June 13, 2025 @ 9:30 am – 11:00 am
2 Park Plaza, Suite 125, Irvine, CA 92614
Join the upcoming Advocacy and Government Affairs Committee Meeting. The Advocacy and Government Affairs Committee discusses and takes action on public policy issues that have a direct impact on the business community. Contact George Boutros for meeting details.
June 10, 2025 @ 8:00 am – 9:00 am
2 Park Plaza, Suite 125, Irvine, CA 92614
The Infrastructure Committee advocates for an infrastructure system critical to meeting the growing needs of Orange County’s residents and businesses. Whether it’s increased investment in the county’s roads and highway system, or increasing the supply of quality drinking water, OCBC works to make sure Orange…
IRVINE, CA (June 9, 2025) — Orange County Business Council (OCBC) announced today that Sarah Ghebrial has joined the organization as the new Vice President of Public Affairs.
“We are proud to welcome Sarah to our team,” said Jeffrey Ball, President and CEO of Orange County Business Council. “Her addition represents the work we have done in expanding OCBC’s role in promoting economic development for the region and will help OCBC amplify its role as a dependable resource for local businesses and organizations.”
July 23, 2025
When a crisis occurs, every second counts, and so does your business’s response. Join Orange County Business Council and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department for an exclusive, in-person panel discussion that offers a behind-the-scenes look at how the County activates during major disasters. This program is designed to help business leaders understand and align with the County’s emergency response system while also providing actionable insights on communication and coordination planning. Be ready when it counts. Learn how to mobilize your business for crisis readiness and resilience.
Panelists: Michelle Anderson, CEM, CA-PEM (Orange County Sheriff’s Department), Matt Olson (Orange County Fire Authority), Molly Nichelson (County of Orange)
Moderated by: Jeff Ball (Orange County Business Council)
May 28, 2025
Tariffs are shaping the future of global business and understanding them is essential. Orange County Business Council and The Richard Nixon Foundation invite you to join us for a high-impact discussion that explores the purpose and structure of tariffs, as well as the operational and strategic considerations companies must evaluate in today’s evolving trade environment. Our panel of industry and policy experts will break down what business leaders need to know and how to proactively position their organization for long-term resilience. Whether you manage business strategy or public relations, this is a timely opportunity to gain clarity and walk away with practical strategies to strengthen your approach to trade policy.
Panelists: Kevin Depew (RSM US LLP), TJ McCree (Cathay Bank), Dr. Christopher Schwarz (UCI), Charron Ricks (UPS Supply Chain Solutions), Jeff Ball (Moderator)
May 16, 2024
OCBC’s Health Care Forum features CEOs, presidents and executives from Orange County’s largest hospitals and health care systems who discuss innovations and critical issues effecting the industry, employers and residents in the nation’s sixth largest county.
OCBC 2026 Annual Dinner and Installation of the Board of Directors Sponsor Opportunities Thursday, February 26, 2026 Additional Event Details Sponsor opportunities Coming Soon Thank you sponsors! Title Sponsors VIP Reception Sponsor Gold Sponsors Silver Sponsors Bronze Sponsors Amazon The Boeing Company Cal State Fullerton and the College of Business and Economics CalOptima Health CHOC Girl Scouts of Orange County Goodwill of Orange County Idea Hall JPMorganChase LSA Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. Nossaman LLP Orange County Department of Education Orange County REALTORS Rancho Mission Viejo Rancho Santiago Community College District SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County Shook, Hardy & Bacon, L.L.P. South Orange County Community College District UCI Health U.S. Bank Verizon Business WSP For more information Lauren Martin Director of EventsOrange County Business [email protected]
April 29, 2025
More than 60 healthcare leaders joined industry experts for “Navigating Healthcare Costs: Business Insights for Competitive Benefits & Sustainable Savings.” Panelists included Chris Arias, Executive Director of Business Development at OCBC investor MemorialCare, Ron Scaffidi, Benefits Consultant of The Baldwin Group, and Lester Morales, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Next Impact, LLC. The event offered practical strategies for managing healthcare costs while maintaining competitive benefits, highlighting alternative solutions, cost-control methods for small to mid-sized employers and guidance for those concerned about administrative capacity.
March 19, 2025
OCBC, in partnership with Concordia University Irvine, held an “OCBC Business Connections” session that featured a panel of industry experts who shared key strategies, best practices, and resources to help businesses strengthen their resilience against cyber threats.
OCBC Business Connections is a new initiative for the Council where industry leaders present in-depth insights on critical issues facing the business community. Panelists, pictured L-R, included moderator OCBC President and CEO Jeff Ball, Randy Jeter of Procure IT and Lance Larson of Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center.
February 5, 2025
The inaugural “OCBC Business Connections” featured a panel of industry experts who discussed the implications of two proposed amendments by the South Coast Air Quality Management District. If adopted, Proposed Amended Rules (PARs) 1111 and 1121 would mandate businesses, residents and new buildings to exclusively install and/or replace natural gas appliances with electric appliances. While OCBC supports clean air initiatives, the conclusion of this meeting was that these amendments would have minimal benefits for the environment yet financially would burden businesses and individuals. Most notably, these amendments would further reduce the region’s already sensitive affordability index for housing.
Helping to shed light on SCAQMD’s proposed mandate were, pictured R-L, The Honorable Don Wagner of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, Jessilyn-Ellise Davis of SoCalGas, Brian Bunger of Holland & Knight LLP, and moderator OCBC President and CEO Jeff Ball. AQMD declined an invitation to take part in the panel.
Orange County Business Council represents and promotes the business community, working with government and academia, to enhance the economic development of the nation’s sixth largest county.
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