“These are the coolest CFOs in the universe.” That’s how Emcee Murray Rudin introduced the winners of our 11th annual CFO of the Year Awards Thursday night. Honorees included Costa Mesa circuit board maker TTM Technologies’ Todd Schull.
“We had sales of $2.7 billion last year,” Schull told his fellows at Hotel Irvine. “Who says manufacturing is dead?”
John Luker, Orangewood Foundation and Samueli Academy, thanked his wife. “She told me when we were dating that Excel spreadsheets were sexy. I knew I had a chance.”
Rudin could be right. List of all the cool OC CFOs p. 8. Profiles next week.
First American Financial employees placed their real estate services firm on Fortune’s list of 100 Best Places to Work for the third year in a row. Survey tallies 50 workplace virtues, including compensation, encouraging innovation, camaraderie. FAF No. 63, only OC-HQ’d—technically. Activision Blizzard No. 84. No. 1? Salesforce.
Sotheby’s closes … on Sotheby’s. Insider reported in January that San Diego Sotheby’s franchise Pacific Sotheby’s was buying HOM Sotheby’s, with franchises in Newport, Laguna, San Clemente … deal closed Wednesday. Steve Games, Nyda Jones-Church buyers. Mike Shapiro seller. OC offices will be rebranded as Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty. Combined $6B in 2017 sales.
Plant a tree, have a child, write a book. Every man should. Our financial editor, Peter J. Brennan, has. Twice. “How to Write at Work,” on Amazon.
Peter Thiel sees Silicon Valley in his rearview mirror … PayPal founder has had it with Bay Area monolithic politics. “A one-party state,” Thiel lamented at a Stanford debate. So he’s escaping to LA. Which isn’t monolithic? Keep going Peter!
Jack Gallagher died this month. 70. Complications from diabetes. Gallagher created “Real Orange,” the PBS affil’s long-running news program. I was just walking into the KOCE newsroom as Jack was walking out. Took six seconds to like Jack. “Everything to Jack was interesting,” veteran voice actor Bill Rogers recalled. And that Irish wit. “100% Irish,” said producer Maria Hall-Brown. “And 100% Italian.” Jack’s math.
Trivia answer … Bing Crosby put up the $10,000 prize money for the first golf tournament at Newport Beach Country Club. 1975. “Pro-Am, guys who didn’t make the cut for the tour,” Jeff Purser told me. Pro golf returns to NBCC March 7-11. Toshiba Classic. Watson, Singh, Couples, Daly … Purser’s 20th year as director. Hoag Charity Sports as producer; Newport legend Marshall Duffield Sr. produced the first one … with an assist from his friend Bing.
