Spectrum, paid top dollar for existing complex in San Diego.
Hasn’t jumped into high-rise condo craze: “I’ve not been convinced that the market for high-rise living in Orange County has much depth.”
Hasn’t ruled out condo towers, though.
Construction under way at “crown jewel,” The Resort at Pelican Hill.
Says his proudest moment of 2006: getting large chunk of Irvine Ranch designated as national natural landmark.
In October, joined by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger at ceremony at Crystal Cove State Park.
2006 big year on philanthropic front. In spring, pledged $20 million for arts, sciences in Irvine schools. In summer, gave $1 million to after-school program for elementary students in Santa Ana public schools, $2 million for science classes for elementary students in Newport-Mesa School District.
Avid outdoorsman. Now thinking about conservation legacy. In 2001, moved to set aside extra 11,000 acres as open space.
Has donated $50 million to enhance land reserve, created nonprofit Irvine Ranch Land Reserve Trust to manage open space, improve public access. Previously contributed 21,000 acres to Nature Reserve of Orange County.
More than half of 93,000-acre Irvine Ranch set aside for parks, open space.
Coined phrase “open space is freedom” while riding along Back Bay bike trail.
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 for company, where 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 influence in political circles. Sun Valley ski buddy of Schwarzenegger. Named to key national fund-raising post for presidential campaign of Sen. John McCain.
Caltech trustee. Big giver to UCI, UC Santa Barbara. UC, UCI Medal winner. Endowed more UC distinguished faculty chairs than any other donor.
Former Marine at Camp Pendleton, gave $1 million for two 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.
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. Neither holds positions at Irvine Co.
In 2005, moved to new Harbor Island mansion built on double lot. Splits time between Los Angeles, Harbor Island. Accomplished skier. Also windsurfs, sails, plays tennis.
,Mark Mueller
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 Mission Viejo
Duo pushing forward with massive housing, mixed-use projects here, despite slowdown that has Lennar retrenching elsewhere. Not pushing panic button here, but cutting costs, working to get more value from investments.
Key local players for Miami-based homebuilder, developer. Jaffe No. 2 exec at Lennar, after CEO Stuart Miller. Promoted to COO from Western region president three years ago.
Haddad oversees company’s national in-vestments, asset management including ma-ssive California projects Newhall Ranch, A-Town, El Toro, other military base conversions. Named to companywide chief investment officer last year.
Duo runs day-to-day operations for entire company. Miami HQ handles Wall Street.
Nationally, Lennar not seeing projected spring housing turnaround. Feeling effects of subprime mortgage woes, heavy discounting on home sales, profits. Strong balance sheet. Tightening costs. Demanding contractors reduce fees in OC, across country.
In OC, Haddad says no downsizing or other changes in store for big projects: “When you embark on a long-term project, you have to filter out the noise in the market.”
Company has plans for close to 15,000 homes in OC. Has several billion dollars worth of investments in the early stages of development.
Now No. 1 builder in county, sold 443 homes here last year. Likely to remain near top for foreseeable future.
Pushing forward at former El Toro Marine base in Irvine. Worked with Irvine last year to add more than 5,800 homes to its Heritage Fields site, while cutting back retail, industrial space by 30%.
Hopes to see plan for site include 9,500 homes. Commercial, industrial space would total 3.7 million square feet.
Big neighbor Irvine Co. has pressed for more thorough traffic study before roads are built for Heritage Fields, Great Park. Irvine Co. building homes nearby at Northern Sphere project.
Lennar looking to increase housing density at Anaheim’s Platinum Triangle, along with other developers.
Company now plans about 3,000 homes in Anaheim in all, plus commercial space. Hopes to convince city to allow permits for more homes.
Has spent close to $250 million buying industrial buildings near Angel Stadium, while city created special zoning to allow housing with shops, offices. Planning 13 condo high-rises at A-Town development, including one as tall as 38 stories. Would be tallest condo tower in county.
Groundbreaking at A-Town began a year ago. First homes still a year away. Could focus more on mid-rise homes before high-rises initially while housing market recovers.
Building county’s first true mixed-use development in Irvine area near John Wayne Airport. Bought controlling stake in former Parker Hannifin site in Irvine for about $100 million to develop 1,400 condos, as well as shops, offices at 43-acre site just off freeway.
Central Park West plans include two high-rises. Towers set for 2007, 2008. Some homes due late this year. Sales under way for million-dollar tower condos, other low-rise sales at project to start later this year.
Most sales in 2006 coming from Tustin, Irvine suburban projects. Building about 2,000 homes at former Tustin Marine base. Developing two neighborhoods along with William Lyon Homes.
Biggest drivers of higher-density, urban living in OC. Says county is ready for change. Still see themselves as community developers. High-rises near rail links afford families more time at home, Haddad says.
Haddad responsible for finding real estate, managing assets. Oversees all urban developments. Sees more European-style merging of residential, transit projects.
Works with Jaffe at Lennar’s regional headquarters in Aliso Viejo.
Deals have propelled Lennar alongside Irvine Co., Rancho Mission Viejo, as one of largest, most influential developers here.
