FIRST-GENERATION STORIES
“Making a Difference” is Orange County Business Council’s feature series that brings the face and voice of OCBC
members to life by sharing how they’re making a difference in their communities.
2022-23 ORANGE COUNTY COMMUNITY INDICATORS REPORT LAUNCHED
Since 2010, the annual report rates how the nation’s sixth largest county is performing in education, health, housing, income, infrastructure and the economy. IRVINE, CA (October 7, 2022)—Local experts representing education, housing development, academia and consumer products discussed insights from the 2022-23 Orange County Community Indicators Report at the report’s rollout hosted by the Orange County Business Council (OCBC) October 4 in Anaheim. Presented in partnership with steering committee members CalOptima Health, First 5 Orange County, Orange County Community Foundation, Orange County United Way and OCBC, the annual assessment takes a deep dive into the economy, housing, income, education, health and infrastructure of the nation’s sixth largest county. Panelists included Vice President, Land Entitlement and Land and Housing Development at Brookfield Residential Properties and OCBC Board Chair David Bartlett, Professor of Child Development and Educational Studies at Fullerton College Jennifer Kinkel, Associate Professor of Finance and Faculty Director of the Center for Investment and Wealth Management at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) Christopher Schwarz, and Senior Vice President, Customer Leadership Retail-West Zone at The Coca-Cola Company Mini Walia. Moderated by OCBC Chief Economic Advisor Dr. Wallace Walrod, topics discussed included the impact of home prices on employee recruitment and retention, the consequences of COVID-19 guidelines on mental health for teens, and a special feature on remote work trends. The title sponsor of the 2022-23 Orange County Community Indicators Report and Rollout was Amazon. Platinum sponsors included Cathay Bank, City of Hope Orange County, and Orange County Regional Consortium. For upcoming OCBC events, including the 28th Annual Economic Forecast Conference presented with California State University, Fullerton on October 27, visit www.ocbc.org/events. 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 Orange County’s economic development. 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 supply and range of housing for the workforce, developing pro-business solutions that lead to economic growth, and quality of life. Member organizations 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 www.ocbc.org. Photo credit: © Tsutsumida Pictures MEDIA CONTACT: Lizz Mishreki, APR Vice President of Communications, Orange County Business Council [email protected]
2022 HEALTH CARE FORUM PANELISTS AGREE ON STRONGER COLLABORATION
Orange County Business Council hosts diverse panel of health care experts IRVINE, CA (August 10, 2022)—Physicians and leaders representing a spectrum of Orange County health care providers discussed innovations in patient wellness, health equity and critical issues impacting the industry at the Orange County Business Council (OCBC) “Embracing Change in Health Care” 2022 Health Care Forum held August 4 in Newport Beach. Moderated by City of Hope, Orange County President Annette Walker, panelists included President and Chief Executive Officer of MemorialCare Barry Arbuckle, Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer for Providence Southern California Dr. Susan Huang, Vice President and Chief Digital Officer for Hoag Kathy Azeez-Narain, Medical Director and Chief of Staff at Southern California Permanente Medical Group of Orange County Dr. Todd Newton, and Chief Strategy Officer for UCI Health Tatyana Popkova. Panelists discussed the role of healthcare benefits in workforce retention, how giving patients a voice in developing programs and services is one way to shape health equity, and how backgrounds outside of healthcare, such as high-tech, are a signal as to how the industry is focusing on innovation. Panelists also agreed that if there was a silver lining to the pandemic it was seeing how the healthcare industry in Orange County came together for one purpose—to serve the community. In terms of collaborating with the Orange County workforce for the purpose of employee retention, panelists encouraged employers to include them—healthcare providers—when building out employee benefits programs. Jena Jensen, VP, Chief Advocacy and Public Policy Officer at CHOC and past Chair of OCBC’s Board of Directors served as emcee. Title sponsor of the 2022 Health Care Forum was City of Hope, Orange County. Gold sponsors included Hoag, Kaiser Permanente, MemorialCare, and UCI Health while Providence Healthcare was the silver sponsor. 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 Orange County’s economic development. 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 supply and range of housing, and developing pro-business solutions that lead to economic growth. Member organizations 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 www.ocbc.org. Photo credit: © Tsutsumida Pictures MEDIA CONTACT: Lizz Mishreki, APR Vice President of Communications, Orange County Business Council [email protected]
NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR ORANGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL’S 12th ANNUAL “TURNING RED TAPE INTO RED CARPET” AWARDS
