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The Leading Voice of Business in Orange County |
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
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OCBC STUDY: CALIFORNIA'S GAS POLICES FUEL HIGH GAS PRICES
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A new study
released by OCBC, in conjunction with business alliance Fueling California,
analyzes
impacts on California's fuel prices and supplies by examining research on
policies, taxes, and
government requirements regarding current and alternative fuels in the state.
FACT:
Californians
pay 28% more in gas taxes than the rest of the
nation. This
astounding finding is due to a variety of factors including California's highly
restrictive environmental policies, the lack of crude oil pipelines, limited
fuel storage and complex fuel formulas required no where else in the
country.
Thus,
California
drivers are subjected to price spikes and shortages.
"California has among the most demanding set of
unique fuel policies in the world, leading to a myriad of distinct fuel
standards and blends," said OCBC's Dr. Wallace Walrod. "Currently Californians pay between
five and 15 cents extra per gallon of gasoline solely due to the
special blends required in the state." [Click here to view full report]
Further, gas
taxes are used to pay for transportation improvements-except when Sacramento raids those
funds to balance the general budget. Higher gas taxes are proposed
year-after-year to fund future projects, especially when voter-approved bond
funding dries up. The research from this study will continue to "fuel the
debate on fuel." Stay tuned to OCBC as the issues unfold. For more
info, contact Dr. Wallace Walrod.
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WELCOME OCBC'S NEWEST BOARD MEMBERS
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 OCBC is proud to welcome Orange County Transportation Authority's (OCTA) Will Kempton and Chevron's Juan Garcia to its Board of Directors. Kempton, the new CEO of OCTA and former Caltrans director, is a 35-year veteran of the transportation industry with a broad understanding of transportation programs and policies that
span the ranks of government from local to the federal level. Garcia, the Policy, Government and Public Affairs Manager for Chevron, handles government affairs and policy issues covering Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and a majority of California.
The 2009 board chaired by First American Title's Larry Buster consists of Orange County's most influential business leaders. Click here to view the full Board of Directors.
Want your seat at the table? Contact Vice President of Investor Relations Celeste Signorino about how you can get involved and join OCBC's prestigious Board of Directors.
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KATE KLIMOW JOINS OCBC AS VICE PRESIDENT OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
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The Business Council is proud to announce that Kate Klimow is the newest member of the OCBC team. As OCBC's Vice President, Kate brings nearly 20 years experience in government and public affairs bringing a
record of success in implementing strategic business initiatives, building
strong alliances with key stakeholders, and managing through crisis and
change. "Kate is a great asset to OCBC," says Lucy Dunn, President and CEO of the
Orange County Business Council. "Her knowledge of government affairs and
dedication to public policy combined with her 20 years of experience expands
OCBC's ability to help businesses get through these tough economic times and
thrive." Klimow's most
recent experience is as the Executive Director of the Los Angeles division of
the California Apartment Association, a non-profit trade association
representing owners, investors, developers, managers and suppliers of apartment
communities throughout Los Angeles County. Prior to her role there, Klimow has
previously worked for several OCBC members including KB Home and Disneyland Resort. [Read more] [Contact Kate] |
OCBC'S TRANSPORTATION INITIATIVE OCMOVES WELCOMES OCTA CHIEF WILL KEMPTON
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 During his first week as new OCTA chief, Will Kempton met with OCBC's OCMoves
Steering Committee and directors for an exclusive high-level roundtable
discussion last week.
"Will
Kempton's remarkable track record at the federal and state levels have truly set
a new standard for transportation initiatives," said Lucy Dunn. "His leadership and dedication
will undoubtedly add to OCTA's already stellar commitment to better Orange County's traffic solutions and
improvements."
