Dec. 4 will see a swearing-in ceremony for Anaheim’s two new city council members, one re-elected council member, and a new mayor, Harry Sidhu, a pro-business Republican candidate, Disney ally, and former city councilman.
Was it a coincidence that one of Mayor Tom Tait’s last scheduled public acts under the role was a groundbreaking ceremony for a hotel not being led by Disney? Perhaps.
Still, the 12-story Radisson Blu (whose groundbreaking event was scheduled for Friday as we went to press, weather pending) is one of the more notable hotels in Anaheim not looking for tax incentives, which would be tied to the city’s recently voter-approved living wage measure.
The issue was among the reasons Disney scuttled plans for a 700-room Downtown Disney entertainment center a few months back. Tate has opposed giving Disney the tax breaks.
Whatever the multi-team development group heading the four-star, 326-room Radisson Blu doesn’t get in tax incentives, they’ll likely make up for in housing development profits.
City records show plans are in the works to turn a business park site next to the hotel, which they control, into a 292-townhome project.
James Mazzo, the former chairman and chief executive officer of Advanced Medical Optics Inc. and one of OC’s top medical execs, has found himself with a new side gig.
OCTANe, the Orange County technology and life sciences accelerator, last week appointed Mazzo as its new chair, effective next month. He’ll take over the role from lawyer David Perry, who is staying on as a senior adviser.
“Jim has been a strong advocate for OCTANe, was instrumental in the creation of the organization in 2002 and been a pillar of our community,” noted Bill Carpou, the Aliso Viejo-based accelerator’s CEO, via email.
Mazzo’s day job is global president for Germany-based Carl Zeiss Meditec’s ophthalmic devices division.
Either Newport Coast’s Sage Hill School has a great budding entrepreneur curriculum, or a crack marketing team.
Maybe both.
The high school, opened in 2000, saw two of its alumni—Carolyn Witte (’08) and Luke Droulez (’07)—make Forbes Magazine’s annual “30 Under 30” list of rising young entrepreneurs.
They are the fifth and sixth alumni from Sage Hill to make the list.
Witte co-founded the women’s healthcare startup Tia, a New York-based “for women by women” healthcare service.
She’s the daughter of Matthew Witte, Marwit Investment Management founding partner. Uncle Bill Witte is Related California’s CEO.
Droulez is CMO for Parachute Home, a bedding and bath brand based in Los Angeles that raised $30 million earlier this year.
