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OC’s 40 Under 40
Whether blazing trails within a corporate setting or committing to doing it their own way, these under-40 Orange County entrepreneurs and execs have one thing in common: the willingness to take risks. With risk comes the adrenalin rush they crave; the result of creative energy, on-the-edge decision- making, and the “Yeah!” moments that brand them as a success.
Published: April 26, 2007
Cameron Lumsden (37)
partner, Blue Coral Seafood and Spirits
bluecoralseafood.com
Lumsden is one of the driving forces behind this phenomenal restaurant that became an instant success when it opened in Fashion Island last summer.
Smartest move: “Getting the opportunity to partner with restaurant visionaries Bill Allen and Paul Fleming to put the Blue Coral concept together.”
Candace Nelson (32)
owner, Sprinkles Cupcakes
sprinklescupcakes.com
A little project that started in her kitchen, Nelson’s baked jewels are now some of the country’s most sought-after cupcakes. Oprah Winfrey and other celebrity clients have touted Sprinkles Cupcakes.
Smartest move: “Partnering with my husband. He has always challenged me to think bigger.”
Eddie Delbridge (38)
executive producer, Eddie Delbridge Productions
eddiedelbridgeproductions.com
After perfecting his craft as a producer at NBC, Delbridge formed his own company and now produces red carpet segments for the SAG Awards, Grammys, Golden Globes, and Academy Awards broadcasts.
Smartest move: “Starting my own production company and utilizing my connections to grow my own business.”
Cara Weichman (28)
land acquisitions manager, John Laing Homes
johnlainghomes.com
Weichman is one of the top acquisition managers in the county. A recent example of her talent is the successful negotiation of an 11-acre industrial site in La Habra, beating out several competitors. Ninety-one detached homes will be built there.
Smartest move: “Gaining valuable experience and networking in the commercial real estate industry and translating that into residential land acquisitions. I could not be happier working anyplace else.”
Rob Myers (36)
senior VP/regional president, Wells Fargo
wellsfargo.com
Myers began his career with Wells Fargo in 1994 as a personal banker. Today, he oversees $3 billion in assets and is responsible for the region’s retail banking operations.
Biggest mistake: “Not effectively balancing work and personal life. I’m not completely cured, but I do recognize that achieving work/life balance makes me a better executive and a better man.”
Clive Hawkins (39)
president, The Aria Group
aria-group.com
A mechanical engineer by training, Hawkins formed the Aria Group in 1995 with car designer Charles Taylor. It has built show cars and prototypes for clients like Ford, Mazda, and Nissan.
Biggest Mistake:
“We talked about redirecting our company as a technology innovator and developer, as opposed to a service business. We followed our ‘familiar path.’ In hindsight, I think we would have been very successful taking that risk.”
Jerrod Blandino (35)
Too Faced Cosmetics
toofaced.com
Too Faced Cosmetics has become a favorite of makeup artists on movie sets and television programs. Blandino has also been featured on VH-1’s “The Fabulous Life of the Mega Rich.”
Biggest mistake: “Staffing my entire company in the beginning years with mostly family and friends. That was a big mistake!”
Ryan Gattis (28)
novelist/educator
ryangattis.net
Gattis has written three novels. One of them, “Kung Fu High School,” is being made into a movie by New Line Cinema. He also teaches creative writing classes at Chapman University, his alma mater.
Smartest move: “I would say it was my decision to move to England to pursue my Master’s degree. I desperately needed a change of scenery at that time and the combination of travel and a rigorous academic environment really worked for me.”
Craig Barbarosh (39)
attorney/partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman
pillsburylaw.com
Barbarosh is the youngest member of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman’s managing board, which oversees and directs all aspects of the firm’s business.
Smartest move: “I constantly change and evolve my practice in order to keep it interesting and challenging. I also try to balance my professional obligations with community involvement. For instance, I am currently a member of the UCI CEO Roundtable, where I am the chair of the Program Committee and member of the Steering Committee.”