The meeting included OCTA's Kia Mortazavi, who gave a presentation on Measure M updates, concluding the half-cent sales tax approved by voters in 1990 is on track to deliver the program in its entirety. All major projects promised to and approved by the voters
are under way or complete. Funds that go to cities and the County of Orange to
maintain and improve local street and roads, along with transit fare reductions
for seniors and persons with disabilities, will continue until Measure M ends in
2011. For more information, contact Kate Klimow.
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OCBC WIN: DIGITAL TEXTBOOKS ONE STEP CLOSER
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 Orange County Business Council and its members, who have heavily supported the use of digital textbooks in OC schools, applaud state education officials for naming the first digital textbooks to meet California academic standards for high school math and science. The electronic textbooks, available for use as soon as this fall, were among the first reviewed as part of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's Free Digital Textbook Initiative.
Bill Habermehl, Orange
County's superintendent of schools, said the governor's initiative will
help accelerate the shift toward online learning by validating the
academic content in digital textbooks. "Our problem is going
to be funding," Habermehl said. "We have countries we look at as Third
World using digital textbooks more than California." Recent cutbacks
in education will delay initiation of the program in Orange County, however.
Click here to view a recent report from the Campaign for College Opportunity (CCO) whose study finds California's colleges and universities are not producing enough graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics - or STEM-fields. For more information, contact Alicia Berhow.
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OCBC JOINS CUTTING EDGE ISSUES DISCUSSION AT HOUSING CONFERENCE
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OCBC's
Michelle Hart addressed the South
Orange County Alliance for Housing Our Communities (SOCAHOC) panel discussion on
August 13 in San Juan
Capistrano. In an effort to increase the number of
affordable housing developments in South Orange County, panelists discussed city
requirements and responsibilities for building affordable homes. Topics
included the city's future housing needs and economic and environmental issues
facing growing municipalities. Discussions were led by several OCBC
members
also on the panel including Laura
Archuleta of Jamboree Housing, David Barquist of RBF, and Victoria Basolo of UC-Irvine. For more information,
please contact Eduardo Moreno
Cerezo at eduardo.morenocerezo@stjoe.org, 949.499.1311 ext
7540.
CHECK
OUT THESE NEW HOUSING FACTS: from
January to June of 2009, Orange County cities issued 1208 NEW residential
building permits AND added 12,700 people. You do the math: that's one new
residence per more than 10 people! Join OCBC in supporting new home
construction, fee waivers, fee deferrals and tax credits for new home buyers.
For more info contact Dr. Wallace Walrod or Kate Klimow. |
DUNN TO TESTIFY FOR ASSEMBLY SELECT COMMITTEE HEARING ON STATE WATER CRISIS
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 OCBC's Lucy Dunn will join fellow business leaders August 21 for the Assembly Select Committee hearing on regional approaches to addressing the state's water crisis. Chaired by Orange County's own Assemblman Jose Solorio (D-69), the hearing will include three panels:
- Best Practices in Conservation
- Regional Solutions to Delivering New Sources of Drinkable Water
- Suggestions to Solve the State's Water Crisis
- Click here for the full hearing agenda.
The Business Council continues to be at the forefront of leadership efforts to improve necessary water resources to ensure the county's economic vitality and quality of life. OCBC recently co-authored a letter to state legislative leaders and the
Government seeking fair representation from Southern
California in statewide water appointments. Click here to read the letter. For more information, contact Lucy Dunn.
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INGRAM MICRO CEO GREG SPIERKEL JOINS OCBC'S NEXT CLB
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 Please join
OCBC, and CLB series sponsor AT&T, for a candid interview and breakfast with
CEO of Ingram Micro, Mr. Greg Spierkel. As the chief executive officer of Ingram Micro Inc., the world's
leading technology distributor, Spierkel leads a dynamic organization
employing 13,000 associates in 36 countries.
Join OCBC former chairman Tom Phelps, of Manatt, Phelps and Phillips, for a candid
no-holds-barred interview with one of nation's leading business
leaders. Are you an OCBC investor of $10K and above? Contact Michelle Hart to receive your free ticket to the breakfast!
