The Leading Voice of Business
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THIS WEEK IN ORANGE COUNTY |
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LocationOC.com Has a New Look! |
LocationOC.com is the Council's website dedicated to attracting prospective businesses to Orange County. The site showcases many of the benefits the county offers to companies looking to move or expand their operations here, including the strength of the local workforce, education systems, health care networks, ethnic diversity, array of attractions, and more. The site relaunched this week with a new look and feel following several months of thoughtful redevelopment to update and beautify the content throughout the site. Check it out! |
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OCBC Signs Letter to Governor Outlining Budget Priorities |
The Council’s President and CEO Jeff Ball recently joined a state-wide group of regional and industry leaders to announce key budget and policy priorities for the governor and state legislature. In a letter issued to Gov. Newsom last week, the organizations outlined the need for investment in equitable economic recovery that allows businesses of all sizes to re-hire CA workers and re-build CA's economy as the fifth largest in the world. The letter also outlines the business community’s priorities for both this year’s budget proposal and overarching policy proposals that can help give businesses the tools to expedite economic recovery and transition to job growth. Read more.
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SoCal Edison’s EV Charging Infrastructure Program |
Join SCE at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, March 15, for a webinar on the Charge Ready Program, which offers financial incentives and technical support to help local governments, businesses, and property owners deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at their property. Learn how your community can apply to get EV chargers on your property safely, quickly, and at reduced cost. Register here. Not sure if EV charging stations are right for you? Learn more about the options. Already have EV charging stations on your property? Learn more about the future of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology. |
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Redistricting 2022: Not Your Grandpa's Redistricting Process |
Join us on Wednesday, March 16 at 12 p.m. for OC Public Affairs Association's FREE Zoom webinar on “Redistricting: Its Impact on the 2022 Elections”. The expert panel of speakers includes Paul Mitchell, Vice President, Political Data, Inc., and statewide expert on voter behavior, redistricting and geographic information; Brooke Staggs, award-winning political reporter with The Orange County Register and Southern California News Group; and Norberto Santana, founding publisher of the non-profit digital newsroom, Voice of OC, and award-winning investigative journalist. Register today! |
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LEADERSHIP SPOTLIGHT: GET TO KNOW NICOLE SUYDAM |
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Q: What’s the best piece of leadership advice you’ve received?
A: Dan Rogers, who was my CEO at Goodwill when I worked there the first time, inspired our leadership team to be servant leaders and to lead with kindness. I carry his legacy of servant leadership and kindness forward today at Goodwill.
Q: What aspect of your job excites you out of bed in the morning?
A: The mission of my organization and knowing that my job contributes to giving someone with a barrier to employment the opportunity to experience purpose, pride and dignity through the power of work.
Q: How do you manage high-pressure situations?
A: I have trained myself to remain calm and professional in high-pressure situations. I also lean on a few trusted advisors as sounding boards and make it a priority to exercise regularly to clear my head and manage stress.
Q: What is your favorite way to unwind after a long week?
A: Relaxing with my family at home with take-out for dinner and a movie, but they give me a hard time for falling asleep during most movies.
Q: What is your favorite part about living in Orange County?
A: I love that people in OC are generous with their time and resources and readily support their favorite organizations making an impact in OC.
Read the full Q&A here, and watch for more Leadership Spotlights with Orange County's key business and government leaders soon! |
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Celebrate Women's History Month at Disneyland Park |
In honor of Women's History Month, Minnie Mouse made her inaugural floral debut at the entrance of Disneyland Park on March 1. With over 4,400 individual plants, the design was transformed overnight by a team of horticulture cast members to showcase Minnie Mouse's iconic bow and eyelashes on center stage.
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MWDOC AND Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Join OC Streams of Hope Campaign |
Orange County water providers like MWDOC and Metropolitan Water District of Southern California have pledged to support the Wyland Foundation's first-ever "Streams of Hope" public art and community cleanup campaign. The campaign run aims to raise awareness of water and marine pollution and to inspire community action to reduce the flow of litter and harmful chemicals that enter our waterways. Learn more.
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Goodwill of Orange County Receives Three-Year CARF Accreditation |
Congratulations to Goodwill of OC for earning a three-year accreditation from CARF International for its Workforce Development and Disabilities Services programs. CARF accreditation represents the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded to an organization. An organization receiving a three-year accreditation has put itself through a rigorous peer review process and has demonstrated to a team of surveyors that its programs and services are of the highest quality, measurable and accountable. Each year, Goodwill of OC serves more than 19,000 individuals through 25 innovative programs and services aimed at helping people facing barriers find and keep meaningful jobs. No matter the barrier or level of experience, Goodwill helps everyone who wants a job find one. |
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Cal State Fullerton’s 25th Vision & Visionaries Celebration |
Four Titan alumni and an honorary alumna were recently recognized for their service and support of the university and the broader community during Cal State Fullerton’s 25th Vision & Visionaries celebration at El Dorado Ranch. Established in 1994, the Vision & Visionaries awards are the highest honors that the university bestows upon alumni and community supporters. In an evening that featured student performances, dinner and a poetry reading by Orange County’s Poet Laureate Natalie Graham, this year’s honorees were introduced by three previous award recipients, including OCBC’s CEO Emeritus Lucy Dunn, who was the 2007 V&V recipient. Read more.