Mike Morhaime (39)
president and founder, Blizzard Entertainment
blizzard.com
Morhaime runs the Irvine-based computer games company that has more than 8 million people paying monthly subscription fees of up to $15 to play its biggest hit, “World of Warcraft.”
Smartest move: “The smartest thing I’ve done was to say ‘yes’ when Allan Adham asked me to quit my job and go into business with him (I had graduated from UCLA only eight months prior). We started Blizzard with an investment of $10,000 each and our home computers. Allen also recruited Frank Pearce, another friend from UCLA, and the three of us founded the company.”
Rob Pardo (36)
vice president, game design, Blizzard Entertainment
blizzard.com
Pardo had his work on the online video game “World of Warcraft” honored by Time magazine when it put him on its list of 100 most influential people for 2006, saying that the game he created “could be the future of electronic entertainment.”
Smartest move: “Working with my colleagues at Blizzard Entertainment to develop ‘World of Warcraft.’ Though the game is a big success today, the path to that success wasn’t very clear when we began the production process. When we began developing the game, there were no assurances that any game of this type could achieve mass market popularity.”
Emanuel Balarie (27)
senior market strategist, Wisdom Financial, Inc.
wisdomfinancialinc.com
Balarie’s research is regularly published in investment and commodity newsletters and websites around the world. The 27-year-old is also regularly featured on CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street” and “Morning Call.”
Biggest mistake: “I am not a believer in career mistakes. While I have had many moments where I think I should have done things differently, I simply view them as learning experiences.”
Brad Perry (35)
founder and president, FireSocket LLC
firesocket.com,
dealersocket.com
FireSocket, which builds custom customer service software, has been the fastest-growing company in Orange County over the past five years, as recognized by Deloitee & Touche. FireSocket specializes in products for the auto dealership and insurance industries.
Smartest move: “To jump off the cliff of risk and start a business from scratch. However, making that decision was only the beginning, as the next step was to partner with someone who shared the same values, goals, and aspirations as I did. For me, partnering with Jonathan Ord was that right person.”
Jonathan Ord (35)
founder and CEO, FireSocket LLC
firesocket.com
FireSocket, which Ord co-founded with partner Brad Perry, has about 500 customers across the nation using its custom customer software, including some 40 in Orange County.
Biggest mistake: “To assume that people, certain people, will or would change. We have had experiences with partners and even employees where, looking back, it would have been better for everyone if we would have ended the relationship when the writing was on the wall instead of trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.”
Robyn Schneider (20)
Author, Published by Random House
robynschneider.com
Orange County native Schneider has already had “Better Than Yesterday,” her first novel, published. Her second is coming out in June and she is working on her third. She is also a student at Barnard College of Columbia University.
Smartest move: “Using the Internet for promotion. Before a book is released, the author can have as much time as two years to build a brand and ensure sales. I was in a Books a Million store in suburban Illinois a few days before ‘Better Than Yesterday’ was published, and they had already sold out of the book and had to order more.”
Jonas Bevacqua (29)
co-founder/designer, L-R-G (Lifted Research Group)
l-r-g.com
With his partner Robert Wright, Bevacqua, founded the clothing brand L-R-G in 1999.
The company has doubled or tripled its business every year since.
Smartest move: “Taking the risk to start a clothing company that bridged the gap between all of the subcultures that Robert and I were raised on.”
Robert Wright (34)
co-founder/designer, L-R-G (Lifted Research Group)
l-r-g.com
Wright co-founded the clothing brand L-R-G with his partner Jonas Bevacqua. Their products are now found in retailers like Beach World, Macy’s, and Closets.
Smartest move: “Doing business with style, grace and credibility, while maintaining a sense of humor and never taking ourselves too serious.”
Todd Eckenrode (38)
golf course architect, Origins Golf Design
originsgolfdesign.com
Eckenrode is the principal designer for all of Origins’ products and he has been tapped by Lennar to design two new golf courses at Heritage Fields, at El Toro.
