A few business types joined the 2,000 dignitaries, Dem politicos and Obama fans at the OC Fairgrounds last Wednesday, including Anton Segerstrom, Bryan Cave partner Greg Trimarche and GOP-connected consultants Adam Probolsky, Julie Vander-most and Peter Buffa. Jerome Ruddins, a construction manager with Irvine-based engineering firm RBF Consulting, introduced Obama, who in turn plugged one of RBF’s projects, the 91 freeway expansion …
When then-President George W. Bush came to Irvine in 2006 (to a quieter audience of 500, but more protesters outside), he was introduced by a Democrat,Manatt founding partner and then-OC Biz Council Prez Tom Phelps. But while Phelps was an early Oba-ma supporter, at last week’s rally he was not only offstage but against a wall. Not that he minded: “Democracy at work in OC” …
Lou Who? Obama, reading from notes, recognized state Sen. Lou Correa as “Jose Correa” …
Between George W.’s recent low-key visit to see Don Koll on Balboa Island and Obama’s high-profile rally, Mike Huckabee dropped into OC, too …
Publisher Richard Reisman hosted the OCBJ’s Excellence in Entrepreneurship luncheon a couple of hours before Obama’s event. He said it was too bad the president didn’t drop by to get some real economic, “Yes We Can” inspiration from the rainbow coalition of 400 nominees and guests. Keynoter William Wang, of Irvine-based flat-screen sensation Vizio, mixed humor with pragmatism, telling the crowd, “don’t give up,” and receiving a standing O. P RR suggested it isn’t Detroit automakers that will save the domestic auto industry but folks such as luncheon award winner Henrik Fisker’s multinational team in Irvine, rolling out the luxury hybrid sensation Karma. (Winner profiles in next week’s paper) …
The next cheers that Tim Salmon hears will be as a college grad. After concluding his stellar Angels career in 2006, the King Fish returned to Grand Canyon University in Phoenix to complete a degree in applied management: “I plan to walk this May with the class of 2009.” Older brother Mike, who played football for USC, the 49ers and the Bills, says Tim “is still chewing on” an offer to join him at tenant rep Madison Street Partners in Irvine “but coaching and network analyst job offers are hard to pass up.” Rain and recession hit Tim’s annual golf tourney at Coto de Caza, but he notes, “We still managed to raise roughly $75,000 (for Canyon Acres and Laurel House), which we are thrilled with in this economy” …
Former World Bank Presi-dent James Wolfenshohn addresses the World Affairs Council April 7 at the Irvine Marriott (www.worldaffairscouncil.org) …
Quality reporting of the financial meltdown and other 2008 business events mixed with gallows humor as some 60 journalists from around the country gathered at UCLA to judge the Gerald Loeb Awards entries. Newsweek’s David Kaplan, with EE RR a judge in the Large Newspapers category, quipped, “While we were deliberating, the online category tried to take us over!”
