Pacific Life

Paul Clinton For the third year in a row, Pacific Life Corp. has made Fortune magazine's annual Fortune 500 list of the top revenue-generating companies in the U.S. The Newport Beach-based health insurer came in at No. 419, up from its No. 439 slot on the 2002 list. The privately held company, which pulled in $3.8 billion in revenue for the year, was the only business in Newport-Mesa to make the list. "It's nice to be on the Fortune 500 list, but more important to us is to be in the top five of total new life insurance sales," said Bob Haskell, the company's senior vice president of public affairs.

Noaki Schwartz NEWPORT BEACH -- Pacific Life has yanked long-standing plans to expand its Newport Center offices, forcing at least one-fourth of the company's work force to move to South County by summer. The move, announced Friday, is the third in a domino effect of application withdrawals that are being attributed to uncertainties created by the so-called Greenlight initiative on the November ballot. In the last two weeks, the Irvine Co. and the California Teachers Retirement System have also scrapped their projects, which were part of an overall plan to add 1 million square feet of office space and 200,000 square feet of retail space to Newport Center and Fashion Island.

Orange County United Way has honored the Pacific Life Insurance Company in Newport Beach for its charitable contributions this year. The insurance company received the nonprofit's Community Cornerstone Award at an annual celebration June 19 at the Balboa Pavilion. Pacific Life raised more than $450,000 in 2006-07 for United Way through a workplace campaign, and the company's foundation contributed an additional $220,000. Pacific Life also won the Golden Key award, given to companies that raise the most funds for United Way. "The team at Pacific Life Insurance Company takes their work of securing the futures of so many families to the next level," said Maria Chavez Wilcox, president and chief executive of Orange County United Way, in a news release.

The Pacific Life Insurance Co., headquartered in Newport Beach, announced that Karen M. Brown, Heather A. Paige, Sonja V. Scott, John G. Torrell and John White had been promoted to become officers of the company. Brown, formerly director of model office in the annuities division, was promoted to assistant vice president for model office and quality insurance. Paige, formerly director of securities operations in the securities division, was promoted to assistant vice president of securities operations.

Fletcher Jones sets the bar even higher Newport Beach's Fletcher Jones Motorcars reported last week that the dealership in 2004 sold 8,017 vehicles, a number that a Mercedes-Benz USA spokeswoman confirmed was an American record for the company. The dealership raked in $533 million in sales in 2004, general manager Garth Blumenthal said. The number was an 8% gain from 2003 figures. Newport company names new V.P. Mark F. Werny was named vice president and account executive of SM&A, a proposal services company based in Newport Beach.

Local tech firm bought by Irvine company Costa Mesa technology firm Com Services was recently bought by Irvine-based Network Installation Corp. The purchase was announced Friday by Network Installation. According to the announcement, Com Services will become a subsidiary of the Irvine firm. Network Installation bought Com Services for $430,000 in cash and stock. In a statement, Network Installation chairman Michael Novelli said the purchase of Com Services, a union certified company, will allow his company to bid for union contracts.

Steven E. Briggs stated in a letter in the Daily Pilot that Pacific Life has "huge planned expansions on the table" and that Pacific Life "has not abandoned their plans to expand" in Newport Center. Other Greenlight Initiative proponents have made similar comments on your editorial pages. I am surprised about how they can be so sure of our future plans when they have certainly not discussed them with anyone at Pacific Life. Such comments are not an accurate statement of our future plans and, are in fact, untrue.

It's not too late to participate in the ninth annual Orange County Race for the Cure. Proceeds from the event benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, which supports research, education and prevention programs targeting the disease that kills one women in Orange County every day. Organizers hope that each runner will raise at least $100 for the race. But anyone interested in donating money for the organization without working up a sweat can become a virtual runner online.

Eric C Sanitate Newport Beach-based Pacific Life is one of several local companies enlisted to help in a crusade to donate cellular phones to residents of battered women shelters. Soroptimist International of Irvine is spearheading the effort to bring the national "Call to Protect" program to Orange County. The chapter will be working in conjunction with Verizon Wireless, the Irvine-based cellular communications provider. Verizon will repair and reprogram the phones before they are distributed to Human Options in Irvine and Laura's House in San Clemente.

