Rick J. Caruso
Encyclopedia
Rick J. Caruso, founder and chief executive officer of Caruso Affiliated, is a developer and retail operator who has designed and built properties in Southern California. He has been active in Los Angeles city commissions and was the youngest commissioner in the history of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
and a law degree from Pepperdine University
. He worked briefly as a real-estate lawyer representing developers
but was soon attracted to the business itself: He "quit practicing law and spent the next 15 years developing industrial buildings in California and elsewhere." He is married to Tina Caruso; the couple has four children.
in Los Angeles and the Americana at Brand
in Glendale. Caruso is developing a residential property called 8500 Burton and has acquired land in Dublin, California
, for his first retail development in Northern California
. Caruso's properties have won design awards, including the 2009 Gold Award from the International Council of Shopping Centers
.
to the Police Commission and was elected its president. He led the selection process that resulted in the hiring of William Bratton as police chief.
Earlier, he was named by Mayor Tom Bradley
as a commissioner for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
. At 25, he was the youngest commissioner in the history of that agency.
Caruso is a current member of the Los Angeles Coliseum Commission, which oversees the operations of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
and nearby Sports Arena. He was a leading critic of the Coliseum hosting a rave party, stating, "The only thing that these rave events are good for is making money...But I put the safety of our kids above making money." Caruso later called for the resignation of Coliseum Commission General Manager Pat Lynch over the hosting of the events.
. The organization renamed one of its child development centers the Tina and Rick Caruso Child Development Center "in their honor to acknowledge the[ir] generosity." The Caruso Catholic Center on the USC campus was developed and named after Caruso following his contribution of $6 million.
He is also a trustee of the University of Southern California School of Policy, Planning and Development and is on the Pepperdine School of Law Board of Visitors. He is on the board of the National Institute of Transplantation and is a trustee of Saint John’s Hospital.
Caruso participates annually as a guest panelist for the International Council of Shopping Centers
and is a trustee of that organization.
as the "Developer of the Year" and as Conejo Valley
's "Man of the Year" by the Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce He was honored by the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation with its annual EDDY Award for "for his unwavering commitment to L.A. County through his philanthropic contributions, civic engagement, and economic leadership."
Biography
Caruso was born in Los Angeles, where he attended local schools and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
and a law degree from Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University is an independent, private, medium-sized university affiliated with the Churches of Christ. The university's campus overlooking the Pacific Ocean in unincorporated Los Angeles County, California, United States, near Malibu, is the location for Seaver College, the School of...
. He worked briefly as a real-estate lawyer representing developers
Real estate development
Real estate development, or Property Development, is a multifaceted business, encompassing activities that range from the renovation and re-lease of existing buildings to the purchase of raw land and the sale of improved land or parcels to others...
but was soon attracted to the business itself: He "quit practicing law and spent the next 15 years developing industrial buildings in California and elsewhere." He is married to Tina Caruso; the couple has four children.
Developments
His developments have included The Grove at Farmers MarketThe Grove at Farmers Market
The Grove is a retail and entertainment complex in Los Angeles, California, built, owned, and operated by Rick J. Caruso and his company Caruso Affiliated on parts of the historical Farmers Market.-History:...
in Los Angeles and the Americana at Brand
Americana at Brand
Americana at Brand is a large outdoor shopping community in Glendale, California. The property was built and is owned and operated by Los Angeles businessman Rick J. Caruso and his company Caruso Affiliated. Caruso Affiliated has built and operates of many other projects including The Grove at...
in Glendale. Caruso is developing a residential property called 8500 Burton and has acquired land in Dublin, California
Dublin, California
Dublin is a suburban city of the East Bay region of Alameda County, California, United States. Located along the north side of Interstate 580 at the intersection with Interstate 680, roughly east of Hayward, west of Livermore and north of San Jose, it was named after the city of Dublin in...
, for his first retail development in Northern California
Northern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
. Caruso's properties have won design awards, including the 2009 Gold Award from the International Council of Shopping Centers
International Council of Shopping Centers
Founded in 1957, the International Council of Shopping Centers is the global trade association of the shopping center industry. Its 60,000 members in the U.S., Canada and more than 80 other countries include shopping center owners, developers, managers, marketing specialists, investors, lenders,...
.
Public service
Caruso was appointed by Mayor James HahnJames Hahn
James Kenneth "Jim" Hahn is an American politician. Hahn was elected the 40th Mayor of Los Angeles in 2001. He served until 2005, at which time he was defeated in his bid for re-election...
to the Police Commission and was elected its president. He led the selection process that resulted in the hiring of William Bratton as police chief.
Earlier, he was named by Mayor Tom Bradley
Tom Bradley
Thomas or Tom Bradley is the name of:*Tom Bradley , mayor of Los Angeles, California*Tom Bradley , American novelist and essayist...
as a commissioner for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is the largest municipal utility in the United States, serving over four million residents. It was founded in 1902 to supply water and electricity to residents and businesses in Los Angeles and surrounding communities...
. At 25, he was the youngest commissioner in the history of that agency.
Caruso is a current member of the Los Angeles Coliseum Commission, which oversees the operations of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is a large outdoor sports stadium in the University Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, at Exposition Park, that is home to the Pacific-12 Conference's University of Southern California Trojans football team...
and nearby Sports Arena. He was a leading critic of the Coliseum hosting a rave party, stating, "The only thing that these rave events are good for is making money...But I put the safety of our kids above making money." Caruso later called for the resignation of Coliseum Commission General Manager Pat Lynch over the hosting of the events.
Community activities
Caruso is involved in Para Los Ninos, which provides education and child development services to neighborhoods in Southern CaliforniaSouthern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. The organization renamed one of its child development centers the Tina and Rick Caruso Child Development Center "in their honor to acknowledge the[ir] generosity." The Caruso Catholic Center on the USC campus was developed and named after Caruso following his contribution of $6 million.
He is also a trustee of the University of Southern California School of Policy, Planning and Development and is on the Pepperdine School of Law Board of Visitors. He is on the board of the National Institute of Transplantation and is a trustee of Saint John’s Hospital.
Caruso participates annually as a guest panelist for the International Council of Shopping Centers
International Council of Shopping Centers
Founded in 1957, the International Council of Shopping Centers is the global trade association of the shopping center industry. Its 60,000 members in the U.S., Canada and more than 80 other countries include shopping center owners, developers, managers, marketing specialists, investors, lenders,...
and is a trustee of that organization.
Awards
Caruso was named by the Los Angeles Business JournalLos Angeles Business Journal
The Los Angeles Business Journal, established c. 1979, is a weekly newspaper in Los Angeles, California, which covers general business news. According to the journal's website, it has over 12,000 online subscribers, and a weekly print circulation of 30,000...
as the "Developer of the Year" and as Conejo Valley
Conejo Valley
The Conejo Valley is a region spanning both southeastern Ventura County and northwestern Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States...
's "Man of the Year" by the Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce He was honored by the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation with its annual EDDY Award for "for his unwavering commitment to L.A. County through his philanthropic contributions, civic engagement, and economic leadership."