Business leaders, law enforcement support retail theft bill

Feb52024 Feb 5, 2024 Video and photo courtesy of OCBC With property crime—including retail theft—increasing in all 34 Orange County cities and across the state, Assembly bill 1772, if passed, would add stricter penalties including jail time. Due to the lack of consequences put into effect by Prop 47 in 2014, many instances of property theft, especially retail theft, go under reported. OCBC President and CEO Jeff Ball joined bill co-author Assemblymember Avelino Valencia (D-Anaheim) to speak at a press conference in Sacramento on January 22. OCBC advocates on behalf of its investors for the ability to operate in safe communities where their employees, and customers, are protected. A 2022 California Attorney General report showed that property crime increased 6.2% statewide.

OCBC Welcomes New Board Members

Seven Orange County business leaders join Orange County Business Council Board of Directors IRVINE, CA (February 5, 2024) — Orange County Business Council (OCBC) announced today that Stephen Finnegan, Government Affairs Manager of the Automobile Club of Southern California, Tony Petros, Chief Executive Officer of LSA Associates, Inc., Nate Shinagawa, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of UCI Health, Laurie Sicaeros, Chief Strategy Officer of MemorialCare Health System, Ramin Valian, Vice President of Eye Care and Pipeline Commercialization Strategy at Allergan, an AbbVie Company, Dan Vozenilek, Director of External Affairs at AT&T and Caroline Wong, Senior Director of Communications and Custom Content of Southern California News Group and The Orange County Register, have joined OCBC’s Board of Directors. The Board consists of 52 members. “I am honored to have these community leaders join our board of directors,” said Jeffrey Ball, President and CEO of Orange County Business Council. “Their insights and talents will be invaluable for the Business Council as we continue to advance the economic development of the nation’s sixth most populous county with a focus on workforce, housing and infrastructure initiatives.” As the Government Affairs Manager of the Automobile Club of Southern California (AAA), Stephen Finnegan leads public and government affairs, community programs, traffic safety advocacy and efforts and more for AAA Southern California, Texas, New Mexico and Hawaii. Throughout his career, Finnegan has worked at Bank of America, served as a management consultant to public agencies and non-profit organizations and held leadership positions with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Since beginning his career at LSA Associates, Inc. in 1984, Tony Petros has risen to the position of Chief Executive Officer and now spearheads the organization’s continued goal of achieving project management excellence and client development. Petros has previously served as a City of Newport Beach councilmember, was the President of the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce, was appointed to the County of Orange Housing and Community Development Commission and provided LSA mobility services to clients throughout the United States, Middle East and Asia. With over 14 years of experience in hospital senior leadership and 10 years in public service, Nate Shinagawa is the Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President at UCI Health, where he oversees the daily operations of Orange County’s only academic hospital with an annual net revenue of over $2.5 billion and 8,150 employees. Before joining UCI Health, Shinagawa held Chief Operating Officer roles at Banner Health in Arizona and served as a county legislator in New York for nearly a decade. Laurie Sicaeros is the Chief Strategy Officer for MemorialCare Health System, where she is responsible for the organization’s strategic goals and objectives, focusing on areas of growth, partnerships, and more. Since joining MemorialCare over 25 years ago, Sicaeros has served in various roles from mergers & acquisitions to marketing and more, established the MemorialCare Medical Foundation and been credited with the health system’s fundamental growth. As the Vice President of Eye Care and Pipeline Commercialization Strategy at Allergan, an AbbVie Company, Ramin Valian oversees the U.S. eye care business unit and is the global business unit head for eye care responsible for pipeline commercialization strategy. With more than three decades of experience, Valian has led the launch of seven significant projects and the global eye care strategy group that focused on increasing the net value of the Allergen eye care franchise. Leading AT&T’s government affairs, public policy, philanthropic and social engagement initiatives in Orange County is Dan Vozenilek, the organization’s Director of External Affairs for the region. Along with serving on numerous non-profit boards, Vozenilek is responsible for managing community partnerships with non-profit organizations, executing strategies that help attain corporate legislative objectives and presenting company positions to external stakeholders in key issue areas at AT&T. Holding board positions at South County Outreach and OC Forum, Caroline Wong is the Senior Director of Communications and Custom Content for Southern California News Group and The Orange County Register. Before joining The Orange County Register, Wong spent 11 years at FOX Television Studios working to bring shows like “American Idol,” “Glee” and “Good Day LA”—which dominated morning ratings while she was Senior Producer in promotions and marketing—across Los Angeles. About Orange County Business Council For over 25 years, Orange County Business Council (OCBC) has been representing and promoting the region’s business community together with government and academia to enhance the economic development of the nation’s sixth largest county. The Council’s core initiatives include advocating for adequate investment in regional and statewide infrastructure, education development that leads to a competitive workforce, advocating for a range of housing, and developing pro-business solutions that lead to sustainable economic growth. Members include businesses and local organizations representing a diverse cross section of industries including biomedical, construction, education, financial services, health care, manufacturing, municipalities, nonprofit, real estate, technology, tourism, transportation, real estate and utilities. For more information, visit ocbc.org. Media Contact: Lizz Mishreki, APR Vice President of Communications Orange County Business Council [email protected]