This was better than attending the California Lottery Spin. The Pacific Life Foundation hosted their annual grant reception this week in Newport Beach, distributing $5.5 million to assist local organizations serving the community. The $5.5-million figure represents Pacific Life’s grant budget for 2010. In actuality, $3.4 million was delivered Monday evening, going to more than 200 nonprofit organizations in Orange County. The remainder will be distributed later in the year.

With the Labor Day weekend her, Southern California Red Cross officials’ faces are growing pale as blood donations from Newport-Mesa and surrounding cities are falling drastically short of what is needed. “We’re in a worse situation today [than Monday],” said Cliff Numark, director of recruitment for the Southern California Red Cross. “Going into Labor Day weekend — not good.” On Monday, the American Red Cross of Southern California issued a Red Alert, a desperate call for help to the public and city organizations to help replenish dwindling blood supplies as the holiday weekend approached.

More than 550 members and friends of the Newport Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council have toured China in the past six years, seeing the sights in Beijing, Hangzhou, Suzhou and Shanghai. The next trip, scheduled from Oct. 30 to Nov. 7, is $1,659; price includes four- and five-star hotels, round-trip airfare, English-speaking tour guides, deluxe tour buses, three meals daily and entrance fees. This will be the ninth tour that I will lead with the assistance of Linda Short, who will be on her fourth tour.

Pacific Life Insurance Co. in Newport Beach has named Sharon Cheever as its next general counsel, as longtime leader David Carmichael has announced his retirement after 30 years with the company. Cheever, who joined Pacific Life in 1986, will become the new general counsel Jan. 1. A graduate of the University of San Diego School of Law, she worked as an associate with the law firm O’Melveny & Myers before joining the insurance company. Carmichael started work for the company three decades ago and has been general counsel for 15 years.

Orange County United Way has honored the Pacific Life Insurance Company in Newport Beach for its charitable contributions this year. The insurance company received the nonprofit's Community Cornerstone Award at an annual celebration June 19 at the Balboa Pavilion. Pacific Life raised more than $450,000 in 2006-07 for United Way through a workplace campaign, and the company's foundation contributed an additional $220,000. Pacific Life also won the Golden Key award, given to companies that raise the most funds for United Way. "The team at Pacific Life Insurance Company takes their work of securing the futures of so many families to the next level," said Maria Chavez Wilcox, president and chief executive of Orange County United Way, in a news release.

Avalon recently announced that 25 apartments will be discounted for those with lower incomes. Newport Beach and Costa Mesa may be viewed as relatively affluent areas in Southern California. But there are many seniors living on fixed incomes who cannot afford to live here. The staff at Avalon at Newport -- a Newport Beach independent assisted living community -- received many requests to address the needs of low-income seniors, while undergoing a major remodel for the past two years.

The list of big backers for Newport Beach's centennial celebrations isn't 100 strong yet, but it sure seems like it's going to get there. The city announced last week that it has already collected $250,000 for the yearlong party that is set to begin in October. Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian has donated $100,000, the biggest gift yet. Pacific Life, Washington Mutual, Newport Orthopedic Institute and businessman John Saunders all have pitched in. (The Daily Pilot has also contributed to the celebration.

Andrew Edwards It doesn't look like it's going to take Newport Beach 100 years to raise enough money to throw a big party. More than $250,000 already has been pledged and collected for Newport Beach's upcoming centennial celebration. The celebration's tab is expected to reach about $1.2 million, centennial project director Marie Knight said. The city has already budgeted $350,000 for centennial-related bills, leaving about $600,000 still to go. Knight said she wants to avoid using the city's cash to pay for the party.

It was an evening of hope. Court Appointed Special Advocates of Orange County held its 12th annual "Celebration of Children" at the Westin South Coast Plaza Hotel in Costa Mesa. The black-tie event raised needed funds to protect the rights of abused children who might one day be proud to wear black tie to help others in need. The festivities attracted a crowd of 400 guests, who raised more than half a million dollars. 2005 was the year of Ron Herzig, who received the group's highest honor, Advocate of the Year.