The Leading Voice of Business
Tuesday, September 28, 2021 | View as Webpage
HIRE LOCAL TO RISE TOGETHER, WORKFORCE CONFERENCE, YES TO INFRASTRUCTURE, NO TO CORPORATE TAX INCREASE, REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY AND MORE!
HOT OFF THE PRESS
DUNN & DONE: EMPLOYERS -- HIRE LOCAL WORKERS FOR AN OC THAT RISES TOGETHER:
  • There’s a workforce shortage in Orange County. The lessons of the pandemic are that different pipelines and innovative solutions are needed to keep OC’s workforce growing, especially among entry-level and service positions. Innovative employment social enterprises may fill this void. Chrysalis—changing lives through jobs—provides vulnerable individuals access to employment opportunities and supports employers with workforce pipeline needs. And performance metrics are strong: in three years, Chrysalis placed over 600 Orange County residents in jobs. Read more.

UCI CHIEF EXECUTIVE ROUNDTABLE FALL FORUM RECAP:
  • OCBC President and CEO Lucy Dunn joined a stellar gathering of OC’s leadership, including Feyzi Fetahi of Corent Technologies, Sue Parks of OC United Way, John Forsyte of Pacific Symphony, and Susan Hori of Manatt, for UCI’s Chief Executive Roundtable welcoming new Business School Dean Ian Williamson. Dean Williamson gave a inspiring talk from his expertise in HR leadership on how to retain and attract top talent. “Business leaders must create opportunities for employees’ voice, deliver empathy, and encourage trust in this adaptive world. These will drive performance and loyalty. Flexibility in work delivery is part of trust. Thus, trust your people,” said Dean Williamson, “and watch as innovation is reciprocated.”
JOIN OCBC'S 2021 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE:
  • Join OCBC virtually on Oct. 7 at 10 a.m. to hear a panel of industry experts discuss "Workforce Skills and Strategies for a Resilient OC," including the impact of childcare on employees, the post-COVID workspace, strengthening DE&I in the workplace, key skills needed for employability, and much more! Dr. Wallace Walrod, Chief Economic Advisor, OCBC will also present hiring forecasts in cybersecurity, AI, computer gaming, ophthalmology, and more! Thank you, title sponsor, Union Bank; gold sponsors, Amazon, California State University, Fullerton; Goodwill of Orange County, LAOCRC and Verizon; and silver sponsor, Wells Fargo. Registration is complimentary. Register today!

OCBC ASKS CONGRESS TO VOTE YES ON INFRASTRUCTURE, OPPOSE CORPORATE TAX INCREASE:
  • OCBC is urging OC’s seven Members of Congress to support H.R. 3684, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which would enhance infrastructure in OC and improve the region’s mobility, economic resiliency and quality of life. Its investments would significantly improve economic mobility and quality of life. OCBC also urged the delegation to oppose the reconciliation package’s proposed tax increases on businesses. Raising taxes on American employers by nearly $1 trillion would threaten jobs, reduce wages, cause dramatic inflation and restrict economic growth. Call your Representative and ask them to vote YES on the infrastructure bill and OPPOSE massive tax increases.
LATEST COVID-19 FACTS:
PREGNANCY AND THE COVID-19 VACCINE:
According to the CDC, COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for all people aged 12 years and older, including those who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant now, or might become pregnant in the future. Learn more.

Did you know?
  • Pregnant women and women who recently gave birth are more likely to get severely ill with COVID-19, compared with non-pregnant women. Learn more.
  • According to a recent study, unvaccinated pregnant mothers who contracted COVID-19 were significantly more likely to experience neonatal complications, severe maternal morbidity, and mortality than pregnant mothers who were vaccinated. Learn more.
  • A recent study by Harvard and other top Massachusetts hospitals found that pregnant women who have been vaccinated can transfer COVID-19 antibodies to their newborns through the placenta. Learn more.

CHOC ENCOURAGES CHILDREN AGE 12 AND UP TO GET VACCINATED:
  • There is a high likelihood that your or your child will experience a COVID-19 exposure this fall. The COVID-19 vaccine is the safest and most effective way to protect you and your family from the serious and long-term effects of COVID-19. View a message from CHOC.
TURNING RED TAPE INTO RED CARPET NOMINEE SPOTLIGHT
CITY OF IRVINE’S SUMMER ART MARKET:
  • City of Irvine’s Summer Art Market is nominated for the Business Retention and Expansion Award! The Summer Arts Market was community-focused initiative supporting small businesses and local artisans, featuring 45 vendors, more than half of whom were local to Irvine and surrounding cites. The outdoor event was hosted monthly from May through August at the Great Park Palm Court Arts Complex. Special events included a collaborative painting by high school students inspired by social justice movements against Asian hate crimes.

