Stories for January 2019
Thursday, January 31
Taco Bell Extends HQ Lease Deal
RESTAURANTS: Irvine lease tops for quarter
Taco Bell Corp., the largest restaurant chain operator based in Orange County, has re-upped the lease for its headquarters in the Spectrum area of Irvine, real estate sources tell the Business Journal.
Shannon Eusey
Launched firm, 2002 with dad, Garth Flint … $8B AUM … CNBC Financial Advisor Council … volleyball, UCI grad; UCLA MBA … husband, Rick, four kids … runs marathons: Boston, New York, Berlin … Business Journal Women in Business honoree … prioritized and passionate … 'I grew up around the dinnertable where my father discussed how much he loved … helping clients'
Midday Stock Roundup
The S&P 500 was up 0.7% for 2,700.32.
Albertsons’ Hub in Brea Sells for $200M+
REAL ESTATE: Biggest OC sale in past year
A massive industrial building in Brea that serves as a distribution center for much of Albertsons Cos.’ operations in Orange County quietly changed hands around the start of the month, in what records indicate is the largest single-building property sale here in over a year.
Mike Mohammed
Iconic OC chain founded in 2002 … expanded on edginess … 26 locations by 2013 … floundered; net loss … Mike, brothers Joey, Dan, Dave bought control, implemented systems … revenue, profits, rose … entered multiple U.S. markets 2015 to 2018; opened 50th site 2017 … overseas franchise expansion starting with 15-unit commitment in Japan … AUV near $1M
Wednesday, January 30
Midday Stock Roundup
Markets were higher on expectations the Federal Reserve held steady on interest rates today.
Private Sector Focus For UCI Pharma
HEALTHCARE: Seeks help to find new drugs
University of California-Irvine has a vision for what the future of healthcare will look like, at least on its campus—an interdisciplinary approach to care and research comprised of four disciplines within its college of health sciences.
Thomas Tucker
Prominent local PAC founded late 1990s for fiscal-first candidates, policies … backed ex-GOP OC Chairman Scott Baugh (see entry) in primary … Bayou State raised … ‘Fights On’ for Troy … supports Segerstrom Center … board service: RSI Holding (see Ron Simon); Orco Block; Dallas-based pipeline builder Primoris Services Corp. … founded RE developer Pennhill Land Co., 1983
Tuesday, January 29
Acorns’ Valuation Soars to $860M in Latest Round
Fast-growing Irvine fintech firm Acorns Grow Inc. has raised $105 million in its latest funding round, pushing its valuation to nearly $860 million, tripling its value since 2016, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Midday Stock Roundup
The S&P 500 was down 0.1% in midday trading to 2,641.51.
Stacked Taps Yard House Vet for First COO
Huntington Beach-based fast casual Stacked Restaurants LLC named Craig Carlyle, a former senior executive at Irvine-based Yard House USA Inc., its first chief operating officer.
Pacifica Hotels Looks Local for Acquisition
HOSPITALITY: $25M for Residence Inn
Pacifica Hotels has the largest hotel portfolio by total properties—41—of any Orange County-based hotel operator.
Lindsey Ueberroth
Markets 700, high-end boutique properties, 80 countries … brands Connect, Lifestyle, LVX, Legend, Preferred Residences, collect hotels by niche … clients Montage Laguna Beach, Surf & Sand Resort … 15 years, family-owned firm; named president 2010 … father, John, brother to Peter (see entry) … Wake Forest grad … past Business Journal Women in Business keynote
Monday, January 28
OC Hotel Property Sales Down 30%
The number of hotels sold last year in Orange County declined 30% to 16 with a cumulative value of $343 million, according to a report by Atlas Hospitality Group in Irvine.
Midday Stock Roundup
Indexes fell broadly after disappointing results reported Monday by major corporations Caterpillar and Nvidia.
Manufacturing Survey Sees More Growth
ECONOMY: Tariffs being felt locally
For the 39th consecutive quarter, Orange County manufacturers will expand output as they anticipate increased orders, according to a quarterly survey of purchasing managers conducted by Chapman University’s A. Gary Anderson Center for Economic Research.
Charles 'Charlie' Zhang
Entrepreneur, philanthropist … founded Pick Up Stix 1989, sold $50M, 2001 … drinks co. Aseptic Solutions, 2004, sold $60M, 2012 … entrepreneur-in-residence, Concordia U (see Stephen Christensen) … founded OC Music and Dance 2017, led by Doug Freeman (see entry) … board, Pacific Symphony, Chapman U Argyros school … came to U.S. on clarinet scholarship
Anaheim’s Latest Big Office Sale: Former Fisker HQ
Family Investment Group Pays $41M for Building
The former Anaheim headquarters of Fisker Automotive and Technologies Group LLC has sold for the fifth time since 2006 and at what property records indicate is the highest price over that time.
Pedego Bikes Beams Up Shatner for TV Ads
Trio of Spots Drive Fun Aspect of Riding
Pedego Electric Bikes in Fountain Valley has its most famous customer pedaling around town this month for its first batch of online advertisements.
Cryoport Expands Abroad, Names GM Vet to Board
Masimo Appoints Shimer; Urovant Starts Trial
Cryoport Inc. (Nasdaq: CYRX) recently expanded its international market presence by partnering with Dacos A/S, a laboratory equipment maker based Denmark.
STARTUPS & INNOVATIONS
Commercial real estate company Real Clear Software LLC unveiled its RCS Portfolio business intelligence app this month.
Wanted: Best Places to Work For OCBJ’s 2019 Annual List
CALL FOR ENTRIES: Website to take entries through March 1
Is your workplace great?
What Meetings Mean for Ayres
Companies, Couples, Churches Bolster Business
Ayres Hotels likes taking meetings—about 20% of its total business comes from events of one sort or another.
Pet Tracking Device a New Market for CalAmp
TECHNOLOGY: Makes monitors for animal air travel
CalAmp Corp. has found a new target market for its tracking sensors: our furry friends.
Aussie Collective Bastion Sets Up in Irvine
MARKETING: Plans to invest $11M this year
Australian communications group Bastion Collective, which is reported to be the largest privately owned marketing and communications group in its home country, plans an aggressive acquisition strategy to build its presence in the U.S.
Big Game Laughs
A Super Bowl prediction: Rams fans in the area will be smiling at the end of next week’s big game in Atlanta.
Meetups: Hotels Hike Indoor-Outdoor Counts
Beach Resorts Big Gainers on List’s New Approach
In a list that rarely sees changes, the New Year brings a new look to the Business Journal’s ranking of OC hotels by total meeting space.
Cylance Secure
McClure Vows Tech Co.’s Local Ops Will Remain Vital Post-Sale
Orange County’s business community has seen its share of job cuts, C-suite departures and corporate relocations the past few years, much of them in the wake of mega-deals involving some of the area’s biggest names, including Broadcom Inc., Microsemi Corp., and Allergan PLC.
Welcome to the Party
Yamaha Boss Talks NAMM
Tom Sumner is no stranger to the National Association of Music Merchants, or NAMM.
The ’80s, ’20s Rule: OC Draws from Past, Future
Niche Marketing Show Biz, Memories and STEM Industry
Once and future events—last year, this year, and next—at the Anaheim Convention Center show growth in two key niches at the facility.
Real Estate Deals
Sales and leases of offices, industrial buildings, retail space and apartments
Santa Ana Unified School District purchased an office building from 2495 Investments LLC for $7.8 million, or $445 per square foot.
Irvine’s Parcel Pending Bought for More Than $100M
Parcel Pending, an upstart Irvine-based company that uses electronic lockers and proprietary software to store and access delivered packages, has been acquired by a mail and shipping company based in France.
Khoshbin Lists Swank Pelican Hill Manse
$34M Price; Bought In 2017 from Lender Stearns
Real estate investor, entrepreneur and exotic car collector Manny Khoshbin is ready to peel away from his Pelican Hill mansion on Fairway Point called “Villa Papillon” or Butterfly Villa—a home brimming with fine finishes and an underground 3,570-square-foot showroom garage.
Badu Networks Pitches 5G Connectivity to Investors
OC, LA Fundraising Events for Software Firm
It was a quiet 2018 for initial public offerings at Orange County’s crop of technology companies, none of which made the transition from private company to public via a traditional IPO.
Friday, January 25
Midday Stock Roundup
The S&P 500 rose 0.9% in midday trading to 2,665.78.
Fullerton Industrial Project Nearly Sold Out
REAL ESTATE: Prologis pays $124M for 3 buildings
Developer Western Realco is close to selling all of Beckman Business Center, the largest new industrial project in Orange County in four years, after completing a multibuilding deal with the country’s largest owner of warehouse and distribution properties.
David Pyle
Also controlling owner, trustee, West Coast U … philanthropist … 40 years private, post-secondary education … founded ACC, 1978 … bought WCU out of BK, 1997 … health education; 9 campuses … 11K enrollment … graduates 1 in 4 RNs in Calif. … $11M to OC-based health and kids’ nonprofits … CHOC, Augie’s Quest (see Augie Nieto), Cystinosis Research, KidWorks … provides 15K annual no-cost dental hygiene visit
Thursday, January 24
NextGen Q3 Profit Beats Estimates
NextGen Healthcare Inc. (Nasdaq: NXGN), the biggest publicly traded health care software provider based in Orange County, reported fiscal third quarter adjusted profit of 18 cents, which topped analyst expectations of 15 cents.
Long Beach Air Traffic Down 12%
Long Beach Airport traffic dropped 12% in December to 298,000 passengers.
Public Co. CFOs Navigate Wall Street
FINANCE: Execs share insider details
Chief financial officers at Orange County’s contingent of publicly traded companies are girding themselves for earnings season, the four pressure-packed times a year when they and the companies they serve are either enjoying or facing Wall Street’s music.
Palmer Luckey
Long Beach native … virtual-reality wunderkind via 2014, $2.3B sale Oculus VR to Facebook … bought HB marina, signed 155K SF creative-office lease near JWA … defense tech firm Anduril has $60M backing from Peter Thiel VC fund, execs from Thiel’s big-data firm Palantir Technologies … Anduril is Aragon’s sword, ‘Lord of the Rings’; palantir, a crystal ball … home in NB … Business Journal OC’s Wealthiest
Midday Stock Roundup
The S&P 500 declined 0.4% for 2,628.21
Wednesday, January 23
Midday Stock Roundup
The S&P 500 was flat in midday trading at 2,633.94.
JWA Traffic Down in December; Up in 2018
John Wayne Airport passenger traffic dropped about 8% in December to 828,000 compared with December 2017.
Picture Perfect
Real Estate Owners, Developers Tap Top-Tier Artists
The Boardwalk—a 545,000-square-foot, glass-encased office complex along Jamboree Road—has a luxe hotel vibe from its lobby décor to the concierge-type services for tenants such as Pathway Capital Management, Holthouse, Carlin & Van Trigt LLP and Propel Media Inc.
Khanh T. Tran
PacLife aircraft management (see Madhu Vijay) … joined parent (see Jim Morris, Adrian Griggs) in 1990 as treasurer … CFO 1996, director 1997, president 2012, current role 2016 … clients: 95 airlines, 45 countries … $950M revenue, $9.8B assets … Whittier B.A., UCLA MBA … Business Journal CFO of Year, 2011
Tuesday, January 22
Meet the 500
Directory of Influence
Pendry Aims for L.A. 2020
A long-rumored L.A. location for Irvine-based Montage International’s lifestyle Pendry Hotels division could open as early as next year on the Sunset Strip, at the former site of a House of Blues.
Midday Stock Roundup
The three major U.S. indexes all fell more than 1% in the first trading session after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, fueled by dips in energy and industrial stocks and ongoing global economic growth concerns.
OC’s CES Contingent Pitch the Future at Vegas Event
TECHNOLOGY: Motion sensor headsets; driving stress detectors
For many companies trying to cut through the clutter, CES is as much about showcasing developing technologies than highlighting ones in use today.
Joe Manzella
Three Taps locations—Brea, Irvine, Corona—and The Catch restaurant in Anaheim … founded in 1999 by Joe, sister Michele, late father, Fred … 2018 added Taps Brewery & Barrel Room, Tustin … patio, fire pit, vintage pinball, video games … known for blowout food gatherings at Yorba Linda home … Twitter description: ‘husband, dad, NRA member, gun collector, Sun Devil, business owner, future president of Arizona’ … $40M+ est. annual sales
Monday, January 21
Venture Capital Surges To Record Levels
FUNDING: Companies raises double in a year
Orange County once again wasn’t as attractive to investors as Silicon Valley, New York or even San Diego.
Midday Stock Roundup
U.S. markets were closed today in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.
USC Board Tussle Spills Into OC
The Business Journal has received a copy of a letter sent this month from Fulgent Genetics Inc. Chief Executive Ming Hsieh to real estate tycoon and University of Southern California Board of Trustees Chair Rick Caruso, regarding the ongoing controversy over USC’s decision to cut short the contract of Marshall School of Business Dean James Ellis.
Sajan Pillai
20-year-old IT services, training, cybersecurity provider; 35 offices globally, includ. Mexico, India, Spain, Central Africa … 25th-largest private OC co.; sales over $800M … 2018, $200B state-run Singapore fund, Temasek, put in $250M for 20% of company … replaced UST’s kiboshed $200M 2017 deal with Carlyle Group in D.C. … IPO talk ended in post-2008 recession
Edwards Using AI to Help Doctors Reduce Misdiagnoses
Aerie Eyes Japan For Rhopressa
Edwards Lifesciences Corp. (NYSE: EW), known for pioneering less-invasive transcatheter heart repair procedures, will work with San Francisco-based Bay Labs Inc. to apply artificial intelligence to cardiovascular imaging, to improve the detection of heart disease.
Platinum Triangle’s Next Act
Investment Flurry Around OC’s 2 Biggest Stadiums
Anaheim elected officials envision the city’s Platinum Triangle as an area set to become Orange County’s new downtown in the not-too-distant future.
PCH’s Moshayedi Mile
Mo Honarkar made headlines last week for a string of property buys along the coast of Laguna Beach.
Boustead Finds Niche With Chinese IPOs
FINANCE: Irvine investment bank could go public, too
Irvine-based Boustead Securities LLC is having quite the month.
Emerald Grows Pair of Local Trade Shows
EVENTS: Buyers among 1,400 in Anaheim
The local owner of the Active Collective and Swim Collective trade shows held this month at the Anaheim Convention Center thinks the recent change of scenery—and a new focus on wellness—are improving the fortunes of the biannual shows, two of the largest events of their type in the U.S.
China Carmaker Setting Up in OC
AUTOMOTIVE: Joins Zotye, Karma
Add GAC Motor to the growing cadre of Chinese automakers establishing operational hubs in Orange County.
Wanted: Best Places To Work for OCBJ’s 2019 Annual List
CALL FOR ENTRIES: Website to take entries through March 1
Is your workplace great?
Foreign Firms’ Employment Flat, With Exceptions
Foreign Firms’ Employment Flat, With Exceptions
The biggest foreign-owned firms in Orange County by employment saw little change in their combined workforce in 2018, but specific companies and industries made notable moves and what the list doesn’t reflect, at least not yet, could be even more influential on the group.
PHILANTHROPY
Orange County’s top philanthropists, business leaders and individuals were honored at the 32nd Annual National Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon attended by 920 guests on Nov. 16 at City National Grove of Anaheim.
OC Unemployment Steady at 2.8%
Orange County’s unadjusted unemployment rate remained 2.8% in December, unchanged from a revised 2.8% in November and down from a year-ago estimate of 2.9%, according to the state Employment Development Department.
Real Estate Deals
Sales and leases of offices, industrial buildings, retail space and apartments
Huy Nguyen purchased a freestanding office building from Harold H. Nguyen for $895,000, or $401 per square foot.
Hyundai Unveils Online Tire-Kicking Feature
New Virtual Showroom Kicks Off This Month
Are you interested in a car but don’t want to drive to a showroom?
Cash-Flush Urovant Grows at UCI Research Park
22,000-sq.-ft. Lease for Drug Company With 2018 IPO
Urovant Sciences Ltd., an Irvine-based clinical-stage biopharma company that started operations in 2016 and went public last September, is about to get a much larger home near the University of California-Irvine.
Veritone’s Latest Chapter: Apis Pulls $198M Bid
Investor Cuts Stake; AI Firm Questions Credibility
Apis Capital Management has pulled its unsolicited $198 million cash offer for Costa Mesa-based Veritone Inc.
STARTUPS & INNOVATIONS
OCTANe’s life sciences and technology startup accelerator LaunchPad is moving to the Five Point Gateway office campus in Irvine. Launch
Friday, January 18
OC Unemployment Steady at 2.8%
Orange County’s unadjusted unemployment rate remained 2.8% in December, unchanged from a revised 2.8% in November and down from a year-ago estimate of 2.9%, according to the state Employment Development Department.
Midday Stock Roundup
Stocks rose Friday after signs point to progress on U.S.-China trade dispute and New York Fed President John Williams’ statement Friday on showing “prudence, patience.”