Jaffe, Haddad named Business Journal’s Businesspersons of the Year for 2005.
In 2005, pulled off biggest real estate deal in recent memory: $1 billion buy of former El Toro Marine base.
Lennar expects first homes to finish in 2008. Site also includes more than 1,300 acres of public land for Great Park.
Donated $1.9 million for helium balloon that will carry sightseers and promote the park.
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.
Oversaw combination of Lennar’s homebuilding operations with Los Angeles-based Pacific Greystone. Followed that with U.S. Home deal.
Jaffe oversees 100 homebuilding, land divisions in Arizona, California, Carolinas, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Virginia.
Became executive officer with parent Lennar in 1994, vice president in 1999. On national advisory board of HomeAid America.
Sees OC housing market remaining strong due to long-term supply-demand imbalance.
Undergraduate degree from University of Florida, graduate studies in architecture at Georgia Tech University. Joined Lennar right out of college.
Wife Karen, three sons. Hobbies include tennis, enjoying beach life, coaching kids’ little league teams. Lived in OC for past decade.
Haddad, like boss, has low-key style. Both prefer deflecting praise to other company members. Proud of Lennar’s unique, entrepreneurial management style, which even 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,common Lennar strategy.
Has civil engineering degree from American University of Beirut, has several California licenses in engineering, contracting. Member, Urban Land Institute.
Says his story is “story of America.” Left troubled Lebanon with now-wife Dina. Couple had engagement party in Lebanon, married in Vegas. Daughter, 16, son, 10. Had to scramble to get vacationing family out of Beirut last summer during unrest in Lebanon.
Not big on hobbies, family man.
On board of Children’s Hospital of Orange County, UCI’s Paul Merage School of Business, USC’s Lusk Center for Real Estate.
,Mark Mueller
WILLIAM LYON
Owner, Chairman, CEO
William Lyon Homes Inc.
Born in Los Angeles, March 9, 1923
Lives in Coto de Caza
The General.
Homebuilder that bears Lyon’s name starting first year as private company after his buyout last year.
Faces market slowdown. Succession plan in works.
Staged two-year battle to go private. In July, paid about $275 million to buy roughly 25% of company he didn’t already own.
Final deal valued William Lyon Homes at about $950 million.
Company now owned by Lyon, two of his trusts.
Privatization cut costs of being public, could speed passing of torch to son.
February saw new No. 2 in command at the homebuilder. Wade Cable, president, chief operating officer since 1999, retired. Cable was big shareholder, voted his shares for privatization plan.
Cable replaced by Douglas Bauer, who moved up in the company’s hierarchy. Bauer, 45, previously served as executive VP.
Taking over Bauer’s old spot: Bill Lyon, 33-year-old son of Gen. Lyon. Younger Lyon, previously vice president, has been with company for nine years. Also acts as chief administrative officer.
Promotion clearest sign yet of Gen. Lyon’s plans for passing reins. Younger Lyon had heavy input in the move to go private, Gen. Lyon says. Started taking interest in homebuilding at early age, been with company since graduating from Stanford.
Company weathering slow housing market. Time of transition in California, Arizona, Nevada, where William Lyon Homes focuses.
Company reported 2,202 orders for homes last year, down 34% from year earlier. Orders in California, company’s largest market, down 34% to 1,402 homes.
William Lyon Homes sold 266 homes in OC last year. Down 59% from a year earlier. Still second-biggest homebuilder here in 2006, 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.
Seeing similar declines, trends as other national builders. Total company backlog of homes sold but not closed was 606 at the end of the year, 53% decline from a year ago. Cancellation rates of 33% in 2006, compared to 16% in 2005. In the fourth quarter, cancellation rate was 35%.
Lyon in homebuilding for five decades. Started Luxury Homes with brother Leon in Fullerton in 1954. Sold company to American Standard in 1968. Started William Lyon Co. in Newport in 1972.
In 1987, acquired Newport’s Presley Development, ran separately from William Lyon Co. Downturn of early 1990s reduced empire to rubble. Doggedly worked through disaster without resorting to bankruptcy.
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, separate from William Lyon Homes. Company owns, manages about 10,000 apartments, primarily in OC.
Retired Air Force major general, served as chief of Air Force Reserve, 1975 to 1979. Seventeen combat decorations. Pilot during World War II, Korea.
Buddy, fellow OC 50er George Argyros jokes he finally outranked three-star general with ambassador stint in Spain.
Aviation buff: In 1981, he, Argyros paid $62 million to buy AirCal, turned around troubled regional airline. Sold five years later for $225 million.
In late 1980s, formed Air/Lyon with former AirCal exec, provided ground services for commercial airlines, private aircraft. Owned Martin Aviation.
Also an avid car collector: has some 100 classic and antique cars, including 10 Duesenbergs (only 480 made). Has collection of old warplanes.
Politically connected. Member of Republican group New Majority. Among top givers to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. In March, hosted Irvine fund-raiser for Sen. John McCain with Argyros, Donald Bren, others. Event raised reported $1.3 million for presidential candidate.