Smartest move: “Playing less golf and concentrating on design!”
Ron Hay (26)
owner and co-president, ModBargains.com
ModBargains.com
Hay, along with his partner, Mike Brown, was awarded the Western Region Global Student Entrepreneur Award and the International Global Student entrepreneur Award in 2006 for their website which sells auto parts at competitive prices.
Smartest move: “Not hesitating or waiting around to carry out an idea. I choose to immediately apply my ideas and vision.”
Mike Brown (21)
owner and co-president, ModBargains.com
ModBargains.com
With partner Ron Hay, Brown founded ModBargains.com. The website caters to car enthusiasts seeking quality parts to use in modifying their own vehicles.
Biggest mistake: “Working for the business, more than working on the business.”
Justin Schmidt (31)
Dulcinea Farms
dulcinea.com
Schmidt oversees all Dulcinea produce in the U.S. and Latin America. On any given day, he may be in Brazil checking on
production or ordering seeds for next year’s crop, a fine example of the diversity of businesses in Orange County.
Smartest move: “Taking the risk to move to a small entrepreneurial company in its early growth stages has offered a tremendous learning environment.”
Francisco Silva (32)
Vice president, research and development, PrimeCell Therapeutics
primecelltherapeutics.com
Silva has spearheaded the company’s pursuit of the first therapeutically appli-cable stem cell. He attended the Vatican’s international stem cell conference and had a private audience with the pope.
Smartest move: “To break from the traditional path normally taken by someone pursuing a career in science.
By foregoing the typical academic routine and following my passion for the application of science in the real world, I discovered the opportunity that would become my life’s work.”
Adam Guild (38)
president and CEO, Interep Interactive/Winstar Interactive Media
wims.com
Guild broke new ground in 2006 when Interep launched Interactive Video Network (IVN), a network division dedicated to online streaming video advertising.
Smartest move: “Leaving entertainment to start an Internet rep firm. The industry’s highs, lows, and highs again have taught me how to manage through extreme conditions. I liken it to sailing through a tornado.”
Peter Villegas (39)
First vice president, national manager for external affairs, Washington Mutual
wamu.com
Villegas is listed by the Orange County Business Journal as one of the most influential Latinos in Orange County.
In 2005, the Orange County Register identified him as one of the top 10 people who will shape the next 100 years of Orange County.
Smartest move: “The willingness to begin my banking career as a teller and work/earn my way up the ladder, as opposed to holding out for a certain salary or title.”
Richard Rams (29)
dean of Student Support Services, Cypress College
cypresscollege.edu
Rams is probably one of the youngest deans of anything, anywhere. He oversees a multi-million-dollar budget and a large staff at Cypress College.
Smartest move: “My smartest career move came in 2003, at the age of 25, when I accepted my first management position at Golden West College as the interim director of financial aid and scholarships. It was a major professional risk at the time.”
Amber McDougall (36)
senior campaign account manager, United Way Orange County
unitedwayoc.org
McDougall has energized online donations, a vital way of raising funds for nonprofits, by building a database and creating e-campaigns for the United Way.
Smartest move: “Working for a nonprofit, such as Orange County United Way, has been a personally rewarding experience. At the end of every day I know that the work I do has a positive impact on the lives of so many Orange County families and individuals less fortunate than I.”
Joe Duran (39)
CEO, United Capital Financial Partners
unitedcfa.com
Before founding United Capital Financial Ventures, Duran built his first company, Centurion Capital Management, into a nationally respected firm in less than 10 years and sold it to GE Financial in 2001.
Biggest mistake: “After a period of significant growth, not addressing quality flaws in time.”
Navid Aslani (28) (left)
& Ali Jahangiri (31) (right)
owners, urFlick.com
urflick.com
Aslani and Jahangiri have created an online video sharing/social networking website designed for the action sports community. Features allows members to charge fees to view their content and donate some
of the proceeds to local charities.
Smartest move: “Leaving the corporate world and pursuing our passion.”
