Fond Farewell

I’ll be off to a new challenge—in fine fettle and good for the ride in no small part because of the many lessons I’ve learned in Orange County’s vibrant community of business. Here’s to a few of the many who have helped—and please know that I have many others fondly in mind … Thanks to George and Julia Argyros, for their broad vision of business as a keystone of community … To Howard and Roberta Ahmanson, for their family tradition of intellectual engagement as a backbone of philanthropy … To Wylie Aitken, who’d win as many Grammys as court cases if they had a category for sheer moxie … To Donald Bren, for his ability to read societies—and his boldness in anticipating their capacity and needs … To Deborah Bridges, for the unabashed empathy she brings to the world … To Dan Callahan, for knowing when to play for keeps and when to lighten up … … To Ed Carpenter, for his constant concern for the larger community … To Irv Chase, for bringing son, Ryan, and his boundless energy to bear on the next chapter of Downtown Santa Ana … To John Christensen, for knowing that everyone needs a coach from time to time … To Kim Cripe, for the full circle of courage she has created as a business and community leader … To Jim Doti, for his constant embrace of the marketplace of ideas … To Mohamed El-Erian, for maintaining a keen interest in his backyard while fulfilling his globe-trotting duties …  To Reuben Franco, for his efforts to keep in touch with two cultures—and keep two cultures in touch … To Wayne Gross, for his unquestionable commitment to thinking big … To Emile Haddad, for his ability to translate hard-earned personal perspective into visions of community … To Julie Hill, for knowing how to claim lasting victory in the battle of the sexes … To Sam Ingardia, for his tales of travel … To Michelle Jordan, for her unflagging advocacy on behalf of fellow female executives … To Joe Kiani, for making time to help in small ways, too … To Jim Mazzo, for his unwavering spirit of fellowship … To Bobby McDonald, for living his mission … To the OCBJ newsroom staff, for making me look good in so many ways … To Tam Nguyen, for showing OC the potential of Little Saigon’s second generation … To Hoshi Printer, for his dedication to the companies he serves and to his fellow corporate board members … To David Pyott, for his humor as much as the rest of his remarkable story … To Maria Reynosa, for her efficient service and ever-cheerful presence … To Daniele Struppa, for his ability to be unique and respectful as he follows Jim Doti’s act with one entirely his own … To Ed Thorp, for resisting any urge to become a ladder person even after reaching the top rung as an academic, gambler, investor, and author … To Peter Ueberroth, who often ends phone conversations with “Goodbye for now”—a statement of hope stripped down to poetic essence … Sullivan Says: Goodbye for now.