Attended Dallas Aviation School and Air College, USC. Received honorary doctorate from USC in 2002.
Received Chairman’s Distinguished Public Service Award in 2005, Pentagon ceremony for support of Operation Smile, which provides free reconstructive surgery around the world, including in Iraq, Afghanistan.
Last year, General and Mrs. William Lyon Family Foundation pledged $5 million to Performing Arts Center’s $200 million expansion campaign. Lyon was chairman of center’s board from 1990 to 1993. Member, executive committee of center’s board. Also supports Boy Scouts, Orangewood Children’s Foundation, where he’s founding chairman.
In 2003, received lifetime achievement award from Forum for Corporate Directors.
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, CEO, President
Capital Pacific Holdings Inc.
Born in Tehran, Iran, Jan. 30, 1948
Lives in Newport Beach (Big Canyon)
Moving forward with city-sized project in Colorado. Not ignoring big development, buying opportunities in OC, either.
Master planner, builder, developer, real estate investor for more than 30 years. Heads up Capital Pacific, known for building coastal McMansions. Yearly sales of nearly $700 million. Took company private last year.
Homebuilding arm, Capital Pacific Homes, builds in California, Arizona, Colorado, Texas. Building more affordable offerings in Inland Empire, higher end in Santa Barbara.
Chairman of Makar Properties, Capital Pacific offshoot run by son Paul Makarechian, 33.
Capital Pacific, Makar overseeing master development of 75,000 homes, 60 million square feet of office, shopping, industrial space in Colorado. Developing during next half-century on Banning Ranch, 23,000 acres in Colorado Springs that could hold 250,000 people at completion.
After final approvals a year ago, first neighborhood called Northtree planned on Irvine-sized ranch. Northtree on 330 acres, more than 1,000 homes planned. Just named trio of builders to work on homes: Captial Pacific’s homebuilding division; John Laing Homes; Classic Homes.
Building luxury homes along coastal OC, including Pointe Monarch at St. Regis in Dana Point.
Getting into high-rise game. Capital Pacific unit NDC Development got March approval from Santa Ana to build two 20-plus story high-rises on 200-acre parcel between Santa Ana, Costa Mesa freeways.
Makar has own local high-rise plans in Costa Mesa’s upscale arts district. Paid $42 million for Wyndham Orange County Hotel in 2006. Completed renovation in November. Plans to turn the hotel into combination hotel, condominium tower.
One of two big hotel buys for Makar in past year. Bought Hilton Anaheim, largest hotel in OC, in late March for estimated $160 million. Upgrades, renovations worth about $50 million planned.
Makar also under way with 31-acre Pacific City development in Huntington Beach. Construction will include a 200-room boutique hotel, 191,000 square feet of shops, restaurants, offices, more than 500 condos. Construction will link city pier with nearby hotels.
Son Paul continues to take most of family limelight. Paul was Capital Pacific senior VP, now CEO, owner of Makar Properties, developer of St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach, built in 2001.
Last year, hosted lavish “exotic black tie” party marking fifth anniversary of five-star hotel.
Paul is chairman of Generation Next, party-minded young Republican group, youthful counterweight to dad’s New Majority.
Hadi remains key Republican fund-raiser on state, national level. Big supporter, contributor to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Now backing Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s presidential bid. March fund-raiser at St. Regis raised reported $1.3 million for Romney. Likes Romney’s positions on economy, his pet issue energy conservation.
Engineer by training, did rough designs himself for Rancho Palos Verdes homes. Hands-on with company’s pricey homes, commercial projects.
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 the time.
Fled to Florida with wife after Islamic revolution in late 1970s. Company nationalized.
Started over from scratch. 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 near a regional mall in Maryland. Sold business when others started doing same thing.
Moved to California in 1990 at age 41. Enjoyed several months of early 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 to form Capital Pacific Holdings.
Supporter of Chapman University, served on board. Also supports State University of New York.
Other son, Cyrus, 29, is technology VP with Makar. Wife Barbara. Couple splits time between Big Canyon, home in Montecito.
,Mark Mueller
IGOR MICHAEL OLENICOFF
Owner, CEO, Olen Properties Corp.
Born near Moscow, Russia,
Sept. 19, 1942
Lives in Laguna Beach (Emerald Bay)
Billionaire real estate developer entered Midwest office market with a bang in 2006.
His Olen Properties bought Chicago’s One South Dearborn tower, company’s first deal in Midwest, largest office deal to date. Forty-story skyscraper’s price reported as $362 million. At $430 per square foot, is among highest prices paid for a Chicago tower.
Tower acquisition added more than 850,000 square feet of commercial space to portfolio that now runs more than 6 million square feet, much of it in OC. Also owns more than 11,000 apartments in California, Nevada, Florida.
More expansion planned here, elsewhere. Longstanding plans to develop up to 2,000 apartments near John Wayne Airport. Could include two eight-story towers. City approvals for projects slowly moving.
Last local development was 2005’s 135,000-square-foot office building in Brea. Five-story building was $20 million-plus final phase of Olen Pointe Brea. Property could be hit by loss of main tenant, subprime lender ResMae Mortgage Corp., which is being sold after filing for bankruptcy this year.
