The Leading Voice of Business
Monday, May 9, 2022 | View as Webpage
THIS WEEK IN ORANGE COUNTY
Chairman's Leadership Breakfast Series Kicks Off with Impact
Last week, the Business Council featured Nicole Suydam, President and CEO, Goodwill of Orange County, at the first Chairman’s Leadership Breakfast of the year! Nicole captivated the audience with a compelling story of faith and perseverance that led her to become a CEO who leads with both integrity and compassion. Her servant leadership philosophy touches every facet of her work and is a true testament to the nonprofit’s success especially in the recent launch of ShopGoodwill.com, where Nicole also got her dress from! Thank you Nicole for your inspiring words and thanks to the incredible Steve Churm for leading the conversation! Thank you, as well, to our Executive Leadership Sponsor, Amazon and Supporting Sponsors, College and Career Advantage and Goodwill of Orange County.
Orange County Business Council is grateful for all of its non-profit investors and the impact they're making in our communities. If you’re a non-profit member and would like us to highlight your stories. Please send your stories to the Communications Team for consideration.
The Business Council Joins Regional Leaders at SCAG Conference
Last week, the Business Council’s Government Affairs team attended the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Regional Conference in Palm Desert. The Conference convened elected leaders--congrats to OC's Art Brown, Mayor Pro Tem of Buena Park, for being selected as 2nd Vice President--infrastructure policy experts and numerous Business Council Board Members and investors for discussions on collaborative transportation, housing and telecommunications efforts across SCAG’s six-county region. The Business Council was busy connecting with partners and investors on infrastructure priorities and finding ways to partner on shared initiatives. Thank you SCAG for organizing a highly successful Conference!
Business Council, Builders Oppose Housing Killer Bill
The Business Council and a coalition of housing leaders including the California Building Industry Association, CalChamber and others are united in opposing SB 1404 (Stern), a bill that would make the housing crisis arbitrarily worse by defining the removal of three or more oak trees as a significant environmental impact for many areas that are sorely in need of new housing. Homebuilders have supported reasonable land and tree conservation—but this bill would take even more land off the table for housing in Orange County with a rigid, unscientific threshold of significance. Read the coalition letter.
MAY HIGHLIGHTS
Celebrate National Bike Month with OCTA!
May is National Bike Month and Business Council investor OCTA, is encouraging people of all ages to bike to work, for better health, fun and an active form of transportation. Join OCTA’s month-long Bike There 2022 challenge to win prizes. Whether you work from home or the office, take advantage of Orange County’s options for cyclists from the foothills to the beaches and more than 1,000 miles of bikeways with these safety tips.
OCHCA Recognizes National Nurses Month
May is National Nurses Month and Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA) is honoring local nurses by exploring the breadth, depth and complexity of nursing services in a special "Your Health Matters OC" series. Thank you, nurses!
Cox Partners with OC Grantmakers to Present ‘Voices from the AANHPI Community in Orange County’ Video Series
Cox Communications has partnered with Orange County Grantmakers, a community of local philanthropists, to support an illuminating video series titled “Voices from the AANHPI Community in Orange County,” which spotlights contributions from the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities in Orange County. The four-part video series will air on the Main Street Living Series of Cox’s YurView channel throughout May 2022, during AANHPI Heritage Month.
INVESTORS IN THE NEWS
Cal State Fullerton Designated a ‘First-gen Forward Institution’
Cal State Fullerton's commitment to supporting, improving, and contributing to the experiences and outcomes of first-generation students has led Washington, DC-based Center for First-generation Student Success to recognize the university as a “First-gen Forward Institution.” Congratulations and keep up the great work!
*Business Council Investors please email eNewsletter submissions to the Communications Team for consideration in future issues.
EVENTS
2022 Energy Forum
Join Orange County Business Council for the 2022 Energy Forum featuring a moderated panel of industry leaders discussing trends and challenges that are impacting the industry, businesses and consumers. Panelists will also discuss California’s short-term and long-term climate goals, whether or not the State is on track to meet these goals, available options for businesses to support California’s climate goals, and emerging technology that will change generation, storage and usage.
 
The panel will be moderated by Business Council Board Member Rick Nogueira, Region Manager, Middle Market Banking, OC & IE, JPMorgan Chase. Panelists include Joseph Avila, Senior Director, Energy Policy and Strategy, SoCalGas; Jack Brouwer, Ph.D., Director, National Fuel Cell Research Center and Advanced Power & Energy Program, UCI; and Tanya Peacock, Senior Director of Government Affairs and Policy, Bloom Energy. Additional panelists to be announced soon. 
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Committee meetings are an exclusive benefit offered to The Business Council's investors.
Click the committee meeting link to learn more about the specific topics and issues that will be covered and any special guest speakers.
May 18
8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Register via Zoom or email Jesse Ben-Ron to attend in person.
May 19
8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Email Connor Medina for registration details.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
  • Join OC San's Wastewater 101 Citizens Academy, a series of free virtual workshops, starting May 12.
  • The Culinary Arts & Hospitality Regional Advisory Board of Vital Link, a nonprofit preparing OC’s future workforce, is looking for employers and employees who work as chefs (personal, caterer, restaurant), or work as managers/operators at hotels, bed and breakfast, theme parks or tour companies to be panelists for its virtual May 13 event.  
NOT AN INVESTOR? JOIN TODAY!
Join Orange County Business Council 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, The Business Council's Chief Operating Officer.