Justin Farahan (34)
founder, Vermani Collezioni
vermani.net
Vermani Collezioni, founded by Farahan, recently moved to Irvine from New York City. The company’s luxury women’s clothing is sold in more than 500 stores.
Smartest move: “To relocate from New York City to Irvine. Not only is Irvine a much more pleasant environment than the garment districts in Manhattan and Los Angeles, it is also close to the main port of Long Beach.”
Scott Ecker (36)
tax partner, Deloitte Tax LLP
deloitte.com
In addition to his work at Deloitte, Ecker has also served as a board member of the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation and is chairman of the Rod Carew Children’s Cancer Classic.
Biggest mistake: “My biggest career mistake is definitely not taking advantage of opportunities to accelerate career promotion by moving, but Orange County is my home. My family, friends, clients, and community involvement are so important to me that I could not imagine moving away from Orange County and giving up any of them.”
Ryan Gallagher (31)
senior vice president, Grubb & Ellis Company; Institutional Investment Group
grubb-ellis.com
Gallagher is a specialist in the handling of investment-grade commercial assets. He has represented landlords in more than $1 billion worth of commercial real estate over the past three years.
Smartest move: “Moving to Southern California from Washington, D.C. in 1999.”
Jessica Morog (23)
major gifts associate, United Way Orange County
unitedwayoc.org
Morog oversees the Women Looking Forward campaign, a way to recognize the caring and financial power of local women through their donations of $1,000-$9,999.
Smartest move: “My biggest career move was leaving South Dakota to pursue theater at the University of Southern California and ultimately studying policy, planning, and management.”
Frank Marini (34)
president, Contiki Holidays
contiki.com
Marini oversees all U.S. business operations of the youth travel company Contiki Holidays, which offers trips designed specifically for 18- to 35-year-olds. More than 100,000 passengers travel with Contiki a year worldwide.
Smartest move: “Joining Contiki, by far.”
Kelly Kaneda (30)
president and owner, Femme Knits, Inc.
iheartscrapbook.com
Kaneda is a surfer and third-generation clothing manufacturer. His company makes a women’s line of cotton and knit casual wear that is finding a market in surf and skate shops with $30 million in annual sales.
Smartest move: “Working more and surfing less. I was born and raised in Hawaii and surfing was a huge part of my life growing up. I worked a lot of days and summers at the family company back in the day alongside my dad. He gave me the grit I needed to deal with every challenge of running my own company.”
Tim DeCinces (32)
owner, Home Plate Development LLC
homeplatellc.com,
beachpit.com
Son of longtime Angels’ favorite Doug DeCinces, Tim is also a third-generation builder. His company builds custom homes in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa and he is also the owner and managing partner of The Beach Pit BBQ restaurant.
Smartest move: “Realizing the opportunities available, due to my father’s success both on the baseball field and in the community, while making my own way in the world. Oh, and going to UCLA, meeting and marrying my wife!”
Brian Spencer (36)
founder, Vurtego
propogo.com
Spencer has brought a childhood toy into the jacked-up X-Games world. With his dad, a retired aerospace engineer, Spencer invented a turbocharged pogo stick that can leap up to six feet high.
Smartest move: “Stepping away from a stable six-figure income in the pharmaceutical industry. Now I’m following my passion and having fun with it—life’s too short to be serious!”
Rob Mitchell (38)
senior vice president, Voit Commercial Brokerage
Mitchell is considered one of the top investment brokers in Orange County and his client list at Voit includes Kilroy Realty, Newport Federal, Greenlaw Partners, and Guardian Life Insurance Company.
Smartest move: “Moving into investment real estate as a broker and working with a couple key dealmaker clients.”
Franzvon Holzhausen (38)
director of design, Mazda North America Operations
Franz von Holzhausen has been associated with some of the most influential concept cars of recent years, including Concept One at Volkswagen, which later became the New Beetle.