Subprime lenders also big tenants at Irvine high-rises Olen bought in 2005. Paid about $135 million in early 2005 for pair of 13-story office towers on Main Street. First big local high-rise office acquisition.
Wants to own other local towers. Was outbid by OC 50er Donald Bren for trophy Newport Beach buildings in late 2005.
Counts close to 2,000 tenants, 380 buildings locally. Owns 1,400 acres of land in Temecula, Las Vegas, Florida. Plans in works for 400 condos, three shopping centers in South Florida.
Another big mixed-use development in works near Cape Canaveral. Plans to build another 1,000 homes at site, alongside golf course.
Bought 18 acres in Phoenix area last year. Plans call for 450 hotel rooms, 560 homes, 400,000 square feet of office space.
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.
Parents fled Soviet Union due to family ties with Czar Nicholas II. Family went to Iran, came to U.S. at age 15.
Olenicoff, parents, brother arrived in New York with $800, four suitcases. Robbed upon arrival. Headed west. Attended missionary school where he became fluent in English, Russian, Farsi.
Worked way through USC where he graduated with four degrees,bachelor’s in finance and engineering, MBA, master’s in statistics, quantitative analysis.
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.
Long-running battles continue with IRS over ownership of companies, taxes owed. Claims overseas entities, some with ties to recently deceased Boris Yeltsin, behind much of firm’s operations, with his own fortunes well below IRS estimates.
Told Forbes “Everyone in Orange County assumes, obviously, I’m the ultimate owner because it seems to be a one-man show.” Says family’s direct holdings are worth less than $50 million. Forbes pegs his worth at $1.6 billion.
Said initial response from Russian tax authorities to U.S. tax probe was to tell IRS to go “pound sand.”
Wife Jeanne. Daughter Natalia a USC grad, company’s director of asset management. Joined in 2004. Natalia now playing a larger role after untimely auto accident 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
OC’s public face in 2006.
September saw debut of $200 million-plus Ren & #233;e and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, crown jewel of Performing Arts Center expansion. Milestone moment in county’s cultural development.
National coverage normally associated with Hollywood glitz devoted to concert hall’s gala opening. Attendees paid $3,000 for Placido Domingo performance, fireworks, black-tie dinner.
Concert hall designed by architect C & #233;sar Pelli, acoustician Russell Johnson. Opening reinforced South Coast’s reputation as county’s cultural center. Along with 2,000-seat concert hall, arts center includes 500-seat Samueli Theater, an education center, outdoor plaza.
Concert hall gets high marks for acoustics. Concertgoers gripe about poor views from some seats. Initial $200 million cost now about $230 million.
Segerstrom served as founding chairman of Performing Arts Center. Gave $40 million to begin fund raising for concert hall. Gave another $10 million late last year.
Opening put spotlight on Segerstrom, visionary behind South Coast’s transformation to economic, cultural powerhouse. Turned family farmland into hub of shopping, business, arts.
Public face of family business, which also owns shopping center, office buildings in, around Costa Mesa.
Best known for ritzy South Coast Plaza, first U.S. shopping center to hit $1 billion in yearly sales, grew to some $1.5 billion last year.
Spending reported $30 million on upgrades; new floors, common areas.
Early on, lured Nordstrom to open first Southern California store at South Coast. Today, Costa Mesa store is chain’s top performer.
Family part of group that owns, runs Costa Mesa office high-rises, including Plaza Tower, Center Tower, Park Tower. Offices thriving; higher rents, near full buildings.
Plaza Tower designed by Pelli in 1992, considered county’s premier office building. Landlord looking to ramp monthly rental rates there up to $6 per square foot for top floors in next few years, by far a high for county’s office market.
Next development likely to include some office space, alongside luxury condos, hotel.
Planning high-rises near South Coast Plaza. Two towers planned. Condos, offices in one tower, 50 condos atop 200-room luxury hotel,likely a Mandarin Oriental,in other. Early plans signed off by city this year.
Grandfather C.J. was Swedish immigrant farmer. By 1950s, family was leading lima bean grower. Henry influential in changing family’s focus from farming to development.
Cousin-in-law Jeanette Segerstrom, former co-managing partner, died in 2001.
Enlisted, rose from Army private to field artillery captain. Received Purple Heart in World War II.
Business bachelor’s, master’s from Stanford. Honorary doctorates of law from Western State, Whittier Law School.
In 2003, received inaugural lifetime achievement award from OC Business Council, which named award after the family.
Honored in 2005 by Orange County Tourism Council for lifetime contributions to tourism.
Married to Elizabeth, third wife, naturalized U.S. citizen. Elizabeth chaired gala festivities for concert hall.
Daughter Andrea, sons Anton, Toren from first wife. Anton, son-in-law David Grant involved in business.
,Mark Mueller
PETER OWEN SHEA JR.
CEO, President
J.F. Shea Co.