Disneyland Resort awards workforce development grants

Jan222024 Jan 22, 2024 Image courtesy of Disneyland Resort To help develop, prepare and empower Orange County’s workforce, Disneyland Resort provides career readiness opportunities to Anaheim students and residents through its community workforce development initiative. The resort recently awarded its annual workforce development grants to nonprofit organizations including Anaheim Union High School District, My Day Counts and Anaheim Family YMCA. Over the last six years, Disney has provided more than $6.5 million in financial support and countless hours by Disney VoluntEARS, impacting more than 10,000 lives.

RSCCD infuses $2 billion into Orange County economy

Jan222024 Jan 22, 2024 Photo courtesy of RSCCD Rancho Santiago Community College District’s (RSCCD) latest Economic Impact Report reveals that the district, which consists of Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College, added nearly $2 billion in income to Orange County’s economy while former students employed in the county workforce contributed $1.5 billion in income. The data affirms the district’s goal to provide education and training to ensure that students move into high-paying jobs in Orange County.

Goodwill OC opens new store

Jan82024 Jan 8, 2024 Photo courtesy of Goodwill of Orange County Goodwill of Orange County opened its second store in the city of Orange on December 8th. The new store will serve a growing demand in North Orange, as well as Villa Park and Anaheim Hills. With the goal of doubling its retail footprint and impact in OC over the next 10 years, the new store marks the second new location toward that goal. Goodwill of Orange County marks its 100th anniversary in 2024.

Hoag among the first in the world to successfully implant first dual chamber leadless pacemaker system

Jan82024 Jan 8, 2024 Photo courtesy of Hoag Hoag recently achieved a cardiac medical milestone by successfully implanting the world’s first dual chamber leadless pacemaker. Smaller than a AAA battery, the pacemaker system, known as AVEIR™ DR, by Abbott, treats patients with various slow or abnormal heart rhythms. Hoag is one of a few initial sites in the country to participate in the launch of this new technology.

CHOC announces merger with San Diego’s Rady Children’s

Jan82024 Jan 8, 2024 Image courtesy of CHOC Children’s HealthCare of California, the parent company of Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), and Rady Children’s Hospital and Health Center, the parent company of Rady Children Hospital-San Diego (Rady Children’s), have entered into an agreement to merge CHOC and Rady Children’s under a single parent entity called Rady Children’s Health. The merger between the two nationally recognized pediatric health systems is expected to help with recruitment and retention of workforce talent. CHOC’s President and CEO, Kimberly Chavalas Cripe, and Rady Children’s President and CEO, Patricio A. Frias, MD, will be appointed co-CEOs of the new parent company.

OCBC strongly represented in The Orange County Register’s 2023 “Orange County’s 125 Most Influential”

Jan82024 Jan 8, 2024 Image courtesy of The Orange County Register (Composite by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG) Orange County Business Council has always been recognized as the key organization where leaders come together to focus on critical issues. This distinction was recently highlighted when 18 OCBC investors were highlighted in The Orange County Register’s 2023 list of most influential people in Orange County Five of the leaders recognized are members of the OCBC Board of Directors. Congratulations to Jeff Ball – President and CEO of OCBC, Michael Hunn – Chief Executive Officer of CalOptima Health, Darrell Johnson – Chief Executive Officer of Orange County Transportation Authority, Steven Oh – Senior Vice President for Development of Related California and William Shopoff – President and CEO of Shopoff Realty Investments, L.P. for this recognition. Leaders from eight additional organizations who are represented on OCBC’s Board of Directors were also recognized, as well as five partner organizations that work closely with OCBC. The engagement of influential leaders is critical to OCBC’s work in driving economic development for the nation’s sixth most populous county. The OC Register recognized OCBC as Orange County’s leading promoter of business and community development. To get involved with OCBC and engage with local leaders, contact OCBC Vice President of Investor Relations Carl Heft.