Status Update winds down the year on a quiet note. Retail news last week was more about shopping than store debuts.

So, with that light news week behind us, let’s review some of December’s notable retail openings:

PacSun debuted at Fashion Island, bringing its specially curated line PS Reserve to the coast.

A popular Wells Fargo branch in Old Towne Orange’s historic plaza is vacating the nearly 100-year-old building in March. The building will be sold, along with its parking lot. A new coffee shop is said to be coming next year to the bank’s grand lobby.

Sports Basement, a popular outfitter in the Bay Area, opened its first Southern California store in Fountain Valley. The retailer took over the “big green building” long occupied by Fry’s Electronics.

We hope you’ve had a good holiday season. Here’s to a bright New Year with plenty of Orange County news to share.

Executive moves at Banc of California

Santa Ana-based Banc of California has promoted several senior executives, effective Jan. 1. The bank also announced the retirement of Lynn Sullivan as the company’s executive vice president and chief risk officer. Sullivan will serve as a consultant for a six-month transition period.

John Sotoodeh has been promoted to chief operating officer, overseeing a broad range of services, including operations, technology and payments platforms, along with other key strategic initiatives.

Hamid Hussain has been promoted to president, responsible for the bank’s client-facing teams outside the retail branches.

Ido Dotan is the rising chief administrative officer of the company and the bank, in addition being general counsel.

Olivia Lindsay is the new chief risk officer once Sullivan retires.

On the move

Joe Mosca has been hired as director of communications and external affairs at the Orange County Power Authority. He was a founding member of San Diego Community Power and has experience in the state’s energy sector. He will oversee customer marketing and communications, public outreach and government relations.

Financial adviser and managing director Garth Allan has joined UBS Wealth Management USA at the firm’s Newport Beach office. He is joined by senior registered client service associate Catherine Rusk. Allan joins UBS from Wells Fargo where he served as a financial adviser in Orange County for more than 11 years. Rusk has worked with Allan for 10 years, in a career spanning more than 20 years in the financial industry.

Shaheen Husain has joined Girl Scouts of Orange County as its chief development officer. She will oversee the strategic direction of philanthropy at Girl Scouts of Orange County and drive the community’s investment in Girl Scouts. Husain previously was principal at Accelerating Impact in Orange County.

Judicial appointments

Gov. Gavin Newsom made several judicial appointments before the Christmas holiday break, including two in Orange County.

Julie Swain, 52, also will serve in the Orange County Superior Court. She has been a sole practitioner since 2010 and she served as a deputy public defender at the Orange County Public Defender’s Office from 1997 to 2010. She fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Joy W. Markman. Swain is a Democrat.

Robert Goodkin, 42, has been appointed to serve in the Orange County Superior Court. He has been a senior deputy district attorney at the Orange County District Attorney’s Office since 2021, also serving in several roles there since 2007. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Charles Margines. Goodkin is a Democrat.

Statewide appointments

Irvine resident Brady Schmidt, 52, has been appointed to the New Motor Vehicle Board. Schmidt has been president of National Business Brokers Inc. since 1991 and a dealer principal and partner of Puente Hills Ford and Dealer Principal of Jerry V’s Honolulu Hyundai and Windward Hyundai since 2022. This position does not require Senate confirmation and compensation is $100 per diem. Schmidt is a Republican.

On board

Mission San Juan has appointed Trevor Baird, owner of Trevor’s At The Tracks, and Seth Teigen, chief executive at Providence Mission Hospital, as its newest Mission Preservation Foundation board members. The foundation is focused on preserving the Mission San Juan Capistrano. Baird has served in hospitality for the past 23 years and opened his San Juan Capistrano restaurant in February 2017. Teigen is an experienced healthcare executive with over 27 years of experience in nonprofit, healthcare systems.

Human Options CEO Maricela Rios-Faust and keynote speaker Taylor Armstrong, reality show star, author, mother and domestic violence advocate, are seen at center with Human Options staff. (Courtesy of Human Options)

Fundraiser updates

Human Options, an organization advocating for those dealing with domestic violence in Orange County, raised nearly $200,000 at its annual fall luncheon at the Marriott Irvine Spectrum. The money raised will go toward the nonprofit’s programs, including a 24-hour hotline, emergency shelter, walk-in centers, transitional housing, counseling program, legal advocacy and community education.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County raised $152,621 at its 39th annual “No Lunch” event held Nov. 22, marking the first time this event has been held in person since before the pandemic. The event addresses the need to increase food and nutritional security for the 330,000 people in Orange County that Second Harvest serves each month.

Status Update is compiled from press releases by contributing writer Karen Levin and edited by Business Editor Samantha Gowen. Submit items and high-resolution photos to [email protected]. Allow at least one week for publication. Items are edited for length and clarity.

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