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Monday, March 6, 2023 | View as Webpage
LATEST IN OC
New OCBC Board Members Installed
Orange County Business Council (OCBC) installed its 2023 Board of Directors at its annual dinner on March 2. Over 600 Orange County business and community leaders were on hand to recognize the contributions of outgoing 2022 Board Chair Dave Bartlett of Brookfield Properties and to welcome incoming 2023 Board Chair Jodi Duva of Cox Communications. The evening also recognized Orange County businesses investing in the economic development of the nation’s sixth largest county. Honorees of the “Invest in OC Economic Development” award were Related California for its new development in Santa Ana featuring retail, residential and senior living and hotel rooms across from South Coast Plaza, UCI Health for its new medical center under construction adjacent to the university in Irvine, ocV!BE and it’s mixed-use master-planned community and entertainment destination surrounding the Honda Center, Dana Point Harbor for its revitalization project, City of Hope Orange County for its Lennar Foundation Cancer Center currently under construction and FivePoint for the 10-year anniversary and continuing development of its Great Park Neighborhoods in Irvine. The Honorable Young Kim, U.S. Representative (CA-40), opened the evening with the flag salute followed by the invocation led by Concordia University Irvine President Michael Thomas. OCBC also released its 2023 annual report at the dinner. The annual dinner was made possible by title sponsor Farmers & Merchants Bank and VIP reception sponsor Amazon.
Photo courtesy of OCBC
OCBC's 2023-2024 Legislative Action Guide Now Available
OCBC's 2023-2024 Legislative Action Guide & Policy Platform (LAG) is now available on OCBC’s website. The annual publication establishes OCBC’s legislative priorities that direct the Business Council’s advocacy at the local, state and federal levels on business issues like economic development, housing, infrastructure, workforce, health care and more. Learn how OCBC amplifies issues important to Orange County businesses and employers as the Business Council works with leaders in all levels of government. For more information, contact OCBC’s Advocacy and Government Affairs team, Jennifer Bullard and Connor Medina.
Image courtesy of OCBC
INVESTOR NEWS
Sponsor Spotlight: Slalom to Host Digital Innovation Lunch & Learn
OCBC annual dinner gold sponsor, Slalom, is hosting a lunch & learn on Tuesday, March 28 in Irvine. Join Slalom's John Tomik, Managing Director + Founder of Element Labs, for an intimate conversation with like-minded business and technology leaders to explore the latest innovative technologies and consumer trends impacting Slalom clients. The discussion will also cover evolving customer experiences in a marketplace full of disruptive change, and how to leverage leading-edge technologies to drive impact among customers and teams. Registration is required.
Image courtesy of Slalom
City of Hope Earns Highest Ranking National Cancer Institute
City of Hope comprehensive cancer center has received the highest ranking possible for a U.S. cancer center—“exceptional”—by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the federal government’s principal agency for cancer research and training. The ranking puts the center in the top echelon of the nation’s 53 NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers. City of Hope was also awarded more than $23 million in competitive funding through the renewal of its NCI Cancer Center Support Grant to support its research, cancer training and education programs, and community outreach over the next five years. City of Hope has held the prestigious NCI designation since 1981. City of Hope Orange County Lennar Foundation Cancer Center opened in Irvine last year, and construction has begun on Orange County’s only specialty cancer hospital. 
Image courtesy of City of Hope Orange County
Sponsor Spotlight: MemorialCare's 18th Annual Presidents' Partnership
OCBC annual dinner silver sponsor, MemorialCare, will be host its 18th annual President’s Partnership forum March 17. Designed for employers, health plan executives and benefits advisor, host Barry Arbuckle, Ph.D., President and CEO of MemorialCare, will lead a panel of experts into insights on the needs and expectations of tomorrow’s workforce and what the future holds for the healthcare industry.
Image courtesy of MemorialCare
OCBC UPDATES
Housing Committee Meeting: Getting Housing Units Built
At the first Housing Committee meeting of the year, OCBC welcomed David Zisser, Assistant Deputy Director of Local Government Relations and Accountability for California’s Department of Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) and Adam Wood, Building Industry Association Orange County Vice President. David gave an overview of the Housing Accountability Unit and how the department is focused on getting housing units permitted. Since January 2020, the department has unlocked more than 4,500 units, over 1,000 of which are affordable. Adam shared about the "Builder's Remedy," a housing streamlining tool that allows developers to bypass city approval if the city does not have state-compliant housing plans, provided the developer sets aside units for low- or middle-income households. The legal interpretation of the statute has yet to be tested, but "Builder's Remedy" is a potential tool that developers could use to build more housing in Orange County. Committee meetings are an exclusive benefit to OCBC members. To learn more, contact Emily Jackson, OCBC Business Initiatives Specialist.
Photo courtesy of OCBC
OCBC's Leading Educational Attainment for Families Initiative
OCBC’s 10 Education Essentials workbook will soon be more inclusive and accessible to Orange County families. Currently published in four languages—English, Korean, Spanish and Vietnamese—plans include translating the workbook into Arabic. Online modules in English and Spanish have also been created as another way for families to access the content. Established in 2004, OCBC’s Leading Educational Attainment (LEA) for Families Initiative has been equipping Orange County families to help their children navigate the road to college and a successful future through the 10 Education Essentials workbook. Fifteen thousand families have been encouraged and empowered with the workbook through workshops. View the workbooks, online modules, teachers’ materials and partners HERE to see how OCBC is helping to prepare Orange County's future workforce.
Image courtesy of OCBC
UPCOMING ORANGE COUNTY BUSINESS COUNCIL EVENTS
2023 Sacramento Advocacy Trip
SOLD OUT!
OCBC's Government Affairs team will meet with legislative leaders at the annual OCBC Sacramento Advocacy Trip on March 20-21, 2023. Attendees get to be part of legislative discussions that impact housing, infrastructure and the workforce in Orange County. Hotel, meals, materials and sessions are included in registration; flights are not included. Thank you to sponsors Amazon, American Career College/West Coast University, Automobile Club of Southern California, Cox Communications, Disneyland Resort, Irvine Ranch Water District, OC Realtors and SoCalGas. To view the list of speakers to date, visit here. Although the event is sold out, you can add your name to a waitlist if you’re interested in attending; contact Lauren Martin, OCBC director of events.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Committee meetings are an exclusive benefit offered only to Business Council investors.
Click the committee meeting link to learn about upcoming topics, issues and guest speakers.
March 8
8 a.m. - 9 a.m.

Email Emily Jackson for registration details.
April 7
9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Email Connor Medina for registration details.
April 11
8 a.m. - 9 a.m.

Email Emily Jackson for registration details.
April 19
8 a.m. - 9 a.m.

Email Emily Jackson for registration details.
May 18
8 a.m. - 9 a.m.

Email Emily Jackson for registration details.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
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 Jeff Ball, President and CEO of OCBC.
SEND US YOUR NEWS
If your company, business, or nonprofit is a member of OCBC, send your news for consideration to news@ocbc.org.