Smartest move: “Finishing my schooling in Europe, which allowed me to build a foundation for pure, simple, honest, and practical design, and gave me exposure to some of the best automotive designers in the world.”
Chris St. Hilaire (38)
principal and founder, Jury Impact/M4 Strategies
St. Hilaire’s jury consulting firm is revolutionizing trial research by applying marketing-based strategies to the courtroom. His client list includes AT&T, Lucent, GE, Goodyear, and Royal Caribbean.
Smartest move: “Applying political and marketing techniques to jury research.”
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partner, Blue Coral Seafood and Spirits bluecoralseafood.com Lumsden is one of the driving forces behind this phenomenal restaurant that became an instant success when it opened in Fashion Island last summer. Smartest move: “Getting the opportunity to partner with restaurant visionaries Bill Allen and Paul Fleming to put the Blue Coral concept together.” Candace Nelson (32) owner, Sprinkles Cupcakes sprinklescupcakes.com A little project that started in her kitchen, Nelson’s baked jewels are now some of the country’s most sought-after cupcakes. Oprah Winfrey and other celebrity clients have touted Sprinkles Cupcakes. Smartest move: “Partnering with my husband. He has always challenged me to think bigger.” Eddie Delbridge (38) executive producer, Eddie Delbridge Productions eddiedelbridgeproductions.com After perfecting his craft as a producer at NBC, Delbridge formed his own company and now produces red carpet segments for the SAG Awards, Grammys, Golden Globes, and Academy Awards broadcasts. Smartest move: “Starting my own production company and utilizing my connections to grow my own business.” Cara Weichman (28) land acquisitions manager, John Laing Homes johnlainghomes.com Weichman is one of the top acquisition managers in the county. A recent example of her talent is the successful negotiation of an 11-acre industrial site in La Habra, beating out several competitors. Ninety-one detached homes will be built there. Smartest move: “Gaining valuable experience and networking in the commercial real estate industry and translating that into residential land acquisitions. I could not be happier working anyplace else.” Rob Myers (36) senior VP/regional president, Wells Fargo wellsfargo.com Myers began his career with Wells Fargo in 1994 as a personal banker. Today, he oversees $3 billion in assets and is responsible for the region’s retail banking operations. Biggest mistake: “Not effectively balancing work and personal life. I’m not completely cured, but I do recognize that achieving work/life balance makes me a better executive and a better man.” Clive Hawkins (39) president, The Aria Group aria-group.com A mechanical engineer by training, Hawkins formed the Aria Group in 1995 with car designer Charles Taylor. It has built show cars and prototypes for clients like Ford, Mazda, and Nissan. Biggest Mistake: “We talked about redirecting our company as a technology innovator and developer, as opposed to a service business. We followed our ‘familiar path.’ In hindsight, I think we would have been very successful taking that risk.” Jerrod Blandino (35) Too Faced Cosmetics toofaced.com Too Faced Cosmetics has become a favorite of makeup artists on movie sets and television programs. Blandino has also been featured on VH-1’s “The Fabulous Life of the Mega Rich.” Biggest mistake: “Staffing my entire company in the beginning years with mostly family and friends. That was a big mistake!” Ryan Gattis (28) novelist/educator ryangattis.net Gattis has written three novels. One of them, “Kung Fu High School,” is being made into a movie by New Line Cinema. He also teaches creative writing classes at Chapman University, his alma mater. Smartest move: “I would say it was my decision to move to England to pursue my Master’s degree. I desperately needed a change of scenery at that time and the combination of travel and a rigorous academic environment really worked for me.” Craig Barbarosh (39) attorney/partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman pillsburylaw.com Barbarosh is the youngest member of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman’s managing board, which oversees and directs all aspects of the firm’s business. Smartest move: “I constantly change and evolve my practice in order to keep it interesting and challenging. I also try to balance my professional obligations with community involvement. For instance, I am currently a member of the UCI CEO Roundtable, where I am the chair of the Program Committee and member of the Steering Committee.” Mike Morhaime (39) president and founder, Blizzard Entertainment blizzard.com