Born in Farmington, N.M., Feb. 17, 1967
Lives in Newport Beach
ROBERTO FRANCISCO SELVA
CEO, President
Shea Homes
Born in San Francisco, Jan. 2, 1962
Lives in Newport Coast
COLM WILLIAM MACKEN
CEO, President
Shea Properties
Born in Dublin, Ireland, May 21, 1958
Lives in Rolling Hills Estates
Trio behind homebuilder, commercial builder that’s redeveloping biggest part of OC’s other big military base.
J.F. Shea’s homebuilding, commercial divisions overseeing more than half of 1,500-acre redevelopment of former Marine base in Tustin. One of largest remaining developments in county.
Aliso Viejo-based Shea Properties working with Walnut’s Shea Homes, city of Tustin on Legacy Park at former base. Project, at 820 acres, calls for 2,100 homes, 6.7 million square feet of offices, restaurants, shops, hotels in next six to eight years.
Fewer homes than Irvine’s Great Park, but more commercial development. Groundbreaking late last year.
Development price tag on Legacy Park estimated at $3 billion. Two-thirds tied to commercial development, with rest for homes.
Shea family’s real estate empire includes homebuilding, apartments, offices, industrial, retail, land.
J.F. Shea parent of homebuilding, commercial development units, along with heavy construction business, financial services division.
Peter Shea Jr. taking over operation of family company based just over county line in Walnut. Picked up CEO, president titles three years ago, was chief operating officer. John Shea is chairman, mentor.
Sheas worked on some monumental projects: Golden Gate Bridge, Hoover Dam, building tunnels, stations for San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit System, Washington, D.C., Metro.
Peter Shea personable, unassuming. Worked up company ranks. Got start as miner in Shea’s rock, gravel quarry in Redding.
During 17 years, worked as project manager, project engineer, field engineer, VP of construction division.
Responsible for heavy construction civil projects in Southern California, Maryland, Washington, D.C.
Earned bachelor’s in civil engineering from UC Berkeley.
Serves on boards of Harbor Day School District, Fidelity National Financial, nationwide construction industry group Beaver’s. Previously served on board of Association of General Contractors.
Wife Debbie, four children. Golf enthusiast.
Macken oversees Shea Properties, which develops, owns office buildings, retail, industrial, apartments. Portfolio valued at more than $1.3 billion. Fastest growing unit of company.
Got foothold in OC when J.F. Shea bought Mission Viejo Co. in late 1990s. Family picked up Denver assets in deal, which yielded 3,000 homes. Deal brought Shea Properties from Walnut to Aliso Viejo, where commercial arm is based in a building built on land acquired in deal.
Macken took over Shea Properties reins from retired William Gaboury in 2006. Oversees 7,000 apartments, 5.2 million square feet of office, industrial, retail space.
Projects in the works total more than 10 million square feet of commercial, retail space, 1,200 apartments. Developing in California, Colorado and Arizona.
Tustin biggest project yet. Mid-rise offices planned within walking distance of homes, shops, hotels.
Close to 250,000 square feet of office space being built at Aliso Viejo’s Vantis, including 177,000-square-foot office building for the local office of Seattle-based Safeco.
Another three buildings, totaling about 435,000 square feet, also are planned.
Made big push in Colorado market in early 2006. With Shea Homes, completed purchase for Denver-area office buildings, shopping center, as well as land for more offices, shops, apartments.
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, including work-live-play communities in California, Colorado.
Began career in Los Angeles, as engineer with consulting engineering firm, then moved to Transpacific Development Co., worked there with current Bixby Land Co. chief Bill Halford.
Has degree in mechanical engineering from University College in Dublin. MBA from UCLA.
Married to Lomena. Has three teen children. Enjoys sports, fitness, family. Drives a Prius.
Homebuilding arm, headed by Selva, one of most active in OC. Largest privately held homebuilder in the nation, annual revenue of more than $3 billion.
No. 4 homebuilder in OC last year, with 169 sales. Building homes at former Tustin Marine base. Also building at Vantis project near company’s Aliso Viejo headquarters. Unique condo project, overlooking Aliso Viejo Town Center.
First of nearly 400 condos, lofts completed at Vantis. Homes start at about $100,000 less than the county’s $625,000 median price.
Not all local projects went according to plan last year. Abandoned plans for 20-story high-rise condo project in Santa Ana last summer as market showed signs of cooling. Project taken over by unit of Makar Properties.
Low-key, easy-going executive, gets along well with Shea family. Worked way up company ranks.
Joined Shea in 1996, hired to set up, grow Colorado division. Previously did stints with the Colorado division of KB Homes, OC office of Signature Homes.
Named “CEO of the Year” by Builder and Big Builder magazine in 2006.
Diverse career. Previously international banker in Hong Kong, South Korea, Tokyo. Also was management consultant with Arthur Andersen.
Holds bachelor’s in business from USC, MBA from UCLA.
Serves on national advisory board of HomeAid America, High Production Home Builders Council. Previously served as president of the Homebuilders Association of Metro Denver. Member, Young Presidents’ Organization.
Hobbies include golf, cars. Prominent local Hispanic exec, fluent in Spanish. Wife Cindie, three children.