 Date: Thursday, September 10, 2009
Time: 7:30 a.m. breakfast | 8 a.m.
program
Place: The Center
Club, Costa Mesa, CA
Info? Michelle Hart at
949.794.7219
Online Registration | Event Flyer
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EXECUTIVE INVITATIONAL GOLF TOURNAMENT HITS HOLE IN ONE
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 The Business Council and The UC Irvine Paul Merage School of
Business teamed up earlier in the month at Monarch Beach Golf Links for the 2009 Executive
Invitational Golf Tournament presented by Kaiser Permanente. The high level
invitational supported workforce development programs impacting every stage of
learning from kindergarten to higher education, to ensure your business will
have the skilled workers it needs for tomorrow. Proceeds from the tournament
will directly benefit OCBC's Latino Educational Attainment (LEA)
initiative and the UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business Scholarship
fund.
Special congratulations to this years winner (second year in a row):
- John Stratman, Kaiser Permanente
- Bill Habermehl, Orange County Department of Education
- Juan Lopez, Kaiser Permanente
- Chad Sidles, Sidles Duncan and Associates
Take a look at photos from this year's event on OCBC's facebook page!
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OCBC BLOG DUNN AND DONE GETS SPOTTED!
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 OCBC's blog, Dunn and Done has been nominated for the 2009 "You've Just Been Spotted" Orange County Blog Awards! Vote for Dunn and Done as your favorite local blog in Orange County. Dunn and Done blog entries include:
Click here to vote! Follow the page down on the left hand side and click on Dunn and Done under the Favorite Local Blog category.
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WE KNOW YOU HAVE SECRETS THAT NEED TO BE DESTROYED!
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 Just kidding
-- kind of
--but that's why
OCBC is pleased
to offer its members discounted offers from our members.
OCBC member,
Goodwill Industries, can help protect your business and your customers' privacy
with secure shredding services from Goodwill's Document Destruction Services and
OCBC members will
receive 25%
off your first order from now until October 30, 2009.
Plus you'll
save valuable on or offsite storage space that could save
you even more
money!
Contact
Peter Bares, Business Development Manager at Goodwill
Industries peterb@ocgoodwill.org or at 714.569.0449
ext. 288 to get an estimate for your monthly document destruction needs and to
receive your discount! For more
information visit http://www.ocgoodwill-documentdestruction.org/ (Valid for
Orange
County businesses
only.)
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UPCOMING OCBC EVENTS
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Chairman's Leadership
Breakfast:
Greg Spierkel, CEO,
Ingram Micro
Thursday, September
10, 2009 | 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. | Center Club, Costa Mesa
Workforce Development
Conference:
Sherry Lansing, former
CEO, Paramount Pictures
Thursday,
October 15, 2009 | 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Hyatt Regency
Irvine
Economic Forecast Conference:
Richard Davis, CEO, US
Bank
Tuesday, October 27, 2009 |
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 a.m. | Hyatt Regency Irvine
Click here fore event details and
registration! |
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
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August 2009
Workforce Development
Wednesday, August 19, 2009 from 7:30 - 9 a.m.
Committee meetings are open to
OCBC members and invited guests only. All committee meetings are held
at the OCBC offices unless otherwise specified. For more information on
upcoming committee meetings for 2009 check out OCBC's Committees.
Looking to get more involved?
Click below to receive specific committee notices.
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| COMMUNITY EVENTS |
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OC Forum presents: Shaping the Future of Today's Green-Conscious Automobile Industry
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
With headlines screaming the news of
auto industry bankruptcies and government bailout programs, it's good to know
that there is also some positive news about the future of the Automobile
industry ... and the Orange County Forum is delighted to feature one of those
"good news" stories at the next luncheon program to be held on August 26th with
Mr. Henrik Fisker, Founder & CEO of Fisker Automotive of Irvine, CA ... and
a rare opportunity to see the new sporty luxury plug-in hybrid Fisker Karma
on display at our event. For more information, please visit www.ocforum.org.