Who turns red tape into red carpet in your community? IRVINE, CA (July 24, 2022)—Orange County Business Council (OCBC) has announced the opening of nominations for its 12th annual Turning Red Tape Into Red Carpet Awards. The awards honor local agencies, leaders, programs, and public-private sector partnerships that cut through red tape and encourage jobs and economic growth in Orange County. Since its inception in 2010, the Turning Red Tape Into Red Carpet Awards program has grown to include over 40 nominees annually, including cities, special districts and educational institutions, among others, that showcase groundbreaking and cost-reducing government programs in Orange County. The awards program has inspired organizations across the state of California to create similar recognition programs including the California Association for Local Economic Development’s annual “Awards of Excellence” program and the Inland Empire Economic Partnership’s “Turning Red Tape into Red Carpet” awards. Award categories include Business Retention and Expansion, Building & Land Reuse and Community Revitalization, Incorporating Innovative Technology, and Sustainable and Green Development. The Public-Private Partnership Award is presented to the nominee demonstrating a steadfast commitment to public-private collaboration, while the Leadership in Public Service awards honors an outstanding leader in the public sector who is advancing economic development in the community. Entries are judged by a group of Orange County Business Council board members representing a diverse professional background. Winners will be recognized at an in-person awards reception on Thursday, November 17, 2022 in Irvine. Past winners have included Fullerton’s CARES Act Programs, Santa Ana’s Heroes Landing, Irvine’s IrvineREADY!, Placentia’s Veterans Village, Huntington Beach’s OneHB Supporting Local Business, County of Orange Chief Executive Officer Frank Kim, and the County of Orange Clerk-Recorder for its Hitched at Honda Center event. IF YOU SUBMIT AN APPLICATION: Nomination Application: Online Application Nomination Deadline: Friday, September 9, 2022 Submit Application: Online Entry Fee: $125 per nomination. No limit on application submissions. Awards Reception: Thursday, November 17, 2022 in Irvine. For more information: Visit www.ocbc.org/event/TurningRedTapeIntoRedCarpet or contact Connor Medina, OCBC Government Affairs Manager, at 949.794.7209 or [email protected]. 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 Orange County’s economic development. 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 supply and range of housing for the workforce, developing pro-business solutions that lead to economic growth, and quality of life. Member organizations 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 www.ocbc.org.
PANELISTS ANNOUNCED FOR 2022 HEALTH CARE FORUM
Experts to focus on change in health care IRVINE, CA (July 5, 2022)—The Orange County Business Council (OCBC) today announced its panelists for the 2022 Health Care Forum “Embracing Change in Health Care.” The Forum, which will feature a candid conversation with Orange County’s health care leaders as they discuss embracing change in the industry and innovations in patient wellness, will take place Thursday, August 4 at 8 a.m. in Newport Beach. Moderated by City of Hope, Orange County President Annette Walker, panelists include: Barry Arbuckle, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, MemorialCare Dr. Susan Huang, Chief Medical Officer, Providence Southern California Kathy Azeez-Narain, Vice President and Chief Digital Officer, Hoag Dr. Todd Newton, Medical Director, and Chief of Staff, Southern California Permanente Medical Group of Orange County Tatyana Popkova, Chief Strategy Officer, UCI Health The forum, which includes breakfast, will be held at Lido House in Newport Beach, CA. For details and registration, visit www.ocbc.org. Title sponsor of the 2022 Health Care Forum is City of Hope, Orange County. Gold sponsors include Hoag, Kaiser Permanente, MemorialCare, and UCI Health. Silver sponsor is Providence Healthcare. About Orange County Business CouncilFor 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 Orange County’s economic development. 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 supply and range of housing for the workforce, developing pro-business solutions that lead to economic growth, and quality of life. Member organizations 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 www.ocbc.org. # # # MEDIA CONTACT: Lizz Mishreki, APR Vice President of Communications, Orange County Business Council [email protected]
2022 ENERGY FORUM PANELISTS REMAIN HOPEFUL IN ACHIEVING LOCAL AND GLOBAL ENERGY GOALS