,Mark Mueller
ANTHONY RICHARD MOISO
CEO, President
Rancho Mission Viejo LLC
Born in West Los Angeles,
Sept. 17, 1939
Lives in Laguna Beach (Emerald Bay)
Heads all aspects of historic family ranch: real estate development, leasing, cattle, agricultural operations.
Moiso-Avery-O’Neill family traces roots here to 1882,marking 125 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 Camp Pendleton). Ranch now 23,000 acres in county’s southeastern corner.
Planning, environmental, legal work again dominated last year for OC’s No. 2 landowner after OC 50er Donald Bren.
Has big vision for what is county’s largest swath of developable land. Plans 14,000 homes, 5 million square feet of commercial development on 25% of land. Remaining 17,000 acres set for open space.
Originally planned to develop 66% of land in county-approved plan. Later lawsuit settlement with environmental groups upped open space to 75%.
Latest battle: Company asking courts to weigh in on dispute with Transportation Corridor Agencies 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. TCA board disagrees.
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.
Largely finished with Ladera Ranch, 4,000-acre masterplanned community near Mission Viejo.
Moiso says he, Uncle Richard O’Neill, 84, talking about future. Family members could run operation or bring in managers overseen by family board. Advises other family business owners to plan beyond current generation, include younger members in operations. Having them work to learn the value of what they stand to inherit is key, he says.
Along with land, Moiso, family own shopping centers, golf courses, apartments, senior complexes, medical offices, other commercial buildings.
Family is longtime supporter of Mission San Juan Capistrano. Moiso is president of Mission Preservation Foundation, which works on fund raising for preservation, education programs, tours.
Company’s holdings include San Juan’s El Adobe de Capistrano restaurant, Los Swallows Inn, Mission Promenade.
Staunch Republican. Uncle is former chairman of the state Democratic Party. Moiso shared childhood friendship in West Los Angeles with former Democratic Gov. Gray Davis. Frat brothers in college.
Earned history degree (minor in political science) from Stanford.
Served two years in Army as infantry officer. Started Mission Viejo Co. with 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 fund-raiser for center in which prominent local men model clothes.
Four daughters (Katrina, Cristy, Anne Marie, Francesca), five granddaughters, five grandsons.
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, and plays golf.
,Mark Mueller
MICHAEL FREDERICK HARRAH
Owner, President
Caribou Industries Inc.
Born in Los Angeles, March 25, 1951
Lives in Newport Beach (Lido Isle)
“Big Mike.” Plans for revitalizing Santa Ana keep getting bigger. Real estate watchers keep waiting for proof in pudding.
Plans for One Broadway, $300 million office tower in heart of Santa Ana, could break ground in June, two years after winning voter approval. At 37 stories, tower between Civic Center, downtown would be county’s tallest. Initial groundwork, site cleared. No tenants announced yet.
Deal with city requires half of 600,000-square-foot tower to be leased prior to steel going up. Harrah wants office tower done by late-2008 or early 2009. Says he’s in talks to lease space to government agency, telecommunications company, drug maker, local real estate business.
Progress on financing being made. Sold two buildings, including office that holds headquarters for his Caribou Industries, for $30 million in February. Still owns close to 80 buildings in city, totaling about 4 million square feet of commercial space.
Already thinking about next big project: 470-foot condominium tower next to One Broadway Plaza. Second high-rise would have close to 300 homes, tentatively slated to sell from $425,000 to $1.8 million.
Still needs to buy land from Orange County High School of the Arts before condo project can take off. Harrah also talking about building 500-seat performing arts center, 120-seat outdoor amphitheater next to Santa Ana performing arts school. Projects still in early design stage. No deal signed yet, school says.
Played key role revitalizing county’s most populous city by restoring old buildings, attracting restaurants, art galleries, other businesses.
In 2005, opened own lavish theater, OC Pavilion, spending more than $20 million to convert former bank building. Pavilion’s restaurant, theater drawing big crowds. Building hand-designed by Harrah; has upscale lounges, perks for performers, secret entrances from restaurant to theater’s backstage.
Earlier, converted old auto dealership into Original Mike’s restaurant. Eats there weekly. Shot elk heads on restaurant walls.
One Broadway would be crowning project. Envisions five-star French restaurant on top floor, Fortune 500 companies, big law firms below. Has to pay $12 million for traffic upgrades. Says One Broadway already has cost him $35 million to $40 million.
Controversial project. Activists managed to put it to 2005 citywide vote, which Harrah handedly won. Election night napkin with final vote tally hangs in lobby of Harrah’s office.
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 with tower.
Most of his space downtown, near Civic Center. Downtown now arts hub with trendy restaurants, lofts. Honored by Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society as Preservationist of the Year for 2003.
Owns Caribou Industries, development, construction, tenant improvement, property management company with offices on Main Street. Does about $40 million a year in revenue. Might have the most cluttered office of any executive in Southern California, on top floor of building overlooking One Broadway site. Papers piled high on desk. Pictures strewn about. Stuffed bear in corner.
