Edwards Lifesciences and high-flying unicorn Rocket Labs share a passion in this week’s paper: OC’s “talent pool.” That base enabled Mike Mussallem’s Edwards to stay and grow over 60 years (p. 4) and lured Peter Beck’s New Zealand-based Rocket to land its U.S. base in Surf City two years ago (p. 90).
Infinity Bank, just the ninth OK’d by the U.S. since the 2008 financial crisis—Costa Mesa-based Blue Gate is another—held a coming-out party April 9 at the Westin Hotel in Costa Mesa. Infinity CEO Bala Balkrishna, longtime OC banker and previously CEO of Commercial Bank of California, welcomed the crowd of about 40 investors, potential customers and bank employees. Bank opened on Feb. 1 in Santa Ana after $33 million capital raise …
More Edwards … last Thursday reminded us its business is saving lives … it celebrated the fourth annual Patient Day, flew out hundreds of heart-valve recipients and caregivers from across the country to its Irvine campus … using their valves’ serial numbers the patients met everyone who crafted and inspected their unique valves. Gonna need a bigger lobby …
There goes the neighborhood … amid PIMCO, Irvine Co., Pacific Life et al. on OC’s priciest office real estate row, Newport Center Drive, is a smallish law shop and its founder, Michael J. Avenatti, better known as the lawyer for Stephanie Clifford—better known as Stormy Daniels …
Add Ted Smith, FileNet founder, former MIND Research CEO to the signatories of our Leader Board letter on behalf of healthcare exec Jim Mazzo: “When is Enough Enough?” 37 other execs signed on (p. 97). Motion hearing scheduled for April 30 and third trial for June 5, before Judge Andrew Guilford at the Ronald Reagan Federal Courthouse …
Dixie Chicks County … among misconceptions OC marketers want known: wide-open spaces. This Saturday, Earth Day eve and the 30th anniversary of the city of Irvine’s pact with Irvine Co.—a third of Irvine Ranch is preserved habitat and parks. Green party starts 9:30 a.m. at The Seed Farm with 40 kids from the Boys and Girls Club …
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, enduring a rough few months—getting it from both sides. Testified last week before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas: “Why was Palmer Luckey fired?”
Zuckerberg: “That is a specific personnel matter that seems like it would be inappropriate to speak to here.”
Luckey co-founded Oculus VR, designed Oculus VR headsets in Irvine, sold to FB in 2014 for $2.4B. He’s Long Beach-CSULB bred, owns at least one home in Newport Beach, a marina in HB. Luckey supported President Donald Trump in dollars and deeds. Also Sen. Cruz. His three co-founders still Oculus/FB executives …
Inspiration Point … The Business Journal is teaming with OneOC and President and CEO Dan McQuaid for the second Regional Civic 50. The survey-application launches today, April 16, runs through June 29 … tell us about your company’s civic engagement, how it’s improving the quality of life in our community … small, medium and large cos. judged in their peer groups. We’ll be sharing a few from the 2017 honorees over the next few mos.—businesses doing well by doing good. Oneoc.org/occivic50.