CITY OF COSTA MESA’S LEED GOLD CERTIFICATION:
  • City of Costa Mesa’s LEED Gold Certification is nominated for the Sustainable and Green Development Award! In November 2020, Costa Mesa became the first in California to receive LEED Gold certification, which recognizes the City’s efforts to implement practical, measurable strategies to improve sustainability and quality of life. LEED has resulted in water and energy savings, lower operational costs, improved climate change resiliency.
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
CITY OF HOPE OC PRESIDENT RECEIVES HIGH HONORS:
Annette Walker, president of City of Hope Orange County, was honored with an Excellence in Executive Leadership award in the category of growth at Cal State Fullerton’s Center for Leadership’s 10th Annual Leadership Awards on Oct. 24. Annette was honored for leading City of Hope’s expansion in OC, a $1B investment in a cancer campus of the future in Irvine and a network of advanced cancer care. Lennar Foundation Cancer Center will open in 2022 and the county’s only hospital exclusively focused on treating and curing cancer is scheduled to open in 2025. Learn more.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
NUTRITION GAP PROGRAM:
  • The COVID-19 Nutrition Gap Program (NGP) is aimed at supporting the nutritional needs of OC's most vulnerable populations. This project is funded through a grant from the ARPA of 2021 (H.R. 1319), as allocated by the Orange County Board of Supervisors and administered by the Office on Aging. Learn more. 

LEARN HOW TO REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY:

SMALL BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE AND RESOURCE FAIR:
  • Join Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris on Oct. 6 for a discussion with local small business owners and statewide advocates on cutting red tape and rationalizing regulations for small business success. The resource fair will start before the event and give guests an opportunity to learn about available funding, management, business planning, and marketing resources. Learn more.

REGIONAL BROADBAND WORKSHOP: CLOSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE:
  • Join OCBC and members of the Los Angeles / Orange County Regional Broadband Consortia for a virtual workshop on Oct. 8, highlighting examples of successful public-private partnerships and regional leadership that bring high quality internet service to residents, students, and businesses across SoCal. Register here.
UPCOMING EVENTS AND MEETINGS
EVENTS
CSUF/OCBC 27th Annual Economic Forecast Conference
October 20 | 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Join OCBC and California State University, Fullerton virtually for the 27th Annual Economic Forecast Conference: A Brave New World – Resiliency, Recovery and Reflation on October 20! You won’t want to miss critical economic insight presented by Dr. Anil Puri and Dr. Mira Farka, CSUF. Thank you title sponsor, U.S. Bank, presenting sponsor, Experian, platinum sponsor, Commercial Bank of California, gold sponsors, Infinity Bank and Wells Fargo, and corporate sponsor, Coast Community College District. Thanks to our incredible sponsors, this event is complimentary to attend.
*Registration page is undergoing brief site maintenance; check back soon.

11th Annual Turning Red Tape Into Red Carpet Awards
November 4 | 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Now in its eleventh year, OCBC’s groundbreaking awards program honors outstanding public agencies for implementing policies and programs that cut through red tape, eliminate barriers to economic growth and open the door to private sector jobs creation. Winners will be announced live! Thank you, title sponsor, Amazon and silver sponsors, Charter Communications, SDG&E and Verizon.
*Registration page is undergoing brief site maintenance; check back soon.

Chairman's Leadership Breakfast featuring Ken Potrock
November 9 | 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Join OCBC for an IN PERSON Chairman’s Leadership Breakfast featuring Ken Potrock, President, Disneyland Resort. Ken is responsible for all facets of the business, including oversight of Disneyland and Disney California Adventure theme parks, three resort hotels and the Downtown Disney District. OCBC Board Member, Steve Churm, FivePoint, will lead what is sure to be a fascinating discussion with the new Disneyland Resort President. Thank you to our incredible sponsors, Disneyland Resort, BIA-SC, CSUF College of Business and Economics and SDG&E.
*Registration page is undergoing brief site maintenance; check back soon.

For more information about OCBC Events contact Lauren Martin, OCBC Events Manager.

COMMITTEE MEETINGS*
October 1 | 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Join OCBC virtually to hear from Rob Moutrie, Policy Advocate with CalChamber, for an update on current and future vaccination requirements and their impact on the business community.
OCBC members, contact Connor Medina, OCBC Government Affairs Manager, to register.

October 12 | 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Join OCBC virtually to receive an update on the federal infrastructure bill from Ed Mortimer, Vice President of Transportation and Infrastructure, U.S. Chamber.
OCBC members, contact Connor Medina, OCBC Government Affairs Manager, to register.

October 19 | 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Join OCBC virtually for the next installment of employer conversations around DE&I topics
OCBC members, register here.

*OCBC Committee meetings are an exclusive benefit offered to OCBC members.
NOT AN OCBC MEMBER? JOIN TODAY!
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.