News

Hoag Unveils Innovation Center, and Telehealth App

Monday, May 16, 2022

(Orange County Business Journal) Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian has launched a new health center and mobile app that will allow patients to receive the same care, whether they’re at home, in the doctor’s office, or on the go. The On-Demand Care and Innovation Center, which opened in late March, totals 12,200 square feet at 4699 Jamboree Rd. in Newport Beach, just shy of 9 miles from Hoag Hospital Newport Beach. Located on the corner of Jamboree and Campus Drive, the new center is also across the street from a $1.3 billion hospital complex being built at the University of California, Irvine. UCI’s children’...

London Chippy Brings a Taste of the UK to Irvine’s Trade Marketplace

Monday, May 16, 2022

(Daily Pilot) London Chippy chef and co-owner Arjun Neil Bhakta said each time he traveled to the United Kingdom with his British Indian parents, they were always sure to visit a chippy. “Whenever we went to London to visit family, the first thing they would always take me to — that they would rave about — is fish and chips,” said Bhakta. While fish and chips can be found on restaurant menus throughout Orange County, there aren’t as many concepts devoted solely to the dish. “Chippies,” British slang for fish and chips shops, are hard to come by locally. So when Bhakta’s friend and busines...

Kaiser Permanente Orange County Hospitals Earn Place on Newsweek’s Best Maternity Hospitals 2022 List

Friday, May 13, 2022

Kaiser Permanente Anaheim and Irvine Medical Centers have been awarded on Newsweek’s list of Best Maternity Hospitals 2022, a prestigious award presented by Newsweek and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider. “We are proud of this accomplishment, which is a testament to the exceptional care provided by our physicians and staff,” said Mark Costa, senior vice president and area manager for Kaiser Permanente Orange County. “Having two of our hospitals recognized is a tribute to our dedicated care teams whose top priority is to provide our members and patients with high-quality personalized maternity care as they embar...

Kaiser Permanente Orange County Hospitals Nationally Recognized With Top Safety Grade

Friday, May 13, 2022

Kaiser Permanente Orange County hospitals have received an ‘A’ Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade for spring 2022. This national distinction recognizes Irvine and Anaheim Medical Centers’ achievements in protecting patients from preventable harm and error in the hospital. The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization, assigns an ‘A,’ ‘B,’ ‘C,’ ‘D’ or ‘F’ grade to general hospitals across the country based on more than 30 national performance measures reflecting errors, accidents, injuries and infections, as well as systems hospitals have in place to prevent harm. "The health and safety of our patients and members is our top priority," said Mark Costa, senior vice president and are...

UCI Names Mary Lou Ortiz CFO

Friday, May 13, 2022

Mary Lou Ortiz has been named chief financial officer and vice chancellor for the Division of Finance and Administration at the University of California, Irvine, following a nationwide search. She will assume the post on July 18. Ortiz comes to UCI from The Pennsylvania State University, where she serves as associate vice president for budget as well as university budget officer. “Mary Lou Ortiz brings to UCI close to 30 years of outstanding experience in promoting financial stewardship, advancing the efficient use of resources, and collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders,” said Chancellor Howard Gillman. “We all look forward t...

California Travel Making a Comeback

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

(CalChamber) May marks the celebration of Tourism Month in the United States, highlighting what for California is a significant sector of the state’s economy. Travel spending totaled $100.2 billion in 2021, according to Visit California’s annual Economic Impact of Travel in California report. That total represents a 43% increase from 2020, but is still down 30.9% from the historical peak in 2019. The gross domestic product (GDP) of the California travel industry was $67.3 billion, making up approximately 2% of California’s total GDP in 2021. The travel industry in California is experiencing a recovery, and according to Visit California President and CEO Caroline Beteta...

Talent Attraction and Retention Workshop for Employers

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

To help employers overcome challenges in maintaining a qualified workforce, the Greater Irvine Chamber presents a May 25 workshop: Reframing Talent Attraction & Retention. This workshop will explore effective strategies, from perfecting the position description and interview process to designing effective onboarding procedures and rewarding career paths and best practices to reduce employee turnover and ensure your organization retains the best and brightest talent you dedicated resources to find and hire. Leading the discussion are Brian Montes, founder and CEO of Scaleocity Works, a global consulting firm focused on workplace strategy, the reinvention of HR, and business information; and Jessica Welch, senior vic...

Cox Communications Works with White House to Connect Households with Affordable Internet

Tuesday, May 10, 2022

Leaders from Cox join White House officials in a partnership about the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), making high-speed internet more affordable and accessible to households across the nation. In participating in the ACP, eligible households will have access to Cox’s 100 Mbps high-speed internet service at no cost. “Our commitment to digital equity continues to be our guiding purpose in ensuring that families stay connected at an affordable cost,” said Mark Greatrex, president of Cox Communications. “By participating in ACP, we can reach more low-income households with high-speed reliable internet service.” On March 16, 2022, Cox announced the company’s alignment to ACP and doubled th...

Cricket League Plans 10K+ Seat Venue in Irvine

Monday, May 09, 2022

(Orange County Business Journal) Officials at an upstart sports league targeting the country’s growing base of cricket fans tell the Business Journal that they expect to spend well north of $10 million to build a new sports venue at Irvine’s Great Park, and say they are optimistic the facility could host cricket matches for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Major League Cricket (MLC) last week got city approval to move ahead on lease negotiations and design approvals to build what they say will be a “world-class” cricket venue on a 15-acre parcel at the city-owned Great Park. The stadium would be amon...

Orange County Teen Develops & Partners with Irvine Ranch Conservancy to Pilot Wildfire Prevention Device

Monday, May 09, 2022

(Orange County Register) Since the fifth grade, Ryan Honary has been developing a technological solution to better detect – and therefore prevent – wildfires, after witnessing the devastation of the 2018 Camp Fire in northern California. After years of innovation, including awards and grants for his impressive artificial intelligence-driven concept, the Newport Beach 14-year-old is now getting the opportunity to test his network of sensors in his community’s backyard. “I’m really excited,” Honary said. “I always talk about it, but I never really had it happen until now.” In a new partnership, Honary is working with the Irvine Ranch Conservancy, a nonprofit working t...

Masimo Introduces W1 Health Watch

Friday, May 06, 2022

(Orange County Business Journal) Irvine-based Masimo Corp., a maker of wireless blood and oxygen monitoring devices for hospitals, introduced its first-ever watch, the W1. “The first of its kind, the Masimo W1 offers accurate, continuous measurements and actionable health insights – from the leader in hospital pulse oximetry – in a personal, discreet, lifestyle-friendly wrist-worn wearable,” the company said in a statement. The W1 provides continuous monitoring of oxygen saturation, pulse rates, perfusion indexes, and respiration rates, alongside step count and fall detection. The company is releasing only 10,000 W1s on a first-come, first-served basis, at a 50% discount, to users who agre...

Providence St. Joseph Hospital Receives $53M Donation

Friday, May 06, 2022

(Orange County Business Journal) Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Orange has received a record-setting $53 million estate gift from an Orange County couple who have requested to remain anonymous. The gift, the second-largest in Providence history and the largest in Southern California history, will create an endowment fund to support the greatest needs of Providence St. Joseph Hospital for years to come. The gift is a direct result of the care that the donors received at Providence St. Joseph Hospital, according to a statement from the hospital. The donors were also inspired by the service and sacrifice of Providence St. Joseph caregivers an...

Amazon to Add Nearly 1K Jobs to Irvine Tech Hub

Wednesday, May 04, 2022

(Orange County Register) Amazon announced on May 3 that it’s expanding in Southern California, adding “more than 800 corporate and tech jobs” in Irvine. The company said the hiring would happen over the next few years. Amazon was not specific about the timeline. To accommodate its growth, the company has signed a lease for 116,000 square feet of office space at Spectrum Terrace, an office campus under development and owned by The Irvine Co. Amazon said it would move into the office space later this year. The Irvine Spectrum office community continues to draw major star power. Irvine Co.’s twin towers on Spectrum Cente...

City of Hope OC Presents Greater Irvine Chamber 2022 Celebrate Irvine

Wednesday, May 04, 2022

City of Hope Orange County is the presenting sponsor for the Greater Irvine Chamber Celebrate Irvine event on Wednesday, June 16, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., at Irvine Marriott, 18000 VonKarman Ave. “Irvine has so much to celebrate, and City of Hope will add to this eventful year as we open The Lennar Foundation Cancer Center this year,” said Annette Walker, president, City of Hope Orange County. “We’re grateful to be part of this thriving community where visionary leaders join with us to create a better and healthier tomorrow.” City of Hope is investing $1 billion to develop and operate a comprehensive cance...

