OC 50: HEALTHCARE

Orange County Business Journal, Apr 28-May 4, 2008

SCOTT THOMAS GARRETT

Chairman, chief executive

Beckman Coulter Inc.

Born in Milwaukee, Jan. 19, 1950

Lives in Lemon Heights

Heads county's largest medical technology company by sales. Putting mark on 74-year-old company.

Laying groundwork to move from longtime Fullerton base to neighboring Brea next year. Prior restructuring includes change in how revenue is accounted for, distribution overhaul, reduction of suppliers, contracting out some manufacturing.

Company makes machines, supplies used by hospitals, medical laboratories, researchers. Solid 2007: revenue up 9% to $2.8 billion, profit up 13% to $211 million.

Runs last big stand-alone player in medical diagnostics. Occasional subject of takeover speculation.

Couple of deals last year. Bought remaining part of NexGen Diagnostics LLC for $36 million. Bought flow cytometry instrumentation business of Dako Denmark AS for undisclosed price.

Big one got away: made $1.7 billion offer for Biosite, San Diego maker of profitable tests for heart diseases, drugs, intestinal parasites. After brief chase, dropped out after Massachusetts' Inverness made rival bids.

Joined Beckman in 2002 as head of clinical diagnostics. Spent about 20 years at Baxter International. Served as chief executive of Dade Behring, Beckman rival that evolved out of Baxter in 1990s.

One of several local device bosses to come out of Baxter, including fellow OC 50er Michael Mussallem. Did deals between stints at Baxter, Beckman. Founded Garrett Capital Advisors, healthcare investor with Bane One Venture Partners.

Beckman has strong reputation, deep history in county. Employs 10,560 people, 2,075 in OC. More than 200,000 instruments in use worldwide. Started in 1935. Founder Arnold Beckman, local icon, died four years ago at 104.

Garrett has businesslike manner. Low key, pleasant personality.

Bachelor's in mechanical engineering from Valparaiso University in Indiana, business master's from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management.

Married to Susan, two grown children. Enjoys reading (history, politics, business), playing guitar, golfing, family vacations.

-Vita Reed

LAWRENCE MEAD HIGBY

Chief executive

Apria Healthcare Group Inc.

Born in Pomona, June 15, 1945

Lives in Newport Beach (Lido Isle)

Veteran executive runs Lake Forest-based home health company. In expansion mode with big deal under his belt.

Spent $350 million late last year for Coram, Denver provider of intravenous tube feeding, antibiotic treatments, other services, including chemotherapy.

Expects Coram deal, diversified offerings for managed care customers to partially offset federal government's plan to cut payments to home health providers for medical equipment, oxygen by average 26% through competitive bidding.

Is active in effort to minimize possibility of Medicare cuts. As in past years, traveled to Washington, D.C., to educate legislators, policymakers on how changes could affect patients.

Company provides respirators, drug infusion treatments, wheelchairs, oxygen tanks, other products to people at home. Recent market value of $815 million.

Has grown company on its own and by buying mom-and-pop providers. Yearly sales of more than $2 billion. A third of revenue from Medicare, Medicaid; private insurers make up bulk of revenue.

Company created 13 years ago from combination of Abbey Healthcare Group, Homedco Group.

Previously Apria's president, COO. In 2002, succeeded turnaround specialist, past OC 50er Philip Carter, who worked to turn around Apria with Higby.

Pre-Apria career includes running 76 Products, oil refining, marketing arm of Unocal. Negotiated 76 Products' 1996 sale to Tosco for $2.1 billion.

Political career included serving as principal aide to H.R. Haldeman, President Nixon's chief of staff. Mentioned in Bob Woodward's "The secret Man." Deep Throat Mark Felt recalled Higby as "most notorious" of administration's "eager beavers" who pressed FBI for answers to routine questions. Was so efficient, administrative assistants became known as "Higbys."

Member, former chairman of New Majority. Big backer of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Bachelor's in political science from UCLA, attended business school there.

On boards of Automobile Club of Southern California, William Lyon Homes, Performing Artscenter, UCLA Board of Visitors. Board president, South Coast Repertory.

Wife Dee, former chair of South Coast Repertory. Three sons, daughter, ages 29 to 37. Likes skiing, jogging, golf, theater, sailing.

-Vita Reed

RICHARD KEITH MATROS

Chief executive

Sun Healthcare Group Inc.

Born on Long Island, N.Y., age 54

Lives in Newport Coast

Heads big operator of nursing homes, other businesses. Debuting on OC 50.

Sun Healthcare has yearly sales of $1.6 billion, recent market value of $560 million. Company runs 215 nursing homes, other facilities in 25 states treating people recovering from illness, injury or with Alzheimer's. Other businesses include short-term rehabilitation centers, medical staffing arms, hospices.

Joined Sun in 2001 when company was readying to emerge from bankruptcy reorganization. Grown Sun on its own, through deals, including last year's $350 million buy of Harborside Healthcare of Boston.