January 26. 2005 :: No. 119

Community supporter and Titan friend Paul Folino will be feted center stage on Feb. 5 when Cal State Fullerton honors the chairman and CEO of Emulex Corp. with its Orange County Titan Award during the university’s 10th annual Front & Center gala.

Presented to an individual who (or corporation that) has made a positive difference in Orange County, Folino will be saluted for his dedication to the continued growth of Cal State Fullerton, helping to power the county’s economy and commitment to supporting local philanthropic organizations.

A native of Washington, Folino earned his bachelor’s degree in social sciences from Central Washington State University. Like many Cal State Fullerton students, he worked full time while completing his M.B.A. at Seattle University.

Among his career successes is the role he played as a member of the original Xerox Corp. team that launched Ethernet networking products into the marketplace in the 1970s. During his three-year tenure as president and COO of Thomas-Conrad Corp., he spearheaded the company’s growth from $18 million to almost $60 million in revenue — earning the manufacturer recognition from INC Magazine as one of the fastest-growing privately held corporations in America.

In 1993, Folino joined Emulex, the worldwide market-share leader in the fiber channel host bus adapter industry. The company’s success earned for Emulex the designation as the No. 1 performing public stock in Orange County of the 1990s. Additionally, Folino’s leadership was recognized by Ernst & Young LLP, first in 1999, when he was named Orange County Co-Entrepreneur of the Year in technology, and in the following year as Orange County Director of the Year for high-growth technology.

He also has made his mark in the community’s nonprofit sector through his involvement in education and the arts, among other areas. At Cal State Fullerton, Folino is a founding member of the Dean’s Advisory Board for the College of Business and Economics and made a leadership gift to the campaign — currently in its private phase — for the college. He is a member of several boards, including those for the Orange County Performing Arts Center and Chapman University.

Previous Orange County Titan Award honorees include: retired Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda; George Golleher, retired CEO of Ralphs Grocery Co.; Robert and Marie Gray of St. John Knits; Jim and Patti Edwards of Edwards Cinemas; former Broadcom president and CEO Henry T. Nicholas III; Orange County Teachers Federal Credit Union; the Angels; and former Rockwell chairman and CEO Donald Beall.

Front & Center is set for 8 p.m. Feb. 5 at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim. The event will feature a concert by the Doobie Brothers and performances by international opera star and Titan alumnus Rodney Gilfry, and students from the university’s award-winning Theatre and Dance Department. Tickets are available by calling 657-278-3480.

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