Pacific Industrial Plans Anaheim Redevelopment
REAL ESTATE: Breweries considered for 9-acre site
Pacific Industrial has doubled up on its commercial property holdings in Anaheim’s Platinum Triangle.
Joe Ueberroth
Also chairman, Bellingham Marine … Ueberroths among first families of OC … Joe son of Peter, Ginny (see entries), cousin, Lindsey (see entry) … partner in Dana Point Harbor Redo (see Bob Olson, Bryon Ward) … Olson hotels, Ward retail, Ueberroth marina, work … Bellwether invests in agriculture, logistics, real estate, hospitality,tech … led Series B, 2018, Fla.-based compensation software maker HRSoft … backs Big Brothers Big Sisters OC
Thursday, January 17
Spectrum Pharma to Sell Drug Portfolio
Spectrum Pharmaceutical Inc. (Nasdaq: SPPI) said today it has sold its portfolio of seven FDA-approved hematology/oncology products to Acrotech Biopharma LLC for up to $300 million.
Midday Stock Roundup
The S&P 500 was up 0.2% to 2,620.71.
Chip Switch: Skyworks Expands Local Ops
REAL ESTATE: Takes over former Broadcom office near UCI
Skyworks Solutions Inc., Orange County’s third largest maker of computer chips by local employee count, appears poised to significantly expand its operations after striking a large lease near its existing Irvine offices.
Michael Morhaime
Pioneered multiplayer online gaming … ‘Diablo’ franchise hitting Nintendo Switch console … first esports season for ‘Overwatch’ League ended July; finals match sold out Brooklyn’s Barclay’s Center … London Spitfire beat Philly Fusion, took most of $1.4M purse … live-streamed online; China; by Disney properties … MM ceding top role to Warcraft exec. prod. J. Allen Brack ... Business Journal OC 50
Wednesday, January 16
Midday Stock Roundup
The S&P 500 was up 0.4% in midday trading to 2,620.10.
Irvine Esports Co. Going Public
GAMING: Allied, World Poker Tour part of $214M merger
Orange County’s role as a hub in the fast-growing esports industry will become even more pronounced after one of its main corporate players, Allied Esports International Inc., sets up headquarters in Irvine and goes public this year via a reverse merger.
David E.I. Pyott
Prevented hostile takeover, sold to Actavis PLC, now Allergan PLC … $543M payout … philanthropy: advisory boards, exec roles, eye care charities … chairman, Bioniz Therapeutics, Irvine … diploma, German, European law … first car: Renault … first job: ‘gardening, mowing lawns’ … commander, Most Excellent Order of the British Empire … bucket list: ‘hike to Everest base camp’
Tuesday, January 15
Edwards, Boston Scientific Reach Deal
Shares of Edwards Lifesciences Corp. (NYSE: EW) climbed after the largest publicly traded company based in Orange County reached a settlement with rival Boston Scientific Corp. (NYSE: BSX).
Midday Stock Roundup
The S&P 500 rose 1% in midday trading to 2,608.28
A Brewing Industry
OC’s Bar Scene Is Growing Up
A tech guy walks into a bar. He owns it. Not much of a joke, but Gary Jabara’s not kidding with Chihuahua Cerveza, a taco joint he opened in the former Crow Burger Kitchen spot on Balboa Peninsula.
Laura Schwab
Named to role 2015 … luxury maker’s first woman president … introducing DB11 V12 AMR, revealing DBS Superleggera this year … SUV next year, go on sale 2020 … 2017 record: 5K+ sales, best in 10 years … grew up Louisville … bachelor’s, Notre Dame, tennis scholarship … JD, Kentucky … used her contract law degree ‘once in my life and it was [writing] … my first contract for employment at Land Rover’
Monday, January 14
Midday Stock Roundup
The S&P 500 declined 0.4% in midday trading to 2,586.84.
OC Tech Cos. Show Off Wares at CES
TECHNOLOGY: More than 100 presenters at Vegas show
More than 100 Orange County-based companies demonstrated their newest products last week at the world’s most prominent technology trade event.
Taco Bell’s Williams to Stitch Fix Board
Stitch Fix Inc. named Liz Williams, president of Taco Bell International, to its board, noting her experience with branding and foreign markets.
Del Taco Shares Up On 4Q Prelims
Shares in Lake Forest-based Del Taco Restaurants Inc. (Nasdaq: TACO) rose 6.4% after reporting fourth quarter preliminary results and issuing a 2019 forecast.
Craig Nickoloff
MEATS LLC Provides ‘center of the plate protein’— beef, lamb, pork, and poultry’ … clients finer restaurants; hotels; specialty grocery … 11th fastest-growing large OC private co. … sales up 36% in two years to $126M … headed to $140M 2018 … cofounded with Bill Hustedt … they also co-founded, co-owned Claim Jumper casual dining chain, sold in 2005 for $220M … bachelor’s, geography, CSULB
Emmanuel Roman
Took role in 2016 … previously CEO, Man Group PLC, one of world’s biggest alternative asset managers … also Goldman Sachs, incl. co-head of global, Europe, securities … Pacific Investment Management Co.: $1.7T AUM, 2K+ workers; 10% portfolio managers (see Dan Ivascyn) … U Paris bachelor’s; MBA, finance, U Chicago … likes fine wine, north central London soccer club Arsenal ... Business Journal OC 50
Wanted: Best Places to Work For OCBJ’s 2019 Annual List
CALL FOR ENTRIES: Website to take entries through March 1
Is your workplace great?
Real Estate Deals
Sales and leases of offices, industrial buildings, retail space and apartments
Olive Crest purchased a school building from Church St. Pauls for $5.8 million, or $193 per square foot.
Hotel Laguna Revamp Planned by New Owner
Honarkar Takes Over 7 Properties Along PCH
Businessman Mo Honarkar, a Laguna Beach resident who’s among the city’s largest real estate owners, said last week he added seven new properties along South Coast Highway to his portfolio, including the iconic Hotel Laguna.
Montage Moves: Mavericks’ Mark Cuban Makes Deal
Luxe Home Nearby Drops Price Another $6 Million
Dallas Mavericks owner and longtime fixture on ABC’s “Shark Tank” Mark Cuban scored a new vacation spot in Laguna Beach for $19 million.
BlackBerry Closer to Approval for Cylance Purchase
Ingram Micro to Apollo?; $7.5B Asking Price
BlackBerry Ltd.’s pending $1.4 billion acquisition of Irvine-based security software maker Cylance Inc. has crossed its first hurdle.
Buchanan Street Adds to Rental Portfolio in Colorado
$72.5M Buy Tops for ’18 In Colorado Springs
Buchanan Street Partners closed 2018 on a high note, completing one of the largest apartment transactions of the year in Colorado.
Karma Hires Marketing Exec With Luxe Background
Vans’ Old-Skool Sneakers Bring Imitators, Lawsuits
Former Aston Martin Marketing Executive Matthew Clarke is hitching a ride with Karma Automotive.
BioPhotas Turns on the Bright Lights in Growth Push
New Product Lines, $599 Offering and UK Office
Anaheim-based BioPhotas Inc., a company looking to grow its presence in the biophotonics industry—a sector that combines biology and photonics—is expanding its product lines, consumer offerings, and global reach.
STARTUPS & INNOVATIONS
Titan School Solutions recently raised $5.2 million Series A to help grow its school nutrition program.
Business Journal Adds Startup, Real Estate Reporters
The Orange County Business Journal added a pair of reporters to its growing editorial team earlier this month.
Former Blizzard Gamers Grab $30M
INNOVATION: Marvel game in the works
A handful of former Blizzard Entertainment Inc. employees, who helped build the Irvine-based video game developer’s popular Hearthstone franchise, started a new venture with $30 million in financial backing from an internet company headquartered in China.
Senior Housing Developers Pay $21M for IBC Site
DEVELOPMENT: SmartHome site eyed for congregate care
A Dallas-based developer of senior living properties has bought a 3-acre site along Barranca Parkway in Irvine, and plans to start construction later this year on one of the city’s largest and amenity-heavy residential complexes for older residents.
Mo, Better Booze
Mo Honarkar could soon supplant Dane Eiler “the Greeter” Larsen as Laguna Beach’s best-known local after buying a stretch of city properties along Coast Highway, including the iconic Hotel Laguna (the Insider’s favorite wedding spot), which Honarkar vows to restore “to its former glory.”
Q&A The Art of Being a CFO
OC Execs Focus on AI, Taxes
The Business Journal’s Peter J. Brennan asked five local chief financial officers about the newest trends in corporate finance, and where their attention is focused.
Endologix Seeks 2019 Rebound
HEALTHCARE: New CEO aims to regain trust
Endologix Inc. Chief Executive John Onopchenko is facing a Wall Street skeptical about the company’s future.
Friday, January 11
Henry T. Nicholas III
Billiionaire co-founder tech giant with Henry Samueli (see entry) ... nonprofit efforts include Nicholas Academic Centers, co-founded with ret. OC Superior Court Judge Jack Mandel … 3 sites Santa Ana; 1,000 grads … $1M to UCI men’s and women’s crew programs … backs ‘Marsy’s Laws’ for victims’ rights, named for late sister … Business Journal OC’s Wealthiest
Midday Stock Roundup
The S&P 500 declined 0.1% in midday trading to 2,593.56.
New Year, New Dining Experiences
Wahoo’s Adds Dishes, James Beard Honors
A New Year means a time to look forward to new restaurants, new chefs, new dishes, and new culinary experiences.
Aimee Weisner
Current role 2011 … reports to Mike Mussallem (see entry) … previously EVP administration, secretary, AMO—now part of J&J Vision … boards: Glaukos; Heart Assn. OC … turning point: coming to Calif. for college, ‘meeting my husband, the father of my children and love of my life, career in law and healthcare’ … would meet: ‘among the living, definitely Pope Francis’
Thursday, January 10
New Shows Tap Trends
Two new events at Anaheim Convention Center reflect efforts by area tourism marketers to play to the city’s strengths and bring larger or higher-dollar events to the venue.
Midday Stock Roundup
The S&P 500 fell 0.4% in midday trading to 2,575.66.
Pacifica Hotels Promotes President
Aliso Viejo-based Pacifica Hotels has promoted Adam Marquis to president, responsible for operations and development for its 41 owned, managed, or in-development properties in California, Florida, and Hawaii.
The CEO Who Engineered the $10B Sale
Jimmy P Built Microsemi Into Computer Chip Giant
Jim Peterson, often known as “Jimmy P,” dressed in jeans and a black holiday shirt, with forearm tats exposed, is looking comfortable and relaxed these days.
Jim Peterson
Longtime Microsemi Corp. CEO, left May 2018 after $10B sale … took 6% Lantronix stake, led by Jeff Benck (see entry) … Microsemi 4th-largest OC chipmaker; 5K workers, 250 in OC … clients Boeing, Cisco … $1.8B revenue, $180M net income before sale … co. backed UCI sports, electrical engineering ... took top slot, 2000, bought 27 firms during tenure ... Business Journal OC 50
Wednesday, January 9
Midday Stock Roundup
The S&P 500 was up 0.6% in midday trading to 2,589.65.
Hotel Openings Down; Construction Up
Three hotels totaling 445 rooms opened in Orange County in 2018, down 54% from the 960 rooms at six hotels that opened in 2017, data from Irvine-based hotel broker-consultant Atlas Hospitality Group show.
From ‘Zero Business’ to $1.45 Billion
Alliant Insurance CEO Wants People to Buy In
Tom Corbett changed careers from medicine to insurance for a variety of reasons, including supporting his family.
Thomas W. Corbett
41 years at biggest OC insurance broker, world’s 12th biggest … 2018 $1.4B annual sales; 15% from OC office … about 300 local workers … serves multiple industries, agribusiness to law firms to nonprofits to tribal nations … Corbett sails, golfs, hikes … ‘if you want to be left alone at a cocktail party, tell them you sell insurance’
Tuesday, January 8
Midday Stock Roundup
The S&P 500 was up 0.6% to 2,564.48.
Habit’s Bendel Cooks Up Burger Sales
Chain’s Popularity Grows As CEO Avoids Limelight
When business is about tortoises and hares, Habit Restaurants Inc. Chief Executive Russ Bendel is quite content to be the turtle.
Russ Bendel
Leads fast-casual burger chain … $400M market cap; $390M revenue … 230 locations, 11 states … 7th-largest OC-based chain … bucks industry franchising trend; owns 80% of its units … rare franchise deal, nine units, Idaho, Eastern Washington, big area operator … adding drive-thrus, breakfast … Bendel’s son runs several indie eateries
Monday, January 7
Mitsubishi Nabs CMO From Kia
Cypress-based Mitsubishi Motors North America has named Kimberley Gardiner as vice president and chief marketing officer.
Louis Welch
Co-founded LA Fitness chain 1984 with Chinyol Li … largest nonfranchised U.S. operator … $2.1B 2017 revenue, 700+ locations, 30K employees … co-owners: Seidler Equity, CIVC, Madison Dearborn … chain notoriously press-averse … adding amenities … Welch: golfer … bicoastal, super-luxe homeowner … $19.7M cash, 2017, Montage Residences Beverly Hills
Bill Halford
Age 58 … fifth-gen at Bixby Land Co.; in family 110 years … 12 years stewarding Bixby, 12 years Irvine Co. … built $1B office, industrial portfolio … Quick flips: bought Kawasaki bldg., 2015, leased to Karma, 2016, sold to Karma, $56M, 2017 … backed UCI real estate, business school efforts … Bixby endowed Halford UCI scholarship in 2018 … ‘forward-looking’—R.D. Olson; ‘bigger than life’—James ‘Watty’ Watson … survived by wife, Cindy, daughter, Ali, son, Bixby, mom, Suzy, sister, Heidi
Larry Thomas
Age 70 … a full ‘three score and 10’ ... career spanned communications trifecta—journalism with United Press International … politics for Gov. Pete Wilson and Vice President George H.W. Bush … corporate at Irvine Co., trusted voice of Chairman Donald Bren … the ‘only person who could get it right for Mr. Bren,’ said Dan Young, Thomas’ colleague there … Bren ‘had enormous respect’ for him … local acolytes, protégés, known as Larry’s Kids … survived by daughter, Leigh Thomas Beach
Dennis Parrott
Age 61 … recently retired as audit partner after 38 years with KPMG … began in OC,office managing partner, five years … service: Tocqueville Society; Hoag Irvine; South Coast Rep; Pacific Symphony; Discovery Cube … enjoyed time with family, taking his dog to the beach, golf: active member Shady Canyon; favorite course, St. Andrew’s …‘every shot makes someone happy’ … colleague ‘truly the nicest guy in the world’ … survived by Tami, wife of 39 years, five kids: Shelby, Beecher, Macy, Haley, and Baxter
Fifi Chao
Age 81 … born Shirley Jean Bernard … BofA boss nicknamed her for all the jewelry she wore on job … Patrick, husband of 55 years … career moved to kitchen: writing, food, chef, lecturer, radio host, private dinner host … decades of dining out; every repast an experience as staff, execs, lined up to say hello … built Business Journal Executive Dining column into must-read over quarter century … Patrick, late son Geoff, hoteliers … son Kevin, grandchildren, great-grandchildren
Michael Burdiek
Leads maker iconic LoJack … purchased 2016 for $132M … brought company distribution, expansion … tighter link to police clientele … firm’s wider work in telematics hardware, software, mobile fleet management … clients include Caterpillar, Verizon Communications … Burdiek decade at company, incl. COO … turnaround after lost contracts, closed units … $711M market cap; $366M revenue; $17M net income
Mary Ann Brown
Launched PacLife reinsurance unit … retired 2017 after tripling its profit … Insured Retirement Institute Hall of Famer … now being named to boards, most recent indie director at PartnerRe Ltd., 2018 ... proud husband, Rick Reiff (see entry), says more posts coming … couple nearing mythic status as global travelers
Mark E. Whitlock Jr.