Irvine Possible Host for FIFA World Cup Team Practices

Wednesday, May 04, 2022

(Orange County Register) Irvine could play host to some of the world’s top soccer teams as they practice for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals if Los Angeles wins a bid to host the final leg of the premier soccer tournament. LA is vying to be one of several U.S. cities to host World Cup matches, hoping to be selected for the championship game and some playoff rounds to be played at SoFi Stadium, Irvine City Manager Oliver Chi said. An agreement approved by Irvine’s City Council this week would give FIFA use of fields in the Great Park Sports Complex for teams t...

Irvine Ranked 8th in National 2022 ParkScore Index

Wednesday, May 04, 2022

For the seventh consecutive year, the City of Irvine park system has been ranked among the top 10 in the nation by the Trust for Public Land. Irvine ranked eighth in the country and second in California in the national nonprofit’s annual ParkScore Index, which is recognized as the national gold-standard comparison of park systems across the 100 most populated cities in the United States. The index is based on factors including park access, acreage, investment, and amenities. “We are proud to be recognized as having one of the top 10 park systems in the nation for the seventh consecutive year,” sai...

Record Home Prices, Scarce Supply; Businesses Brace for Impact on Job Market

Wednesday, May 04, 2022

(Orange County Business Journal) Irvine medical device maker Edwards Lifesciences Corp., the most valuable public company in Orange County with a nearly $70 billion valuation, last week listed nearly 220 open positions for its expansive Irvine headquarters campus along Red Hill Avenue, where it has spent well over $200 million buying land and building new facilities the past several years. Electric vehicle upstart Rivian Automotive Inc., valued at around $30 billion as of last week, says it has openings for over 370 positions at its rapidly expanding Irvine headquarters, where it has already built a base of nearly 2,000 workers in ...

Irvine Teams with Live Nation to Identify Permanent Location for Concerts at Great Park

Monday, May 02, 2022

(Orange County Register) After years of portable stadium seating and a temporary stage, Irvine leaders are beginning the search for a location in the Great Park to replace the FivePoint Amphitheater with a permanent venue, teaming with concert promoter Live Nation to find an ideal spot and design. Live Nation has operated the temporary amphitheater since 2017; the property just outside the Great Park is owned by developer FivePoint. The location off Marine Way near the southern end of the park was always meant to be a for-now solution after the Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre was razed in 2016. A new permanent venue was alway...

Video Game Publisher Bandai Namco Hosts Celebration at Irvine Spectrum for its Headquarters in the City

Monday, May 02, 2022

(Orange County Register) Irvine is now the home of several games and toys many people are nostalgic for video games such as Pac-Man and Galaga and those little electronic Tamagotchi pets you try to keep alive. All fall under the banner of Bandai Namco, which recently gathered all of its companies at new headquarters in Irvine. The company also has popular new titles, including the newly released Elden Ring, a role-playing action game in collaboration with fantasy novelist George R. R. Martin, known for his “Game of Thrones” series. On May 1, Bandai Namco celebrated its new venture in Orange County with a communit...

Irvine Getting Bass Pro Shops’ Outdoor World Store

Friday, April 29, 2022

(Orange County Register) Southern California’s second Bass Pro Shops — those eye-catching and large outdoor outfitter stores — is coming to Irvine by early 2023. The chain’s “Outdoor World” is going into a vacant 140,000-square-foot space at Alton Marketplace, an Irvine Co. property just off the 5 freeway at Alton Parkway. The shopping center, with its colorful freeway signage, is perhaps best known for the Costco store next door. The new store will open in “late 2022 or early 2023,” said the merchant that’s a pioneer in what’s called “destination shopping” — places that become attractions by themselves. Bass Pro has been i...

Three Seniors from High Schools in Irvine Among 30 Edison Scholars

Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Thirty high school seniors in Southern California Edison’s service area have been named 2022 Edison Scholars and will be awarded a total of $1.2 million in scholarships from Edison International. The scholarships are intended to help these students pursue science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) studies. Among the students are three from schools in Irvine: Eric S. Lee, Irvine High School Monica Pal, San Joaquin High School Abigail Samson, Arnold O. Beckman High School Including Lee, Pal, and Samson, there are nine Orange County seniors receiving STEM scholarships of $40,000. Here is the complete list of the 2022 Edison Scholars: Halle Allen, San Pedro High School Eliana Amanuel, Whitney Hig...

UCI Names Tiffany Lopez as Dean of Claire Trevor School of the Arts

Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Tiffany Lopez, visionary artist and administrator and proven champion for diversity and inclusion, has been named dean of the Claire Trevor School of the Arts at the University of California, Irvine, following a nationwide search. She will assume the post on July 1. Lopez comes to UCI from Arizona State University, where she serves as vice provost for inclusive excellence and as a Foundation Professor in the Sidney Poitier New American Film School in ASU’s Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. “UCI’s visionary founders included a school of fine arts in our academic plan so that the study and creation o...

UCI’s Michael Méndez is named a 2022 Andrew Carnegie Fellow

Wednesday, April 27, 2022

University of California, Irvine’s Michael Méndez has been named to the 2022 class of Andrew Carnegie Fellows. The assistant professor of urban planning and public policy joins an exclusive cohort of 28 distinguished individuals nationwide selected from nearly 300 nominees. Each will receive $200,000 for a research sabbatical focused on their study in the social sciences or humanities – the most generous stipend of its type. “I am pleased to congratulate Professor Méndez on being named a 2022 Andrew Carnegie Fellow,” said Hal Stern, UCI provost and executive vice-chancellor. “This recognition will support his groundbreaking research on environmental policy and protection...

Award-Winning Greater Irvine Chamber Career Edge Program Issues First-Ever Certification

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

The award-winning Career Edge program has issued its first-ever soft-skills certification to seven students from high schools in Irvine who successfully completed all four sessions of the 2021-2022 series. At the conclusion of the series in April, graduates of the program also earned a letter of completion & recommendation from the Greater Irvine Chamber. The sessions offered were: Successful Business Etiquette and Effective Business Communication taught by Massiel Pérez-Calhoon, Ed.D., adjunct faculty at University of Massachusetts Global; and Practical Critical Thinking & Problem Solving taught by Edward R. De La Torre, Ed.D., assistant professor at University of Massachusetts Global. The final session, Resum...

Goodwill OC's Tierney Center for Veteran Services Receives $300,000 Funding

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Congressman Lou Correa awarded the Tierney Center for Veteran Services with $300,000 in community projects funding support to continue growth of the center as a destination for veteran services and community collaboration. A check presentation and celebration was held on April 18 at the Tierney Center in Tustin. “Even with 107,000 veterans calling Orange County home, our county has historically been a place where veterans are underserved. This funding will allow us to truly start to change that,” said Nicole Suydam, President and CEO of Goodwill of Orange County, operator of the Tierney Center for Veteran Services. “This investment into th...

Cox Charities Offers $60,000 in Grants to Orange County Nonprofits: Apply May 9-31

Monday, April 25, 2022

Local nonprofits focused on K-12 STEM education, conservation and sustainability, and military and veterans are encouraged to apply for a Cox Charities Community Grant from May 9-31. A total of $60,000 is available for nonprofits in Orange County, with individual grants ranging up to $2,500-$10,000. The grants are part of Cox Charities’ statewide Community Grants program, which is awarding $170,000 total to nonprofits in Cox’s California markets (Orange County, San Diego, Palos Verdes, Santa Barbara). To apply for a Cox Charities Community Grant, organizations must meet the following criteria: Be a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization; Be located in or provide services in a Cox Communications servic...

Irvine High Schools Earn High Scores in California’s Top 50

Monday, April 25, 2022

Irvine High Schools have made Niche’s 2022 rankings of the best public high schools in the nation and the state. Out of thousands of public schools considered, University High School cracked the nation’s top 100 at 93. How high schools in the Irvine Unified School District ranked among the top California public high schools: #10) University High School – 4th best in college prep #13) Northwood High School – also ranked 12th best in college prep #34) Woodbridge High School – also ranked 30th best in college prep #50) Irvine High School – also ranked 40th best in college prep Portola High School ranked 9th best public high school in Orange County. Arnold O. Beckma...

How Remote Work Helped Tech Companies Outside Silicon Valley Grow

Sunday, April 24, 2022

(The New York Times) Photo by Audra Melton for The New York Times: Craig Fuller, founder of FreightWaves at his home office in Chattanooga, Tenn. His business improved when the company shifted to a virtual office, he said, and he hasn’t had trouble filling jobs. Some companies that hired remote workers during the pandemic say going back to the office isn’t an option. More than two years after the pandemic sent workers packing and hunkering down in their home offices, many companies are now doing everything they can to lure employees back in office buildings — at least for a few days a week. Bu...