Morhaime runs the Irvine-based computer games company that has more than 8 million people paying monthly subscription fees of up to $15 to play its biggest hit, “World of Warcraft.” Smartest move: “The smartest thing I’ve done was to say ‘yes’ when Allan Adham asked me to quit my job and go into business with him (I had graduated from UCLA only eight months prior). We started Blizzard with an investment of $10,000 each and our home computers. Allen also recruited Frank Pearce, another friend from UCLA, and the three of us founded the company.” Rob Pardo (36) vice president, game design, Blizzard Entertainment blizzard.com Pardo had his work on the online video game “World of Warcraft” honored by Time magazine when it put him on its list of 100 most influential people for 2006, saying that the game he created “could be the future of electronic entertainment.” Smartest move: “Working with my colleagues at Blizzard Entertainment to develop ‘World of Warcraft.’ Though the game is a big success today, the path to that success wasn’t very clear when we began the production process. When we began developing the game, there were no assurances that any game of this type could achieve mass market popularity.” Emanuel Balarie (27) senior market strategist, Wisdom Financial, Inc. wisdomfinancialinc.com Balarie’s research is regularly published in investment and commodity newsletters and websites around the world. The 27-year-old is also regularly featured on CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street” and “Morning Call.” Biggest mistake: “I am not a believer in career mistakes. While I have had many moments where I think I should have done things differently, I simply view them as learning experiences.” Brad Perry (35) founder and president, FireSocket LLC firesocket.com, dealersocket.com FireSocket, which builds custom customer service software, has been the fastest-growing company in Orange County over the past five years, as recognized by Deloitee & Touche. FireSocket specializes in products for the auto dealership and insurance industries. Smartest move: “To jump off the cliff of risk and start a business from scratch. However, making that decision was only the beginning, as the next step was to partner with someone who shared the same values, goals, and aspirations as I did. For me, partnering with Jonathan Ord was that right person.” Jonathan Ord (35) founder and CEO, FireSocket LLC firesocket.com FireSocket, which Ord co-founded with partner Brad Perry, has about 500 customers across the nation using its custom customer software, including some 40 in Orange County. Biggest mistake: “To assume that people, certain people, will or would change. We have had experiences with partners and even employees where, looking back, it would have been better for everyone if we would have ended the relationship when the writing was on the wall instead of trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.” Robyn Schneider (20) Author, Published by Random House robynschneider.com Orange County native Schneider has already had “Better Than Yesterday,” her first novel, published. Her second is coming out in June and she is working on her third. She is also a student at Barnard College of Columbia University. Smartest move: “Using the Internet for promotion. Before a book is released, the author can have as much time as two years to build a brand and ensure sales. I was in a Books a Million store in suburban Illinois a few days before ‘Better Than Yesterday’ was published, and they had already sold out of the book and had to order more.” Jonas Bevacqua (29) co-founder/designer, L-R-G (Lifted Research Group) l-r-g.com With his partner Robert Wright, Bevacqua, founded the clothing brand L-R-G in 1999. The company has doubled or tripled its business every year since. Smartest move: “Taking the risk to start a clothing company that bridged the gap between all of the subcultures that Robert and I were raised on.” Robert Wright (34) co-founder/designer, L-R-G (Lifted Research Group) l-r-g.com Wright co-founded the clothing brand L-R-G with his partner Jonas Bevacqua. Their products are now found in retailers like Beach World, Macy’s, and Closets. Smartest move: “Doing business with style, grace and credibility, while maintaining a sense of humor and never taking ourselves too serious.” Todd Eckenrode (38) golf course architect, Origins Golf Design originsgolfdesign.com Eckenrode is the principal designer for all of Origins’ products and he has been tapped by Lennar to design two new golf courses at Heritage Fields, at El Toro. Smartest move: “Playing less golf and concentrating on design!” Ron Hay (26) owner and co-president, ModBargains.com