Orange County Business Council hosts diverse panel of energy industry experts IRVINE, CA (June 16, 2022)—Experts representing a broad spectrum of the energy industry discussed how critical issues impacting the business community and ways key stakeholders can collaborate to meet state-mandated energy goals at the Orange County Business Council (OCBC) “Embracing Change in the Energy Revolution” Energy Forum held June 15, 2022 at The Cove at UCI. “California’s Climate Goals and What’s at Stake,” the first panel, included Linda Morales, Principal Manager of Air and Climate Policy, Regulatory Affairs at Southern California Edison, Joseph S. Avila, Senior Director of Energy Policy and Strategy at Southern California Gas Company, and Dr. Mark Nechodom, Vice President of Upstream Strategy at Western States Petroleum Association. Moderated by Rick Nogueira, Region Manager, Middle Market Banking for Orange County and Inland Empire for JPMorgan Chase and OCBC Board Member, topics discussed included how taking cues from other countries, as well as repurposing existing infrastructure in the United States, all while weighing health and economic impacts, together contribute to adopting clean energy solutions. The second panel, “The Technology That Will Enable Our Energy Revolution,” featured Jack Brouwer, Ph.D., Director of the National Fuel Cell Research Center and Advanced Power and Energy Program at the University of California, Irvine, Todd Campbell, Vice President of Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs at Clean Energy Fuels, and Tanya Peacock, Senior Director of Government Affairs and Policy at Bloom Energy. The panel was moderated by Jodi Duva, Vice President, Orange Coast for Cox Business and OCBC Board Member. Panelists discussed how working together, even with the petroleum industry, is critical to meeting policy goals. Both panels acknowledged the petroleum industry for the work its doing to work toward the same goals. Title Sponsor of the 2022 Energy Forum was Southern California Edison. Gold Sponsor was Southern California Gas, while Silver Sponsors included AT&T, Orange County Education and Research Institute, and Verizon. The next Forum hosted by Orange County Business Council will be the Health Care Forum on August 4, 2022. For more information, visit www.ocbc.org 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 Orange County’s economic development. 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 supply and range of housing for the workforce, developing pro-business solutions that lead to economic growth, and quality of life. Member organizations 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 www.ocbc.org. # # # MEDIA CONTACT: Lizz Mishreki, APR Vice President of Communications, Orange County Business Council [email protected]
Orange County Business Council Hosts Annual Dinner and Installation of Board of Directors
IRVINE, CA (April 22, 2022)—The Orange County Business Council (OCBC) installed its 2022 Board of Directors at its annual dinner on Thursday, April 7, 2022 at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim. Nearly 700 Orange County business and community leaders attended the event. Steve Churm, Chair Emeritus, served as emcee for the program. The Business community was honored to welcome Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva to lead the pledge of allegiance and Bishop Kevin Vann of the Diocese of Orange who delivered the invocation. The evening welcomed new OCBC President and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Ball who assumed the position in January 2022; this was Ball’s first time to host the annual dinner as CEO. He replaces former OCBC President and CEO Lucy Dunn who retired after 16 years leading the organization. Dave Bartlett of Brookfield Properties was installed as the incoming 2022 Board Chair. Chair Bartlett delivered impactful and inspiring remarks detailing the work the business community has ahead under his leadership. The program also recognized outgoing 2021 Board Chair Jena Jensen of CHOC. Fifty community and business leaders representing a diverse set of industry sectors such as housing, healthcare, tourism, hospitality, academia, transportation, engineering, construction, life sciences, energy, telecommunications, and banking took an oath and were installed to the Board of Directors for the 2022 calendar year. Former NASA astronaut and New York Times bestselling author, television personality and Columbia University Professor Mike Massimino, Ph.D. served as featured keynote sharing his inspirational story of perseverance to be selected as an astronaut for NASA missions. The evening would not have been possible without the support of Orange County Business Council’s many sponsors including title sponsor the Orange County Register, platinum sponsor Amazon, while the University of California, Irvine sponsored the VIP Reception. Gold sponsors include Brookfield Residential, Disneyland Resort, Experian, and Five Point Holdings. Silver sponsors included Automobile Club, Bank of America, Building Industry Association, Boeing, Chase, City of Hope Orange County, Clay Lacy Aviation, HNTB, Kaiser Permanente, Ontario International Airport, SDGE, SoCal Gas, Southern California Edison and US Bank. Bronze sponsors include American Career College & West Coast University, Anaheim Public Utilities, AT&T, CalOptima, California State University, Fullerton; Charter Communications, Chevron, Cox Business, CSUF College of Business, Curt Pringle & Associates, FSB Public Affairs, Girl Scouts of Orange County, Goodwill of Orange County, Holland & Knight, Idea Hall, Jamboree Housing, LSA, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP; MemorialCare, Nossaman LLP, Orange Catholic Foundation, Orange County Department of Education, Rancho Mission Viejo, SCAG, South OC Community College District, Transportation Corridor Agencies, Tri Point Homes, University of Massachusetts Global, UPS, Verizon, WSP USA and Wells Fargo. About Orange County Business Council Orange County Business Council represents and promotes the business community, working with government and academia, to enhance Orange County’s economic development and prosperity in order to preserve a high quality of life. OCBC is comprised of the region’s most influential global businesses and organizations in the region, working to assure effective investment in infrastructure, an advanced education system that produces skilled workers, growth of venture capital and high tech companies, and housing solutions for the workforce. OCBC membership is comprised of some of the world’s largest global corporate leaders as well as representation from local government and academia. For more information, visit www.ocbc.org. # # # MEDIA CONTACT: Lizz Mishreki, APR Vice President of Communications, Orange County Business Council [email protected]
