Irvine Company Chairman Donald Bren’s PR team ain’t what it used to be. Budget cuts took a toll, now the last two full-time spokesmen are leaving. A year after he was hired, senior veep Gary Delsohn says he plans to return to Sacramento “to pursue writing and other projects near and dear to my heart.” VP John Christensen says he expects to remain involved with the company, but wants to devote more time to church and charity work. EVP Greg Lindstrom says a search has begun for a “senior corporate communication executive” …
Swimsuit maker Raj Bathal (Raj Manufacturing, Tustin) has attended Super Bowls, collegiate bowls and other big contests, but he calls the New Orleans Saints’ overtime NFC title win against the Minnesota Vikings “the most exciting game I’ve ever seen.” He had a good view—from the Louisiana Superdome sidelines with luminaries including President George H.W. Bush and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, and from the box of Saints’ owner Tom Benson. He rode in a motorcade from the hotel and attended Benson’s private pregame Mass in the Dome. Bathal is friends with Benson’s brother Larry, a fellow team owner in the short-lived (1991-1992) World League of American Football. Bathal says he’s “over” his attempts to participate in an NFL franchise. He doubts the Southland will get a team “anytime soon” despite buzz about L.A. real estate mogul Ed Roski’s planned NFL stadium in City of Industry …
Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle drew 1,000 to his final State of the City address at The Grove, received two standing O’s, was warmly introduced by his two kids and daughter-in-law, and fought back tears for 50 minutes. A proposed economic stimulus for his “year of lasts”—a half-percent sales tax rebate on all purchases of $20,000 or more. Two days later Pringle, a self-described “transportation geek” and chair of the California High Speed Rail Authority, joined Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to celebrate the award of $2.3 billion in federal stimulus money toward construction of the Anaheim-to-San Francisco bullet train …
In town: Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski of “Morning Joe,” for an OC Forum luncheon Thursday at the Hilton Irvine/OC Airport; California Assembly Speaker Karen Bass at Planned Parenthood’s Roe v. Wade dinner Saturday at the Fairmont Hotel in Newport Beach; Forbes Publisher Rich Karlgaard, to keynote the OC Biz Council’s annual dinner Feb. 11 at the Hyatt Regency Irvine …
“What a difference a year makes. A year ago I couldn’t get anyone to return my phone calls”—Sean McCarthy of stock-market sensation Diedrich Coffee, receiving his CFO of the Year Award. A record crowd of 550 attended the OCBJ-sponsored event at the Hyatt Regency Irvine …
“It’s bad, but it’s worse than you realize”—Schwarzenegger economic adviser David Crane, describing the state budget at the Irvine Chamber-UCI Merage School Business Outlook conference. Biz Dean Andy Policano forecast a “slow rebound” for the economy.
