McLaren Newport Beach, one of the top-selling dealerships of its kind for the supercar brand, has officially introduced a bigger retail and service facility in Irvine after 12 years at the beach.
The dealership, which had its soft opening late last year, sits on Auto Center Drive next door to Lamborghini Newport Beach in a facility that doubles the size of its previous location.
Calling Orange County “the heart of McLaren’s biggest global sales market” the dealership held a grand opening celebration on June 21. In attendance was McLaren Automotive’s Chief Executive Officer Michael Leiters and Nicolas Brown, president of McLaren Americas’ division.
The company said the Newport Beach dealership was one of the original 10 founding retailers that started selling McLaren’s MP4 12C when the supercar manufacturer first entered the market in North America in 2011.
Since then, the local dealership has sold nearly 750 McLarens, the company said. How significant is that?
“More than many countries that we operate in have sold (that many) in the same timeframe,” according to Roger Ormisher, vice president of communications for The Americas division of McLaren.
Investors and owners of the dealership include principal dealer Pietro Frigerio and Trung Nguyen, both local residents, and Robert DiStanislao, owner of the RDS Group, which operates three McLaren dealerships and is based on the East Coast.
Address: 44 Auto Center Drive, Irvine
Swim school opens its pool in Surf City
Big Blue Swim School, a swim school franchise, recently opened its first California location in Huntington Beach.
The facility offers weekly, year-round 30 to 45-minute swim lessons seven days a week for children as young as 3 months old. Level-appropriate, engaging lessons are led by professional instructors.
The Surf City location is owned by the franchise group Level 5 Swim. Olympic gold medalist swimmer Tom Dolan is the CEO of the franchise group. A second facility owned by the same group is opening later this year at the Tustin Marketplace shopping center.
Big Blue offers 90-degree water, a viewing area for family members, private changing rooms, slip-proof flooring and free Wi-Fi. A mobile app also helps customers book, schedule, track classes and the progress of each participant.
Address: 18595 Main St.
Medical spa opens in Santa Ana
Glow Up Med has opened in Santa Ana after two years of planning and preparation.
The spa offers services including Botox, fillers, painless hair removal, micro-needling, facials and more. Bianca Davila is the owner and operator. She’s enlisted the guidance of medical director and facial surgeon Taylor Pollei.
The company said services that require injections are performed by licensed nurses.
The spa’s hours are 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays
For more information, go to GlowUpMedSpa.com
Address: 1951 E. Dyer Road, Unit D, Santa Ana
Hospice facility opens in Santa Ana
The VITAS Healthcare Hospice House of Orange County has opened in Santa Ana-North Tustin.
The facility provides a “comfort-focused care option” for patients nearing their end of life, the company said.
The company said its hospice facility should serve 300 seriously ill patients annually. Hospice-eligible patients include those who need acute symptom management with comprehensive and compassionate end-of-life care.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Wednesday, June 21. For more information, call 844-818-9633 go to vitas.com
Address: 18582 Vanderlip Ave.
Great Gatsby fundraiser benefits Dragon Kim
The Great Gatsby-themed Legacy Fundraiser takes place July 1 in Yorba Linda, with proceeds benefiting the Irvine-based Dragon Kim Foundation.
The nonprofit works to inspire youth to “impact their communities while discovering and pursuing their passions.”
The event takes place at 18617 Yorba Linda Blvd.
Tickets are $150 each and include food and an open bar. Poker players can register to play for $1,000 each. There will be cash prizes for winners.
For more information, contact the foundation via email at info@dragonkimfoundation.org. To buy tickets, go to dragonkimfoundation.org/donate/
Service Champions expands in Washington
Brea-based Service Champions, a provider of plumbing, heating and air conditioning services, has acquired Seatown Electric, Plumbing, Heating and Air, a family-owned home services company in the Seattle area. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The deal, the company said, will help expand Service Champions’ reach into the Pacific Northwest.
On the move
Emerald Archer is the new chief program officer at Girls Inc. of Orange County. The Santa Ana chapter of the national nonprofit has a goal of inspiring all girls to be “strong, smart, and bold.” Archer spent the last 14 years working in gender equity in higher education. Career highlights include designing a women’s and gender studies program at Mount Saint Mary’s University and developing workshops and events that advanced STEM and leadership opportunities for female students.
Jessica Cobb is the new director of philanthropy at Speech and Language Development Center in Buena Park. The nonprofit provides education and therapy services to children and adults with special needs. Cobb assumed her role in May.
Barb Krol has been appointed chief associate experience officer at Orange County’s Credit Union in Santa Ana. She will lead the human resources department as well as the learning and development team.
Milestones
Santa Ana-based Orangewood Foundation was selected as a 2023 California Nonprofit of the Year by state Sen. Thomas Umberg. The foundation was one of more than 100 nonprofits honored by their state senators and assemblymembers for outstanding contributions to local communities. Orangewood Foundation provides resources and services to youth in Orange County including groceries, hot meals, transitional housing, life skills workshops, employment leads and educational opportunities.
The Orange County Register’s 16th annual Top Workplaces program opens for nominations Sunday, May 28. (Southern California News Group)
Top Workplaces 2023 is open
The Register’s 16th annual Top Workplace is seeking nominations of Orange County’s best companies and organizations.
Any organization with 35 or more employees in Orange County is eligible to participate and includes public, private, nonprofits and government agencies.
— Participation is free.
— Nominations are due July 7, 2023
— The list of winners will be announced in late 2023
To nominate go to ocregister.com/nominate or call 714-442-2768.
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 sgowen@scng.com. Allow at least one week for publication. Items are edited for length and clarity.
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