Talent Tells Tale of New Era in OC

It can be hard to recognize an era while it’s happening. Keep that in mind and ponder whether OC has entered a new era of bolstering its professional and intellectual depth in ways that hit squarely upon or cross paths with the community of business here. A squadron of talent has arrived in OC lately, starting with the return of Finbarr O’Neill, who led Fountain Valley-based Hyundai Motor America from also-ran to up-and-comer a decade ago. O’Neill recently became boss of J.D. Power and Associates, which now keeps its HQ in the South Coast Metro district … UCI’s law school chipped in with a quartet of decorated professors recruited from Harvard, NYU, the University of Michigan and Yeshiva University … It helps to have some carrots to dangle when recruiting top talent, and Paul and Marybelle Musco will make sure Chapman U has a big one to offer candidates for its top job—starting with Daniele Struppa, newly inaugurated president of the school in Orange. The Muscos are the benefactors set to donate a home in Big Canyon as a presidential residence for the school in perpetuity … The Diocese of Orange, meanwhile, appointed Pia de Solenni—who graduated summa cum laude with a doctorate in sacred theology from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome—as its first theological consultant … The trend toward deeper talent pools grows outward from OC, too—the Insider hears that Costa Mesa-based law firm Greenberg Gross will launch an office in downtown L.A., with recently hired securities trial lawyer Howard Privette as managing partner. Aluyah Imoisili, a star litigator whose victories include a $40 million jury verdict, more recently left a spot with white-shoe Milbank Tweed for a partner’s slot with Greenberg Gross in L.A. … Plenty of depth when Asian Women Entrepreneurs gathered last month for the group’s annual scholarship luncheon at Anaheim White House Restaurant. AWE scored with emcee Marissa Pei, a Seal Beach resident who’s gaining a reputation as the “Asian Oprah” and showed why while handing out scholarships to local college students, and Lotus Awards to Ouyen Tu, founder of B Corp Law Center in Anaheim, and Tina Guilder Chen, CEO of Virtrus Pharmaceuticals Inc. … The Insider hears the OC sports scene could add some depth if the Big West Conference decides to complement its post-season basketball tournaments at the Honda Center with something similar for other sports at the $250 million worth of fields and facilities under development by FivePoint Holdings at Great Park in Irvine … The San Clemente-based Hispanic 100 showed how to recognize talent and flex some sociopolitical muscle at last week’s annual gala at the Balboa Bay Resort, when it gave a Lifetime Achievement Award to Lou Diamond Phillips, a helping hand to a handful of hardworking youngsters, and a chance for much of OC’s political class to pay respects … The event also showed that even the most talented among us can benefit from a home-field advantage—an autographed baseball from Angels slugger Albert Pujols went from $75 to $100 as the silent-auction bidding came to a close, while one from Dodgers rookie sensation Corey Seager went from $25 to $35. … Turn to page 1 for Deirdre Newman’s report on how Steve Craig scouts promising rookies of the retail and restaurant world for a pipeline of talent that stretches from Missouri to OC.