ModBargains.com Hay, along with his partner, Mike Brown, was awarded the Western Region Global Student Entrepreneur Award and the International Global Student entrepreneur Award in 2006 for their website which sells auto parts at competitive prices. Smartest move: “Not hesitating or waiting around to carry out an idea. I choose to immediately apply my ideas and vision.” Mike Brown (21) owner and co-president, ModBargains.com ModBargains.com With partner Ron Hay, Brown founded ModBargains.com. The website caters to car enthusiasts seeking quality parts to use in modifying their own vehicles. Biggest mistake: “Working for the business, more than working on the business.” Justin Schmidt (31) Dulcinea Farms dulcinea.com Schmidt oversees all Dulcinea produce in the U.S. and Latin America. On any given day, he may be in Brazil checking on production or ordering seeds for next year’s crop, a fine example of the diversity of businesses in Orange County. Smartest move: “Taking the risk to move to a small entrepreneurial company in its early growth stages has offered a tremendous learning environment.” Francisco Silva (32) Vice president, research and development, PrimeCell Therapeutics primecelltherapeutics.com Silva has spearheaded the company’s pursuit of the first therapeutically appli-cable stem cell. He attended the Vatican’s international stem cell conference and had a private audience with the pope. Smartest move: “To break from the traditional path normally taken by someone pursuing a career in science. By foregoing the typical academic routine and following my passion for the application of science in the real world, I discovered the opportunity that would become my life’s work.” Adam Guild (38) president and CEO, Interep Interactive/Winstar Interactive Media wims.com Guild broke new ground in 2006 when Interep launched Interactive Video Network (IVN), a network division dedicated to online streaming video advertising. Smartest move: “Leaving entertainment to start an Internet rep firm. The industry’s highs, lows, and highs again have taught me how to manage through extreme conditions. I liken it to sailing through a tornado.” Peter Villegas (39) First vice president, national manager for external affairs, Washington Mutual wamu.com Villegas is listed by the Orange County Business Journal as one of the most influential Latinos in Orange County. In 2005, the Orange County Register identified him as one of the top 10 people who will shape the next 100 years of Orange County. Smartest move: “The willingness to begin my banking career as a teller and work/earn my way up the ladder, as opposed to holding out for a certain salary or title.” Richard Rams (29) dean of Student Support Services, Cypress College cypresscollege.edu Rams is probably one of the youngest deans of anything, anywhere. He oversees a multi-million-dollar budget and a large staff at Cypress College. Smartest move: “My smartest career move came in 2003, at the age of 25, when I accepted my first management position at Golden West College as the interim director of financial aid and scholarships. It was a major professional risk at the time.” Amber McDougall (36) senior campaign account manager, United Way Orange County unitedwayoc.org McDougall has energized online donations, a vital way of raising funds for nonprofits, by building a database and creating e-campaigns for the United Way. Smartest move: “Working for a nonprofit, such as Orange County United Way, has been a personally rewarding experience. At the end of every day I know that the work I do has a positive impact on the lives of so many Orange County families and individuals less fortunate than I.” Joe Duran (39) CEO, United Capital Financial Partners unitedcfa.com Before founding United Capital Financial Ventures, Duran built his first company, Centurion Capital Management, into a nationally respected firm in less than 10 years and sold it to GE Financial in 2001. Biggest mistake: “After a period of significant growth, not addressing quality flaws in time.” Navid Aslani (28) (left) & Ali Jahangiri (31) (right) owners, urFlick.com urflick.com Aslani and Jahangiri have created an online video sharing/social networking website designed for the action sports community. Features allows members to charge fees to view their content and donate some of the proceeds to local charities. Smartest move: “Leaving the corporate world and pursuing our passion.” Justin Farahan (34) founder, Vermani Collezioni vermani.net Vermani Collezioni, founded by Farahan, recently moved to Irvine from New York City. The company’s luxury women’s clothing is sold in more than 500 stores. Smartest move: “To relocate from New York City