It’s a time-honored government tradition—patronage has its privileges, as does friendship and policy kinship. All may be factors in the likely nomination of Laguna Beach’s Kelly Roberts as U.S. ambassador to Slovenia.
New York Magazine first reported that the businesswoman, philanthropist, and co-owner of The Mission Inn in Riverside will be named to the diplomatic post.
First Lady Melania Trump was born in Slovenia in 1970, then part of Yugoslavia.
Today there’s an important business friendship between the two countries—among other alliances to be nurtured. Slovenia has been a good trading partner; the latest figures put the U.S. trade surplus at $400 million, per a CIA report—primary exports are banking and professional services.
Roberts’ skills will help. She has partnered with her husband, Duane, on ventures beyond the resort, and on her daughter’s Casey’s Cupcakes shops.
Kelly Roberts holds a law degree from the University of Southern California and serves on the boards of several foundations and Pepperdine University. Her husband created the frozen burrito before selling companies to ConAgra and Tyson Foods, and forging a later-stage career in banking and real estate. The Business Journal estimated the Roberts’ net worth at $525 million, No. 32 on our 2017 OC’s Wealthiest list.
Having Southern Californians connected to the executive branch can accrue benefits back home—and isn’t a new phenomenon.
Former OC Supervisor Gaddi Vasquez was President George W. Bush’s ambassador to a U.N. agency and before that director of the Peace Corps. Newport Beach developer George Argyros was U.S. ambassador to Spain during President George H.W. Bush’s term.
Neither the Roberts nor their associates have commented on the story.
