SERVICES

Orange County Business Journal, May 11, 1998

KATHLEEN ARDEN BRONSTEIN

Vice Chairman/CEO

Wet Seal, Inc.

Born in Miami, Fla., Sept. 17, 1957

Lives in Irvine

Once known primarily as an expert at spotting winning fashion trends, she's built a reputation as an accomplished CEO, in charge of the largest company run by a woman in OC. Runs a chain of more than 404 stores with 1997 revenue of $412.5 million, a 10% increase from $375 million in 1996. Earnings up more than 39% for the same period, from $15.3 million to $21.3 million.

Smoothly integrated Contempo Casual's 239 stores, purchased for a mere $1 million in stock from Neiman Marcus in 1995, into Wet Seal operations.

Company opened 34 stores during fiscal 1997. Plans to open about 75 stores this year. Recently consolidated its corporate office and distribution center in Foothill Ranch. The premier issue of Wet Seal catalog launched in January. Recently warned analysts that the company's comparable store sales in March were below forecast and "may result in a slight decline" for the first quarter, 1998.

Owns 4% stake in company worth roughly $16 million. Relies on president and COO Edmond Thomas as operations and cost-control honcho, which frees her to zero in on retail and fashion issues.

Gets close to the product, often conducting quick reviews of models in her office.

Couldn't get a job in advertising fresh out of college, so she began a string of jobs buying for retailers, starting as an assistant buyer of men's belts for a small chain. Joined Wet Seal in 1985 as EVP/merchandising manager. Named president in 1992 and added her current titles in 1994.

Enjoys golf and tennis.

PHILIP L. CARTER

CEO, Apria Healthcare Group Inc.

Born in England, June 10, 1948

Lives in Los Angeles

LAWRENCE MEAD HIGBY

President/COO, Apria Healthcare Group Inc.

Born in Pomona, June 15, 1945

Lives in Newport Beach

No. 1 and No. 2, at least for the moment, at 10th-largest OC-based public company ($1.18 billion in 1997 revenue). Largest provider of home healthcare, company has been reeling since its formation in the 1995 merger of OC companies Abbey Healthcare Group Inc. and Homedco Group Inc. - culture clashes, board battles, computer system glitches, mountain of uncollected receivables. Company lost $273 million last year, $6.6 million in first quarter of this year.

Former OC 50er and CEO Jeremy M. Jones resigned in January. Fluid ownership situation, with company director and OC 50er George Argyros, ex-Abbey boss and former OC 50er Timothy Aitken among possible competing bidders.

Carter is brand new arrival to OC, being recruited by new chairman Ralph V. Whitworth to fill Jones' slot just last week. British-born turnaround specialist. Fresh from six-and-a-half year stint with Mac Frugal's Bargains-Closeouts Inc. (Pic N' Save in California), where he served as executive VP and CFO, then president and CEO; stock rose 250% in three years before he oversaw company's recent $1 billion sale to Consolidated Stores Corp. Previously held top management positions at Lion Nathan, Australia's second-largest liquor chain with more than $2 billion in annual sales, and Progressive Enterprises, a publicly traded New Zealand Corp. with $800 million in revenue.

Higby, by contrast, longtime OCer. Prominent executive-for-hire. Was filling Apria CEO position on interim basis, now said to be focusing on president and COO duties.

Before Apria, Higby headed 76 Products Co., Costa Mesa-based $4.5 billion (annual sales) refining and marketing subsidiary of giant Unocal Corp. Negotiated its 1996 sale to Tosco Corp. for $2.1 billion.

Principal aide to Nixon chief of staff Bob Haldeman; both had worked at J. Walter Thompson ad agency. Former top marketing man at Taco Bell; rolled out "Pepsi Challenge" commercials of the early 1980s.

Joined Los Angeles Times in 1986 as marketing chief of Times Mirror Cable, called in as president of Times OC edition to stop erosion of circulation to the Orange County Register; mission accomplished, although Times gains have been halted since his departure. Promoted to Times corporate HQ as exec VP, left in high-level shakeup.

Higby has bachelor's in political science from UCLA, attended its graduate school of business. On boards of California Business Roundtable, Orange County Center for the Performing Arts, among others. Wife Dee, chairman of South Coast Repertory; three sons and one daughter, ages 19 to 27. Likes skiing, running, music, theater, boating.

WILLIAM PATRICK FOLEY II

Chairman/CEO

Fidelity National Financial Inc.

Chairman/CEO

CKE Restaurants Inc.

Born in Austin, Texas, Dec. 29, 1944

Lives in Santa Barbara

Reigning OCBJ Businessperson of the Year. Runs two NYSE-listed companies, both among OC's biggest - CKE's 1997 revenue $1.15 billion, Fidelity's $741 million. Profits and stock prices of both up impressively in past year. A delegator who uses "a high degree of inspection," according to Frank Willey, Foley's top lieutenant at Fidelity. (Carl's Jr. franchise veteran Tom Thompson is Foley's point man at CKE.) Flies between main office in Santa Barbara (where he has oceanfront home) and CKE offices in Irvine.