GARY JABARA
Founder, Chief Executive
Mobilitie LLC
Newport Beach
Born in Baldwin Park
Age: 57
Lives in Newport Beach
WHY: Telecom and wireless executive, owner of the country’s largest privately held wireless infrastructure provider. Force in OC’s residential, commercial real estate markets.
HOW: Former partner in Deloitte’s telecommunications infrastructure practice, started Mobilitie in 2005. Company quickly grew into one of country’s largest cell tower owners. Scored $1.1 billion from 2012’s sale of 2,300 cellphone towers to SBA Communications Corp. Used proceeds from deal to buy real estate, primarily in OC, while rolling out new business lines for his telecom company. Big source of business now is providing upgraded wireless service to sports arenas, concert venues, casinos, other large venues through Distributed Antenna Systems.
RECENT: Working with Overland Park, Kan.-based Sprint Corp. and other national carriers to roll out network upgrades, paving the way toward 5G. Mobilitie primarily handling deployment of small cell base stations, installing equipment that can handle next-gen wireless and broadband traffic in congested areas.
FAST FACT: Notable new side ventures include a series of sports/training interactive books for young athletes, and for adults, Chihuahua Cerveza, a Mexican-style beer maker with large national plans. Flagship restaurant across the street from Lido House; try the tacos.
PERSONAL: Named Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur of the Year in 2013 for real estate; took home OC Business Journal Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award in 2015. Calls Mobilitie as much a real estate venture as technology company. Main investor in Newport Beach-based Villa Real Estate, residential brokerage that targets high-end coastal properties. San Diego State University grad led ownership group that tried unsuccessfully to buy San Diego Padres baseball team in 2012. Big believer in thank-you cards.