OCBC Hosts Successful Meetings with 18 State Leaders in Sacramento
Irvine, CA – March 25, 2022 – Orange County Business Council (OCBC) and a large group of business leaders representing a diverse array of Orange County industry sectors traveled to Sacramento on March 21 and 22 to speak with 18 prominent state leaders, including Attorney General Rob Bonta, GO-Biz Director Dee Dee Myers and CalChamber CEO Jennifer Barrera. Thank you to Title Sponsor Southern California Edison and all trip sponsors. A few highlights from each day include: DAY ONE AG Bonta discussed what his office is doing to curb organized retail theft and hold governments accountable in meeting state housing goals; Senator Bob Hertzberg talked tax reforms and how to best utilize the state budget surplus, while also referring Orange County’s water districts as models for others to follow in their water recycling efforts; CA Building Industry Association President Dan Dunmoyer gave an overview of legislation affecting development and how business and the state can work with municipalities to incentivize building; A panel of state housing agency heads talked about the need for housing in Orange County, with HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez noting “the voice of business is critical” in building more housing; Assemblymember Vince Fong covered the tax surplus from his perspective as Vice Chair of the Budget Committee and recognized the need for the state to start significantly investing in the supply chain; Senator Scott Wiener, Chair of the Housing Committee, thanked OCBC for standing on the right side of housing issues and emphasized that the state needs to reform CEQA, not make it easier to halt development through CEQA abuse. Finally, the night concluded with a Reception and Dinner hosted by Disneyland Resort featuring nearly all of Orange County’s state legislators for a night of unparalleled networking. DAY TWO GO-Biz Director Dee Dee Myers agreed that the Private Attorneys General Act, which allows frivolous lawsuits against businesses, is ripe for reform, and heard directly from businessowners the challenges of running a business in such a highly regulated labor landscape; CalChamber CEO Jennifer Barrera described how the Legislature has a “pent up demand” on policies they haven’t been able to move forward due to a focus on COVID the past two years; Senate Minority Leader Scott Wilk went over redistricting, bipartisan efforts to reform the Employment Development Department, and how to help businesses by supporting paying down the $20B Unemployment Insurance Fund debt; CalSTA Secretary Toks Omishakin and CTC Director Mitch Weiss, two leading transportation policy leaders, shared their visions for distributing historic infrastructure funding while Orange County leaders asked how to ensure our region receives its fair share; Controller Betty Yee expressed her appreciation of her office’s collaboration with OCBC throughout her eight years as Controller and gave an overview of the state’s fiscal health; CA Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot heard input from businesses on how to balance conservation efforts with the need for housing and discussed the state’s ongoing transition to carbon neutrality. Thank you again to all investors who participated in this year’s Sacramento Advocacy Trip. Together, we made the voice of business loud and clear in Sacramento. About OCBC:Orange County Business Council (OCBC) represents and promotes the business community, working with government and academia, to enhance Orange County’s economic development and prosperity to preserve a high quality of life. OCBC is comprised of the region’s most influential global businesses and organizations, working to assure effective investment in infrastructure, an advanced education system that produces skilled workers, growth of venture capital and high-tech companies, and housing solutions for the workforce. OCBC membership is comprised of some of the world’s largest global corporate leaders as well as representation from local government and academia. CONTACT: Kathy CorpuzDirector, Communications and [email protected]
OCBC Promotes Rubalcava To Chief Operating Officer; Parente To Chief Financial Officer
