IRVINE, CA — (Marketwire) — 03/13/12 — Orange County Business Council (OCBC) will host the 2012 Orange County Economic Development Forum on Tuesday, March 20, 2012 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Anaheim Marriott, presented by Bank of America. As part of the California Economic Summit, OCBC–s event will be one of 15 forums throughout the state; bringing together business and community leaders to identify the state and regional policy actions needed to create jobs, restore competitiveness and secure California as a leader in economic growth.
Featured guest speaker Julie Meier Wright, Strategic Advisor, Collaborative Economics, and California–s first Secretary of Trade and Commerce under Governor Pete Wilson, will share an –economy of regions– strategy, and talk about how Orange County–s collaborative effort intersects with statewide regional economic development activities underway across California.
In addition, a panel comprised of representatives from key growth industries, as well as high-tech, construction, and manufacturing will discuss the priority state and regional actions needed to allow for Orange County businesses to grow. The panelists are:
Chris Harrington, Vice President, Strategy and Business Development, Toshiba America Information Systems
Mike Hornak, Partner, Rutan & Tucker, LLP
Adrian Foley, President, Brookfield Homes
Lisa Haines, Vice President of Public Affairs, Disneyland Resort
Tom Porter, Vice President, Corporate Services, Edwards Lifesciences
Participants will add their insight and help form a regional policy agenda focusing on key emerging industries, including: workforce development, infrastructure, transportation, innovation, regulatory reform, housing and jobs creation.
All 15 regional forums will collaborate at the first annual statewide summit on May 11, 2012 in San Jose to produce a statewide policy agenda for economic development. The agenda will be the state–s first consensus document with specific policy goals and strategies for state and regional action, by both public and private leaders.
As the sixth largest county in the nation by population, and with the lowest unemployment rate in the state, Orange County is has developed into one of the most economically competitive and prosperous regions in the world. The region–s total industry sector employment is expected to increase by 8.4%, or 135,000 jobs, from 2008 to 2018, primarily driven by business and professional services, health care, and leisure and hospitality.
Vice President, Strategy and Business Development, Toshiba
Partner, Rutan & Tucker
President, Brookfield Homes
Vice President of Public Affairs, Disneyland Resort
Vice President, Corporate Services, Edwards Lifesciences
Strategic Advisor, Collaborative Economics
8:00 – 10:30 a.m.
700 West Convention Way
Anaheim, CA 92802
Media interested in attending the forum should contact Katherine Reedy, Director of Communications, at or 949.794.7221.
Orange County Business Council is the leading voice of business in Orange County, California. OCBC represents and promotes the business community, working with government and academia, to enhance Orange County–s economic development and prosperity in order to preserve a high quality of life. OCBC serves member and investor businesses with nearly 250,000 employees and 2,000,000 worldwide. In providing a proactive forum for business and supporting organizations, OCBC helps assure the financial growth of America–s sixth largest county. For more information, visit .
CONTACT:
Katherine Reedy
Director of Communications
949.794.7221