Forty-story luxury condo tower in downtown Honolulu set to finish in 2008. Multimillion-dollar project nearly sold out.
Easily distinguishable from rest of county’s real estate elite.
Sports ZZ Top beard, 6 feet, 6 inches tall, 280 pounds. Piloted Cobra helicopter in aerial stunts for movies “Austin Powers: Goldmember,” “The Hulk,” “The Siege.”
Shot reality show pilot in 2005 featuring him riding motorcycle, helicopter, dragster. Says he’s still in talks over show. Another possible venture: designing line of sunglasses.
Personal jet grounded in Fiji during military coup last November.
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, started working as framing carpenter, then general contractor by 21, building Riverside apartments. Made small fortune by 25.
Developed resort at Lake Havasu over 10 years while contending as top national water ski racer, boat racer.
Development of shopping centers, hotels, golf courses, condominiums, marinas earned him millions.
Another large Havasu deal pushed him to bankruptcy in 1990. Emerged from bankruptcy, turned to Santa Ana at a time when city was left for dead.
Hard-driving. Works seven days a week, 17-hour days, very hands-on. Said wife once asked “do you know what color the house is?”
Married 30-plus years. Two Chihuahuas. Republican supporter. Gave $50,000 at recent fund-raiser. Speaks Spanish.
Steady focus on business. Pushes to get projects going, keep them on track. Tactics seen by some as overly aggressive. Critics say too much bluster, talking, not enough results.
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. Played drums at recent Pavilion concert of ZZ Top Tribute band. Sported best beard in group.
Jovial. Likes to ride Harley, pilot helicopter, smoke cigars.
,Mark Mueller
MICHAEL DALE McKEE
Vice Chairman, Chief Operating Officer
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
JOSEPH DAVID DAVIS
President,
Irvine Community Development Co.
The Irvine Company
Born in Los Angeles, March 18, 1950
Lives in Rancho Santa Fe
Rare change in top ranks of OC’s most powerful company.
January saw new a role for 20-year Irvine Co. veteran Clarence Barker, outgoing president of Investment Properties Group, longtime Donald Bren confidant. Barker stepping back, transitioning to advisory role.
Continues to lead development of The Resort at Pelican Hill.
Barker’s role taken on by new face Gilchrist, brought on last year to head office division. Move be-comes official in June.
Real estate veteran, lawyer Gilchrist joins McKee, Davis in managing Irvine Co.’s core operations: land planning, development, real estate management, corporate fi-nance, strategy.
McKee is No. 2 to Chairman Bren, stand-alone OC 50er. McKee oversees all company functions, including land development, asset management, administrative, financial, legal affairs, technology.
Started legal career in 1970s with Latham & Watkins. Worked on some of earliest real estate investment trusts. Provided legal counsel to Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee, headed by OC 50er Peter Ueberroth.
Worked closely with Bren on number of Irvine Co. projects, including Irvine Apartment Communities public offering in 1993. 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. As vice chairman, he, Bren form two-person operations management committee overseeing company.
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.
Joins company in midst of buying, development spree.
Estimated billion-dollar deal for La Jolla offices formerly owned by Equity Office Properties announced in late February. Deal spans 2.1 million square feet of space; 17 buildings added to San Diego portfolio.
Plans unveiled for 34-story office tower at 700 W. Broadway in downtown San Diego, company’s biggest office building yet.
Locally, office division saw Broadcom move into eight-building, 700,000-square-foot campus at University Research Park in March.
Irvine Spectrum seeing retail, office, apartment growth. Turning area into Irvine’s largest mixed-use center.
Apartment complex Village at Irvine Spectrum Center nearing completion. Company looking to finish twin 15-story office towers 20 and 40 Pacifica in coming months, still searching for tenants.
Retail division demolished 30-year-old department store building at Fashion Island, moved forward with plans to add piazza, new shops, underground parking.
Pursuing development, acquisitions in San Diego, Silicon Valley. San Diego now second-largest market for company. Investing in apartments, offices acquired there.
In Silicon Valley, nearing completion of North Park, 2,700-apartment complex around five-acre park. Largest apartment project for company.
Joined in 2006 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. Still talks to old boss Rob Maguire, 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, one grandchild, second on the way.
Davis directs development of communities on company’s historic Irvine Ranch, selling land to homebuilders.
Sales of custom home lots in 400-home Shady Canyon nearing completion, only six remaining. Lot at Shady Canyon recently sold for record $7.9 million, highest price for lot anywhere on Irvine Ranch. Believed to be the highest price paid in OC for a non-oceanfront lot.
Gains from 2005, 2006 lot sales for homes said to help finance billion-dollar acquisitions of offices, apartments.
Development of 7,700-acre Northern Sphere continues. Woodbury named Best Masterplanned Community in America by the National Association of Home Builders.
Opened Portola Springs last year, construction under way on 4,500-home development. Says buyer interest strong, but sales slower than peak of past few years. Anticipates opening of Orchard Hills in summer of 2008.
Working on sales of luxury Crystal Cove custom lots, semi-custom communities of Sea Crest, The Tides. Says market strong for semi-custom homes, despite lot prices starting at $6 million.