African Methodist Episcopal congregation south of Spectrum Area … 3K+ members, up from a handful at founding 1998 … acronym COR functions as play on ‘core’ and Latin for ‘heart’ … Whitlock resume focus on economic and spiritual development, black community, OC, LA … stints at Wells Fargo, Chicago Title … bachelor’s, La Verne; in master’s work, Payne Seminary … known for relational approach, magnetic speaking
Roger Weninger
Oversees SoCal, incl. Irvine office … local top-10 accounting firm, 150+ employees … 35 years in industry … experience, expertise in tax compliance, consulting to private, public companies, high-net-worth individuals … consults on tax structuring; entity formation and liquidation; buy-sell transactions; tax planning … bachelor’s, Chapman
Tim Brandt
Largest local accountancy by employee count … 900+, up 5%, incl. 150+ CPAs, 100+ partners, 275+ management consultants; 263K global workers … ‘good year … we’re very busy’ … areas: tech, financial services, retail, real estate; growing life sciences … 28 years at firm … grew up Laguna Beach; UCSB grad (see Robert Schlener)
Gary Brahm
Founding chancellor, private nonprofit … part of Chapman U system … $100M budget … WASC-accredited, vocationfocused … 27 campuses Calif., Wash., online … 23K degree, certification students … prior: Chapman COO, 13 years; VP finance, CFO, National U … resume: CFO, Anadite Inc., LAM Industries … San Fernando Valley native … bachelor’s, CSUN, master’s, USC
James Boyd
Heads local ops, Horsham, Pa.-based Toll, largest U.S. luxe homebuilder … OC a focus: Orchard Hills ongoing … Altair, 840 homes near Great Park Neighborhoods in Lennar JV (see Jon Jaffe) opened this year … homes in both top $2M … overseas buyers … Toll also active in Yorba Linda, Lake Forest other OC markets
John Boyle
Succeeded Robert Bouttier, 2017 … previously president, COO, since 2015 … 28 years AAA, directed affiliated insurance operations, finance, admin functions … prior: KPMG audit … CSULB … Auto Club, OC’s fourth-largest private co., $5.9B revenue … 14K employees, 3.5K local
Douglas Bowers
Veteran banker; 29 years at BofA … took helm from Steve Sugarman, 2017 … boosted corp. governance, cut corp. jobs, … $950M market cap, flat YOY … ‘tough choices will bear fruit’ … $10.4B in assets, second-biggest OC-based commercial bank, $305M revenue, $57M net income … previously CEO, Square 1 Bank
Craig Boundy
Costa Mesa HQ; owned by Irish-based firm … $2.5B revenue; 1K local workers … moving heavily into data analytics, machine learning … expanding services to corporate clients, deeper into consumer products … also oversees verticals: health, automotive grad, Lancaster U, Britain … basketball fan wife, two kids ... Boundy fluent in four languages: ‘German, English, French ... American!’
James Watson
Co-manages with Dom Petrucci, Carter Ewing (see entry) … 35 years commercial real estate … large local industrial developer … splits time between NB, Texas … latter locale developments under Port Logistics name … former president Koll Development Co., learned business from late Don Koll … former chairman, CT affiliate, co-working provider TechSpace ... nickname ‘Watty’
Ed Carpenter
Launched firm, 1974 … advised 500+ bank startups … currently helping fintechs become banks … surfs, drives stock cars … backs International Medical Corps, helping war-torn, disaster areas … Business Journal OC 50 ... Sept. 2018 sold $61M in PacMerc shares ... trustee on Entrepreneurship Wall of Fame alma mater Loyola Marymount ... drives race cars but doesn't compete: ‘insurance ... more than Formula 1 car’
Matthew Blake
Fastest-growing large OC private co. … 1,900%+ two-year growth to $122M … 15+ acquisitions, 50+ offices, 65 OC employees … Blake owns Cato Advisors, equity investor, adviser, holding co.; 10 firms … former CEO Houston-based Franklin Data; plans to fold into Nexxum … supports juvenile diabetes research; Child Help … studied in Brazil ... would meet Ben Franklin
Bryon Ward
Affiliated with Burnham USA Equities, Scott Burnham (see entry) … slew of retail development, redos in region … will lead 80K-SF commercial-retail— think Soco, LBX, Castaway Commons—part of Dana Point Harbor … $350M+, multiyear project with hotels (see Bob Olson), marina work (see Joe Ueberroth), surf museum
Chris Cotter
6 dealers hips Calif., 9 Ariz. … 3 OC: Irvine, Tustin, SJC … combined No. 15 on Business Journal’s auto dealers list … $114M local revenue … 70 sales, service employees … founded 1946 by Holmes Tuttle; first dealership was first standalone Lincoln purveyor … early customer aspiring actor Ronald Reagan … TCAG owned by Robert Tuttle, Jim Click— Holmes’ son, nephew
Brandon Birtcher
Built U.S. ops, Australia’s Goodman Group, among largest U.S. big-box industrial developers … parted ways … family has century-long ties to OC RE … now runs local developer-investor with daughter, Brooke Birtcher Gustafson … boat lover: see the photo, Lido House restaurant at new boutique hotel by Bob Olson (see entry)
Jerry Fink
Leads transactions; partners fellow U Wisconsin grads Derek Chen, business development; David Kim, operations … named for Bascom Hill, home of UW business school … launched 1996 as S&Ls died; started buying apartments … $10B, 300+ deals, 80K units in 22 years … holds 25K units … 2018 deals include $94M Santa Ana complex … also CRE development, shared office space
Tim Case
2018 Business Journal Family Owned Business honoree … co-founded maker of home-use, quick-cook pizza oven, 2012, with wife, Tera … ‘our record is 53 seconds’ … Kickstarter campaign to $4M revenue 2018; $10M projected, 2019 … baker’s dozen of workers … oven sold in big-box retail, online … new products in pipeline
Robert Caudill
No. 2 CRE brokerage in OC (see Jeffrey Moore, Kurt Strasmann) … $3.5B deal volume, 130 workers, half brokers … office, industrial, multifamily, investment properties … national affordable housing team … first job: summer construction … roots for Angels … first car: Pontiac Firebird … would like to meet Winston Churchill … Can’t miss: Pageant of the Masters
William Cheney
Largest Calif. CU, fifth-largest U.S. … $14B assets, 794K members … founded 1934: 126 school workers pooled $1,200 to form OC Teachers FCU, renamed SchoolsFirst 2008 … 47 SoCal branches, 28K+ ATMs … prior: president, CU trade group … stints at Xerox FCU, Accenture … bachelor’s, U Texas-Austin … CSUF Foundation ... lives CdM with wife, Crissy … journalist daughter, Catherine; son, Will, Texas HS teacher
Bjarne Bergheim
Makes GentleWave system for root canals … uses ‘fluids … broad spectrum acoustic energy’ to clean teeth, roots … fastest-growing midsize OC private co., 2,100% two-year growth to $13M sales … root canal $4B industry; FDA nod, 2015 … bachelor’s, UCI; master’s, Cal Tech … father, Olav, co-founded co. and venture-backed Glaukos Corp., glaucoma stent maker, $2.2B market cap (see Bob Davis)
Stephen Christensen
Appointed 2014, teaches entrepreneurship … created Concordia’s Faith and Business Forum, Center for Faith and Business, summer Teen Entrepreneur Academy … nonprofit Faith and Work Life … resume: TeeHub LLC, Olive Crest, Chapman U., Robert Sharp Co., UCI … native New Yorker … wife, Michelle, 35 years; four daughters … Eagle Scout
George Wall
Firm’s full name: Glaser Weil Fink Howard Avchen & Shapiro LLP … chairs M&A department … longtime OC attorney … 3 years Glaser Weil; 12, Rutan & Tucker; 14 Palmieri Tyler … bachelor’s, Virginia; JD, Miami, some work, U San Diego master’s, tax law … roots for U Miami Hurricanes … first job: lifeguard … founding director, New Majority … first car: Ford Falcon convertible … would meet Lincoln for ‘his inspiration and integrity’
Mark Clemens
2nd-biggest OC accountancy … 480 local workers, 125 CPAs, 50 partners, 170 mgmt. consultants, 197K global workers … a local focus: alternative investments industry … 30-year vet, all at KPMG … bachelor’s, SDSU … backs cerebral palsy research … UCI Executive Roundtable; CSUF Center for Corporate Reporting, Governance
Jeff Benck
Leads legacy software co. tapping Internet of Things … market tripling to $9T … products enable secure online links for med devices, cars, ATMs … shares up four-fold in two years; $80M market cap … first annual profit in 18 years … revenue heading to $50M … Jim Peterson 6% stake 2018 (see entry) … Benck, Peterson ex-colleagues of Paul Folino(see entry) … ‘momentum to continue’
Eran Cohen
Joined May 2018 … previous: PetSmart EVP, customer experience; Esprit de Corp., including president Asia footwear, accessories … CMO, Diane von Furstenberg; she called him Stanley Tucci of firm … reality fashion show ‘House of DVF’ filmed episode there … CMO, Payless; New York and Co. … studied geological engineering, mineral economics, Colo. School of Mines
Tyler Beecher
16th-largest OC private co. on 2018 merger with Data Strategy LLC … $1.1B revenue, heading to $2B by 2020: ‘growth machine’ … value-added reseller founded 2002 by Hayes Drumwright (see entry) … HIG Capital took majority stake 2017 … Data Strategy merger takes T3 national: 1K workers, 15% in OC … 8K clients … works with Cisco, Dell, HP
Michael Beals
Ordained Assemblies of God minister … 31+ years ministry; started as youth pastor, Harbor Church in Lomita … bachelor’s, master’s, Vanguard; second master’s, PhD, Fuller Seminary … Vanguard 1991 adjunct; named 10th president 2013 … Christian college sketching 12-building expansion on 38-acre campus, 2K students … met Faith, wife of 40 years, at Vanguard … enjoys blues, jazz, gardening, fly-fishing, reading, sailing
Peter Beck
Leads ‘glorified freight company’ founded in 2006 … 220 workers, most in New Zealand … first commercial orbital launch 2018 … niche ‘small rockets … small satellites’ launched early, often … size range 7 ounces to 485 pounds … unicorn valuation following $75M 2017 Series D led by Data Collective … total to-date $150M … backers include Khosla, Bessemer, Promos, Lockheed Martin
David Cole
Virtual reality broadcaster, content provider … niche: live pro sports, concerts, other broadcasts … deals with NBA, PGA, WWE, Wimbledon, Fox Sports, Int’l Champions Cup soccer … also music events producer, venue owner, LiveNation … haunted house investigation show ‘Paranormal Evidence’ … company has raised $115M … said to be working on Disney’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Robert Beall
Finance, mortgage expertise … civil litigator … IP, trade secrets; unfair competition; securities … clients included U.S. Bancorp, LendingTree, Adidas, Comerica, Extra Space Storage, Taylor Made Golf … UCLA bachelor’s, USC Gould Law … Sheppard Mullin summer associate, 1986, joined 1987 … led business trial practice group … strategic planning committee … one of largest national firms in OC
Jeffrey Cole
Among top OC com’l brokers, large office properties … nearing 40 years’ experience … $10B, 250 deals, 80M+ SF … clients: Olen (see Igor Olenicoff, Natalia Ostensen), Irvine Co. (see Doug Holte) … $100M 2018 deals … roots for Lakers … first job: dishwasher … first car: Datsun 240Z … backs Doctors Without Borders, YMCA … Chairman, Crystal Cove Conservancy
Paul Bay
Oversees North, South America ops from Canada to Chile ... one of OC’s biggest cos. by sales … 20+ years … roles including: vendor management; VP and president, North America … interrupted Ingram career in mid-2000s: Software CEO … makes home, landscape, interior 3D-design software … Ingram’s China-based owner shopping the tech products, services reseller (see Alain Monie)
Ed Cook
Leads OC office, CRE investor-manager, founded 1995 … $3B transactions … current portfolio 4M SF Calif. office space … big focus San Francisco … local trophy The Met near South Coast Plaza, acquired 2015, remake of former MetroCenter complex; tenants include Veritone … his photo on wall at Mayor’s Table, new Lido House hotel restaurant
Randy Barth
Born Lynwood; grew up Downey … at 2006 founding: 4K kids, 25 OC sites … now: 150K kids, 180 sites, 4 counties … UCLA bachelor’s, 1981 … Bruin fan; senior fellow, UCLA public policy … studied, Peter Drucker, Claremont … elder, St. Andrew’s NB (see Wendy Peterson) … church’s Shalimar kids center, Think Together proof-of-concept … first car: Ford Pinto … first job: gas station attendant … wife, Mary; two daughters … author
Douglas Bauer
Homebuilder-developer … $2B market cap … 125+ active communities … delivers 5K+ homes annually, average $625K … holds $11M shares … former exec, William Lyon Homes (see Matt Zaist) … at Tri Pointe engineered $2.7B buy of Weyerhauser building ops— national profile … triathlon fanatic ... daughter a soccer star ... Bauer: USC MBA
Peter Baronoff
Took over from turnaround CEO Suzaanne Richards … growth mode, integration at four OC hospitals … $430M revenue; about 3K employees, 750+ beds … co-founded, was chairman, CEO of 16-facility Fla. system Promise Healthcare … local facilities nichefocused—surgery, long-term care, behavioral and mental health … parent KPC Group, $10B assets, incl. real estate
Amir Banifatemi
Entrepreneur, investor … co-founded, corun with Ray Chan … K5 takes stake … healthcare, predictive technology, IoT, AI … 100+ investments … startup accelerator K5Launch … former president, TCA (see Hicham Semaan, Grant Van Cleve) … leads IBM Watson AI XPrize, joined 2016 … $5M challenge, 150 teams, 20 countries … TEDx LA work … M.S., engineering, MBA, doctoral work, all in France
Thomas Bak
Developed one of newest airport-area office projects, Boardwalk … 9-story towers connected by outdoor, indoor bridges … amenities: yoga, eateries, artwork … tenants: Pathway Capital, Propel Media, WeWork … backs NE Patriots … first job: family’s florist shop … first car: 1976 Ford Torino, 200K miles … bucket list: ‘get a dog’
Donna Attallah
Name donor, $10M, Chapman College of Educational Studies … CU Class of ’61— school’s centenary, two years after George Argyros (see entry) … grew up teacher’s kid, Victorville … 40 years kindergarten service, Cypress … ‘in the genes,’ … she and late husband, Fahmy, Egyptian Olympic swimmer, skipped honeymoon to buy into Belmont Shores RE … decades of investing let them ‘ramp up our giving’
John Arabia
Runs hotel REIT … $3B market cap, $1.2B revenue; $145M net income … sold only local property, Newport Beach Hyatt Regency, 2018 … $95M to L.A. investor … sold after couldn’t buy land lease; moving portfolio to controlling dirt … sale ‘bittersweet’ … 547-room Wailea Beach property ‘$1M a key,’ up 67% in 5 years … moving HQ Aliso to Spectrum
Tim Busch
Hotel owner-operator … groups it led sold Bacara for $375M, OC Wyndham property for $61M … bought fourth AC Hotel in Dallas in April ... backs ‘Catholic Church and Catholic Education’ … leadership group Legatus (see Manny Ramirez) … first job: paperboy, Detroit … roots for, owns piece of NHL Vegas Golden Knights … can’t miss: ‘family Christmas party, going on 34 years’
Bob Alter
Also ex-CEO, exec chairman, Sunstone (see John Arabia, Ken Cruse) … grew REIT from $30M to $1B 1990s; now $3B … now president hotel buyer Seaview Investors LLC, owns handful hotels ... director, Tejon Ranch Co., $538M market cap … Calif. landowner, 150-year-old land grants; 270K acres … prepping master-planned communities 60 miles north of L.A.
Joe Adams
Hands-on science nonprofit founded 1998 in former furniture store … 300 workers, 3 campuses … bachelor’s, mechanical engineering, Notre Dame; UCI MBA … born SD, grew up in Texas, where worked at power plants … stint at Disneyland … wife, Mechelle Lawrence Adams, exec. dir., Mission San Juan; met 2004 during joint program with the Cube … dad to Jack, Dylan, Lisa
George Adams Jr.
4th fastest-growing large private co. in OC … 152% two-year sales growth to $1.6B … car guys ‘pick-and-pull’ used parts … 70 sites, 7 states … father died 2018— his biggest lesson, ‘never give up, never quit’ … son ‘national authority in scrap metal recycling’—Richard Cabrera (see entry) … supports Ducks, Angels … first car: 1961 Chevy Suburban … backs Boy Scouts … can’t miss: Chapman Celebrates … first job: cleaning horse corrals
Christopher Cox
Also president Morgan Lewis Consulting LLC … former: Congress; SEC chief; White House counsel, Ronald Reagan … global firm (see Ellen Bancroft, Jeff Moorad) … government, homeland security, cross-border investing, multistate litigation … wrote legislation to reform private securities litigation; post-9/11, chaired Homeland Security Committee, Congress … taught tax law, Harvard … bachelor’s, USC; JD, master’s, Harvard … edited Law Review
John Curci Sr.
