IRVINE, CA (December 9, 2024) — Orange County Business Council (OCBC) announced today that Paul Simonds has joined the organization as the new Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, and Jorge (Jorgie) Sandoval has joined OCBC as the new Business Initiatives Facilitator. Both appointments are effective December 9, 2024.
“We are proud to welcome Paul and Jorgie to our team,” said Jeffrey Ball, President and CEO of Orange County Business Council. “Their addition is representative of the work we have done in expanding OCBC’s role in promoting Economic Development for the region and further establishing ourselves as a dependable resource for local businesses and organizations.”
In his new role, Paul Simonds will focus on expanding economic development opportunities throughout Orange County, as well as oversee the day-to-day operations of the Council. Simonds brings more than 20 years of experience to OCBC, including more than a decade working with policy makers and administrators in Orange County. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President of Curt Pringle and Associates, an Orange County public affairs firm, where he represented a broad cross section of business sectors, including public utilities, telecommunications providers, developers, professional sports teams and public transportation agencies. Prior to that, some of the organizations he worked for include Southern California Gas Company and Western Growers Association. He has also served on numerous boards. A Navy veteran, Simonds earned his master’s degree in Public Administration from Brandman University and his bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Media Relations from Chapman University.
As OCBC’s new Business Initiatives Facilitator, Jorgie Sandoval will support program planning for committee meetings, forums and OCBC’s Leading Educational Attainment for Families (LEA) initiative. Prior to joining OCBC, he served as a Public Affairs Account Manager at Communications LAB, an Orange County-based public affairs and strategic marketing firm, where he directed award-winning programs and community outreach initiatives, and revitalized the company’s internship program, mentoring young professionals. A first-generation college graduate, Sandoval earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). While at CSULB, he mentored at 22 West Media training students across various media platforms, and also hosted and produced a nationally recognized and award-winning podcast. Sandoval is a board member of the Orange County Public Relations Society of America, where he serves as the Chair of the Young Professionals (YoPro) Committee.
About Orange County Business Council
For 30 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 Orange County, California. The Council’s core initiatives include developing pro-business solutions that lead to economic growth, education development that leads to a competitive workforce, advocating for a range of housing, and advocating for adequate investment in regional and statewide infrastructure for the nation’s sixth most populous county. 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, 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]