Eyeing start of long-planned communities east of Orange, Anaheim Hills. Home sales at Northpark Square, Quail Hill, Turtle Ridge almost completed.
Joined Irvine Co. in 1993. Became president of company’s Irvine Community Builders in 1996. Following year promoted to executive VP of newly formed Irvine Community Development Co. Named president later that year.
Worked for Chevron, Watt Land Development, Amfac Properties before joining Irvine Co. Created exclusive Fairbanks Ranch community.
Holds general building contractor, real estate licenses. Has bachelor’s, master’s in business from USC.
Received 2002 “Spirit of Life” award from the City of Hope. Wife Terri, four children, two granddaughters.
,Mark Mueller
STEPHEN JEFFREY SCARBOROUGH
Chairman, CEO, President
Standard Pacific Corp.
Born in Los Angeles, Oct. 27, 1948
Lives in Irvine (Turtle Rock)
Head of largest homebuilder based here, feeling effects of slowing housing market.
Built 10,500 homes in 2006, down 8% from record 2005. Profits fell 72% last year to $123.7 million on land value write-downs, lost deposits for land that company walked away from. Still third-most profitable year in company’s 30-year history.
Sales of $3.9 billion in 2006, down 1%. Higher home prices kept revenue steady.
One of county’s better-paid executives. Despite downturn, earned $12.5 million salary, stock, bonuses last year. Down from more than $20 million prior year.
Added president’s title in March with retirement of Michael Cortney.
Plan for 2007 reflects changing market. Company scaling back developments, less land buying. Says housing market recovery could be two years off.
Fortunes tied to the health of country’s hottest housing markets. Builds in California, Florida, Arizona, Texas, more recently, Las Vegas. California, Florida tied for largest markets last year.
Sixth-largest homebuilder in OC last year.
Focus in California expanding to include more affordable housing, condos, townhomes, higher density urban infill housing.
Initial attempts at urban redevelopment locally have seen mixed results. Near Union Station in Los Angeles, backed out of a $34 million condo conversion project in summer, after slow sales. Homes turned back into apartments.
In Irvine, plans for five building, 444-unit condo project abandoned after local market turned, lawsuits over project.
Has transformed company from regional builder with operations in California to national player. Now builds homes in more than 30 major markets.
Vegas now company’s biggest hope for growth. Push there continues despite softening market. Part of group that bought 2,675 acres for homes in late 2005. Plans to build 15,750 homes, along with parks, schools. Construction to begin late this year, continue in next six to eight years. Investment in venture about $44 million to date.
Historically expanded Standard Pacific into new states through acquisitions.
Has cut down on acquisitions in past year, focusing on existing operations.
In the 1990s, when Scarborough was president, company formed venture with Catellus Residential Group, Starwood Capital Group to develop San Clemente’s Talega. Move assured lots at one of OC’s largest projects.
In January, company again named to Fortune’s list of “America’s 100 Best Companies to Work For,” only OC company on list. Workers given breaks on home buys. Company picks up most healthcare costs. Rewarded with “Scarbucks” coupons for items at company store.
Been with company for nearly 25 years, in homebuilding industry entire career. Started with company in 1981 as president of Orange, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside counties. In 1996 elected president. Appointed CEO in 2000, chairman in 2001.
Graduated from USC in 1970, bachelor’s in business. Attended UCLA but transferred to USC, got business master’s there in 1971. While doing MBA, exposed to OC real estate and Irvine Co.
Inducted into California Building Industry Hall of Fame in 2000. Past chairman of board of Boy Scouts of America’s OC Council, on board of City of Hope Construction Industries Alliance, on National Advisory Board for HomeAid America, which constructs temporary housing for poor families.
Wife Trish. Two daughters, son. Family lives in Standard Pacific-built home in Turtle Rock.
,Mark Mueller
_________________________________________________________
HONORABLE MENTION
ROBERT “BOB” A. ALTER,
STEVEN GOLDMAN
Founder, chairman; CEO
Sunstone Hotel Investors Inc.
NATALE “NAT” BOSA
President
Bosa Development Corp.
BRUCE ELIEFF
CEO, President
SunCal Cos.
WILLIAM FLAHERTY
Senior Vice President
Maguire Properties Inc.
WILLIAM “BILL” HALFORD
CEO, President
Bixby Land Co.
MICHAEL K. HAYDE
CEO
Western National Group
DOUGLAS HOLTE
West Regional Partner
Hines Interests LP
FRANK JAO
Founder, Chairman, CEO
Bridgecreek Group Inc.
PAUL MARSHALL
President, Southern California
Opus West Corp.
JOHN B. PARKER, RUSSELL J.
PARKER, LEE REDMOND
Chairman; Vice Chairman; CEO
Parker Properties LP
TUSHAR PATEL
Chairman
Tarsadia Hotels Inc.
TONY THOMPSON,
SCOTT PETERS
Founder, Chairman,
CEO, President
Triple Net Properties LLC
H. LAWRENCE WEBB
CEO
John Laing Homes