Irvine-Based Design Firm Ware Malcomb Celebrates Turning 50 by Pledging to Donate $50,000

Sunday, April 24, 2022

(Orange County Register) The Irvine-based design firm Ware Malcomb founded in 1972 celebrated its 50th anniversary April 1. The company said it will be donating $50,000 to 50 charities in local communities across the Americas. The firm, which provides planning, architecture, interior design, civil engineering, branding, and building measurement services, says its revenues are more than $200 million per year with an estimated total billings of $1 billion. “We are so proud of this significant milestone,” said Ken Wink, CEO of Ware Malcomb. “It’s our people, our clients, and our partners who have propelled us this far. Because of our commitment to continual innovation...

MemorialCare Signs 10-Year Lease at University Park in Irvine

Sunday, April 24, 2022

(Orange County Register) MemorialCare Medical Foundation has signed a 10-year lease for the retail spot once occupied by Crown Ace Hardware at University Park in Irvine, according to CBRE. Financial terms of the lease were not disclosed, but CBRE said in a statement that the foundation signed a 9,460-square-foot lease at the retail center at 18102 Culver Drive. Tenants at University Park include Wholesome Choice, Rite Aid, Wells Fargo, and Carl’s Jr. CBRE’s Andy Nott and Austin Kanzler represented MemorialCare. The physician division of MemorialCare provides internal and family medicine, pediatrics, urgent care and dental services in Orange County. “MemorialCare was not actively lookin...

OC Companies Present Greater Irvine Chamber’s 2022 Business Outlook

Sunday, April 24, 2022

Top Orange County companies joining MemorialCare in presenting the Greater Irvine Chamber 2022 Business Outlook event are Economics Sponsor Torrey Pines Bank, Community Sponsor Orange County Soccer Club, and Business Sponsors City of Hope Orange County, GDR Group, FivePoint, Parker Aerospace, and University of California, Irvine. Business Outlook also hosts tables by Albertsons, Allergan an AbbVie Company, Bank of Southern California, Chapman University, Cox Communications, Edwards Lifesciences, Google Fiber, Greater Newport Physicians, Hoag Orthopedic Institute, Kaiser Permanente, New York Life, Southern California Edison, Octane, SoCal Gas Co, Waste Management, UCI Chief Executive Roundtable, Wells Fargo, and Zillow Group. Held in conjunction wit...

City of Hope OC’s Physician-in-Chief, Dr. Edward Kim is Guest Speaker at Greater Irvine Chamber’s May 5 Government Affairs Meeting

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Edward S. Kim, M.D., M.B.A., physician-in-chief at City of Hope Orange County and vice physician-in-chief at City of Hope National Medical Center, will be the guest speaker at the Greater Irvine Chamber’s Government Affairs meeting on May 5, 8 a.m. Dr. Kim will provide an update on City of Hope’s soon-to-open Lennar Foundation Cancer Center at City of Hope Orange County, an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center at FivePoint Gateway in Irvine. He will also speak about City of Hope’s Orange County network of care and plans to open the county’s only cancer specialty hospital in 2025. Lennar Foundation Cancer Center at Cit...

Concordia University Irvine Earns Military Friendly School Designation

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Concordia University Irvine has earned the 2022-2023 Military Friendly® School designation in the Silver Tier. This means Concordia is in the top 20% of most Military Friendly® Schools, excluding the top 10. Institutions earning the Military Friendly® School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. More than 1,800 schools participated in the 2022-2023 survey with 665 earning special awards for going above the standard. The 2022-2023 Military Friendly® Schools list will be published in the May and October issue of G.I. Jobs magazine and can be found at militaryfriendly.com. Methodology, criteria, and weightings were determined b...

John Wayne Airport Mask Rules: Latest Policies For Travelers

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

(Patch) A federal judge struck down the federal travel mask mandate Monday, meaning face coverings to protect against COVID-19 are no longer required on planes, trains, and, in most cases, subways and buses. At John Wayne Airport in Orange County, the mask mandate was dropped in alignment with the judge's ruling. "Guests and employees have the option to wear a mask during travel or while working. Travelers are advised to check with their airline and destination airport for local guidelines," airport officials said in a statement. On April 18, Florida federal Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle said in the 59-page decision striking down the trave...

Vincit USA Names New Head of Sales

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Further establishing its intercontinental collaboration between Finland and United States operations, Vincit USA has named Harry Ollikainen the new Head of Sales. Ollikainen has more than 24 years of experience in account management, business development and sales across the IT industry and joins the Vincit team during a period of rapid growth in 2021 and 2022. Recently relocating from Finland, Ollikainen is the most recent transplant to join the leading software development and design agency with operations in Irvine and Metro-Phoenix. Numerous other Finnish counterparts have made a similar move following the lead of Vincit USA CEO Ville Houttu with additional plans to integrat...

Nobel Peace Laureate Nadia Murad Appointed as Chapman University Presidential Fellow

Monday, April 18, 2022

Chapman University has announced that Nadia Murad, a human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, will be the keynote speaker at the university’s 2022 Commencement ceremony. The event will mark the beginning of Murad’s appointment to a three-year term as a Presidential Fellow at Chapman beginning June 1, 2022 and continuing through May 31, 2025. Murad was born in the village of Kocho in the Sinjar District of Iraq, a region populated mostly by the Yazidi, an ethno-religious minority indigenous to northern Iraq. In 2014, Islamic State militants attacked her home and killed hundreds of men and older women in her village...

Orange County Unemployment Rate Falls to 3.1% in March

Friday, April 15, 2022

(Orange County Business Journal) Orange County’s unemployment rate fell to 3.1% in March from a revised 3.7% in February and below the 7% rate seen in March last year, according to the state’s Employment Development Department. The state’s unemployment rate was 4.2%. The March U.S. unemployment rate was 3.8%. Nonfarm OC employment gained 9,800 jobs from February to March when 1.63 million were employed. OC employment is up 91,700 jobs from the same period a year ago. The county remains below the February 2020 pre-pandemic employment level of 1.68 million jobs. Eight of the 11 industry sectors saw job increases. For the second straight month, leadin...

Rivian Appoints First Chief Sustainability Officer

Friday, April 15, 2022

(Orange County Business Journal) Irvine-based electric vehicle maker Rivian Automotive Inc. announced Anisa Kamadoli Costa as its first chief sustainability officer, effective April 18. Kamadoli will lead Rivian’s ‘Forever’ foundation and oversee the company’s sustainability roadmap for both its products and the business with a focus on climate and environment. This includes supervising the accounting of Rivian’s sustainability metrics across all operations and apply data to companywide decisions. The automaker, with a valuation around $37 billion, said it has committed to carbon neutrality in its operations by 2028. The Forever foundation is dedicated to high-impact climate initiatives, such as preserving and restoring wildlands...

How Workers Lose with 4-Day Workweek Proposal

Wednesday, April 13, 2022

(CalChamber) For years, employees have expressed their desire for the kind of workplace flexibility that would allow them to set a flexible daily schedule or alternative workweek. In fact, a recent survey conducted by the California Chamber of Commerce found that 91% of polled voters agree that the state’s labor laws should be changed to allow for more flexibility. Yet rather than proposing a real solution that will meet workers’ and employers’ needs, California legislators are proposing a law that will dramatically raise labor costs, expose employers to litigation, and has the potential to kill hundreds of thousands of jobs — al...

Proposed California Bill to Reduce Weekly Work Hours to 32 Could Hurt Small Businesses

Wednesday, April 13, 2022

(Epoch Times) California legislators proposed a new bill that would allow employees of bigger companies to work fewer hours in a week without losing any income, which critics said would become a “job killer.” Assembly Bill 2932, introduced by Assembly Members Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens) and Evan Low (D-San Jose) in February, would require companies with more than 500 employees to reduce their weekly work hours from 40 to 32 hours—from the regular 5 to 4 workdays a week—and those who work more than 32 hours a week would be considered as working overtime and should be compensated at a rate o...

Rivian Foresees Success Despite Hurdles

Wednesday, April 13, 2022

(Orange County Business Journal) Rivian Automotive Inc. in Irvine believes it can compete effectively in the increasingly crowded electric vehicle market, but notes multiple near-term difficulties it faces, ranging from the Russian attack on Ukraine to global supply chain disruptions. In its first annual report as a publicly-traded company, filed on March 31, Rivian provided an in-depth look at the future. Rivian delivered 920 vehicles last year and is ramping up for a large increase. Among the company’s bright spots: $18.4 billion in cash and equivalents as of Dec. 31—probably the biggest such bank account of any Orange County public company. Much o...