Dad bought land during Great Depression … son John (see entry), tenant-improvement contractor … NB portfolio includes 23 acres owned by Lido … investments: Ed Roski’s Majestic Realty; desert land for country clubs; custom homebuilding … foundation had $43M assets, 2016 … gives to OC Community Foundation (see Shelley Hoss), Chapman U (see Daniele Struppa), Roman Catholic causes
Irving Chase
RE owner, developer, downtown Santa Ana … three decades, 250K SF … 1980s Fiesta Marketplace to Fourth Street Market food hall-anchored area today … son Ryan prominent daily ops … CSUN, 1974; San Fernando Valley College of Law, 1979 … Zeta Beta Tau fraternity … son-in-law late philanthropist, community leader Allan Fainbarg
W. Henry Walker
4th-gen family-owned bank, Long Beach, founded 1907 by great-grandfather, CJ Walker … brother Daniel CEO … $1.1B market cap; shares up 6% in year … $1B loans annually … extensive OC work, locations, clients … backs Big Brothers, Big Sisters OC, faith-based schools, groups … Hobbies: snowboarding, hiking … Pepperdine bachelor’s
Gaddi Vasquez
Son of migrant workers, born in Texas … former OC Supervisor, Peace Corps Director … father a pastor … Gaddi: firstgen to graduate college; commencement speaker, dozen+ schools incl.: Chapman, Concordia, Vanguard, CSUF (see Daniele Struppa, Kurt Krueger, Michael Beals, Fram Virjee) … roots for Lakers … first job: shined shoes (see Steve Jones) … backs Segerstrom, Salvation Army … first car: Chevy Camaro … would meet: Walt Disney
Ernesto 'Ernie' Vasquez
Founded 2003 … design, planning to public, private clients … civic, cultural, mixed-use, military, residential,commercial … portfolio includes; numerous schools, colleges … studies for UCI, Orange Coast College … Potter’s Lane, 15-unit veteran’s housing via shipping containers … bachelor’s, Cal Poly SLO … service: alma mater, affordable housing, national parks, OC Hispanic Education and Endowment Fund
Kevin Vann
Leads Roman Catholic Church in OC … 1.5M members, 60+ parishes, churches, 40+ schools, three healthcare facilities … second-largest diocese west of Mississippi, 10th largest U.S., 12th largest globally … rebuilding ex-Crystal Cathedral as Christ Cathedral; dedication July 2019 … Vann born 1951, ordained 1981 … OC business backing: Tim Busch, Tim Strader, Matt Parlow, Tom Turk, Annette Walker (see entries) … others
Grant Van Cleve
Previously president, angel investing firm see Hicham Semaan) … also chief executive, supply chain tech firm Buy It Installed … managing director VCInvest venture capital investor-accelerator-incubator; expert-in-residence, UCI’s innovation work … bachelor’s, U Penn; real estate finance work, Wharton; master’s, Fuller Seminary … real estate, other projects, overseas … lived 19 years, Europe … has spoken, Octane (see Bill Carpou) … Business Journal OC 50
Ketan S. Vakil
Co-chairs intellectual property group … 15 years at firm … 9th largest OC: 55+ attorneys, 100+ employees … experience areas include: apparel, footwear, construction, electrical engineering, software, medical devices … previously Sheppard Mullin … bachelor’s, Vanderbilt; JD, U Fla. … roots for Gators football … first job: stocking merchandise, gift store … first car: Honda Accord … supports Crean Lutheran H.S. … bucket list: Kentucky Derby
Tom Umberg
Boutique litigation, IP law firm 12 attorneys, up 50%; 20 employees, up 80% … retired U.S. Army Col. … ‘flunked program for recovering politicians’ to run for Central OC state Senate seat … two previous Sacramento tours, three in Army, Korea to Afghanistan … led U.S. drug interdiction in Clinton White House, Robin, Army nurse wife of 36 years, a retired brigadier general
Midday Stock Roundup
Stocks climbed as trade talks began between the U.S. and China. The S&P 500 was up 1.3% in midday trading to 2,565.27, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 1% to 23,665.22 and the Nasdaq was up 1.6% to 6,848.37.
Virginia 'Ginny' Ueberroth
Philanthropist backs local groups … focus on at-risk youth, education, health, services … gives $2.5M a year, $40M+ overall in OC … works with 70+ nonprofits … retired as Hoag director, 2016 … board service at title insurer First American Financial Corp. (see Parker Kennedy, Dennis Gilmore) … married to investor-entrepreneur, Peter (see entry)
Greg Trojan
Casual dining chain a survivor, thriver, as others have fallen amid wreckage from industry’s fast-casual moves … $1.4 billion market cap, up 120%, one year … 200+ locations, 27 states; several new markets 2018 … credit ever-evolving menu, order app, delivery options … with Lazy Dog (see Chris Simms) examples of casual chain growth … Trojan cashed out about $7.5 million in shares, Sept 2018
Alan True
Made fortune with $250M firm, largest office chair supplier, U.S. retail … sold in 2011 … co-founded PE firm with wife, Twila … 100 employees … RE arm owns 1K homes; aims for 10K … $30M 2018 investment in Buena Park food preservation co. … ‘find very big trends … get in front of them’ … Twila in 50+ businesses; Business Journal Excellence in Entrepreneurship award, 2016
Louis Tomaselli
Handles local industrial operations, reports to Jeffrey Ingham (see entry) … 30-year industry vet … Top 5 OC commercial brokerage … He founded, 2010, ran 360 Commercial Partners; sold to JLL in 2012 … also Voit EVP … brokered 2016 sale, $65M, Toshiba campus to LBA Realty
Ivo A. Tjan
Founded 2001 in his 20s … IPO raised $11M … nearing $100M market cap, up fivefold in 5 years … profit 34 consecutive quarters … board service has included Lotus Innovations, Young Presidents Organization, Pacific Club, New Majority … clients include Wahoo’s Fish Taco … CSUF grad
Stephen E. Thorne IV
Helped install computer system at dad’s Victorville dental practice … started dental service organization PDS, 1994 … DSOs build chains of supported offices … competitors Western Dental, Smile Brands (see Steve Bilt) … Pacific: 630 offices, 30 states … adding 80 offices a year … 17th fastest-growing large OC private co.: 31% two-year growth to $1.3B … UCLA bachelor’s; Chapman master’s, health admin … Vision: ‘become the greatest dental company in the world’
Greg Custer
Wealth management, counsel, investments … previously First Interstate, City National (see Robert Iritani), Citizens Business Bank … bachelor’s, business, econ, U Puget Sound … trust board includes Jim Doti (see entry) … first job: paper route … first car: ‘1938 green Ford panel truck’ … favorite team: ‘Green Bay Packers, because I own one share of stock’ … would meet Churchill’s personal secretary, Elizabeth Nel
Gil Dalmau
SoCal commercial, corporate business clients … 36+ years’ experience … previously at Sanwa, First Bank, First Calif. Financial; founder, CEO, Americas United Bank … reports to Richard Cabrera (see entry) … $850M local deposits … charitable: ‘food bank/low-income support group’ … roots for Dodgers … first job: grocery clerk … First car: VW bug … bucket list: Kentucky Derby
Glenn Dassoff
First-chair trial lawyer, litigator, 50+ trials … high-tech focus … trade secrets, unfair competition, IP, joint venture finance … clients include retailers, defense contractors, electronics cos., construction, telecom, pharma … 3+ years at Orrick; 23 at Paul Hastings … bachelor’s, USC; JD, UC Berkeley … Orrick: 20+ local attorneys; 40+ employees
John W. Decero
Co-founded California Republic Bank … raised $52M capital; 300 investors … president, 11 years … grew assets to $2.2B … sold 2016 for $335M to Walnut Creek-based Mechanics … two local branches; 275+ workers … OC deposits $1.5B, up 22% … $5.6B in assets … bought Scott Valley Bank, 2018 … Business Journal Person of the Year, Finance, 2017 … board, Team Kids
Dave Dickerson
Founded 1997 … customized background screening, drug testing … 9th fastest-growing large OC private co. … $114M, up 48% in two years … First job: pizza maker, Shakey’s … roots for Anaheim Ducks … backs St. Jude Hospital, Olive Crest, Jesse Rees Foundation … Can’t miss: Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade … would like to meet “Mahatma Gandhi, hands down’
Jarrod Dogan
Launched 1996 … men’s T-shirts … six brands … OC’s second-largest apparel firm with 750 workers … $500M revenue … PE firm Altamont Capital bought stake 2014 with Fox Family of Fox Head Inc. … stepped down, CEO, 2018; company named COO David Lederman to president’s role … Dogan: Torrance Memorial Medical Center patron … from Johannesburg (see Steven Shill)
James Downey
Roots to 1972, C&D Aerospace … built to 4K workers, $400M sales by 2005 … $600M sale to French firm … EnCore launched 2011 … makes aircraft seats, galleys, components … global clients; big Boeing supplier … 600 workers, ⅔ in OC … $77M sales … see Tom McFarland … Downey family office: Wave Equity Partners LLC, Aliso Viejo … Business Journal OC’s Wealthiest
John Drachman
Heads CRE investment, development shop, growing base OC properties … bought former QLogic campus in Aliso Viejo, 2016 … fixed up 3-building layout, now called Elements Aliso Viejo, seeking tenants … partnered with Panattoni to buy former Allergan offices in September, planning creative redo … 3M SF of buys in career, has worked with Greenlaw Partners (see Wil Smith)
Tom Edman
Largest U.S. printed circuit board maker … pushing for global title (see Todd Schull) … 28K employees in U.S., China; 400 local … $2.7B annual revenue … longtime tech exec, incl. at Applied Materials … owns shares worth $5M … bachelor’s, Yale, East Asian studies; MBA, Penn Wharton
Aaron Elliott
Leads genetic testing, diagnostic, software firm … Konica Minolta unit … KM delving into precision medicine— tailoring medical care to patient … Japanese unit for that launched 2018 … Ambry founder Charlie Dunlop stepped away after $1B 2017 buyout … Elliott 11 years with Ambry, incl. COO, chief scientific officer … Business Journal Innovator of the Year honoree, 2016
Judith Elmore
Took over dealership in 2005 after dad, Lester, died … worked as his ‘right-hand woman’ for years … Lester started 1966, Westminster … numerous awards, Toyota: President’s Award, Board of Governors, Toyota Sales, Parts and Service Excellence … director emeritus, Golden West College Foundation … Judy Elmore and Family Scholarship
Michael Feldman
Named to role, 2015 … wealth management, investment services … asset manager, HighMark Capital, $14B AUM … previously managing director, retail bank, Countrywide Bank … Cal State Fresno grad
Hybrid Apparel Names CEO
Bill Hutchison has been named chief executive of Cypress-based Hybrid Apparel, effective Jan. 14.
Don DiCostanzo
With fellow CSUF Titan Terry Sherry moving industry view from ‘cheating’ to ‘disrupting’ … 150 branded stores; company flagship, Surf City … $20M+ revenue … 30 year car guy, ‘4Ps’ marketer, incl. auto chem maker Wynn’s Int’l … Business Journal Excellence in Entrepreneurship keynote, 2018 … backs: Free Wheelchair Mission ... Bucket list: World Series game ... Early jobs: door-to-door selling seeds, light bulbs, NY Times
John Forsyte
20+ years … efforts tripled; budget balanced … based same site as OC Music & Dance (see Charlie Zhang) … led Kalamazoo Symphony … bachelor’s, business, Illinois, Urbana-Champaign … delivered, as Jimmy Stewart, video message upon symphony’s Carnegie Hall bow … first car: Chevy Vega … first job: ‘boxing gaskets at industrial company’ … roots for Chicago Bulls … bucket list: ‘being a big brother for Big Brothers Big Sisters’
Hayes Drumwright
Sold stake value-added $500M+(sales) reseller Trace3 June 2017 (see Tyler Beecher) … POPin software crowdsources worker solutions to companies’ problems … $13M funding … author, ‘Management vs. Employees’ … co-owns winery; nonwork goal: ‘building a site in Napa [for] family generations’ … would meet Winston Churchill … can’t miss: kids’ birthdays, Napa in Newport wine auction for CureDuchenne charity … captained Boston U NCAA men’s swim team
Edward O. Thorp
Revolutionary gambler, investor … card counting, quant investing … ‘true icon’ who turned ‘math into magic’—reviewer, Thorp’s sixth book, 2017, ‘Man For All Markets’ … helped grow OC billionaires, including Fred Taylor (see entry) … Warren Buffett’s bridge buddy, early sniffer of Bernie Madoff … UCLA grad; prof-emeritus UCI … still learning: 86 year old says weightlifting, fitness efforts had shown him link ‘between physical and mental fitness, and life’
Terry William Dwyer
Named to role 2006 ... focus: artistry, ‘innovation, technology, community’ … ‘Hamilton’ in May 2018 preceded by ticket frenzy … resume: theaters Houston, La Jolla. L.A. … Yale Repertory … bachelor’s, psych, Notre Dame; master’s, Missouri; Yale Drama … National Endowment for the Arts committees, arts commissions … Center backers a Who’s Who OC 500 list of luminaries ... wife, Amy
Patrick Donahue
Runs privately held REIT, 60+ West Coast retail properties … 11M+-SF shopping center portfolio, San Diego to Seattle … 2018 additions in Puget Sound, San Francisco … $120M update to Carmel Valley’s Del Mar Highlands Town Center … 40 years with firm, co-founded by brother Daniel … CSUF grad
John Curci Jr.
Third-gen OC construction, real estate family … grandson of John Curci, citrusfarmer- turned-developer; son of John Curci Sr. (see entry), Business Journal OC’s Wealthiest … started DBac 1991 after stints with Davcon Inc., summers at Warmington Homes (see Jim Warmington) … Berkeley bachelor’s, urban, architectural studies … DBaC $50M+ revenue, tenant-improvement contractor … clients include Bixby Land, Hurley, O.C. Sheriff
Timothy L. Strader Sr.
