Doing business with the arts

B.W. COOK

It was a gathering of the powerful and the distinguished in Orange

County business circles.

The 23rd annual “Business in the Arts” awards and dinner brought

together some 500 guests, under the Orange County Business Committee

for the Arts chairmanship of Donald E. Sodaro. The glib Lido Isle

resident and chairman of Hanford Hotels, Inc., joined his elegant

wife Deedee, attired in holiday red, in welcoming the crowd that

converged upon the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel for a Sunday evening

cocktail reception followed by an awards presentation.

The committee led by Sodaro and fellow business leaders, including

John Evans, Paul Folino, William Lane, John McLuckey, Robert Grand

and Gerard Kenny, honored a diverse group of Orange County companies

this year for their philanthropy and service to the greater cultural

good in the county. The award winners were: the Automobile Club of

Southern California, Black Starr & Frost, Narratus, Inc., Noelle Co.,

Haskell & White LLP, KPMG LLP, the Los Angeles Times Orange County

Edition, McLarand Vasquez Emsiek & Partners, Tiffany & Co., Bank of

America, the Boeing Co. and Wells Fargo Bank.

In addition, a presentation was made to Donald Kennedy, chairman

emeritus of the First American Corporation. Kennedy was lauded with

an Exemplary Leadership award, given to an “individual business

executive who has demonstrated vision, exceptional leadership and

dedication in encouraging and developing the arts in Orange County,”

said Betty Moss, founding executive director of the committee.

Kennedy was the inaugural recipient of this award from the

organization.

“I can’t think of a more appropriate honor to bestow on him,” Moss

said. “Over the years, he has set the bar even higher for all of us.”

The highlight of the annual awards presentation is always the

keynote speaker. In the past, many of the most influential names in

local and national business circles have graced the podium on behalf

of the committee. This year, the distinguished James R. Mellor,

retired chairman and chief executive of General Dynamics Corporation,

shared his personal thoughts with the crowd.

Mellor, formerly of Washington, D.C., is now a Laguna Beach

resident with his wife Suzanne. The couple have become prominent arts

patrons with special ties to the Laguna Playhouse, as well as other

local organizations.

“Today’s mantra in the business world is to find a path to

enhancing shareholder value,” Mellor said. “An important element in

this quest is to balance corporate performance with civic

responsibility.”

Mellor explained that he was not always an arts advocate.

“I just didn’t always get it,” he said. “I admit, I don’t love it

all, but I’ve grown to respect the arts community.”

As the crowd laughed and applauded, Mellor continued.

“The burden to support the arts falls on business and the

individual philanthropist,” Mellor said. “Why? Business must align

itself with culture, with the arts. It is good business.”

Mellor concluded by telling the crowd, “While business leaders are

not chosen for their arts sensibility, there is no question that

their business connection to the community is greatly enhanced by a

commitment to culture.”

Mellor credited his wife Suzanne with opening the door in his life

to understanding this vital partnership. The beautiful and bright

Suzanne joined her man in pressing the flesh of the adoring crush

anxious to congratulate the couple.

In the crowd were Carol Thorp, Jon Clancy, Linda Elftman, Sue

Totten, David White, Dean Samsvick, Carol Bonner, Ernesto Vasquez,

Jeff Bennett, Nancy Ludwig and Debra Gunn Downing of South Coast

Plaza.

Another highlight of the evening was the presentation of the

annual Arts Award, given to Art & Creativity for Healing, Inc.

Hanford Hotels underwrote the $2,500 grant to the organization,

accepted by Laurie Zagon, founder and president of the small

nonprofit that uses art therapy to offer help to both adults and

children seeking wellness without barriers.

After the awards, the crowd crossed the boulevard to The Ritz

restaurant for an annual holiday dinner. Dinner underwriters,

including Allergan, Boeing Co., Arnel & Affiliates, CJ Segerstrom,

First American, Flour Corp. and the Orange County Register, produced

a warm and inviting evening.

Dinner guests Alex and Barbara Bowie, Serena Lam, Caroline Jones,

Katherine Keck, Sheryl and Larry Bourgeois, Kent and Carol Wilken,

Chris and Vicky Street, Betty Mower and Ken Potalivo, Bill and Pat

Podlich, Zee Allred and Drago Gligic, Randy and Suki McCardle, Larry

and Dee Higby, and Chris and Julie Schultz all raised a glass as a

toast to Moss and the Orange County Business Committee for The Arts.

Jeff Bennett, a Tiffany & Co. vice president, committee judge and

provider of the elegant crystal bowls given to each of the award

recipients, said it best.

“This evening is all about one woman, Betty Moss, who has united

an entire community of business leaders, mostly men, and provided

connections to nonprofits that have made an unbelievable difference

in the lives of all involved, and for countless others in the

community who do not know any of these people,” Bennett said.

“Who says one woman can’t change the world ... or at least Orange

County!” added another man.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.