Irvine Retail Center Eyed for Innovative Housing Solution to Meet State Mandates

Tuesday, April 12, 2022

(Orange County Business Journal) The Irvine Co. is in the early stages of planning for what could be its first-ever housing project on the grounds of the Irvine Market Place, part of Orange County’s fifth-largest shopping center. The Newport Beach real estate owner and developer has proposed building up to 1,400 residential units on its land at the Market Place to address “the quality of life and economic needs of recent graduates, young professionals, and essential service providers” in the Irvine area, according to city filings. The company got the city’s approval late last month to move ahead with a General Plan Amendmen...

Irvine-Based Masimo Completes Acquisition of Sound United

Tuesday, April 12, 2022

(Orange County Business Journal) Irvine-based medical technology company Masimo announced on Apr. 12 that it has completed its acquisition of consumer electronics company Sound United. Sound United — which operates brands like Marantz, Bowers & Wilkins, and Denon — will operate as a division of Masimo under its existing leadership from its Carlsbad, CA headquarters. The combined company will develop consumer-facing healthcare products, officials said. “We are thrilled to add Sound United’s premium technology, established consumer channels, and well-known brands to Masimo’s broad portfolio of hospital and home medical technology solutions,” Masimo’s Founder and CEO Joe Kiani said in a statement. “We believe Masimo’s expertise in advance...

Parker Aerospace Selected For Helicopter Development

Tuesday, April 12, 2022

(Orange County Business Journal) Parker Aerospace in Irvine will be playing a key role in a Sikorsky-Boeing team effort to win the prized contract for a new U.S. Army helicopter called Defiant X. The Sikorsky-Boeing team has selected multiple Parker technologies for its entry in the competition for the award to build what is called a “Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft,” one which is expected to eventually replace the Army’s aging Black Hawk helicopters. The agreement with Parker Aerospace covers hydraulics and flight controls. Financial terms of the partnership were not released. The Army will choose a winner—after a faceoff between Textron’s Bell and the Sikorsky-Boein...

Industry Expert, Chris Schwarz Returns as Greater Irvine Chamber Business Outlook Keynote Speaker

Monday, April 11, 2022

Chris Schwarz, associate professor of finance and faculty director of the Center for Investment and Wealth Management at University of California, Irvine’s Paul Merage School of Business and popular speaker, returns for the fourth year to the Greater Irvine Chamber Business Outlook event on Wednesday, May 18, 11:30 a.m - 1:00 p.m. at Hilton Irvine, 18800 MacArthur Blvd. REGISTER HERE “An expert in the field of economics, Chris Schwarz is also a crowd favorite, capturing the attention of large audiences with his knowledge, insights, and good humor about a salient topic,” said Bryan Starr, president and CEO, Greater Irvine Chamber. “His observations and analyses are important as we look at market indicators to help us make informed decision...

Concordia University Irvine Offers Students Pathway to Serve Communities

Friday, April 08, 2022

Beginning Fall 2022, Concordia University Irvine will offer traditional undergraduate students to complete 450 hours of service over the course of the academic year in exchange for $10,000 toward their education in a new initiative called the #CaliforniansForAll College Corps. The #CaliforniansForAll College Corps program is a service fellowship that provides students with college funding while engaging them in community problem-solving in the fields of education, climate action, and food insecurity. Over the next two academic years, Concordia students will have the opportunity to serve alongside local school districts and nonprofit organizations to solve real challenges and build healthier, more equitable communities. This program align...

UC Irvine Names Austen Parrish New Dean of Law School

Thursday, April 07, 2022

Austen Parrish, a respected scholar, gifted classroom teacher, and admired legal academy leader, will become the third dean of the School of Law at the University of California, Irvine, following a nationwide search. He will assume the post on Aug. 3. “Since it first enrolled students in 2009, UCI Law has been recognized as the finest young law school in the nation, one of the top public law schools overall and a model for combining academic excellence with service to the community,” said Chancellor Howard Gillman. “With his clear vision, proven leadership and stellar accomplishments, Austen Parrish is the right perso...

UCI Sets Location for its California Art Museum

Thursday, April 07, 2022

(Orange County Register) UC Irvine’s growing north campus has been chosen as the future home of the Jack and Shanaz Langson Institute and Museum of California Art. Museum and university officials chose the location for the Langson IMCA, as it is being called, intentionally, said Museum Director Kim Kanatani, because of its proximity to the San Joaquin Marsh Reserve, as well as the planned healing gardens at UCI’s expanding health campus still under development. “Its adjacency to nature is very critical for the museum,” Kanatani said. “It really resonates with our collections.” More than 3,000 works of modern art in a variety of mediums collected b...

CathWorks and Quest International Announce Global Partnership

Wednesday, April 06, 2022

CathWorks, an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), with offices in Irvine, Israel, and Japan, and Quest International, a global service support provider to the OEMs, announced today they have signed a post-sales technical service support agreement that Quest International becomes the preferred technical service delivery partner for end-to-end service support of CathWorks' fast-growing install-base of customers globally. CathWorks plans to leverage Quest's capabilities to accelerate its commercial operations and expand its geographic footprint. "In pursuit of our mission of partnering with physicians to transform how cardiovascular disease is diagnosed and treated, we have become partners with Quest International because of their deep industry expertise an...

City of Irvine Joins National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation During Earth Month

Tuesday, April 05, 2022

Irvine Mayor Farrah N. Khan has joined mayors across the country for the National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation by asking residents and businesses to make a long-term commitment to manage water resources more wisely. The annual challenge, April 1-30, is a nonprofit national community service campaign presented by the Wyland Foundation that encourages leaders to inspire their residents to make a series of simple pledges to use water more efficiently, reduce pollution, and save energy. TAKE THE PLEDGE “We are in the third year of a drought, so it is more important than ever that we take action to conserve water,&rdquo...

Irvine-Based Alteryx Names Lucas Moody New Chief Information Security Officer

Tuesday, April 05, 2022

(Orange County Business Journal) Alteryx Inc., the Irvine-based data analytics software company, has appointed industry veteran Lucas Moody as senior vice president and chief information security officer. He will lead the security organization, oversee the protection of customer, partner, and employee data and assets, and contribute to product innovation. Moody will report to Alteryx Chief Executive Officer Mark Anderson. He joins most recently from Twitter where he oversaw global security technology teams protecting the company's more than 192 million daily users. In addition to his prior CISO roles at Rubrik and Palo Alto Networks. Shares in Alteryx fell 2.3% to $72.39 apiece for ...

Nominations Now Open for the 2022 Celebrate Irvine Business Awards

Tuesday, April 05, 2022

Nominations, including self-nominations, for the Greater Irvine Chamber’s annual business awards are being accepted through 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 13. Awards: Business of the Year Nonprofit of the Year Business Philanthropist of the Year Entrepreneur of the Year Spirit of Hospitality NOMINATE HERE Through this award program, the Greater Irvine Chamber recognizes businesses and individuals in greater Irvine that have demonstrated the principles of community service, volunteerism, and the best traditions of good corporate citizenship. Awards will be presented at the Chamber’s Celebrate Irvine event on Wednesday, June 16, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., at Irvine Marriott, 18000 VonKarman Ave. Tickets for the 2022 Celebrate Irvine event are $11...

Irvine-Based Kia America Announces Naming Rights for The Forum in Inglewood

Monday, April 04, 2022

(Orange County Register) In the past, the stalwart entertainment venue on the corner of Manchester and Prairie in Inglewood has been known as the “Fabulous Forum” and the Great Western Forum and, well, just The Forum. But now, thanks to a deal with the South Korean automaker’s Southern-California wing, Kia America, as of Monday, April 4, it’s the Kia Forum. Kia America formally announced that it purchased the naming rights for the arena from Forum owner Steve Ballmer — the first U.S. naming rights deal for the automaker — with a ceremony at the familiar venue, which has been packing in crowd...

Podcast: Important HR Bills to Watch This Year

Monday, April 04, 2022

In this episode of The Workplace, CalChamber employment law expert Matthew Roberts and CalChamber policy advocate Ashley Hoffman discuss three job killer bills under consideration in the California Legislature: SB 1044 (Durazo; D-Los Angeles), AB 2182 (Wicks; D-Oakland) and SB 1162 (Limón; D-Goleta). The framework of potential laws is coming into view at the California Legislature, and we are beginning to see this year’s priorities, Roberts says in kicking off the podcast. Already there are a significant number of employment law-related proposals that could have far-reaching implications for most or all businesses in California. SB 1044 One problematic proposal being considered is S...

