ON CAMPUS AT VANGUARD:Q&A; with Jeff Teller, president, Orange County Marketplace

Jeff Teller is president of the Orange County Marketplace, the largest open-air marketplace in Southern California, which his family has operated since 1969 at the Orange County Fairgrounds, across the street from Vanguard University. The Marketplace recently opened a 300-car capacity drive-in movie theater, the Star-Vu theater, which plays first-run movies seven nights a week. Teller is a community leader and a Vanguard University Foundation board member and supporter. Joel Kilpatrick spoke with him about his relationship with Vanguard University.

Question: When did you first become more acquainted with Vanguard University?

Answer: I was introduced to Vanguard through the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce, where I have served two terms as chairman. Through that association I met Dave Elliott [Vanguard University’s associate vice president for university relations] and Vanguard President Murray Dempster. I’ve been so taken by those individuals and the other people I’ve had the great fortune of meeting that make up the Vanguard leadership team. It was very easy for me to want to get involved with them. There is something about those people. They have almost a magnetic sense about them. They’ve always been very supportive of us and the Marketplace. And I’ve always been happy to support the work they do. Vanguard has tremendous assets that are easy to get behind. The music department is absolutely incredible, and so is the drama department. They have some exemplary programs that are easy to want to be part of.

Q: Why did you become an active Vanguard supporter and partner?

A: I’ve been very impressed with the quality of people they’ve assembled to help them get the word out about all the great things that go on at Vanguard. The university’s mission is largely about community outreach. I was honored to be asked to be on their foundation board. I also am part of the university’s Professional Leadership Circle. We are a resource and use our experience, contacts and expertise to guide the development of the endowment and strategy for Vanguard to continue to grow and realize its potential. It’s very worthwhile time spent.

Vanguard’s plans are ambitious, but any goal that’s worthwhile is ambitious and it’s within reason that VU’s benchmarks will be attained. There are very talented and creative people available to the university, and the commitment is there. That’s the key. If you can bring all those things into line, it’s amazing the kind of success you can have.

Q: Why is an education like the one offered at Vanguard important to business leaders like you?

A: The world benefits when we have young people who are engaged and want to make a difference, who have the tools and the values and the experiences to effect positive changes for our world. I certainly see that and have experienced that with Vanguard. The students are engaged, anxious to make a difference, have a values-based thought process that transcends any religious affiliation but is in keeping with a Judeo-Christian values system that is really important to the betterment of our society.

Q: Tell us what’s happening with the OC Marketplace these days.

A: It has grown tremendously from when it started. It is a giant open-air market that is part festival, part street fair, part farmer’s market, part bazaar. Products range from $150,000 sports cars to arts and crafts, home furnishings, clothing and fashion, and a wide variety of food and beverage offerings. We’ve tried over the last couple of years to create a festive sense to it. We bring in specialty acts to perform, from great marionette shows to wonderful jazz musicians to disc jockeys with karaoke. We pride ourselves on having created a family environment. We’re Orange County’s other great family attraction.

We also just brought back the drive-in move experience to Orange County with the 300-car Star-Vu Theater which has been playing to sold-out audiences on weekends. The last drive-in in Orange County closed 10 years ago. Now we’re showing all first-run movies on a giant inflatable screen almost 70 feet wide and 40 feet tall. It was custom made for us. We show movies seven nights a week. On weekends it’s hard to get a ticket.

Q: Any last thoughts?

A: For me Vanguard University is all about the people. As long as it’s about the people I can’t see myself ever not being involved. I’d say I love the people.

Vanguard is not only good friends, but they are our neighbors. They are a great community asset for the city of Costa Mesa. They do great things. Their contributions to the community are almost too numerous to mention.