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OCBC COMMITTEE MEETING RECAPS |
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Government Affairs & Advocacy Welcomes Rep. Michelle Steel
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OCBC’s Government Affairs Committee hosted Michelle Steel, U.S. Representative for California’s 48th District, which includes much of coastal Orange County. Congresswoman Steel talked rising gas prices and inflation, the supply chain (including her Supply Chain Taskforce Act to address port backlogs) and how the ongoing conflict in Ukraine is affecting Orange County and the world. She also highlighted her bipartisan bill with Rep. Katie Porter supporting veteran businesses. To get involved in this Committee, contact Connor Medina, OCBC's Government Affairs Manager. |
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Infrastructure: Community Choice Energy in OC
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OCBC’s Infrastructure Committee featured presentations from Brian Probolsky, CEO of Orange County Power Authority (OCPA), and Joshua Torres, Senior Policy Advisor, Southern California Edison. The speakers explained what a Community Choice Energy program is and how it will affect electricity rates in the cities of Huntington Beach, Irvine, Buena Park and Fullerton, which have all opted into the program. Businesses will automatically have their electricity rates changed in April unless they opt out. To get involved in this Committee, contact Connor Medina, OCBC's Government Affairs Manager. |
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Workforce Development: Mechatronics, Automation and Robotics |
OCBC's Workforce Development Committee recently hosted Saddleback College for a discussion on their regional training center with state-of-the-art equipment on mechatronics, automation, and robotics. The goal of the project is to train community college students and employees using an apprenticeship model that simultaneously teaches, provides hands-on training, and helps participants earn specialized certifications in these fields. Saddleback College is seeking local employer partners to shape the course curriculum and provide work sites for on the job training. If you’re interested in learning more, please contact Jesse Ben-Ron at jbenron@ocbc.org.
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OCBC Committee meetings are an exclusive benefit offered to OCBC members.
Click the committee meeting link to learn more about the specific topics and issues that will be covered and any special guest speakers.
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March 16
8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
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April 12
8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
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April 13
8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
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The Council’s Sacramento Advocacy Trip has officially sold out! On March 21-22, 50+ OC leaders from a diverse array of industry sectors will join the Council in Sacramento to share the voice of business with state leaders in the Legislature and Newsom administration.
Thank you to Title Sponsor: Southern California Edison and all sponsors: AAA, Disneyland Resort, American Career College/West Coast University, Building Industry Association of Southern California, Irvine Ranch Water District, KLM Strategies, and SoCalGas.
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You won’t want to miss OCBC's 2022 Annual Dinner on April 7! Join us at Disneyland Resort to hear insights on the importance of embracing change from former NASA astronaut, Mike Massimino, welcome OCBC's new President and CEO, Jeff Ball, recognize the leadership of 2021 Board Chair, Jena Jensen, install 2022 Board Chair, Dave Bartlett, and wish Lucy Dunn well in her retirement!
A special thank you our sponsors! Title Sponsor: The Orange County Register; Platinum Sponsor: Amazon; VIP Reception Sponsor: UCI; Gold Sponsors: Brookfield Properties, Disneyland Resort, Experian and FivePoint Holdings, LLC; Silver Sponsors: AAA, Bank of America, The Boeing Company, BIA-SC, City of Hope Orange County, HNTB, JPMorgan Chase, Kaiser Permanente, Ontario International Airport, SDG&E, SoCalGas, Southern California Edison and U.S. Bank; and Bronze Sponsors, American Career College & West Coast University West Coast University, Anaheim Public Utilities, AT&T, CalOptima, Cal State Fullerton, Charter Communications, Chevron, Cox Business, CSUF College of Business, Curt Pringle & Associates, Girl Scouts of Orange County, Goodwill of Orange County, Idea Hall, Jamboree, LSA, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, MemorialCare, Nossaman LLP, Orange County Department of Education, Rancho Mission Viejo, SCAG, South Orange County Community College District, Transportation Corridor Agencies, Tri Pointe Homes, University of Massachusetts Global, UPS, Verizon, Wells Fargo and WSP USA.
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OCBC's Chairman's Leadership Breakfast featuring Nicole Suydam
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Join OCBC on Tuesday, May 3, at The Cove at UCI for the first Chairman’s Leadership Breakfast of the 2022 series featuring Nicole Suydam, President and CEO, Goodwill of Orange County. |
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NOT AN OCBC MEMBER? JOIN TODAY! |
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Join OCBC and connect with the most influential companies and top executives actively engaged in creating a pro-business environment and prosperous economy. Hundreds of Orange County's leading businesses, cities and non-profit organizations represent an elite group from every industry cluster. But we need YOUR VOICE! For more info, contact Natalie Rubalcava, OCBC Chief Operating Officer.
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