Go-to RE entitlement firm … founded firm 1973 … one of 10 Koll Co. partners, 1970s … backs Boston College teams … Community work: OC Performing Arts/Segerstrom Center since 1979, ‘president when original hall opened, 1986’ … helped form city of Irvine, 1971 … co-chair with wife, Susan, Christ Cathedral campaign committee … First car: 1953 Chevy … Starpointe day-today: sons Tim, president, Patrick, CEO
Dean Spanos
Born Stockton … played golf at U Pacific … kept playing: has won Pro-Am events at Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, Pebble Beach … late father, Alex, bought most of team, 1984, $48M; added more … Forbes values $2.2B … Dean led 22 years; now sons A.G., John … $2.6B Inglewood stadium, 2020 … family backs hurricane relief, Red Cross, YMCA, Girl Scouts, Special Olympics, food banks, Salvation Army ... Business Journal OC 50
Rodney Emery
Founded real estate investor 1994 … bought, developed, run about $7B of land … current portfolio about 160 properties, $5B value, via nontraded REITs … includes 39K apartments, hotels, senior living … big local in last category newly built Crestavilla community … USC fan … bucket list: ‘fishing, diving, travel, wine, church, friends … time with wife, kids, grandkids’
Rusty Frantz
$1.4B market cap … 2018 changed name from Quality Systems Inc. to NextGen Healthcare … software, services, data analytics to medical, dental groups … Frantz CEO 2015 in reorg … new chief operating, financial, technology, strategy officers … added population health management … $531M revenue, up 4% … says co. now in ‘growth mode’ .... founded 1974 by Sheldon Razin
Robert Fried
Took top role 2018 … former CEO Frank Jaksch Jr. to exec chairman … Fried had been president, COO, since 2017 … previously at data, media firms; film industry veteran—Columbia Pictures, 20th Century Fox … a producer on ‘Collateral,’ ‘Boondock Saints,’ ‘Rudy,’ ‘So I Married an Axe Murderer’—married to actress Nancy Travis, two kids … master’s, Cornell; MBA, Columbia U
Scott Farber
11th-largest local accountancy, 111 local employees; 46K firmwide … OC office managing partner Alan Herrmann … Farber 30 years at GT—international business director, audit practice leader, OC partner-in-charge, partner board … previously 7 years at Arthur Andersen … has backed juvenile diabetes research … CdM HS grad … bachelor’s, SDSU
Jeffrey Frieden
Co-founded online real estate marketplace as Auction.com with longtime friend Rob Friedman … duo sold land, distressed real estate as traditional auctioneers; early online adopters … Frieden CEO eight years … private equity backing—Stone Point, Starwood, Google—then $1B sale, Thomas H. Lee Partners … sites have sold $50B+ in real estate in companies’ history … roots for Anaheim Ducks
Robert Davis
Business Journal GC of the Year …named to post 2015, month before glaucoma stent maker went public … added quality affairs role 2018 … $2.3B market cap … helped establish 14 int’l subsidiaries … bed by 11; awake by 5:15 … mountain biking, hiking, traveling … met wife, Tiffany, as Mormon missionary, Sweden … four kids … president, Laguna Niguel LDS Stake, 4K members
Shari Freidenrich
Elected 2010, re-elected unopposed 2014, 2018 … about 451K votes cast in most recent win-by acclimation … heads OC’s $8B investment pool; trustee of $12B employee retirement stash … previously city treasurer, corporate controller … bachelor’s, Washington State; roots for Cougars; serves SoCal alum club … First car: ‘1967 Mustang that I still own’ (see Lynn Jochim) … bucket list: African safari (see Barry Arbuckle, Jeff Benck)
Mike Flynn
Named to role 2016, co-lead with Meryl Young (see entry) … focus: corporate, securities … M&A, debt, securities offerings … local clients: Innovate Partners, International Bay Clubs, Bruxie, Lazy Dog (see Chris Simms), Mimi’s Cafe, Yard House … past president, Pacific Club … resume: Stradling Yocca … Notre Dame bachelor’s; Loyola JD ... bucket list: Augusta
Alan Fuerstman
Rose through luxe resort operations, premier properties … founded firm 2003 … dozen properties planned, open, in development from Hawaii, Calif., Mexico to New Jersey, Manhattan, Montana … includes lifestyle hotel unit Pendry, led by son Michael … multimillion-dollar residences at resorts … said to be seeking international sites, possible IPO prep … local: Montage Laguna Beach
David Flattum
Business Journal GC of the Year … led legal team honoree Pacific Investment Management Co. … joined bond trader, 2006 … previously GC, COO U.S. Allianz unit (see Mohamed El-Erian); M&A, Latham & Watkins … bachelor’s, philosophy, electrical engineering, USC; JD, Yale … roots for Trojans … first job: ‘got my start on the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland’
David Sun
Taiwan-born, came to U.S. 1977 … coowns Kingston with John Tu (see entry) … company pushing into solid-state drive channel shipments … focus on enterprise, high-performance products for cloud, data centers … company second behind Samsung in SSD … maturing memory market slowing … competes with Western Digital in USB, flash drives … Business Journal OC’s Wealthiest; OC 50
Donald Sun
Son of Kingston Technology’s David Sun (see entry) … bought AVP out of BK in 2010 for $2M; serves as commissioner … league growth recent years—sponsors include ASICS, Kona Brewing—but still break-even operation … $5M annual revenue … 2018 OC summer- and AVP season-opener: Surf City locale; 40K spectators; $300K prize money
Richard Sudek
Mission: develop ‘center of gravity for connections’ among startups, researchers, students, companies, investors’ … UCI alum; joined Applied Innovation from Chapman’s Leatherby Center 2015 … as kid: lemonade stands, car washing … started data networker firm Nadek Computer Systems 1982, $250 … clients Microsoft, Boeing, Arco … sold 1999 … angel investor; chairman emeritus, Tech Coast Angels (see Hicham Semaan, Grant Van Cleve)
Richard Gannotta
Named in June to replace Howard Federoff … interim since Feb. 2018; COO since 2017 … prior: SVP, NYC Health & Hospitals, largest U.S. system: hospitals, local centers, long-term care, nursing homes, home care … UCI Health official hospital partner, Anaheim Ducks … Roots for: Yankees, Ducks … First job: Kmart stocker … First car: 1968 Mercury Cougar … TEDx talk ‘Mindfulness for a high reliability life,’ Dublin, 2013
Steven Gardner
Took over near-bankrupt Riverside bank, moved to Irvine … made it largest local operator by assets—nearing $12B via recent Grandpoint Capital buy … $2B market cap … hockey-loving CSUF grad, MBA dropout … niece Mary Quayle Korus’ ‘Give Blood, Play Hockey’ charitable tourney: $1M raised … wife, Carol, five boys, including quads
Allen Staff
2nd-largest bank by OC deposits: $22B, up 11% … 4.8K workers, 85 branches … 30 years at BofA (see Mark Perry) … grew up in Irvine, University High grad … consolidated executive offices at Newport Center … bank backs 40+ local nonprofits
Maria Stearns
Largest full-service OC law firm, 136 attorneys … reps businesses in employment litigation, transactions … focuses healthcare, restaurants, retail … U Kansas bachelor’s, philosophy, Spanish; full ride; tennis; academic All-American,NCAA Woman of the Year … roots for Jayhawks basketball … first job: tennis instructor … first car: Toyota Tercel wagon, ‘no power steering or stick shift’ … would like to meet Rosa Parks … Harvard JD
Richard Steinberg
Ordained 1995; has led Irvine congregation since 2001 … 600+ member families … service: Irvine PD chaplain, OC Human Relations Commission chairman … first job: basketball referee … Twitter handle ‘RickTheRabbi’ … wants to meet ‘Moses; I would like to ask him, ‘What motivated you to lead?’’ … bucket list: travel and read
Moti Ferder
Gemologist, master diamond cutter, design director … first retail: NB 2005; also Montage Laguna, Aspen … Palm Beach, 2018 … Alcentra Capital backed, $5.3M investment … family diamond sellers date to 1965 Antwerp … architecture student … 4 years Israeli army officer … backs American Film Festival, Segerstrom, Mission Hospital, Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Charles H. Fedalen Jr.
Joined 2014 … corporate finance, treasury … oversees strategic planning, analysis, legal, insurance, HR, IT … serves on Office of the Chairman Management Committee (see Bren, Holte, Wirta) … Prior: EVP, group head, Wells Fargo CRE institutional lending … double major, Scandinavian languages, poly sci, UCLA; law degree, USC
Christopher Furman
Buy the dip … 22-year-old Ventura distributes $3.7B sauces, oils, dressings annually to retail, restaurant, entertainment venues … clients include Taco Bell (see Julie Felss-Masino, Liz Williams) … 2ndbiggest OC-based food products purveyor after Golden State Foods Corp. (see Mark Wetterau, Ryan Hammer) … 2017 tribute video, part of Catholic leader honor, cites ‘principled leadership … vulnerability … compassion’
Gary Edwards
Industrial developer north OC into IE … fellow principal Vance Mape; acquisitions director Jeremy Mape … prime OC project redo of 44-acre ex-Beckman Coulter land, Fullerton, largest recent in OC at 1M SF, 7 buildings … 25+ years with firm … duties: all phases: site selection, analysis, underwriting, entitlement, construction, marketing
Dominique Giannoni
Parent Thales Group: France-based, part-state-owned, global aerospace, defense, security, transportation provider: $17B revenue, 65K workers, 50 countries … 8th-largest OC aerospace … 2017 sales $700M+ … Giannoni led InFlyt Experience five years … elevated July to head InFlight Entertainment and Connectivity … Philippe Carette named to his post … Giannoni’s degrees: MIT, ParisTech
John L. Ginger
Privately held Riverside construction materials firm one of U.S.’ largest … 40+ years … stone, brick, architectural flair, accents incl. ‘glass block’—glass-based components obscure visuals, let in light— for big-box retail, offices, schools, luxe homes … OC resident, giver … service, backing includes chairmanship, Segerstrom Center … also Pacific Symphony, Orangewood, Big Brothers Big Sisters
Dennis Gilmore
Started 1988 … title giant (see Parker Kennedy) … $6B revenue, up 3% in one year … 2017 earned $2.4M bonus, $1M pay … $6.5B market cap; tripled since named CEO in 2010 … holds $17M in shares … SDSU bachelor’s; Loyola MBA
Stephen Gordon
Formed Opus 2010, Wall Street-backed … previously chairman, CEO, Commercial Capital, sold in 2006 … Opus: trough, bad loans, 2016; pay cut 2017; lost chairman title 2018 … brought then settled employee lawsuit against rival First Foundation (see Scott Kavanaugh) … shares recovering … owns 6% shares, $60M … roots for Phoenix Suns … would meet Golda Meir
Glenn Gray
Seven years as CEO … holding co. 20 years old, $30M market cap … four branches to May 2018 had own names; changed charter, chose brand … plans to expand … focus on entrepreneurs … previously CEO, Sunwest Bank (see Eric Hovde, Carson Lappetito) … first job: ‘part-time bank teller while in high school’ … can’t miss: ‘wife Kathryn’s birthday’ … first car: 1970 Corolla
David Grant
Helm of 2.8M SF center since 1979 … opened 1967 … $1.7B annual taxable sales, 250 to 300 tenants … largest mall Calif., third-largest U.S. … Chapman U grad … wife, Andrea, daughter of Henry Segerstrom … 50th SCP anniversary, 2017, helped craft 100-year retrospective Segerstrom family exhibit; curator Bonnie Rychiak (see Sandy Daniels, Anton Segerstrom, Elizabeth Segerstom)
Michael Gray
PuzzleMakers investment firm … scion, St. John Knit founders (see Eran Cohen) … First job: ‘sweeping floors at family business’ … First car: 1968 Mustang … Can’t-miss: ‘the Hoag Christmas Ball is awesome’ … roots for New England Patriots—‘passion for great organizations … Patriots exemplify that … ‘a thing of beauty to see it executed in a sports team year-after-year’
Alan A. Greenberg
‘Killer Gs’ with Wayne Gross (see entry) … co-founded firm 2013 ... first trial: defense HyperDisk v. Costa Mesa Conference and Visitors Bureau … 2018 $2.8M whistleblower verdict against Montebello Unified … fellow, Litigation Counsel America … 2019 Best Lawyers America ... started as Wall Street transactional lawyer … Cornell alum; Boston U JD.
Bob’s the Builder
Olson Brings Hotel Glitz to NB, Irvine, Dana Point
It’s been a whirlwind period of growth for Bob Olson, who over a 10-year stretch has gone from Orange County’s biggest and best-known hotel developer, to the largest in Southern California, to the most prolific in the Golden State.
Robert Olson
Among state’s busiest hotel developers … two recent projects: boutique Marriott Autograph Collection property, Lido House, NB; Spectrum Marriott, Irvine; both with rooftop bars … two future projects: hotels planned, Dana Point Harbor … partners Bellwether (see Joe Ueberroth), Burnham-Ward (see Bryon Ward, Scott Burnham) … Business Journal OC 50
HB Hotels Lead RevPAR Growth
Hotels in Huntington Beach reported by far the biggest jump in revenue per available room (RevPAR) in November, according to a report by CBRE Hotels in Los Angeles.
OC LEADER BOARD: Opinion, Analysis, Insight
My First Day on the Job And the Secret About Complaints
Editor’s Note: Steve Jones began working at Universal Protection Service in 1996 when it reported about $12 million in annual sales.
Anaheim’s GardenWalk Center Sells for $80 Million
REAL ESTATE: 10% jump in value since 2012
The Anaheim GardenWalk shopping center has traded hands in the largest reported local retail sale of 2018.
Mitsubishi Puts on the Glitz
AUTOMOTIVE: Ad spending, sales up
Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc. sang its own rendition of “Viva Las Vegas” last month when it welcomed football fans to the Sam Boyd Stadium for the Mitsubishi Motors Las Vegas Bowl.
OC Execs Temper Optimism
ECONOMY: Most still see Q1 growth
What a difference a year makes, even a quarter.
Mission Hospital Getting New Chief Executive
Salaway Leaves Next Month
Mission Hospital, which is comprised of a campus in Mission Viejo and Laguna Beach, is getting new leadership.
Del Taco Plants Seeds for New Veggie Offering
Lake Forest Location Only OC Spot So Far
Meat lovers step aside.
Edwards’ Office Expansion Push Leads to Costa Mesa
Big Office Lease Reported At The Met Complex
Orange County’s largest public company, Edwards Lifesciences Corp. (NYSE:EW), appears to be expanding its local operations and is taking up space in areas outside its Irvine home.
Business Bites
Other items of interest Orange County Business Journal Vol. 42, No. 1
Sales totals at Orange County’s largest master-planned communities fell by more than 50% in 2018 amid the close-out of some larger projects in the area, according to a new report from John Burns Real Estate Consulting.
Real Estate Deals
Sales and leases of offices, industrial buildings, retail space and apartments
Mahn Properties purchased an office building from Brea Office Portfolio LLC for $6.8 million, or nearly $250 per square foot.
Lights, Karma, Action
Yachts usually take center stage during the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade, but Bob Olson’s ornately-decorated home on Balboa Island caught plenty of attention on the first day of the city’s annual holiday extravaganza, both for its exterior decorations and the guests for a Dec. 20 event there.
OC Stocks Fall Back to Earth in 2018
FINANCE: Most companies outpaced by the S&P 500
It wasn’t the best of years for Orange County’s publicly traded companies.
Irvine Arm of Finland’s Vincit Adds Tech Talent
MARKETING: Food-focused Devise Interactive sold
Vincit California Inc. Chief Executive Ville Houttu was decked out in his triathlon gear, pedaling the 25-mile bike course of the California Triathlon in San Dimas, as he recounted the Irvine-based software development company’s end-of-year report in a video released last week.
Ex-AutoGravity Execs Launch Biz
INNOVATION: Trio start Digital Motors
Andy Hinrichs, the co-founder and former chief executive of Irvine-based AutoGravity Corp., one of Orange County’s fastest-growing and better-funded fintech firms, has begun to take the wraps off his latest startup venture.
Banner Year for Glaukos Products, and Its Stock Price
CEO Burns Amazed At iStent’s Acceptance
Three days in 2018—June 25, Aug. 29 and Nov. 14—highlighted the blockbuster year experienced by Glaukos Corp. and its shareholders.
Boot Barn CEO an Apparel Industry Outlier
Two-Step Line: Sales Triple, Stock Up
Boot Barn Holdings Inc. Chief Executive James Conroy stepped into his post six years ago with little knowledge of the Western and workwear retail sector.
PHILANTHROPY
More than 750 Pacific Investment Management Co. employee volunteers, friends, and family members joined the Community Action Partnership of Orange County on Dec. 1 for the organization’s 11th annual Share the Harvest event at the OC Fair & Event Center.
CerraCap Investors Celebrate, Praise Founders
CoreLogic Buys Marketer; Western Digital Seeks CFO
Costa Mesa-based venture capital firm CerraCap Ventures LLC, one of the area’s top investors in tech firms, is winning kudos from its early investors.
STARTUPS & INNOVATIONS
Newport Beach-based TicketGuardian, which provides insurance to protect consumers’ ticket purchases from unforeseen circumstances, secured $8 million Series A funding last month.
Sunday, January 6
Jill Griffin
Joined 2008 … led in-house shopper marketing agency evolution to full force experiential, digital, social, mobile, multicultural, food-service marketer … agency of record, big brands: retail, packaged goods, tech, apparel, travel, cars, entertainment, education, healthcare … $1.3B 2017 revenue … named to Top Women in Grocery 2013, 2016 … marketing, Spanish degrees, Minnesota
Liam Griffin
Leads OC’s third-largest chipmaker … 400 local workers; 8,700 companywide … $16B market cap, $3.7B revenue … Fortune 100 fastest grower three years; Forbes top public cos. 2017 … Skyworks’ local competition has included former Microsemi, bought by Microchip Technology (see Jim Peterson) … Skyworks bought Oregon-based Avnera, $405M cash, in August ... Business Journal OC 50
Adrian Griggs
Joined 1994 … rose ranks, CDO 2012, COO 2017 … oversees life insurance, retirement solutions units … also asset management … board service: OC United Way (see Sue Parks), South Coast Repertory (see Paula Tomei) … UC Santa Barbara grad ... former colleague, Mary Ann Brown (see entry)
Bill Gross
Bond manager of 2000s at PIMCO, which he co-founded (see Emmanuel Roman) … rough year, personal, professional … 5.6% decline, below peers; current fund’s assets down by half … Duke grad; foundation has given $800M ... Business Journal OC’s Wealthiest; OC 50
Wayne Robert Gross
‘Killer Gs’—Gross and Alan Greenberg (see entry)—set out shingle’s 2013 after $50M judgment for NB multifamily developer … repped Garth Blumenthal in tussle with ex-employer Fletcher Jones (see entry) … new 30th-floor L.A. office to go with Costa Mesa HQ … backs Goodwill, veterans … former federal prosecutor, handling healthcare fraud … LA Weekly investor
Daniel Habuki
First, only president; appointed 1993 … endowment tops $1B, enrollment 400 … liberal arts college financed by Japanese Buddhist sect Soka Gakkai International, first US campus opened 1987 in Calabasas … member, American Association of Agricultural Economics … agricultural economist, hops researcher … bachelor’s, Soka University of Japan, master’s, USC, doctorate, Washington State
Ed Hanley
Retail-focused commercial brokerage 25+ years … clients from developers to individuals, family trusts, pension funds, REITS … HQ in renovated building HIG owns in CdM … previously Marcus & Millichap, Sperry Van Ness, Grubb & Ellis … UCI bachelor’s, econ … roots for Lakers … first job: busboy … sleeps 6 hours a night
Mark Skaist
Co-chairs corporate-securities practice group … M&A, venture capital, tech licensing … repped Acacia Research Corp. on robotics investment … roots for Lakers … First job: sweeping up trash at Universal Studios … service: Discovery Cube (see Joe Adams); Project Access … can’t miss: Assoc. for Corp. Growth Private Equity Night, Ritz-Carlton, ‘wine-tasting … networking’ … first car: used Pontiac Firebird
Dennis Harkins
Appointed 2009 … 25K students, 150 academic programs … Vision 2020 strategic and facilities plan … OCC tops local transfers … helped pass Measure M, $700M construction bond for business, math, computing, 30% to OCC … guest lecturer China film, photography … resume: govt. relations; teaching in Fla., Ga.… bachelor’s photography; master’s international affairs, Ohio U; PhD Georgia State … wife, Kim, two kids
John Simonis
Chairs RE practice group … represents landowners, investors, developers, contractors on JVs, funds, sales, leasing, master-planned communities, construction and grading, financing … commercial, industrial, retail, mixed-use … particular focus on data centers and tech-related … 20 years at PH … No. 37 OC law firm: 25+ attorneys, 40+ workers locally … bachelor’s, Marquette; JD, Michigan Law
Chris Simms
Co-founded casual-dining chain with Gabe Caliendo, executive chef … 15th-largest OC-based restaurant chain, $150M systemwide sales, 26 locations, year-end 2017 … nearing 30 units, heading for 50, $300M sales … filled out C-suite, additional investment from Brentwood Associates to back expansion … new markets 2018-19 … Simms’ family also in restaurants
Paul Short
Succeeded 2017 OC 500er Gretchen Valentine, 2018 … joined firm 2017 … 23 years KPMG LLP … Irvine: 188 workers, OC No. 7 … Short pushing for top-four rank … ‘growth-oriented, market-facing guy’ … well-versed SEC, IPOs, debt, secondary offerings, M&A … advisory boards Plasticos Foundation, CSUF Mihaylo … bachelor’s, CSU San Bernardino
Michael K. Hayde
Western U.S. apartments developer-owner … 40K+ units built since joined 1971 … long Irvine Co. partner—one-time manager, now ground-up construction … member, United Way’s Tocqueville Society Ten Million Dollar Roundtable … founding member United Way in Paris … former chairman, New Majority ... 2013 nationally honored for Tocqueville work … born, raised, Compton
Dan Hedigan
Joined 1984, legal affairs; GC 1996 to 2003, then to land division … designs, builds, sells Irvine Ranch homes; top seller new product, Calif., most of decade … president, Irvine Pacific, company’s in-house builder heading upscale in product … UCI bachelor’s; UCLA master’s, law
Royce A. Sharf
Co-runs OC’s largest tenant-rep com’l brokerage with Pat Murphy … led 2017 buy of Cresa Partners’ OC office … combined $750M local deals … 11M+ SF transactions, $1.2B value, in career … clients include PacLife (see Adrian Griggs, James Morris), Western Digital … UCLA grad … first car: 1979 Chevy El Camino: ‘mullet of automobiles!’ … can’t miss: ‘Super Bowl party with 10 fraternity brothers of 30 years’
Jon Severson
Founded 1945 by Noble Millie, Charles Severson … licensed general contractor … 4K+ SoCal projects… Charles’ son Jon joined firm, 1975 … one of fastestgrowing large OC private cos. … sales up 29% in two years to $344M … employeeowned … West Point grad (see Jeff Manley) … project portfolio includes residence halls, seminary, library at Biola University
Pawan Seth
Low-key inventor, drug developer … found way to control release, boost effectiveness of drugs … best-known in business circles as creator of Wellbutrin XL, once-daily, timed-release version of antidepressant …in real estate circles known for buying Table Rock house, a cliffside home in Laguna … bought at post-recession foreclosure for $10M, had been valued $18M
Michael Seres
2018 Business Journal Innovator of the Year honoree … med device maker’s sensor helps patients with bowel surgeries … Seres 11th person to get transplant, hospital in England, where raised … ‘luckiest person in the world’ … seeking $20M Series B … established Crohn’s Disease, colitis charity that’s raised $1M … Can’t miss: family birthdays … first car: Mini Metro … bucket list: Augusta
Pierre-Andre Senizergues
French … pro skateboarder—12 French championships, 5 Euro, 1 World—and footwear designer … launched Sole 1990s … five apparel brands … Sole Technology Institute, biomechanical research org for skateboarding … shoes to homeless, Good Friday, 20 years; $3M value … first job: sailing teacher at 16; first adult job: ‘IBM engineer in Paris’ … first car: Peugeot 404 in France; in America, ‘blue Ford van I lived in for 6 months when I first arrived’
Gavin Herbert Jr.