California Corporate Diversity Law Ruled Unconstitutional

Saturday, April 02, 2022

(Patch) A Los Angeles judge on April 1 ruled that California's landmark law mandating that corporations diversify their boards with members from certain racial, ethnic, or LGBT groups is unconstitutional. The brief ruling granted summary judgment to Judicial Watch, a conservative legal group that sought a permanent injunction against the measure that was signed into law last year. The ruling didn't explain the judge's reasoning. The measure requires corporate boards of publicly traded companies with a main executive office in California to have a member from an "underrepresented community," including LGBT, Black, Latino, Asian, Native American or Pacific Islander. The lawsuit argued that violated th...

Chapman MBA Program Rises to its Highest Position Ever in U.S. News Rankings

Friday, April 01, 2022

Chapman University’s Argyros School of Business and Economics has vaulted to No. 72 in the latest Best Business School rankings by U.S. News & World Report, announced Tuesday, March 29. It’s the school’s highest-ever position in the prestigious rankings of business schools with full-time MBA programs. Since Thomas Turk assumed the role of dean five years ago, the Argyros School has jumped 26 places in the national rankings. “These 2023 rankings validate our position among the top private business schools on the West Coast as well as our overall position among all California schools,” said Turk, Ph.D., who holds the Robert J. and Caroly...

Infusion Bays at City of Hope Orange County Lennar Foundation Cancer Center Designed Around Patient Preferences

Friday, April 01, 2022

When designing Lennar Foundation Cancer Center, City of Hope Orange County put patients' needs first, placing special importance on the infusion center. Stepping into the treatment space located on the top floor of the Lennar Foundation Cancer Center, the warmth of the sunlight fills the area from its large windows that look onto Saddleback Mountain, allowing strength and stability to flow in. It’s a patient-centered, peaceful environment that is comfortable and calm. “We’ve taken extra care to center the infusion bays around the patient experience,” said Wendy P. Austin, RN, MS, AOCN, COA, NEA-BC, FACHE, the senior vice president of operations fo...

Strong U.S. Jobs Report Shows Hiring Momentum

Friday, April 01, 2022

(The Wall Street Journal) The U.S. labor market strengthened last month as the pandemic’s grip receded and more workers jumped back into the labor force. Employers added 431,000 jobs in March, as restaurants, manufacturers, and retailers snatched up workers, and hiring in January and February was stronger than previously reported, the Labor Department said Friday. The report marked the 11th straight month of job gains above 400,000, the longest such stretch of growth in records dating back to 1939. The unemployment rate fell to 3.6% in March from 3.8% a month earlier, quickly approaching the February 2020 pre-pandemic rate of 3.5%, a 50-yea...

U.S. Companies Shift to Mexican Suppliers

Friday, April 01, 2022

(The Wall Street Journal) New data suggests Mexican suppliers are gaining ground as manufacturers reset their supply chains amid growing global disruptions. Last year, large American manufacturers solicited chemicals, produce and construction materials, and other goods from six times as many suppliers based in Mexico as they did in 2020, according to procurement software firm Jaggaer. At the same time, the number of suppliers in China that received procurement bids declined by 9% in 2021, Jaggaer said, using data from its 30 biggest U.S. manufacturing customers with an average of over $30 billion in annual revenues. The push for suppliers in Mexico come...

Wage Gains Show Signs of Slowing

Friday, April 01, 2022

(The Wall Street Journal) Wages continued to grow in March, but the pace has cooled slightly over the past few months, suggesting employers are feeling less pressure to offer pay increases as more people return to the workforce, which could ease inflation pressures. Average hourly earnings were up a seasonally adjusted 0.4% in March over the previous month, following February’s relatively weak 0.1% rise, the Labor Department said on April 1. In the previous six months, by contrast, monthly wage gains averaged 0.5%. Economists say the past two months of softer wage growth could signal that the labor market is starting to coo...

CathWorks Presents New Data and Latest Innovations

Thursday, March 31, 2022

The results of CathWorks' most recent outcomes study on the CathWorks FFRangio™ system will be presented by Dr. Guy Witberg from Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel on Sunday, April 3 at the annual American College of Cardiology (ACC) conference in Washington, DC. Dr. Witberg and his co-investigators in Israel and Japan examined the 1-year clinical outcomes of 492 patients whose treatment decision was based solely on the CathWorks FFRangio™ System results. "FFRangio has been in use in our cath lab since 2016 and we have taken part in several studies demonstrating its excellent diagnostic performance compared to the gold standard wire-base...

KTimeHR Celebrates 25 Years of Assisting Employers

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

KTimeHR, a California-based provider of human-resource and employee-administration services, celebrated its 25th anniversary in March. KTimeHR’s solutions for employers include human resources, compliance guidance, paperless payroll processing, employee benefits, and insurance services. President Murphy Megonigal attributes KTimeHR’s longevity and success to “our exceptional team and innovative, easy-to-use technology.” KTimeHR is ranked as one of Orange County’s “Best Places to Work” according to the Orange County Business Journal, and has the distinction of being listed as one of Orange County’s “Top Workplaces” for the past ten years. KTimeHR is an affiliate of Kimco Staffing Services, a premier Orange County-based staffing company. For more information, visi...

MemorialCare is Business Outlook 2022 Presenting Sponsor

Tuesday, March 29, 2022

MemorialCare is the presenting sponsor for the Greater Irvine Chamber 2022 Business Outlook event on Wednesday, May 18, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., at the Hilton Irvine - Orange County Airport, 18800 MacArthur Blvd. “MemorialCare is honored to be the presenting sponsor of the Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce Business Outlook event,” said Barry Arbuckle, Ph.D., president and CEO, MemorialCare. “Despite the effects of COVID-19, our business community exudes the characteristics that make Irvine the economic center of all of Orange County: agility, resilience, and ingenuity. Join us for impactful economic insights that will help us move forward throughout the remainder of 2022 with optimism an...

Natnaree Allison Named Greater Irvine Chamber March 2022 Ambassador of the Month

Tuesday, March 29, 2022

Natnaree Allison, relationship manager, Heartland Payments Systems, has been named the Greater Irvine Chamber Ambassador of the Month for March 2022. A Chamber member since 2020, Allison became an Ambassador in February 2022. “The Greater Irvine Chamber has introduced me to other like-minded professionals. I’ve met the most amazing people through the Chamber and have been able to develop meaningful professional and personal relationships,” Allison said. “Being an Ambassador is a great honor and enables me to truly serve the business community.” Allison is the membership chair for Monday Leads Group, and volunteered for the October 2021 Irvine Business Outreach, surveying local businesse...

The Largest Sol Mexican Cocina Now Open in Irvine

Tuesday, March 29, 2022

(Orange County Register) Xperience Restaurant Group — the owner and operator of El Torito, Chevys Fresh Mex, Sol Mexican Cocina, Acapulco and Las Brisas — opened its newest location of Sol Mexican Cocina in Irvine, 1910 Main St., on March 24. Background: It’s huuuuge! This multimillion-dollar renovation of a former El Torito Grill occupies 11,277 square feet, including a 2,861 square foot patio set into Centerview, a LEED Platinum property with twin 12-story office buildings. It’s the largest of all the Sol locations, which include the original in Newport Beach, along with others in Playa Vista, Scottsdale, Arizona, and Denver, Colorado. Watch fo...

UC Irvine Ranks Among U.S. News' Best Graduate Schools

Tuesday, March 29, 2022

The University of California, Irvine’s graduate programs in education and chemistry place in the nation’s top 10 among public universities in U.S. News & World Report’s annual graduate school rankings. Nine other fields of advanced study are in the top 20 among public universities, marking UCI as one of the leading locations in the country for students to pursue graduate degrees. “UCI has established itself as a world-class public research university in a wide range of graduate disciplines,” said Gillian Hayes, vice provost for graduate education and dean of the Graduate Division. “These rankings confirm that our campus offers challenging an...

Working at Home: California Court Holds Employer Not Liable For Injuries

Tuesday, March 29, 2022

(The National Law Review) California law generally requires employers to provide employees with a safe place to work. What, if anything, does this obligation entail when an employee works at home or another employee visits that private residence for work-related activities? This question has added importance after the significant increase in employees working from home as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Introduction The California Court of Appeal’s new decision in Colonial Van & Storage, Inc. v. Superior Court addressed some of these issues. Specifically, it considered whether an employer’s duty extends to ensuring that “an off-site meeting place for coworkers an...