to Irvine. Not only is Irvine a much more pleasant environment than the garment districts in Manhattan and Los Angeles, it is also close to the main port of Long Beach.” Scott Ecker (36) tax partner, Deloitte Tax LLP deloitte.com In addition to his work at Deloitte, Ecker has also served as a board member of the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation and is chairman of the Rod Carew Children’s Cancer Classic. Biggest mistake: “My biggest career mistake is definitely not taking advantage of opportunities to accelerate career promotion by moving, but Orange County is my home. My family, friends, clients, and community involvement are so important to me that I could not imagine moving away from Orange County and giving up any of them.” Ryan Gallagher (31) senior vice president, Grubb & Ellis Company; Institutional Investment Group grubb-ellis.com Gallagher is a specialist in the handling of investment-grade commercial assets. He has represented landlords in more than $1 billion worth of commercial real estate over the past three years. Smartest move: “Moving to Southern California from Washington, D.C. in 1999.” Jessica Morog (23) major gifts associate, United Way Orange County unitedwayoc.org Morog oversees the Women Looking Forward campaign, a way to recognize the caring and financial power of local women through their donations of $1,000-$9,999. Smartest move: “My biggest career move was leaving South Dakota to pursue theater at the University of Southern California and ultimately studying policy, planning, and management.” Frank Marini (34) president, Contiki Holidays contiki.com Marini oversees all U.S. business operations of the youth travel company Contiki Holidays, which offers trips designed specifically for 18- to 35-year-olds. More than 100,000 passengers travel with Contiki a year worldwide. Smartest move: “Joining Contiki, by far.” Kelly Kaneda (30) president and owner, Femme Knits, Inc. iheartscrapbook.com Kaneda is a surfer and third-generation clothing manufacturer. His company makes a women’s line of cotton and knit casual wear that is finding a market in surf and skate shops with $30 million in annual sales. Smartest move: “Working more and surfing less. I was born and raised in Hawaii and surfing was a huge part of my life growing up. I worked a lot of days and summers at the family company back in the day alongside my dad. He gave me the grit I needed to deal with every challenge of running my own company.” Tim DeCinces (32) owner, Home Plate Development LLC homeplatellc.com, beachpit.com Son of longtime Angels’ favorite Doug DeCinces, Tim is also a third-generation builder. His company builds custom homes in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa and he is also the owner and managing partner of The Beach Pit BBQ restaurant. Smartest move: “Realizing the opportunities available, due to my father’s success both on the baseball field and in the community, while making my own way in the world. Oh, and going to UCLA, meeting and marrying my wife!” Brian Spencer (36) founder, Vurtego propogo.com Spencer has brought a childhood toy into the jacked-up X-Games world. With his dad, a retired aerospace engineer, Spencer invented a turbocharged pogo stick that can leap up to six feet high. Smartest move: “Stepping away from a stable six-figure income in the pharmaceutical industry. Now I’m following my passion and having fun with it—life’s too short to be serious!” Rob Mitchell (38) senior vice president, Voit Commercial Brokerage Mitchell is considered one of the top investment brokers in Orange County and his client list at Voit includes Kilroy Realty, Newport Federal, Greenlaw Partners, and Guardian Life Insurance Company. Smartest move: “Moving into investment real estate as a broker and working with a couple key dealmaker clients.” Franzvon Holzhausen (38) director of design, Mazda North America Operations Franz von Holzhausen has been associated with some of the most influential concept cars of recent years, including Concept One at Volkswagen, which later became the New Beetle. Smartest move: “Finishing my schooling in Europe, which allowed me to build a foundation for pure, simple, honest, and practical design, and gave me exposure to some of the best automotive designers in the world.” Chris St. Hilaire (38) principal and founder, Jury Impact/M4 Strategies St. Hilaire’s jury consulting firm is revolutionizing trial research by applying marketing-based strategies to the courtroom. His client list includes AT&T, Lucent, GE, Goodyear, and Royal Caribbean. Smartest move: “Applying political and marketing techniques to jury research.” |
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