Iconic CdM nursery, holiday, community venue … in family for decades … Herbert’s father (see entry, Hall of Fame) passed to son … 100+ employees … added Farmhouse open-air eatery, 2016 … roots for USC Trojan football ‘3rd generation to attend’ … first job: Roger’s Gardens, age 10 ... first car: ‘used Vega’ 3-speed, ‘8-track stereo’ … bucket list: ‘family, family, and boating’
Joel Stensby
Has led general contractor, tenantimprovement construction firm since inception 20 years ago … $4B+ projects to-date … among top com’l construction firms in OC … 31st-largest OC private co., $602M 2017 revenue, up 35% … prior projects, roles: Aquarium of the Pacific; former PacBell Park, San Francisco; DTLA’s 52-story Gas Co. Tower … ‘strong backlog going into 2019’
Scott Hermes
Joined 2018 … hospitality unit Hotel Irvine, Fashion Island Hotel, Pelican Hill, golf courses, marinas … 30-year veteran, half at Starwood properties: St. Regis, Westin, W … first job: ‘pruning apple trees in Connecticut in the winter’ … first car: 1966 Buick Skylark … roots for Red Sox (see Paul Musco) … bucket list: ‘design, build a home in the mountains’
Paul Hernandez
Communications, corporate marketing, incl. brand management, social media, press … joined Irvine Co. 2003, most recently VP political affairs … previously government relations, Lockheed Martin unit; Todd Spitzer chief of staff … service: Chapman U research by Joel Kotkin at Center for Demographics and Policy; OC Public Affairs Association; NAIOP… bachelor’s, poly sci, UCLA
Thomas Herzog
2nd-largest OC public co. … $12.8B market cap; $1.8B revenue … CFO 2009- 2011 … rejoined as EVP, CFO 2016 … named CEO early 2017 … restructured leadership … Exec Chairman Mike McKee stepped down March … largest life sciences landlord S. San Francisco … 7-building, 1M SF ‘Cove at Oyster Point’ there… wants ⅓ each—senior housing, life sciences, med office—in private-pay portfolio
Mark Hilbert
Real estate exec, Hilbert Properties … he and wife, Janet, back Chapman U art museum (see Daniele Struppa) to exhibit $7M collection … scenes of California life, 1930s to 1970s … Calif. scene art ‘a kind of time capsule’ … dozen images in this book, on cover … first job: janitor; first car: 1953 Chevy Bel Air … roots for USC football
Todd Schull
2018 Business Journal CFO of the Year honoree … 35 years as finance exec … moving $1.5B-market-cap printed circuit board maker from ‘accounting organization to … business partner’ … joined 2013 … sales since doubled to $2.7B … TTM buying Anaren Inc. for $775M to seek global industry sales lead … combined firm $450M EBITDA … TTM has 12 U.S. locations targeted at different product niches
Eric Hinkelman
OC, L.A., IE ops of CRE brokerage … 7th-largest OC, $1.6B deals … Voit formed 1971; brokerage launched 1987 … founder Bob Voit stepped back from day-to-day few years ago … company now broker-owned … Hinkelman 30-year veteran … former senior managing director, Cushman & Wakefield (see Jeffrey Cole, Eric Paulsen) … Voit 2014 … UCLA grad
Diana Hirst
Business Journal’s Family Owned Business honoree … retail wine merchant … $30M sales … founded 1957 by Frans ‘Fritz’ Hanson, Jim McVay on former lima bean fields … temp-controlled cellar based on caves Fritz’ brother Harold saw WWII in Burgundy, France … 10K wines, dozens of countries; walk-in beer fridge has 1K+ choices, 25 countries; humidor: 500 cigar brands … three gens among workers, including father, age 91
John Ho
U.S. unit of China-based homebuilder Landsea Group … markets include Calif. Ariz., Northeast U.S. … moved exec offices in 2018 to 660 Newport Center … retained Spectrum digs for division employees … notable local project: 600-home IronRidge in Lake Forest; 23-unit townhome project Lido Villas in NB … $200M land buys over three years
Charles J. Schreiber Jr.
Buys high-end office towers, industrial buildings, apartment complexes nationally via nontraded REITs, other platforms, backed by pension funds, pooled money from larger, smaller investors … its chairman, Peter Bren, brother of Donald Bren (see entry) … Schreiber on Irvine Co. board … KBS 2018: $147M buy of 21-story City Tower in Orange
Doug Holte
50M SF portfolio OC, San Diego, West L.A., Silicon Valley, NYC … Irvine Co. largest office owner Calif. … OC’s biggest, most active office developer … several million SF high-end space, five years … buying in San Diego ... joined 2009; previously regional principal, Hines (see Ray Lawler)
Phu Hoang
1983 Vietnamese immigrant … bachelor’s, U of Waterloo, 1991; MBA, Northern Illinois, 1996; founded firm 1997 … software for massive data transfers … encryption, speed … patents … clients have included Boeing, GE, Intel, IBM … past Business Journal Excellence in Entrepreneurship, Innovator of the Year honors … two-year growth 73% to $95M … backed by L Squared
Michael Schreck
Automating mortgage process (see Kyle Kamrooz) … aims to cut loan costs averaging $8K … $20M annual revenue, 5K clients … $7.5M 2016 Series A, Upfront Ventures, Tribeca Angels … $15M 2017 Series B, Blackstone’s Incenter … Schreck brought on … $50M 2018 Series C: Riverwood Capital, Upfront again … co-founder, General Catalyst Partners; 20+ years mortgage, fintech … bachelor’s, BYU; Harvard MBA
Hilton Schlosberg
Also COO … he, Rodney Sacks (see entry), have grown former Hansen’s Natural Soda maker into global drink powerhouse … bought into then- Anaheim-based Hansen’s, 1990s … now in Corona; one-sixth owned by Coca-Cola … $31B market cap … buys OC offices with Sacks, Wil Smith (see entry), Big Canyon residence … Business Journal OC’s Wealthiest
Mike Hopkins
Business Journal Innovator of the Year honoree … makes, building cooling systems … make ice at night, tapping cheaper electricity to cool rooms during day, saving on AC cost … current installations save enough energy to power 16,000 homes … 2018: $40M equity funding, Argo Infrastructure, NYC; 20- year deal with SoCal Edison (see Gaddi Vasquez) … $10M revenue
Robert J. Schlener
Joined 1985, one year out of UC Santa Barbara … leads assurance practice … manufacturing, distribution, life sciences, nonprofits, services, entrepreneurial, family-owned businesses … 57 OC employees, 314 firmwide … L.A.-based firm formerly Singer Lewak Greenbaum & Goldstein … backs Irvine Animal Care, MLK Jr. Day of Service … keeps Shih Tzus … UCSB grad (see Tim Brandt)
Shelley M. Hoss
Business Journal Women in Business 2018 … 19 years in role … $67M annual grants, scholarships … $378M assets … previously exec. dir., Girls Inc. OC … founding chairwoman, OC Funders Roundtable … first job: babysitter at 14 … first car: ‘lemon-yellow 1977 Toyota Corolla hatchback; hand-me-down from my dad’ … would like to meet: Nelson Mandela, ‘for leadership, healing, he brought to divided country’
Eric Donald Hovde
Flagship of H Bancorp LLC holding co. … senior roles at eponymous family cos. … multistate strategy … equity holding, investment services for entrepreneurs … assets doubled in five years to $1.1B … Wisconsin grad (see Jerry Fink) … roots for Green Bay Packers (see Greg Custer, Stephen Oswald) … first car: Camry … would meet George Washington
Gary Hunt
Cut teeth as Reagan staffer … co-founded policy-politics consultancy with Bob White … 25+ years Irvine Co. (see Donald Bren) … service: UCI Foundation, OC GRIP gang intervention, Catholic Charities … boards: William Lyon Homes, CT Realty … first job: ‘cutting lawns, cleaning pools, in Lancaster’ … social calendar includes: UCI Medal dinner, Hoag 552 Club Christmas Carol Ball, Segerstrom Center dinner … would like to meet: Churchill
Cary Hyden
M&A, capital markets, securities … chaired corporate dept. 10 years … repped former Allergan Inc. (see David Pyott) in successful takeover defense against Valeant, finding $73B white knight buyer … runs marathons … first car: Chevy Caprice … born ‘tiny Ada, Okla.,’ grew up Irving, Texas … roots for Dallas Cowboys … boards: alma mater U Dallas, CHOC, New Majority
John Saunders
Holds 4M SF commercial RE, offices to mobile home parks … runs coin dealer London Coin Galleries … contributor, Krause World Coins Catalogue … began buying, selling coins at 13 … New Majority, Lincoln Club … backs Boy Scouts, UC Santa Cruz, Pitzer, Kidworks, Cato Institute, Goodwill (see Nicole Suydam), Red Cross … Business Journal Excellence in Entrepreneurship, 2017
Sam Ingardia
Co-runs with brother Joseph … 12th-largest OC-based food co. … sales top $100M … 200+ local workers … serves restaurants, independent schools hospitals, healthcare, hotels … distinctive truck fleet … low energy consumption, recycling … 2018 trade reports indicated co. near acquisition by US Foods, eyeing 63K SF Santa Ana distribution facility … sources: ‘done deal’ disappeared, August
Jeffrey Ingham
OC’s 6th-largest CRE broker … took role 2009 … client lists include Alcon Labs, BofA, Broadcom, Morgan Lewis & Bockius (see Chris Cox, Jeff Moorad, Ellen Bancroft), MetLife, Sun Microsystems, TaylorMade Golf … local office 150% growth, five years … Community: Octane (see Bill Carpou), OC Business Council (see Lucy Dunn)
Chris Ivey
Co-chairs corporate, securities practice … M&A, venture capital, private equity, public offerings … has done deals for American Advisors Group (see Reza Jahangiri) … JD, U San Diego … backs Chargers, ‘Go Bolts! Hard to be a Chargers fan, but I’m loyal’ (see Dean Spanos) … first car: ‘allowed to borrow my mom’s 1971 Firebird when I turned 16’ … board member, Sustain OC
Shaleen Sadeghi
Grew up, Michigan … NYC Pratt design, fashion, architecture … briefly Quiksilver president … LAB turned 25 in 2017 … profitable ‘every quarter’ since launch … 115 workers … hip retail designerdeveloper … past Business Journal Innovator of the Year honoree … 40+ projects ... Packing House, Anaheim; also in Long Beach, others ... Business Journal OC 50
Rodney Sacks
30+ years at Corona drinks maker … like business partner Hilton Schlosberg (see entry), lives in OC … flagship drink competes with Red Bull, Rockstar … Coca-Cola distributes; owns stake; full acquisition oft-rumored … South African Sacks attorney at country’s biggest law firm, emigrated to Calif. 1980s … focus: trophy assets near airport (see Barry Rondinella) … Business Journal OC’s Wealthiest
Tim Ryan
Also EVP, COO, Anaheim Ducks Hockey Club LLC … both companies owned by Henry, Susan Samueli (see entries) … four decades running arenas; 25 years city-owned Honda Center, 13 for Ducks … pushed deeper into OC Latino roots with concerts, events … looking at esports (see Michael Morhaime) … Honda Center, $10M upgrades before 2018 season … CSUF alum
Chris Rommel
Also senior VP … 6 years advising bank’s clients … previously co-led brokerage for wealth unit: 570 financial advisers, $350M revenue … 30+ years overall with Wells Fargo … bachelor’s, Loyola Marymount … private bank has supported elephant protection in Asia … wife, Julie Green-Rommel, also 30+ years with Wells, in corp. comm. … couple backs Aquarium of the Pacific
John Rochford
Runs one of OC’s top, longest-running construction firms (see Stephen Jones) … $500M+ revenue, 130 local workers … industries span automotive to technology; includes hospitality— Balboa Bay Club, Big Canyon clubhouse, Hotel Irvine— healthcare, restaurants, faith-based … completing $72M Christ Cathedral renovation (see Tim Strader) scheduled for July 2019 dedication
Duane Roberts
Dad, Harry, sold beef to nearby McDonald’s … plowed profits into real estate, banking … Duane Riverside native … saved, rebuilt Mission Inn Hotel & Spa … wife, Kelly, COO of resort that’s regularly on ‘best of’ lists … she was Trump’s pick for Slovenia ambassador; declined over asset divesting … couple gives: GOP, Olive Crest, Pepperdine, pet adoption
Song Richardson
Named dean Jan. 1, 2018 … also Chancellor’s Professor of Law ... joined faculty 2014 … criminal defense, public defender … NAACP Legal Defense, Education … specialties: criminal procedure, law and social science … writing book on legal, moral implications of mind sciences research on policing, criminal procedure … bachelor’s, Harvard, JD, Yale … first car: Geo Prizm
Byung-Kwon Rhim
Also EVP global ops Hyundai, which owns Kia … took post 2018 following reorg … sales ops U.S., Canada, Mexico … also oversees Georgia, Mexico production … previously int’l sales division global, Seoul HQ; president, CEO, Hyundai Europe; president, Russia unit
Rick Rawlins
2018 Business Journal Family Owned Business honoree … makes laundry carts … product has ‘starred’ in ‘Seinfeld,’ ‘Friends,’ ‘Anchorman 2’ … roots to 1946 … Rick’s dad bought co. in 1966; son, Grant, involved ... Rick roots for USC football … first job: welder at R&B … backs KidWorks … first car: 1969 VW Bus … can’t miss: Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance car show
Manuel John Ramirez
OC native, bilingual … international tax law focus … clients in 20 countries, incl. foreign-owned firms in Mexico … likes to solve complex problems … ‘no right answers, [just] mostly right answers’ … CSUF grad … backs Lincoln Club, Sara’s Pantry homeless charity, Hispanic 100 PAC … roots for Lakers, Cowboys, Angels … first job: construction ... first in 8 gens not Texas-born
Morteza Rahmatian
Took on role filled two decades, Anil Puri (see entry) … Rahmatian in that time: environmental econ prof; chairman, assoc. dean … first served interim; school looked inward, dropped ‘interim,’ July 2018, twoyear deal … resume: U.N., World Bank … master’s, Ph.D., U Wyoming … first car: BMW 2002 … brings ‘food to homeless shelter’ each week
David Jackson
Son of founders Kenneth, Helen Holt … Fairmont camp counselor, 1959 … aircraft industry post-BYU bachelor’s … Fairmont business manager, 1979; exec. dir., 1988; owner, with wife, Stacey, 1999 … five campuses, preschool to 12th, including prep academy … 2K students … international, summer programs … Thesys hybrid online learning … 2007 Business Journal Family Owned Business honoree … overseas charity work
John Bradley Jackson
Also professor, entrepreneurial marketing, social media, venture creation … center includes incubator led by Phillip Stinis … resume: tech sales, marketing, research: Dataquest Inc., Forrester Research … founder, BirdDog Group consultants … boards include Global Vision Holdings Inc., BrandMixer, SBDC advisory … has backed YMCA, United Way ... author
Tyrone Johnson
Designs, distributes, installs residential tile, stone … $367M annual sales, $23M EBITDA … 2/3 from Calif. … 2018 registered 25 million shares, about $14 apiece, for IPO … $261M B Rileyunderwritten private placement, Dec 2017 at $12 share … Solace Capital, Trive Equity are investors … $130M debt, 52K SF OC HQ
Fletcher 'Ted' Jones Jr.
