FAMILY AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, WHICH IS 51% OWNED BY AFRICAN-AMERICAN
Ray Dixon, ranks second on this week’s list of largest Orange County minority-owned businesses. We had to estimate the company’s revenue, though, because it declined to participate in our survey.
What had we done to offend the fine folks who operate Family Toyota of San Juan Capistrano, Board Ford in Whittier and are now opening a Family Honda?
Nothing intentional, explained a pleasant Marc Spizzirri (Dixon’s 49% partner). In fact, “we appreciate the recognition,” he said. The problem is that the publicity from being included on last year’s list drove the company crazy. “We were swamped with solicitations. Everybody was trying to sell us things. The phone didn’t stop ringing. We just decided there wasn’t any upside for us,” Spizzirri said.
We’re sorry, sort of. We often get testimonials from people surprised at what a large and active readership we have, although it’s usually in a positive light,a person who was the subject of a story, say, commenting on all of the old friends who called after reading it. We play matchmaker, too, for entrepreneurs and angels, tenants and landlords, companies and service providers.
We’re also a heck of a source of sales leads. And that’s where we get the occasional complaint, like the one from Family Automotive. In most cases, those who get bombarded with solicitations figure the hassle is worth the exposure. But a few feel otherwise.
To those of you who fall into the latter camp, we respect your right to tell us to take a hike. We hope you can respect our right to use the remaining resources at our disposal to include you on our lists anyway. When we examine any industry segment, we want our lists to be as complete and representative as possible.
But a word for you avid lead-followers: Please give Family Automotive a rest. We’d like to get their cooperation next year.
, Rick Reiff
Deep Thoughts From Dr. Mike
n Gov. Gray Davis wants teachers’ salaries to be tied to performance. Don’t stop there. Let’s link the salaries of the governor and all other elected officials to performance, too!
n I’ve noticed that the crowd at the Starbucks on PCH in Corona del Mar on Sunday morning is the same one that’s at the Cowboy on Saturday night. Only the beverages are different.
n A few weeks ago Mimi informed her second graders that it was “Turn Off the TV Week.” Soon a pupil approached her desk, inquiring sheepishly if this meant the power to his TV set was being cut off. Assured that it didn’t, he grinned broadly, said, “Great,” and sat back down.
n I’ll bet the most cellular traffic in the county is by the valet station at Sports Club Irvine. Phones are banned in the workout areas, so everyone’s calling frantically while they wait for their cars.
n Congrats to Mike Cohen of Newport Beach on his 60th birthday. Mike is the kind of guy who upon first meeting his in-laws stunned them by declaring, “Yes, I am related to Mickey Cohen the mobster!” Actually he’s not, but his wife’s grandmother became so upset that she fainted.
n The joke going around at Passover recently was that there’s a new matzo fortified with Metamucil. It gives new meaning to, “Let My People Go.”
Glueck is a Newport Beach doctor, writer and corporate consultant.
