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![]() 1990 Moss Gianelli Since he first appeared on our list, the Mossimo label – now owned by Iconix (which also owns Candie’s, Rampage and Ed Hardy, among other fashion names) has evolved into an international lifestyle brand. Here in the U.S., Mossimo has become a household name. Thanks to an exclusive deal with Target, the brand’s clothing, fragrances and home merchandise are carried in more than 1,400 stores. 1991 Antonio Cagnolo His restaurant, Antonello, continues to be the place where Orange County’s movers and shakers go for power lunches and quiet dinners. 1992Lucy Dunn Back in 1992, Dunn was serving as senior vice president of development for Newport Beach-based Koll Co. and a key participant in the planned, environmentally sensitive development of the Bolsa Chica Mesa, overlooking the wetlands in Huntington Beach. Today, she’s the president and CEO of the Orange County Business Council – the leading voice of business on issues of local, state and national importance. 1993 Mickey Mouse Here’s one icon that has remained hot throughout the decades. Millions of tourists travel to Anaheim to meet him. His home base (The Disneyland Resort) is a key employer, and the revenue it brings to the region helps fuel the local economy. 1994Tiger Woods His career may not be as hot as it once was, but Tiger Woods remains a hot topic. Since his first appearance on the list, Woods has weathered unbelievable highs (like securing the title as “The World’s Best Golfer”) and humiliating lows (like the very public dissolution of his fairy-tale marriage after the revelation of his many extramarital trysts, not to mention the late-night accident in November 2009 that served as the catalyst for it all). He’s working hard at a comeback now. Can he do it? You’ll probably see him on this list again, if he does. 1995 Jim Jannard With Oakley, he founded and nurtured what has become one of the hottest sports brands in the world. He took the company public in 1995. OC METRO labeled him a hot businessman back then, and he’s still hot today, regularly ranking among Forbes’ richest men in the world. 1996 Dean Koontz The creativity hasn’t stopped. Dean Koontz continues to produce gripping novels, and there are no signs that he’ll be slowing down anytime soon. The latest in his “Frankenstein” series was released this past summer, and he’s got two graphic novels on the market. In addition, his novella “Darkness on the Sun” is fresh on the bookshelves. We can’t wait to see what’s next. 1997Esmael Adibi When Adibi made OC METRO’s Hot 25 list, he had become one of the most sought-after local economists. He still is. The director of the Anderson Center for Economic Research at Chapman University (along with Chapman President Jim Doti, who has appeared on our list a number of times) draws throngs of business professionals and journalists from across the Southern California region to their annual forecasts and mid-year updates. And their track record for predictions has remained spot-on. 1998 David Emmes and Martin Benson They are the creative geniuses behind the fabulous South Coast Repertory stage productions enjoyed by thousands of theater-goers each year. They founded the repertory in 1964 with humble beginnings, performing their first production, “Tartuffe,” at the Newport Beach Ebell Club. Today, their home is a 336-seat theater at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. 1999Florent Marneau Back then, he was heading the kitchen at Pinot Provence as its executive chef. Today, he and his wife, Amelia, run their own restaurant – at South Coast Plaza, no less. Since opening in early 2007, Marché Moderne has captured accolades from foodies across the region for its creative and beyond-delicious menu. 2000Daniel J. Callahan Daniel Callahan first appeared on our list 10 years ago, after garnering two prestigious Orange County awards that earned him the distinction of being among the best trial lawyers in the region. He’s still making headlines – most recently for filing a class-action lawsuit against some of the states largest sellers and distributors of extra-virgin olive oil, alleging that their products fail to meet the high standards of the extra-virgin classification. 2001 The Orange County firefighters OC METRO honored the team of eight local firefighters who traveled to ground zero following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room when they entered that year’s event. They were heroes then, and they remain heroes today. 2002Pierre Andre Senizergues The founder and CEO of Sole Technology first appeared on OC METRO’s Hot 25 list eight years ago for the rad skateboard shoes and apparel under the etnies, eS and Emerica labels. He’s expanded the company with new brands – ThirtyTwo and Altamont – and emerged as a leader in a movement toward environmentally responsible business practices and manufacturing, with a state-of-the-art headquarters that is solar-powered and constructed of recycled materials. 2003 William “Bill” Gross Bill Gross, PIMCO’s founder and chief investment officer, has remained a fixture in business and remains a respected investment authority. (From a New York Times piece from last year: “Treasury secretaries call him for advice. Warren E. Buffett, the Berkshire Hathaway chairman and Alan Greenspan, the former Federal Reserve chairman, sing his praises.”) And he gives back. A $20 million gift to Hoag Hospital for the development of its Women’s Pavilion earned him and his wife, Sue, naming rights on the building. 2004 The city of Anaheim Anaheim is home to the Disney Resort, the Angels and the Ducks – three important generators in the local economy. And now it’s on the cusp of becoming the hub in Orange County for the next generation in public transit – a high-speed rail. 2005Bruno Serato The Anaheim White House restaurateur was feted five years ago for his philanthropic efforts, which continue to this day. (Just last month, the Anaheim International Film Festival named him Humanitarian of the Year.) Since 2005, he’s served an estimated 250,000 free meals to kids – even through a downturn in business. In a profile that aired earlier this year on the “CBS Evening News” with Katie Couric, Serato said he’s giving away more meals than he’s selling. 2006 Curt Pringle Curt Pringle has appeared among OC METRO’s Hot 25 honorees a few times over the years, first during his stint as the state Assembly speaker of the house and in 2006 for his vision as mayor to make Anaheim a city of the future – a leader in green technology, a driving force behind the region’s economy and home to the state’s first high-speed rail. And he’s still working hard toward those goals today and serves as the chairman of the California High-Speed Rail Authority. 2007 Hans Keirstead OC METRO named UC Irvine stem cell researcher Hans Keirstead to the Hot 25 list after he was profiled by “60 Minutes.” A quote from that segment: “If paralyzed people will walk again, it may be because of him.” Keirstead is still making news: Just this past summer, the FDA approved plans for clinical trials on a therapy he developed for spinal cord injuries. 2008 Yvon Goetz This celebrated chef – and partner at The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar in Tustin – created an award-winning menu that first won top honors from the Orange County Concierge Association in 2008, then again in 2009. And it’s still garnering rave reviews in 2010. 2009 Henrik Fisker Car enthusiasts have been abuzz this year in anticipation of Fisker’s luxury plug-in hybrid – the Karma, unveiled this fall at the Paris Motor Show. His Irvine-based company, Fisker Automotive, began taking orders a year ago and had already logged about 1,300 by the spring – and it’s not even due for release until early next year. OCMETRO'S 2010 HOT 25 HONOREES
Michael Stebner | Jim McCluney | Robert Braithwaite Denise Hazime | Mark P. Robinson Jr. | Mo Honarkar Laura Davick | Troy & Josh Rodarmel | Gary Brahm Don Craig | Colin Baden | Rick Hadley | Dan Young Michelle Tingler & Debbie Devine | Mark Manguera Paula Golden | Peter F. Bastone | Rob Chandler Kate Duchene & Vicki Dallas | Gary W. Matkin | LPA Will Kempton | Scharrell Jackson | Jeff Moore The six who climbed Mt. Everest BACK TO MAIN PAGE ![]() |
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