19 dealers, four states … No. 1 OC dealer, $500M sales; 9K new, used cars sold, 2017 … 300 sales, service workers … Fletcher Jones Sr. started 1946, sold first car for $70 … first job, 1962: ‘washing cars at Fletcher Chevrolet’ … opened car lot in Whittier, selling Mazdas … first car: 1957 Chevy Nomad
Stephen Jones
Construction co. founded 1959 by Don Snyder, Bill Langston … Jones joined 1980s … OC clients include Pelican Hill (see Scott Hermes), Long Beach Exchange (see Scott Burnham), SCR (see Paula Tomei), Mater Dei (see Patrick Murphy), Ketchum U, Christ Cathedral (see Kevin Vann), Pacific Club … SL chairman, chief executive John Rochford (see entry)
Steve Jones
Joined then-Universal Services of America, 1996 when $12M revenue … now $5.3B, 200K workers; biggest privately held U.S. security services firm … 2018 paid $1B for U.S. Security Assocs. … night school MBA, Redlands … backs ‘Bama football, ‘my father played for Bear Bryant; I played at Cal Poly SLO’ … first job: ‘shining shoes’ at age 7 … bucket list: ‘yacht in the south of France’ ... Business Journal OC 50
Michelle Jordan
Born England … NYC age 21 … founded firm after GCI Group, Hill & Knowlton … strategic communication: crisis, reputation, issues management … former spokeswoman, Rainbow Push exec Karin Stanford … backs 211Orange County … past Business Journal Women in Business honoree … first car: red BMW 321i … would like to meet: Marie Antoinette or Elizabeth I: ‘extraordinary lives that continue to fascinate’
Steve Jun
Headed US ops, 2015 … Hyundai Motor North America ad arm … second-largest OC agency, $340M revenue 2017, up 24% YOY … 350 OC employees … clients: Kia Motors N.A., Genesis, Taylor Made, Finish Line, Hankook Tire … previously CEO, European ops ... founding member, Seoul-based Innocean Worldwide, helped establish global headquarters 2005
Kyle Kamrooz
Business Journal Innovator of the Year … cloud-based mortgage-origination automation, 2016, with Bill Dallas, Mark Attaway … software solves post-recession lending regs, ‘trying to put a V12 into a Yugo’… $77M to-date (see Michael Schreck) … first job: ‘assistant manager, Laguna Niguel dry cleaners’ … first car: 1989 Mazda 929, ‘blue with blue cloth interior’ 190K miles … bucket list: ‘see the Northern Lights’
Scott F. Kavanaugh
At bank upon 2007 founding (see Rick Keller) … two units: bank, wealth management … current role, 2009 … revenue CAGR 29%, 2013 to 2017 … $6B in assets … closed buy of PBB Bancorp, 2018 … has worked with Stephen Gordon (see entry) … holds $25M in shares … U Tenn grad; North Texas State MBA
Christos Karmis
13 years at multi-billion-dollar telecom (see Gary Jabara); previously at Deloitte … Clemson bachelor’s, mechanical engineering—roots for Tigers—U Fla. MBA ... first job: ‘lab assistant at university in Greece’ … first car: 1985 Mazda 626 … can’t miss: Kentucky Derby (see Ketan Vakil, Gil Dalmau) … wants to meet ‘Archduke Franz Ferdinand so I could tell him to stay home’ … bucket list: Mediterranean sailing trip
Michael Kaye
Founded private equity firm 2000 … investments have included local housewares, personal products maker … lawyer by trade, Japan 1980s; client Secom Co. Ltd. now sole Clearlight limited partner … $900M in three funds … Kaye former CEO: ‘our DNA is on the operating side; we’ve been there, done that’
Tibor Kelemen
RE investor with new venture … previously part of Kelemen Caamaño … firm bought, rehabbed OC building bought by Edwards Lifesciences for $18.5M, 2017 … Tibor founded brokerage Wind Water Real Estate, sold to Rudy Caamaño … launched firm with 2018, $106M buy of 10-story Atrium offices near JWA; tenants include Bistango … looking at L.A. buys
Jeff Kearl
Launched in 2009 with John Wilson, Aaron Hennings, Taylor Shupe, Ryan Kingman—all five still C-Suiters at maker of luxe socks, underwear, T-shirts for women, men … 60 countries; retailers Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s … its own stores, incl. new one at Irvine Spectrum (see Butch Knerr) … celeb endorsers include Rihanna, Filipe Toledo, Bubba Watson, Lauren Wasser, James Harden … 150 local employees … bachelor’s, BYU
Rick Keller
Started wealth manager in 1990, bank in 2007 (see Scott Kavanaugh) … UCI trustee 15 years; helped steer investment committee through 2008 financial collapse … founding member, UCI Center for Investment, Wealth Management … boards: city of Irvine, Hoag, Charles Schwab, diabetes, arts groups … given name: Ulrich Emanuel SDSU grad
Lauren Kelly
Held post since 2014 … oversees marketing, brand for offices, new development, portfolio marketing, customer and marketplace insights … previously led global strategy, Dell corporate, $60B revenue … led PepsiCo strategy, $22B Americas Foods division … EvoNexus board … bachelor’s, MBA, Harvard
John Kensey
Started firm 1988 as consultancy … now angel investor in 50+ firms, 30 active … founding member, Tech Coast Angels (see Hicham Semaan) … former president, Paul Munroe Hydraulics, Eaton Leonard Corp. … director, hedge fund of funds PAAMCO … Stanford grad, 1959; Harvard MBA, 1963
James Keston
Local franchise in USL, second tier U.S. soccer hierarchy … only West Coast pro team between Long Beach, Tijuana … team previously L.A. Blues … now plays 5K-capacity Great Park stadium … investor, Japanese soccer star Keisuke Honda, bought into team 2018 … Keston previously CIO, private equity … worked at dad’s homebuilder Larwin Co.
Frank Kim
Runs one of largest counties in country … $5.6B budget, 18K jobs … works for supervisors under 5-year, $250K annual pact … known to get along with elected, union bosses … CSULB accounting grad left private sector for staff gig at post-BK OC … 20 years later unanimously tapped for new slot replacing chief admin role … room to grow: OC gets state low, 6 cents, on every property tax dollar sent north
Butch Knerr
properties; previously COO multistate, 110-property shopping center REIT Washington Prime Group … 26 years at Simon Property, 52 properties … big 2018 deal: $200M Irvine Spectrum expansion … 137K SF—1/3 for H&M’s biggest Western U.S. store—BLK Coffee, Afters Ice Cream, Sephora, Stance (see Jeff Kearl) … bachelor’s, Indiana U
Jim Krohn
Joined in 2018; replaced Chaz Mueller, who took CEO slot at Progress Residential, which owns rental homes … Krohn previously founding partner, chief exec, 18 years, Alliance Residential Co., overseeing 105K units, one-third Calif. … also Lincoln Property Co. … bachelor’s, U of Ariz. … threw for 3,100 yards, 24 TDs for Wildcats; 108.2 passer rating
Keith Kobata
Took hot seat after exec shake-up … biggest bank by OC deposits: $23B, up 2% … 4K workers, 100+ branches … Kobata grew up San Jose … 49ers, Giants fan … San Jose State grad; worked at bank while in school … 20+ years at Wells … bank ‘promotes from within’
Kurt Krueger
47 years in Lutheran higher ed … planned to retire end of 2018 school year … two candidates bowed out of search; Krueger stayed on as interim … shepherding campus growth, modernization … Concordia U. system 2nd-largest in U.S. after Roman Catholic … NCAA Div. II, 4K students … core curriculum ‘Enduring Questions & Ideas’ … Krueger: bachelor’s, English, Valparaiso
Ken Kruis
Office, industrial, retail … San Diego to Calabasas … company runs ‘Rock U’ employee training, development; has property inspections smartphone app … previous roles Western National Group (see Mike Hayde, Laura Khouri); Donahue Schriber (see Patrick Donahue) … CSUF bachelor’s; business, real estate finance emphasis; MBA finance, Pepperdine … reports to President Steve Core
Sam Quigley
Took role mid-2017 … previously 15 years at Barney & Barney, bought by MMA, 2014 … 6th-largest OC insurance brokerage … 125 local workers; fastestgrowing for company … backs Big Brothers, Big Sisters of San Diego; USD grad ... grew up Denver ... backs Broncos ... first job: Jamba Juice ... first car: blk Honda Civic ... would meet ‘Greg Noll, ’60s Big Wave surf pioneer’
Jeff Purser
Purser a constant in 25-year history, OC’s only PGA tournament event … top charity fundraiser on Champions Tour, $20M+ in history … benefits Mary & Dick Allen Diabetes Center, military-related nonprofits … guided transition from 19-year underwriter Toshiba to new Hoag Classic under OC hospital’s aegis … March 8-10 event could include Daly, Couples, Langer, Love III … $30M impact to area … Bowling Green grad
Wayne Pinnell
Leads local accounting firm … 71 local workers, 40 CPAs, 10 partners … Irvine, San Diego offices … took top role 2004 after eight years as partner, audit and business advisory services group … also 10 years, including partnership, at BDO Seidman LLP (see Steve Shill) … clients public, private, from small family-owned to $500M+ revenue … M&A, IPOs ... big supporter SCR
Arnold Pinkston
Named to post 2018 … real estate data and analytics firm (see Frank Martell, Ursula Guzman) … $4B market cap … replaced Stergios ‘Terry’ Theologides in role … distinguished legal career in healthcare: Ely Lilly & Co., Beckman Coulter, Allergan Inc. as aesthetics firm fended off Bill Ackman … board service at Bio-Rad Laboratories
Mark Peterson
Joined firm second time, 2011 ... first run 1991 to 1997 … left for Meade Instruments Corp., counsel 10 years … Conexant legal eagle till 2011 … returned to O’Melveny … corporate, securities partner … bachelor’s, BYU; JD, Berkeley … played club-level volleyball, BYU; roots for its NCAA men’s team … bucket list: ‘remain healthy long enough to meet all my great-grandchildren’
Wendy Peterson
Joined firm 2002 … prior: GC Wynn Oil Co., asst. GC, Parker-Hannifin’s Seal Group; Wynn’s Int’l (see Don DiCostanzo); O’Melveny … bachelor’s, JD, U Hawaii … boards: Human Options, Heart Association OC, Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship, U Hawaii … elder, St. Mark’s Pres., NB … first car: 1976 Pontiac Sunbird … favorite team: ‘the Angels!’
Mark Perry
38 years BofA, many leadership roles … 3rd-gen BofA employee; family service 115 years … backs Segerstrom Center (see Terry Dwyer); elected board chairman, 2018 … Whittier native; San Francisco-based … bachelor’s, Occidental; MBA, CSUF … speaks Spanish
Eric Paulsen
Runs commercial brokerage’s OC, IE offices … local office 100 employees, about half brokers … $3.4B transaction volume … third-largest in OC … Paulson joined last year from executive managing director, commercial at online real estate auctioneer Ten-X … unit had 125 employees, $115M revenue … ex-exec, Lennar CRE unit LNR Property in NB
Ash Patel
Current role, 2013 assets $200M, 2017 $825M … board members incl. William H. Lyon, Paul Folino (see entry), developer Alex Meruelo … previously founding president, COO, Premier Commercial Bank, 2001 … born in Zambia, school in England, arrived Calif., 1986 … started Siksha Foundation: builds schools in India, Africa
Bill Passo
Pioneer, pooling money via tenant-incommon partnerships to buy real estate … later conventional funds raised $1.5B, bought 250 retail, office, multifamily properties, plus land … $4B acquisitions, 20 years … first deal Anaheim multifamily, 1976 … a founder, OC Performing Arts Center … bachelor’s, CSULB; JD, UCLA
Lindsay Parton
Directs SoCal acquisitions, development, construction … local projects include Lido Marina Village, NB: 116K-SF waterfront revamp now home to boutique retail, restaurant, creative office … two HB projects: 191K-SF Pacific City near Pasea Hotel & Spa, 1M-SF Bella Terra, off I-405 … one that got away: part of team in second place bid on Dana Point Harbor redo
Matt Parlow
Also Donald P. Kennedy Chair in Law (see Parker Kennedy) … previously assoc. dean, professor, Marquette … team-taught sports law/property/land-use course with MLB commish emeritus Bud Selig … attended Dodgers Fantasy Camp … first job: lithographer’s assistant … first car: 1983 Honda Prelude; ‘saved every dime I made working for the lithographer’ ... Bucket list: ‘play game of H-O-R-S-E on Lakers court, Staples Center’
Al Parajeckas
Name’s not on the neon … top local guy for $4B market cap, $17B revenue Penske Automotive Group … local ops include Crevier BMW, second-largest OC dealer behind Fletcher Jones (see entry) Motorcars, $6M ahead of David Wilson (see entry) Toyota of Orange … with No. 18 Audi South Coast, Penske sells 7,500 new, used cars; 50+ salespeople; 150+ service personnel
Joe Ouaknine
Co-founded footwear licenser with Sal Palermo, 1998 … bought luxe Badgley Mischka 2016, $16M from Iconix … stable includes Badgley, Splendid, French Connection … has held Bebe, Jill Stuart, JLO, Betsey Johnson, … ‘shoes were calling’ while working shoe store as U Concordia Montreal student … intro’d Charles David brand to U.S. … ex-pro soccer player … born Morocco
Stephen Oswald
$450M market cap, $550M revenue, aerospace engineering … Aug. 2018, $200M, 10-year deal to make nacelles—external housings—for ‘single-aisle commercial aircraft’ … first job: bagger at hometown supermarket, Malverne, N.Y. at 14 … first car: used Pontiac Ventura … roots for Green Bay Packers … wants to meet Lincoln, ‘great leader who made tough decisions, listened, dedicated to family’
Igor Olenicoff
45-year-old firm … 8M SF commercial RE … bulk portfolio local … OC’s 2ndlargest office landlord after Irvine Co. … sold trophy Chicago skyscraper 2018, valued $400M … 14K apartments Nev., Ariz., Ga., Fla. … previous role VP to Berry Gordy, Motown Records … Business Journal OC’s Wealthiest, OC 50
Harry Langenberg
Co-founded, 2011 with Jesse Stockwell … helps clients with tax debts … ‘trust in tarnished industry’ … $100M sales, 25K clients, 550 employees … ex-Wharton classmate Donald Trump Jr. … roots for St. Louis Cardinals (see Bill Borgsmiller) … first official job: Shell gas station, ‘but mowed a lot of lawns’ … backs Orangewood … OC best sales talent ‘in the world’
Carson Lappetito
Joined as COO, 2015 … grew assets 25%, annual earnings 60% … promoted 2018 … ex-COO, Sunwest Parent H Bancorp; ex-VP, Hovde Private Equity Advisors(see Eric Hovde) … resume: senior analyst, product manager, risk adviser to community banks … Bates College econ, poly sci grad
Yong-Woo Lee
Named head of US operations 2018 following reorg… also sales ops U.S., Canada, Mexico; Alabama manufacturing … previously EVP Hyundai Motor Brazil … Korea University graduate … Hyundai sold 665K cars 2017; 325K year-to-date through June 2018
Paul Leon
Co-founded 10-year-old charity with chief financial officer Paul Cho ‘to break the cycle of homelessness’ … $15.8M revenue—double two years ago—$14.6M expenses … recuperative care at five facilities, 200 beds … housing, social services, mental health, financial literacy … support: PIMCO, Disneyland, Kaiser, Wells Fargo … Dan Young (see entry) backs; Disney’s Mary Niven on board
Jeff Leonard
Detroit native started restoration parts business 1976 … one product: carpets for Chevy Camaro … now sells 205K classic GM, Chrysler, parts, accessories … added Ford, bought California Mustang Parts 2018 … $100M+ revenue, 300 employees … plans warehouse space outside Calif. 2019 … Automotive Restoration Market Organization Hall of Fame, 2010
Kim Letch
Appointed 2016 … 435 employees, thirdlargest in OC … assurance, tax, transaction, advisory … been in OC office since 2004 … joined EY in Australia, 1992, moved to London to focus on banking, capital markets, then Chicago, then San Diego … program director, EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards … board, United Cerebral Palsy OC, Forum for Corporate Directors OC … bachelor’s, U Melbourne
Marc Ley
Capital markets; corporate, public, project finance; banking, treasury, investments … company portfolio exceeds 120M SF: 550 office buildings, 40 retail centers, 125 apartment communities, one coastal resort, two hotels, three golf courses, five marinas … joined 1999, promoted to current role 2014 … previously PacLife (see James Morris, Adrian Griggs), real estate capital markets work
Rob Lilleness
25-year-old, $200M+-revenue parent co. of Insteon, Smarthome … Internet of Things providers: smart-tech, homeautomation products … Smartlabs owned by Richmond Capital Partners … Lilleness ex-Microsoft, spent six years on commercializing Windows NT Server … grew the business line $40M to $500M in 1990s … launched Seattle-based Richmond in 2016 … splits time between Pacific NW, OC
Bill Link
Early-stage medical device maven … Flying L: HB-based ophthalmic industry investor … also managing director, San Francisco-based VC Versant Ventures … founded Chiron Vision, sold to Bausch & Lomb… Boards: Glaukos, Edwards (see Mike Mussallem) … hiker, skier … Colo., favorite locale … ‘privilege I have … my ability to have impact has never been better’ ... Business Journal OC 50
John Luker
Business Journal CFO of the Year … appointed 2014, succeeding CEO Chris Simonsen … $85 million+ assets … involved, Samueli Academy, first foster youth boarding school, Calif. … prior: CFO, OC Rescue Mission 13 years (see Jim Palmer) … board, Coalition of Community Health Centers, Aragon Affordable Housing … came to OC 2001 after PwC, Atlanta; Deloitte, Miami … bachelor’s, master’s, big fan, U Fla.