Syntiant in Irvine Gets $55M in New Funds

Monday, March 28, 2022

(Orange County Business Journal) Chip technology company Syntiant Corp. of Irvine said it closed on $55 million in new funding, bringing the company’s total investment to more than $100 million since the company’s founding in 2017. “We are at a pivotal point of our company’s growth and development, having shipped more than 20 million of our Neural Decision Processors as global market demand for edge AI rises among device manufacturers,” said Kurt Busch, CEO at Syntiant. He added: “This new round of funding will help us expedite full production deployments among more than 50 current customer engagements, as our technology continues to mak...

UCI’s North Campus Site Provides Outdoor Vistas to Complement Indoor Masterpieces

Monday, March 28, 2022

Spellbinding views – both indoors and out – will grace the future home of the Jack and Shanaz Langson Institute and Museum of California Art at the University of California, Irvine when it opens along Campus Drive near Jamboree Road – a location UCI officials announced today. The North Campus site – which is near where the UCI Medical Center–Irvine complex is also being constructed – will offer visitors “sweeping views of the San Joaquin Marsh Reserve to complement Langson IMCA’s remarkable collection of California impressionist and contemporary art and serve as a vibrant hub for discovery, exchange and engagement,” said museu...

US Commerce Department Releases Strategic Plan to Boost America’s Competitiveness

Monday, March 28, 2022

Today the Department of Commerce released its fiscal year 2022-2026 Strategic Plan laying out an agenda for innovation, resilience, and equity to strengthen America’s competitiveness in the 21st century. Along with the strategic plan, the Department also published the first-ever learning agenda, through which all bureaus will build rigorous evidence on program outcomes. “Everything we do at the Department is focused on increasing America’s competitiveness in the global economy. With this plan, we are positioning America’s workers and businesses for success in the 21st century. And all Americans, especially those that have been historically excluded, will share in our prosperity,” said Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. The Departmen...

Irvine Company Presented $2M Installment of Larger Gift to Irvine Unified School District Arts & Sciences Programs

Friday, March 25, 2022

(Orange County Register) The Henry and Renee Segerstrom Concert Hall hosted young musicians for a special concert on March 14. The music programs of the Irvine Unified School District were center stage during the Donald Bren Honors Concert, typically held annually until the pandemic forced a two-year hiatus. More than 650 students performed, officials said, ranging from fifth-graders to high school seniors. A $2 million donation from the Irvine Company was presented to the district during the concert. The donation was part of a $45 million commitment the Irvine Company has made to support arts, music, and science education in the district. The 20-year commitment wa...

Layoffs for Irvine Developer FivePoint

Friday, March 25, 2022

(Orange County Business Journal) Irvine’s Five Point Holdings LLC, the developer of the Great Park Neighborhoods and other large communities in California, has announced a round of layoffs. “We announced a layoff of 31 FivePoint associates, which represents approximately 20% of our workforce,” the company said in a statement. “We are proud that we were able to keep the team together through the pandemic, however, we feel that now is the appropriate time to reassess our operations and cost structure to properly fit the size and scale of our business,” the statement said. The moves come a few weeks after the developer’s new Chie...

Metrolink Train Maintenance Facility Proposed Near Great Park

Friday, March 25, 2022

(Orange County Register) Metrolink trains running throughout Southern California might in the future make pit stops in Orange County at a new maintenance facility proposed near the Great Park in Irvine. Officials with the Orange County Transportation Authority, owner of the vacant property where the project is proposed, said the facility would make Metrolink more efficient by allowing its trains to be serviced and repaired locally instead of having to be routed to facilities in Los Angeles, San Diego or San Bernardino, which are operating close to full capacity. The possible environmental impacts of such a facility are being researched now as th...

Audit: California Slow on Offering Affordable Housing

Thursday, March 24, 2022

(Orange County Register) California has not effectively used surplus properties owned by the state to help alleviate the affordable housing crisis, according to an audit that recommends agencies hire more staff and accelerate the rate at which parcels are offered for development. Michael Tilden, the acting state auditor, reviewed California’s compliance with a 2019 executive order by Gov. Gavin Newsom that prioritizes the use of state-owned land to support the creation of affordable housing. “The rapid creation of affordable housing is critical because more than 1.4 million low-income California renter households lack access to affordable housing,” Tilden wrote in a letter Tuesday t...

Bristol Farms Newfound Market Makes Debut at Irvine Spectrum

Thursday, March 24, 2022

(Orange Coast Magazine) Irvine Spectrum Center’s newest tenant is Bristol Farms’ new concept Newfound Market which combines a food hall with their signature grocery market. “It’s the next iteration of the Bristol Farms brand,” says Bristol Farms CEO Adam Caldecott about their newest location which takes up a vacant building on the east side of the Irvine Company-owned retail center. “We want it to be a foodie destination for the City of Irvine and Southern California.” To do that, Bristol Farms took the 34,000 square-foot building and separated it into two areas: a food hall with seven of its own chef-created restaurant brands, and ...

Greater Irvine Chamber Provides Opportunity for Professionals to Visit Irvine Businesses During Outreach Program

Thursday, March 24, 2022

The Greater Irvine Chamber spring 2020 Irvine Business Outreach will take place on Wednesday, April 27. The purpose is to help identify the most pressing needs and challenges facing Irvine businesses. Volunteers are invited to take part in this award-winning outreach program. The primary research is facilitated by Chamber member volunteers who will visit local business owners and offer information about support resources offered through the Chamber and its partner organizations. We will also ask the business to complete a short survey about their current experiences and challenges, which will be available online beginning April 27 and continuing through July 15. Participation in the Irvin...

Heather Vezner named new Dean for the School of Education at Concordia University Irvine

Thursday, March 24, 2022

Heather Vezner, a lifelong teacher and leader in education, is the newly-appointed dean of Concordia University Irvine (CUI) School of Education (SOE). She succeeds Kent Schlichtemeier, who is now the director of the new Servant Leadership Institute, which works in close partnership with the SOE. Vezner was a primary leader in preparation for CUI’s site visit critical to the California Teacher Credential process. “It was hugely successful and showed a lot about why she needs to be in a position of leadership like she is in now,” Tim Schumacher, assistant professor of educational technology and chair of the search committee. Provost Scott Ashmon say...

Irvine-Based InBrace Names Clint Carnell as CEO

Thursday, March 24, 2022

(Orange County Business Journal) Irvine-based orthodontic company InBrace announced March 23 its newly appointed Chief Executive Officer: Clint Carnell. Carnell, who joined InBrace as a board member two years ago, previously helped multiple consumer healthcare companies go public, including HydraFacial developer BeautyHealth and Thermage developer Solta Medical. In his new role, Carnell will lead InBrace through its next growth phase, which will include bringing its second-generation Smartwire technology to market and help launch its InStudio training and experience centers nationwide. "I'm excited to bring the InBrace Smartwire technology to market, giving orthodontists and patients more options for teeth straightening," Carnell said in a statement. "InBrace believe...

The Trouble with Hybrid Work

Thursday, March 24, 2022

The current thinking goes like this: Hybrid work is a great compromise between requiring all employees to either be in the office full time or requiring employees to work remotely full time. Remote work is a great solution because employees can enjoy the convenience and focus of a home office, then go into the office for the real-world collaboration they can only get in person. Many large Silicon Valley tech companies are embracing hybrid work, including Google. It feels like a great solution. But I think the hybrid model may create more problems than it solves over time. So here are th...

American Businesses, Industry, Labor Groups, Praise Historic U.S. – U.K. Tariff Agreement

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

(CalChamber) The United States and the United Kingdom resumed trade talks at the end of March, two years after they were frozen and eight months after the U.K.’s “fast track” status to a trade deal, under the Trade Promotion Authority, expired. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and U.K. Secretary of State for International Trade Anne-Marie Trevelyan met in Baltimore for the two-day event. The pair toured the Port of Baltimore and met with U.S. and U.K. business and labor representatives. In Baltimore, negotiators reached a deal to end the four-year-old dispute that began in March 2018 when then President Trump imposed tariff...

Irvine Prepares for Great Park Botanical Garden with Demolition of El Toro Marine Corps Air Station Remnants

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

(Orange County Register) Storage and utility buildings, old steel sheds, the remnants from when leathernecks called home the airbase that is now becoming the Great Park in Irvine are likely to be what is cleared out next as Irvine leaders enter the next phase of developing the city’s premier park. Dozens of structures remain from the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Base, the majority scattered on a 125-acre section known as ARDA on the northeast edge of the Great Park. Once the proposed location of a state veterans cemetery, the undeveloped expanse is now slated for a large botanical garden featuring...