IRVINE, CA — May 24, 2018 – Orange County Business Council today announced two executive promotions within the organization. Natalie Rubalcava – OCBC’s vice president of investor relations since 2016 – has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer. Danette Parente, who has served as OCBC’s Vice President of Finance and Administration for 23 years – has been elevated to Chief Financial Officer. The new assignments were announced by OCBC President and CEO Lucy Dunn. As chief operating officer, Rubalcava will be responsible for day-to-day operation of the organization, reporting to Dunn. Rubalcava’s career spans more than 20 years in marketing, research and development with Southern California’s largest media companies, including the Los Angeles Times and Southern California News Group, publisher of the Orange County Register. She earned her BA in Political Science at California State University, Fullerton, and holds a JD degree from the University of La Verne College of Law. A member of the OCBC management team since 1995, Parente will continue overseeing all financial appropriations, expenditures, accounting and reporting for the organization as chief financial officer. A graduate of the University of Southern California and a Certified Public Accountant, Parente previously served as Director of Wescom Credit Union. Her career also includes tenures as a division controller in the commercial real estate and property management industries, and as an auditor with Deloitte. “Each of these exceptionally talented women has been an important, contributing member of the OCBC leadership team in ways that have improved and benefitted the organization,” said Dunn. “I’m proud of both of them and excited to elevate them to these executive management positions. They’ve earned it.” About OCBC: Orange County Business Council is the leading voice of business in Orange County, California. OCBC represents and promotes the business community, working with government and academia, to enhance Orange County’s economic development and prosperity in order to preserve a high quality of life. In providing a proactive forum for business and supporting organizations, OCBC helps assure the financial growth of America’s sixth largest county. For more information, visit www.ocbc.org.
Orange County faces housing shortfall of 100,000 by 2040
IRVINE, CA- Orange County Business Council (OCBC) presents the 2015 Workforce Housing Forum, sponsored by Bank of America, held at Hoag Hospital Auditorium Irvine Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at 7:30 a.m. Dr. Wallace Walrod, OCBC Chief Economic Advisor, will unveil the 2015 Workforce Housing Scorecard, which presents a picture of the state of each city’s workforce housing in Orange County by looking at affordability, density, population, and housing-unit numbers, as well as the relationship between jobs and housing units. The Forum will also feature a panel discussion among regional experts and stakeholders discussing the current and future state of housing, issues and tools for success Orange County’s future prosperity hinges on the region’s ability to create a healthy, prosperous economy that promotes both jobs and housing — not one at the expense of the other. Currently, Orange County is an economic leader in both job creation and GDP, but is facing today a 50,000 to 62,000 housing unit shortage, based upon the ideal ratio of 1.5 housing units for every job. Given current development trends, this shortfall is likely to grow to 100,000 homes and apartments within the next three decades. The Scorecard ranks cities in Orange County to highlight the regional leaders making strides to address the need as well as illustrate which communities are not yet succeeding to improve their jobs to housing balance. CLICK HERE for an infographic of the report’s key findings. An advanced copy for the scorecard is available for interested members of the press. This is the third installment of the Scorecard since its inaugural release in 2008 and has proven to be a catalyst for discussions among policy leaders and stakeholders to address the region’s workforce housing accessibility. Topics of discussion at the forum will include: supply and demand factors of workforce housing, the recovery’s impact on Orange County, emerging factors in the housing market, projected housing trends in the county through 2040, and the long-term consequences of an insufficient workforce housing supply. WHO: Dr. Wallace Walrod, Chief Economic Advisor, Orange County Business Council Mike Adams, Orange County Planning Commissioner, Panelist Max Gardner, CEO, OC United Way, Panelist Curt Pringle, President, Curt Pringle & Associates, and former Mayor of the City of Anaheim, Panelist Frank Ury, Councilmember, City of Mission Viejo, and Business Development, Public Sector, Hewlett-Packard Company, Panelist WHEN: Tuesday, March 31, 2015 Registration: 7:30 a.m. Program: 8:00 a.m. Adjourn: 9:00 a.m. WHERE: Hoag Hospital Irvine Auditorium 16200 Sand Canyon Avenue, Irvine, CA 92618 COST: OCBC Members: $75 Non-Members: $120 Media interested in attending should contact Delaine Moore, Communications Manager, at [email protected] or 949-794-7220. An advanced copy for the scorecard is available for interested members of the press. About OCBC: Orange County Business Council is the leading voice of business in Orange County, California. OCBC represents and promotes the business community, working with government and academia, to enhance Orange County’s economic development and prosperity in order to preserve a high quality of life. OCBC serves member and investor businesses with nearly 250,000 employees and 2,000,000 worldwide. In providing a proactive forum for business and supporting organizations, OCBC helps assure the financial growth of America’s sixth largest county. For more information, visit www.ocbc.org. # # #