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Thursday, October 28, 2021 | View as Webpage
OCBC'S CEO NAMED INDUSTRY GAME CHANGER, FIND OUT WHO'S TURNING RED TAPE INTO RED CARPET NEXT WEEK, MEET VICKI AND MORE!
HOT OFF THE PRESS
OCBC'S PRESIDENT AND CEO SPOTLIGHTED AS BUILDING INDUSTRY GAME CHANGER:
  • Southern California Builder's Inside Edition recently featured an exclusive Q&A with OCBC's President and CEO, Lucy Dunn, covering everything from OCBC's workforce housing initiative to Dunn breaking glass ceilings in a traditionally male dominated field and her advice to newcomers! CA is far behind where it needs to be on housing production and this critically limits business growth and jobs. Read it here.

NEXT WEEK! OCBC’S 11TH ANNUAL TURNING RED TAPE INTO RED CARPET AWARDS:
  • Don’t miss OCBC’s groundbreaking Turning Red Tape into Red Carpet Awards on Thursday, Nov. 4, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.! The Awards recognize local agencies that are cutting red tape and supporting a resilient OC. This year, 44 nominations were submitted by more than 25 cities, county departments, educational institutions and special districts across six diverse categories. Who will win OCBC’s coveted awards? Register here to find out live during the virtual award ceremony! Special thank you to title sponsor, Amazon, and silver sponsors, Charter Communications, Orange County Department of Education, SDG&E and Verizon.

WIN FOR HOUSING! HUNTINGTON BEACH UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES 85-UNIT PROJECT:
  • OCBC commends the Huntington Beach City Council and all who lent their voices in supporting Brookfield's proposed Gisler Neighborhood project, an 85-unit housing development that will transform a blighted former school site into a revitalized community. Thanks to broad local support, the Council voted unanimously to move the project forward. OCBC staff testified in support at Planning Commission and City Council meetings, as projects like these help close the gap of nearly 60,000 housing units needed in Orange County to meet current population and employment demands.

TODAY! LISTENING TOUR WITH ASSEMBLYMEMBER COTTIE PETRIE-NORRIS: 
  • Join CalAsian Chamber's "Listening Tour" with Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris today at 10 a.m. This event provides an intimate setting for the small business community to learn about their representative's priorities and ask questions. Register here.
ADVOCACY
OCBC AND REAL COALITION HOST CA PORT AUTHORITIES ASSOCIATION:
  • As backlog at the ports persists and all aspects of the supply chain continue to be impacted, CEOs from OCBC and other regional economic associations met with Martha Miller, Executive Director of the CA Port Authorities Association to discuss how business can help. Statewide leaders from business, agriculture, retail, and others already asked the State for specific actions--including to declare a state of emergency at the ports, which was denied--but the Governor's Executive Order response lacks immediate solutions. Given the complexity of the supply chain and sustained underinvestment of federal dollars in CA's ports, Martha emphasized the need for a single decision-maker over the system within the State Government, such as a supply chain czar.
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS:
COX CHARITIES AWARDS GRANTS TO SUPPORT LOCAL NON-PROFITS:
  • Cox Charities has awarded a total of $180,000 in grants to 22 CA non-profit organizations that meet the community's needs and support youth, education, conservation or the military. To date, Cox Charities has contributed more than $8M to local communities. OCBC member, OC United Way, was also one of the 2021 nonprofit grant recipients. Learn more.
SOCALGAS' CLEAN FUEL ANNOUNCEMENT:
  • SoCalGas recently released a new analysis that looks at the intricacies of reaching CA's carbon neutral goal by 2045. The analysis also offers practical solutions for the hard-to-abate-emissions sectors and supports CA’s climate and energy policies, including resilient and reliable electrification. Check out this op-ed to learn how moving quickly to maximize the benefits of a clean fuels ecosystem will provide CA with the tools to moderate future costs, reduce risk, attract capital and maintain a reliable, resilient energy system.
TURNING RED TAPE INTO RED CARPET NOMINEE SPOTLIGHT
CITY OF IRVINE’S GLOBAL PLASMA SOLUTION DEVICES:
  • City of Irvine’s Global Plasma Solution Devices are nominated for the Incorporating Innovative Technology Award! Irvine installed 215 Global Plasma Solution (GPS) devices throughout the city facility HVAC systems. GPS technology safely cleans indoor air and has over a 95% success rate at rendering coronaviruses and other pathogens inactive upon coming into contact. They are easily installed in any type of building and HVAC equipment.*
ANAHEIM TRANSPORTATION NETWORK’S COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY:
  • Anaheim Transportation Network’s (ATN) Commitment to the Community is nominated for the Public-Private Partnership Award! Since March 2020, ATN has assisted in delivering meals, PPE and essential items to those in need. ATN has contributed personnel, buses and equipment to pick up and deliver significant donations by the Anaheim Ducks, Angels Baseball and others. ATN also donated three buses for daily weekday trips to distribute over one million total meals to families lacking transportation.*

*Winners announced at virtual event on Nov. 4; register here!
OCBC TEAM HIGHLIGHT:
GET TO KNOW OCBC'S DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING AND INVESTOR RELATIONS, VICKI BLASER:
Vicki came to OCBC from one of its founding organizations, the Orange County Chamber of Commerce & Industry, in Sept. 1993. Her favorite OCBC memory is when Robert Herjavec from Shark Tank sat at her table during an OCBC Board Installation. She was impressed with his story of going from humble immigrant roots to extreme success. She also admires how he remains so kind and down-to-earth. The best piece of professional advice Vicki has ever received is to "be flexible."
OCBC'S UPCOMING EVENTS AND MEETINGS
EVENTS
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. Hear about Ken's mission, how the Disneyland Resort has evolved over the past year and a half, what's new at the resort, what's coming soon, and so much more! OCBC Board Member, Steve Churm, FivePoint, will lead what is sure to be a fascinating discussion. Thank you to our incredible gold sponsors, Disneyland Resort and SDG&E, and supporting sponsors, BIA-SC, CSUF College of Business and Economics, Siddiqui Law, APC and The Orange County Register. Purchase your ticket today!

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

COMMITTEE MEETINGS*
November 5 | 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Join OCBC virtually for a discussion with Assembly Member Cottie Petrie-Norris.
OCBC members, contact Connor Medina, OCBC Government Affairs Manager, to register.

November 16 | 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
OCBC's guest speaker will be Dr. Bobbie Porter, Assistant Vice President, Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Programs for Cal State Fullerton. Hear how Cal State Fullerton, which employs over 4,000 people, identifies, recruits, attracts and retains a diverse workforce. OCBC members, register here.

November 16 | 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
The meeting will feature updates from San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison.
OCBC members, contact Connor Medina, OCBC Government Affairs Manager, to register.

November 18 | 8:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.
OCBC's guest speakers will be Dr. Wallace Walrod, Chief Economic Advisor for OCBC, and Katie Kalvoda, President and Board Chair of AdvanceOC, which brings together leaders from the public, private and non-profit sectors to champion equity-oriented, data-driven strategies. Dr. Walrod will discuss migration data and its impact on Orange County's population, and Katie will discuss the work of her organization and their OC Equity Map. 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.