Twelve Honorees Named Greater Irvine Chamber 2022 Women of Influence

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Twelve empowering women who lead and succeed in their life, industry, and community have been named the Greater Irvine Chamber’s 2022 Women of Influence. Meet the honorees: ENTREPRENEUR – Alicia Cox, Founder & CEO, PRJKT Restaurant Group ENTREPRENEUR – Leslie Nguyen, Founder & Creative Director, Bosscat Kitchen; Miss Mini Donuts INNOVATOR – Dr. Daniela Bota, Vice Dean & Medical Director, Center for Clinical Research, University of California, Irvine INNOVATOR – Rhonda Ducote, President, Apriem Advisors EXECUTIVE – Teresa Prestwood, Executive Vice President, Irvine Company Apartment Communities EXECUTIVE – Carrie Strom, President, Global Aesthetics, Allergan ADVOCATE – Kelley Lee, Government Relations Manager, Local Public Affairs, Southern California Edison AUTHENTIC LEADER &ndash...

Hoag Receives $50 Million Gift from the Sun Family Foundation; Announces Major Expansion in Irvine

Monday, March 21, 2022

Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian has received a $50 million gift from the Sun Family Foundation to serve as a catalyst for Hoag's ongoing expansion that will usher in major new health care facilities, technology and treatment protocols for the residents of Orange County and beyond. The gift – and the physical expansion and medical advancements it will help make possible – underscores Hoag's emergence as a global destination for medical excellence, unparalleled service, and patient-focused outcomes. "This remarkable gift from the Sun Family Foundation will enable Hoag to dramatically expand the breadth of outstanding health care services available to the Orange Count...

City of Irvine, Caltrans, and Waste Management Partner to hold Clean California Dump Day Event

Wednesday, March 16, 2022

The City of Irvine, Caltrans, and Waste Management are partnering to provide a community cleanup event on Saturday, March 26 where residents can dispose of bulky items for no cost. The Dump Day event is designed to prevent illegal dumping before it happens. Clean California was established through Gov. Gavin Newsom’s $1.1 billion multiyear cleanup initiative that aims to remove trash and engage communities to restore roadsides and pride in public spaces. The City’s trash hauler, Waste Management, will be donating two additional 40-yard roll bins, in addition to those provided by Caltrans, for the collected trash and bulky items that residents dro...

Hospitality Experts Share Insights on Workforce Attraction & Retention with Greater Irvine Chamber Economic Vitality Council

Wednesday, March 16, 2022

During the Greater Irvine Chamber Economic Vitality Council March 15 meeting, a panel of hospitality and tourism experts discussed the current state of the workforce in their industry. The panelists were George Assaf, director of operations, Irvine Marriott; Melissa Wall, partner and contract & search specialist, Express Employment Professionals; and Dylan Shipsey, director of operations, Puesto and Marisi Italiano restaurants. The discussion was moderated by Brian Montes, Economic Vitality Council Committee chair and founder and president of Scaleocity Works. A special presentation on workforce assistance programs was provided by Rhonda Miller, business solution manager at the OC Workforce Development Board. The organization assists employers in finding talent to fill ope...

John Wayne Airport Making Strong Recovery with Good Passenger Numbers

Wednesday, March 16, 2022

(Orange County Register) Two years after the rapidly spreading coronavirus halted most air travel, traffic at John Wayne Airport and across the industry is rebounding “more quickly than expected,” with last week’s passenger volume almost 2% higher than the same period in 2019, Rick Francis, the airport’s interim director, said on March 15. Even with the slower recovery of business travel, the number of people flying nationally is around 80% to 85% of what it was in 2019, which is used as a pre-pandemic benchmark, Francis said after a press conference about airport programs. JWA saw more than 10.6 million travelers in eac...

Irvine Mayor Farrah N. Khan Delivers State of the City Address

Thursday, March 10, 2022

Irvine Mayor Farrah N. Khan delivered her State of the City Address on March 8, at the Irvine Barclay Theatre. Topics included a review of 2021 accomplishments, as well as highlights and initiatives for 2022. In her address, Mayor Khan reiterated her commitment to healing, recovery, and growth. In 2021, she created two task forces focused on recovery, and implemented the Irvine Cares campaign, asking Irvine residents and businesses to help slow the spread of COVID-19. She also reaffirmed the City will continue taking steps to ensure we embrace and celebrate diversity in all aspects of our community, and foster a...

Waterford Builds a Workforce Housing Brand, Has Sights Set on The Royce at Park Place in Irvine

Thursday, March 10, 2022

(Orange County Business Journal) After a whirlwind 2021 that included participation in over $2 billion dollars’ worth of high-end apartment acquisitions in the state, Newport Beach’s Waterford Property Co. isn’t expecting a similar rate of growth in its multifamily portfolio in 2022. That’s OK, company officials tell the Business Journal. Last year’s push into workforce housing—a sector that aims to provide affordable rental homes for healthcare workers, military members, first responders, teachers, and other service professionals and their families—has set the upstart real estate investor and developer up for the long haul. Last year’s slate of acquisitions for what it calls “essential housing” provides Waterfor...

Gov. Newsom Calls for Gas Price Relief for Californians

Wednesday, March 09, 2022

(Los Angeles Times) Gov. Gavin Newsom cast the state as a beacon of democracy in a turbulent world in his annual address to lawmakers on March 8, contrasting the “California way” through its embrace of diversity and inventive solutions with the politics of division and rising “authoritarian impulses” in America. As he embarks on a campaign for reelection, Newsom also promised a tax rebate for Californians as high gasoline prices weigh on the minds of voters and his Republican critics. Newsom blamed “geopolitical uncertainty,” referencing the war in Ukraine, for the increasing cost of gasoline. “I think all of us at least her...

Gov. Newsom Proposes Tax Rebate for Californians as State Deals with Nation's Highest Gas Prices

Wednesday, March 09, 2022

(CNN) California Gov. Gavin Newsom is proposing a tax rebate to ease some of the pain at the pump in his state, which has the highest gas prices in the nation. The Democratic governor's announcement in his State of the State address on March 8 comes as Californians brace for further price hikes after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Newsom said he is planning to submit a revised budget to the state legislature that would "put money back in Californians' pockets to address rising gas prices," but he did not immediately offer any details of how much a rebate would be or when he hopes i...

State's Largest Landlord Irvine Co. Finds Office Takers in New Normal

Wednesday, March 09, 2022

(Orange County Business Journal) The Irvine Company believes that there’s a clear future for the local office market, and officials at the real estate firm say it’s a future that emphasizes higher-end properties and a flight to quality by tenants. Orange County’s largest office landlord has the figures to back up those claims. The Newport Beach real estate firm says that it leased nearly 10 million square feet of office space to about 1,000 companies in 2021, across its entire portfolio. That total “matches or exceeds the company’s performance during the pre-pandemic economic boom years of 2017-2019,” it said in a statement. Irvine Co. i...

Leading-Edge Technology at City of Hope OC’s Lennar Foundation Cancer Center to Provide Advanced Treatments

Friday, March 04, 2022

Glimpses of Hope - March 2022 Update: Lennar Foundation Cancer Center at City of Hope Orange County will be the most advanced cancer center in the region, purposefully designed to be high touch and high tech. Patients will receive exceptional, compassionate care from our world-renowned cancer experts. They will benefit from innovations designed to get them back to their lives sooner and that make their care experience easier and more convenient. "Our comprehensive cancer center will be the center of innovation and home to the most advanced cancer treatments and technologies available," said Annette M. Walker, president, City of Hope Orange County. "Thi...

Three Ways Chambers of Commerce Help Businesses Thrive

Friday, March 04, 2022

Working together, the California Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Irvine Chamber are a solid force as advocates supporting business-friendly policies and helping California businesses comply with complex laws and regulations. Other local chambers of commerce throughout the state are likewise committed. While independent from the California Chamber, the Greater Irvine Chamber is able to tap into its partnership with CalChamber to provide a regional platform for the thoughts and priorities of businesses to be heard and considered. With 80%–90% of local chamber members having fewer than 20 employees, local chambers are a major voice for business communities throughout California. Three of the top ways th...

Colleen Dillaway Named Market Vice President for Cox Communications in Orange County

Wednesday, March 02, 2022

Colleen Dillaway has been named market vice president for Cox Communications in Orange County, Calif. Dillaway, who is the first person to hold this newly created position, will join Cox's California senior leadership team and report to Ingo Hentschel, senior vice president and region manager for Cox’s California region. In her new role, Dillaway will work with business and community partners in Orange County and Palos Verdes, represent Cox in the community, and serve as the market spokesperson. Dillaway joined Cox in 2018 as director of public affairs where she was responsible for community relations, philanthropic giving, external communications, and employee communications acros...

