Some gleanings from the OC 50, our annual review of top leaders of the business community and the focal point of this issue of the Business Journal (stories throughout, OC 50 Special Section starts on page 21) … It remains heavy on coastal connections, with more than half of the 53 individuals listed—several dual entries boost the total—having homes in Newport Beach or Laguna. Irvine and Coto de Caza come next, with five members each. There are two entries from Anaheim, which recently passed Santa Ana as OC’s most populous city and didn’t have any representatives last year. Alex Lopez of Boeing and Kaiser Permanente’s Julie Miller-Phipps both call Anaheim home …
McCluney, McGalla, McGregor, McKernan, McKnight & McMahon. That’s not a law firm in Dublin or a Glasgow accountancy—just some Celtic-American flair in the OC 50 … Mildred GarcĂa, who debuts as an OC50er by virtue of her pending arrival as president of Cal State Fullerton, also serves on the advisory board of Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education. The outlook is good at her new post, with CSUF again No. 1 among California schools and up to No. 4 nationwide on bachelor’s degrees for Hispanic students, with 1,924 graduates in the past academic year …
It’s been awhile since executives of Freedom Communications or its Register made the OC 50, a reflection of changes in the media business and other challenges they’ve faced in recent years. Word at presstime had buzz building about hotel developer Doug Manchester’s effort to add the Register to his recently acquired U-T San Diego, the daily in his hometown. The Register’s role as a voice of OC’s civic life has diminished, but the buzz also gives a clear indication that its eventual sale will be cause for reflection—and considerable sadness—throughout the county …
Another exclusive club: The Insider gives a tip of the hat to Paul Reddam, owner of Cash Call Inc. in Anaheim and Kentucky Derby winner I’ll Have Another. The 15-1 shot was appreciated by everyone who took a flyer on the local connection …
Back to church: Real estate exec Rob Neal’s latest job touches on what he calls his “two great loves,” combining his profession and his faith. Neal has signed on as an unpaid, interim COO at the 32-acre Crystal Cathedral campus in Garden Grove, bought this year by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange for $57.5 million. “The Bishop asked me to step in” until a full-timer is hired, says Neal, managing partner at Newport Beach-based Hager Pacific Properties, an active buyer of industrial buildings. He’s hoping the diocese will make a hire in the next few months …
Neal also has volunteered for duty as a panelist at the “Anatomy of a Deal” luncheon program to be hosted by CREW-OC at the Pacific Club on May 15, when the diocese’s plans for the Crystal Cathedral will be the subject. Reserve online at crew-oc.org …
Ruth Ko isn’t on the OC 50, but she’s not short of calling cards. The former model, actress and publisher of Orange Coast is now a sculptor and will join friend and fellow artist Guy Buffet for an exhibit at Lahaina Galleries at Fashion Island on May 18 at 6 p.m.