Save the Date: September 3. 2009
UCI Law School Presents "Rescues, Reforms & Recovery Threats and Opportunities for Businesses"
Join UC Irvine's School of Law and Manatt, Phelps and Phillips for an executive briefing that will shed light on the policy issues affecting Southern California . This program will explore the immediate and long-term prospects for, and ramifications of, the evolving federal policy stimulus in finance, healthcare and energy. Experts representing government, the private sector and academia will share their perspectives and insights regarding the likely effects of the changes in federal policy, presented in a series of panels and discussion forums. Click here for event flyer andetails.
Building Industry Association,
Orange
County to
Hold Food & Wine Benefit at the Brand
New Children's Museum Pretend
City -- Thursday, September 10, 2009
This year BIA/OC's Annual Food & Wine benefit has a new location and a new
theme. Wine Safari in the City, will be held on Thursday, September 10 at the
brand new Children's Museum
Pretend City in Irvine. Guests will enjoy fabulous wine
selections, scrumptious culinary delights and micro-brew tasting of specialty
beers. A silent and live auction will feature unbelievable prizes to bid on,
with proceeds benefiting the Building Industry Technology Academy (BITA)
programs at Katella, Western, Anaheim,
Valencia, and Brea-Olinda High Schools.
Click here for more information on this great event!
Filipino
American Chamber of Commerce of Orange County - Business Opportunity
DayThe Orange County Chapter of the Filipino American Chamber of
Commerce is proud to present A Twenty First Century Business Opportunity Day.
Save the date: Thursday, September 17, 2009. Highlights will include updates on
the Obama health reform, panel discussion on preserving the eco-systems, tax
incentives for starting green businesses and more. For event information
and registration, please visit www.faccoc.org2009
Komen
Orange County Race for the Cure -
Sunday, September 27, 2009The
Susan G. Komen Race for the CureŽ is an important community event bringing
women, men, families and teams from corporations, businesses and friends
together to celebrate breast cancer survivors and remember those who have lost
their battle with the disease. The beautiful Newport
Beach route is a 5K run and walk
and draws more than 25,000 people each year. The early run/walk steps off at
7:30 a.m.; survivor tribute at 9:00 a.m. and the second run/walk starts at 9:45
a.m. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. To register and for more
information visit: www.komenoc.org. 75% of funds raised will
provide breast health services in Orange County and 25% will go to breast cancer
research. All registered participants receive a Race for the Cure shirt; breast
cancer survivors receive a special pink Race shirt.
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IS IT NEWS TO YOU? THEN IT'S NEWS WE CAN USE!
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Have an event coming up? Was your company just
highlighted in the news? Are you doing something great in Orange
County? The Business Council wants to know about it. Now OCBC members can submit news stories for OCBC's E-Update Indicator
Newsletter.
Click here and fill out the submission form for one of Orange County's premier business news source. Not a member? Click here for more information on how to get involved and join the leading voice of business in Orange County.
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SPREAD THE WORD! IMPACT THE WORLD! FORWARD YOUR COPY TO ASSOCIATES!
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Forward OCBC's E-Indicator to friends and colleagues by clicking on the "Forward Email" link at the bottom of the email and encourage them to sign up for one of Orange County's premier business publications!
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BUSINESS MEETS SOCIAL MEDIA
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 Do you tweet? Have a Facebook page or surf YouTube? Then follow the latest news
and information from OCBC online! The leading voice of business is connecting
you to business in Orange County like never before.
If you
have questions on how to get connected with the Business Council online, please
contact Director of Communications, Matt Prince at 949.794.7221. | |
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2 Park Plaza, Suite 100, Irvine CA 92614 | www.ocbc.org | PH: 949.476.2242 | FAX: 949.476.9240 | |
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