Scott Maccabe
Moved HQ to Lake Forest … bought office equipment dealer Electro Imaging … docs-for-Ducks: official ‘document solutions provider,’ Anaheim hockey franchise … calendar items: Ocean Institute Tall Ships Festival; Mission Hospital gala … bucket list: ‘traveling world with wife and children’ for ‘beauty, history, cultures’ … first jobs: St. Joe, CHOC: resupplying nursing stations, sterilizing surgical instruments
Greg MacGillivray
Co-founded with late Jim Freeman, 1966 … started making films age 13 … Academy Award nominee … $1B worldwide sales … 50+ films, incl. 35+ IMAX … 2018: ‘America’s Musical Journey’ for tourism marketer Brand USA … 2018 Lifetime Achievement award NY Festivals … Destination Tibet, 1980 ‘rough and raw’ … founded One World One Ocean with wife, Barbara … backs Mission Blue, Laguna Playhouse, Laguna Art Museum
Colm Macken
CRE investor-developer arm of Walnut’s JF Shea Co., sister co. to privately held residential builder Shea Homes … 10K apartments, 5M SF commercial space … $3B development, 10 years … previously COO, Forest City’s West Coast commercial … Aug. 2018 began ground-up industrial off Dyer near JWA … 500K SF, 9 buildings … bachelor’s, mechanical engineering, University College, Dublin; MBA, UCLA
Jim Madden
Started HR services firm Exult in 1998 … sold for $900M, 2004, $50M+ payday … ‘worked out really well’ … first fund $180M; has raised $455M … can cut $50M check … investment criteria ‘happy customers’ … competitive sailor: ‘chess on the water’ … first job: selling men’s suits in high school, ‘as part-timer made more than full-timers’ … first car: 1975 Datsun B210
Martin Manniche
Internet of Things software, hardware maker big into real-time big data … remote mgmt., mobile connectivity … started 2008 as Greenwave Reality Inc. … $100M+ in debt, equity … $45M+ revenue, 55 local workers … 2018 deal, Cujo LLC, El Segundo, for AI-based battling of cyberattacks … first car: Fiat … can’t miss: Greenwave holiday party … would like to meet: JFK: ‘visionary leader, passion, drive’
Jeff Margolis
Succeeded founder Sheldon Razin, 2015, Razin now chairman emeritus … medical practice software (see Rusty Frantz) … chairman, CEO, Denver-based Welltok: consumer health, software-as-a-service … $250M+ funding; NB office … former chairman, CEO, TriZetto Corp. … director, Alignment Healthcare (see John Kao); Hoag (see Robert Braithwaite) … advisory board, UCI Center for Healthcare Management & Policy
Chris Marsh
Leads expansion at state’s largest apartment owner … 50K units … OC largest market; Spectrum area big source of growth … heads development, entitlement, land buys, construction … Irvine Co. colleague Jim Krohn (see entry) runs ops once open … Marsh 15 years with company; project exec during development of Resort at Pelican Hill (see Scott Hermes) … previously repped developers in U.K., Spain … educated in Europe
Frank Martell
Joined RE data, analytics firm 2011 … roles include president, COO, CFO … Business Journal CFO of the year 2013 … took reins 2017 … roots for Lakers … backs Red Cross, Heart Assn., OC Home Aid, Working Wardrobes … can’t miss: Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation dinner, was at Pelican Hill 2018 … first car: ‘green, 1969 VW Beetle’ … Villanova grad (see Ted Wilm)
Michael Martinson
Business Journal CFO of the Year 2018 … joined testing co. as financial controller … previously senior auditor, Squar Milner (see Steve Milner) … worked on $1B sale to Konica Minolta … new duties, laws as foreign-owned, public co. unit … graduate, CSUF … advice: do 2 to 5 years public accounting before corporate … hiking, mountains, deserts with wife, Pam, two kids
Rick Matros
$4B market cap; $405M revenue, up 56% YOY … controversial Care Capital Properties buy 2017 raised skilled nursing exposure to 70%, doubled market cap… aims for 50-50 split with private-pay senior housing … Fitch, S&P: investment-grade on debt … 490 properties ... USC grad, football fan … avid on comic books … ‘most tattooed CEO in senior housing’
Tiffany Masterson
Launched co. 2014 … one of fastest-growing brands, Sephora, 2016 … approaching $100M revenue … minority owners: VMG Partners; ‘Man Repeller’ blogger Leandra Medine … company name ‘rooted in myth that elephants eat fallen fruit’ of Marula tree, ferments inside stomachs, ‘making them drunk’ … previously: sold imported soaps ... Houston native … mom to four
Greg May
Leads 11 Western offices of publicly traded brokerage … 300 CRE brokers … USC grad roots for alma mater … First job: paperboy … First car: 1964 VW … once brokered sale of own house … community, charitable: SAFE Families, NAIOP board, Mariners Church … can’t miss: Allen Matkins shindig: ‘best real estate networking holiday party’ … ‘Christmas Day at home’ with kids
Stuart McClure
Plug-and-play, customizable security software maker … $300M backing since 2012 launch, including $120M, June 2018 led by Blackstone Tactical … funds global expansion … revenue up 90% YOY to $130M … 4K clients, including 20% Fortune 500 … 850+ workers, 40% local … July 2018: consumer product: AIbased ‘Smart Antivrus’ … to ‘predict and block’ threats … past Business Journal Innovator of the Year
Bobby McDonald
Longtime leader of group founded in 1984 … ‘Bobby V’: two tours of duty in Vietnam … big backer, veterans’ causes … Veterans Legal Institute’s Antoinette Balta on chamber’s board … chamber financed film ‘Building the Dream’ on construction of D.C. MLK Jr. memorial … first job: Jack in the Box (see Mark Hardtke) … backs Knights of Columbus; Buffalo Soldiers Assn.
James McDonald Jr.
Specialty employment law … has defended against hundreds of lawsuits; advises on strategy … bachelor’s, New College of Florida; JD, Georgetown … roots for ‘the Lakers (I’m optimistic)’ … first job: ‘washing boats, sweeping floors’ … first car: Chevy Nova … ex-chair, Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce; board, Human Options … would like to meet commercial aviation pioneer Juan Trippe
Rich McEvoy
Oversees OC for 2018 rebranded, Chicago-based Equity Office Properties … founded Sam Zell, 1976; Blackstone bought 2007, $39B … iconic properties include former Sears Tower, $1.3B, 2015 buy … new image in era of flex ops, tech, data services … local holdings City Centre towers Anaheim, Orange; Von Karman Corporate Center, Irvine; Towne Centre Plaza, Foothill Ranch … previously; Lee & Associates, Irvine
Tom McFarland
Three affiliated cos. co-owned by McFarland, Jim Downey (see entry) … one of OC’s fastest-growing midsize private cos., 54% two-year sales growth to $77M … aircraft interiors, composite structures … bachelor’s, Notre Dame … ‘huge fan!’ of Chicago Cubs … first job: ‘toll roads in Illinois, mostly picking up road kill’ … first car: ‘handed down Toyota Celica—ran forever’ … would like to meet MLK Jr.
Tom McKernan
Joined AAA 1966 … stepped down as CEO 2012 … credited with building SoCal group into multistate operator … bought other clubs, grew membership nearly 75% … board service includes First American Financial (see Parker Kennedy); California Chamber of Commerce; Newhall Land and Farming … former chair New Majority … CSU-LA bachelor’s; MBA, Claremont … Horatio Alger Assn.
Carl Frayser McLarand
Founded one of best-known local architecture, planning, interior design firms … started residential 1974 … added commercial, other areas … clients in U.S., China, Egypt, United Arab Emirates … local projects: OCC (see Dennis Harkins) student housing … IBC residential projects … backs OC Museum of Art, Boy Scouts, South Coast Rep (see Paula Tomei) … charter member, Center for Real Estate at UCI Paul Merage School (see Eric Spangenberg)
William Meehan
Elected 2016 … co-chairman: banking, finance group; partner: corporate, tax, RE … work in real estate, finance, debt, PE funds, institutional lenders, JVs … second-largest OC firm, 130 OC attorneys, 265 employees … backs Olive Crest; serves on board, Segerstrom Center ... bachelor’s, U Mass Amherst; JD, Boston U
Kim Megonigal
Launched 1986 … built into one of largest independent staffing firms … organic growth, acquisitions … $75M annual sales, 150+ workers, 6 OC locations … learned business ground-up at Thomas Temporaries; named firm president at 28 … grew to 40 offices, 15 states … left to start Kimco … Claremont Men’s College graduate
Vic Merjanian
Business Journal Excellence in Entrepreneurship honoree … app-based emergency communications send GPS, status, text, images between clients, public safety agencies … $2M seed … signed $300M+, multiyear contract, NYC global security firm, April 2018 … pursuing patents, East Coast growth … Armenian-fluent, Spanish- proficient … classically trained pianist, guitarist … founder, managing partner, Kalfayan Merjanian LLP
Masahiro Moro
Took helm 2016 … 490 OC workers, 2017 U.S. sales 290K cars … leads U.S., Mexico, Puerto Rico sales, marketing, parts and service, logistics, customer support, regional ops … managing executive officer, CMO, Mazda Motor Corp. … 35 years automaker … born Kyoto … first car: used Mazda 323, age 18
Mark Moshayedi
Also CEO MSM Global Ventures … real estate, other investing … STEC sale (see Manouch Moshayedi) profits plowed into real estate … family bought Shoppes at Chino Hills 2010, $95M; sold 2014, $147M … collects classic cars … UCI bachelor’s, electrical, electronics engineering; Pepperdine MBA
Brian Murphy
No. 2 OC sports agency (see Scott Boras) … started in 2018 with Super Bowl MVP client, the affable Nick Foles, QB for Eagles with local connections … Murphy’s firm signed No. 10 Arizona Cardinals pick Josh Rosen … client list includes Green Bay Packers’ Clay Matthews, Ohio State Buckeye Coach Urban Meyer … top-25 ranked, Forbes: $34M annual commissions, $1.1B in contract value … Tokyo-based Dentsu bought a third of agency in 2015 for $17M
Patrick Murphy
Roman Catholic school approaching 70 years old … Murphy a Monarch since 1990, named president 2003 … highest 2017 enrollment of nonpublic school west of Chicago: 2,145 … school says 99% students go to college … sports teams perennial winners, esp. basketball, football, supplying stars to NCAA, pro ranks … bachelor’s, Simon Fraser U; master’s, SDSU
Nick Newsom
2018 Business Journal Innovator of the Year … cloud-based telecom software, founded 2012 … $10M Series A: Argentum Group, Marwit Capital’s Matthew Witte … 120 employees, 31K SF offices … HQ offers employees arcade, electric bikes … first job: ‘stuffing envelopes for my mom and dad’ … first car: ‘red Pontiac Fiero GT’ … can’t miss: ‘YTel Family Kickball Tournament’
Steven J. Nataupsky
Largest OC law firm, 160+ attorneys, 470 employees … IP, including trademark, domain names, trade secrets, copyright … clients: Masimo, Carl’s Jr., Monster Energy … adjunct professor, UCI, UCI Extension, Santa Ana College … has taught at USD Law … co-author ‘Protecting Your Athlete’s Intellectual Property Rights’ … bachelor’s, Tufts; JD, NYU
Friday, January 4
Midday Stock Roundup
U.S. stocks rose after a strong jobs report and a speech by Fed Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, who indicated patience with rate increases.
Cold-Chain Logistics Provider Cryoport Lands $25M
HEALTHCARE: Investment could seed 2019 acquisitions
Cryoport Inc. (Nasdaq: CYRX) is not the only one excited about the outlook of biotech companies and their cell and gene therapy pipelines—and the services used to transport their ultra-sensitive materials from place to place.
Andrew Littlefair
Co-founded 1997 … runs natural-gas stations … 2018: France-based Total SA bought 25% for $84M … market cap $505M … roots for USC, Dodgers … first job, age 15: ‘started Littlefair Lawns … kept through high school’ … backs Mater Dei, Reagan Library; sponsors Kenya college student … first car: VW 412, 4-door … can’t miss: Newport Harbor Yacht Club Stag Cruise … sleeps 6.5 hours a night; rises at 4
Thursday, January 3
HFC Buys 4th Franchiser
Home Franchise Concepts in Irvine on Jan. 1 bought AdvantaClean in Huntersville, N.C., on undisclosed term, its fourth home-improvement franchise system. It already owned Budget Blinds, Tailored Living and Concrete Craft.
Auto Sales: Monthly Strength, Mixed Year
Three of five OC automakers posted strong a strong month to close a generally down 2018 for local manufacturers.
Midday Stock Roundup
The three major U.S. indexes all fell more than 1% in the intraday session following lowered guidance by Apple Inc. related to dampened iPhone sales this quarter and growing economic uncertainty in China.
Select Interior Buys T.A.C. for $43M
Select Interior Concepts, Inc. (Nasdaq: SIC), an Anaheim-based building products and services company, said it bought T.A.C. Ceramic Tile Co., an installer of residential and light commercial flooring, for $43 million cash.
2019 Preview: REAL ESTATE
“With an expected market time of 127 days for all of Orange County, this is the coolest December since 2010” for home sales, notes a Dec. 16 report from local housing economist Steven Thomas.
Annette Marie Walker
Named to post May 2018 … previously president of strategy, Providence St. Joseph Health; CEO, St. Joseph Health … added centers to ‘reach people where they work, live’ … COH: in-development, $200M cancer center, Great Park Neighborhoods (see Emile Haddad, Lynn Jochim) … husband, 6 kids … first job: KFC ... backs Taller San Jose ... would meet Lincoln ... past Business Journal Innovator of the Year
Wednesday, January 2
Midday Stock Roundup
The S&P 500 was up 0.3% in midday trading to 2,513.91.
Tarek Salaway
Two sites: 523-bed acute care hospital, level II trauma center, Mission Viejo … 24-hr ER, intensive care, mental health, Laguna Beach … named to role 2018; previously COO … MV new midwifery birthing suites, incl. natural birth … $55M, 4-story, 105K-SF cancer outpatient, 2019 at The Shops at Mission Viejo by partnership: mall REIT, senior housing REIT, hospital … first car: Honda Accord … roots for Lakers … would meet Lincoln, Mandela