UCI Celebrates 20 Years of Octane OC Building Entrepreneurial Innovation Ecosystem

Wednesday, March 02, 2022

Genuine collaboration and building a community that hasn’t formerly existed doesn’t happen overnight. In fact, it may take decades and, much like any startup, it experiences ups and downs. This year, Octane a non-profit organization that drives technology and growth by connecting ideas and people with resources and capital is celebrating two decades of building the now budding innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem that sprawls across Southern California. The UC Irvine ecosystem partner’s very seed was planted in Irvine with roots dating back to UCI’s Division of Continuing Education. That seed has grown over 20 years and continues to cultivate entrepreneurial, investment, and workforc...

Greater Irvine Chamber Announces Women of Influence Awards Finalists

Tuesday, March 01, 2022

The Greater Irvine Chamber 2022 Women of Influence finalists include empowering women who lead and succeed in their lives, businesses, and communities. Meet the finalists: Kelly Alesi, Director of Sourcing, Logistics & Sustainability Ramona Agrela, Chief HR Officer & Vice-Chancellor, University of California, Irvine Diane Blake, General Manager, Sonesta Irvine Anisha Bhatnagar, Woodbridge High School Kai Boyer, Owner, Kai Boyer Fitness Janelle Brunette, Chief Operating Officer, Octane Daniela Bota, Vice Dean for Clinical Research, University of California, Irvine Center for Clinical Research Jasmine Chhabria, Student, Northwood High School Dr. Seema Choudhary, Executive Director, Montessori Preschool Irvine & Lake Forest Jennifer Ciccone, Senior Vice President, Operations, Irvine Company Retail Libby Cooper, Vice Presiden...

Jorge Mora Named Greater Irvine Chamber Ambassador of the Month for February 2022

Tuesday, March 01, 2022

Jorge Mora, business development executive for KtimeHR, has been named the Greater Irvine Chamber Ambassador of the Month for February 2022. “The Irvine Chamber has provided me with exceptional networking opportunities, which often lead to mutually beneficial business partnerships. The most significant benefit I have received as a Chamber member is that the Chamber enables me to develop meaningful professional and personal relationships with local business leaders,” Mora said. It’s a pleasure to serve as an Ambassador for the Chamber and participate in all of the amazing events and programs the Chamber offers all its members.” Mora became an Ambassador just month...

The Great Office Redesign Is Coming

Tuesday, March 01, 2022

(Associations Now) The pandemic brought significant changes to the workplace, including to office design and layout. To accommodate the new hybrid model of work, office designs will likely include more collaborative spaces that also are adaptable and have a homey feel. Office designs pre-pandemic were often cube farms and had open layouts that shunned privacy to promote collaboration. But now, after almost two years of social distancing and people working from home, office designs are ready for an overhaul, said Stephanie Travis, associate professor of interior architecture and design at George Washington University. Because the pandemic proved that individual work could be successfull...

Battery developer Enevate expanding to new HQ in Irvine

Monday, February 28, 2022

(Orange County Register) Enevate, a startup in the lucrative battery development industry, has signed a lease in Irvine for a new headquarters six times the size of its current home, also in the city. The company should have plenty of room after it moves by year’s end from 20,000 square feet at UCI Research Park. The new digs measure 125,000 square feet at 34 Parker Drive, enabling the company to grow its electric vehicle battery pre-production line and corporate offices. “With Enevate’s expanding customer base, increased number of projects, and more employees we simply ran out of room at our current facility,” sai...

Commerce Department Awards $54 Million in American Rescue Act Grants to Increase Access to Advanced Manufacturing Opportunities

Monday, February 28, 2022

(NIST) The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has awarded nearly $54 million in grants for 13 high-impact projects for research, development and testbeds for pandemic response. The funding, which was provided by the American Rescue Act, will support projects at eight manufacturing innovation institutes in the Manufacturing USA® network, working with more 80 partners including leading research universities, nonprofits, and small and large manufacturers. “Rebuilding our manufacturing economy is an essential component to strengthening our communities and creating opportunity for all Americans,” said Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. “The breadth and variety of these awards shows tha...

Hoag Orthopedic Institute Welcomes Shoulder & Elbow Specialist Hafiz Kassam, M.D. to Medical Staff

Monday, February 28, 2022

Hoag Orthopedic Institute, one of the largest providers of orthopedic care in the nation, has announced that it has added Hafiz Kassam, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon specializing in shoulder and elbow surgery, to its medical staff. “We are excited to welcome Dr. Hafiz Kassam to Hoag Orthopedic Institute,” said Steven L. Barnett, M.D., chief medical officer of Hoag Orthopedic Institute. “We are confident Dr. Kassam will be able to contribute to our collective high-quality care notability, high standards, and superior patient outcomes.” Dr. Kassam has extensive experience in complex shoulder and elbow surgery, sports injuries, and traumatic orthopedic reconstruction. He is Boar...

Irvine Forgoes Property Taxes to Convert 1,000+ Units to Workforce Housing

Monday, February 28, 2022

(Orange County Register) Rents at more than 1,000 units at two apartment buildings in Irvine are expected to be marked down and turned into the city’s first housing priced for people making middle-of-the-road incomes. Sometimes called “workforce housing,” the lower-rate units are meant to target renters who fall into a void within the housing market — what’s been dubbed the “missing middle” — where they make too much for entry into affordable housing programs but not enough to afford today’s prices. Projects that convert market-rate units into middle-income homes have been adopted by cities up and down the state in recent years, includin...

U.S. Trade Deficit in Goods Surges Again to a Record $107.6 Billion in Early 2022

Monday, February 28, 2022

(Market Watch) The numbers: The U.S. trade deficit jumped 7.1% in January to $107.6 billion and hit a new all-time high for the second month in a row, reflecting huge American appetite for imported goods such as autos and oil. The deficit rose from a revised $100.5 billion in December. Last year, the U.S. posted the highest trade deficit ever. The goods deficit topped $1 trillion for the very first time. Key details: U.S. goods imports rose 1.8% in January to $262 billion — also a record. Exports of U.S.-made goods slid 1.8% to $154.8 billion. Part of the unusually sharp increase in the deficit i...

What Russian Invasion of Ukraine Means for US, California Economies

Saturday, February 26, 2022

(Los Angeles Times) Russia’s attack on Ukraine comes at a vulnerable time for economies around the world. Inflation is already at a worrisome level, consumers are paying more for basic goods across the board, and the global supply chain is still recovering from pandemic disruptions. The invasion, which has upended geopolitics and threatens a humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, put stocks on a roller coaster and sent the price of wheat, oil, and other commodities higher Feb. 24. Here, we answer some questions on how this might continue to play out for the economy and what this means for consumers in the U.S...

Another 2021 First: Top 10 U.S. Trade Partners Top $100 Billion

Friday, February 25, 2022

(Forbes) For the first time ever, the top 10 U.S. trade partners all topped $100 billion in export-import trade in 2021, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released in February. The previous record was seven, first set in 2011 and tied every year thereafter. Until last year. It was one of many new milestones set in a year filled with them, despite record tariffs and massive snarls in the supply chain symbolized by websites with items out of stock, barren shelves at the store, and ships stranded off the coasts of Los Angeles, Savannah and elsewhere, waiting to dock. The United States set ...

Pepper Russell Appointed to the Higher Education Advisory Committee

Friday, February 25, 2022

A member of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) since 2018, Pepper Russell, senior manager of economic development at the Greater Irvine Chamber, was recently appointed as a member of IEDC’s Higher Education Advisory Committee. This committee works to cultivate a bridge between economic developers and higher education to work collaboratively to grow jobs, investment, and talent in a knowledge-based economy. Additionally, the committee connects with approximately 60 members from around the world, facilitates an annual in-person conference as well as regular conference calls with advisors, and presents reports to the IEDC Board’s External and Member Relations Committee. Russell oversees Greate...

UC Irvine Launches AI-Powered Institute for Precision Health

Friday, February 25, 2022

The University of California, Irvine today announced the launch of the Institute for Precision Health (IPH), an endeavor that marries UCI’s powerhouse health sciences, engineering, machine learning, artificial intelligence, clinical genomics and data science capabilities to deliver the most effective health and wellness strategy for each individual person and, in doing so, confronts the linked challenges of health equity and the high cost of care. The institute will bring a multifaceted, integrated approach to what many call the next great advancement in healthcare. Precision medicine collects patient data – history, exams, demographics, molecular and diagnostic tests – and uses the powe...

Ukraine Conflict Adds to Supply-Chain Woes as Firms Halt Work

Friday, February 25, 2022

(American Journal of Transportation) International companies from cigarette makers to auto manufacturers and beverage bottlers are shutting down production in Ukraine as Russian armed forces roll into the country, adding further strain to fragile global supply chains. Japan Tobacco Inc. said Friday it halted operations at a plant in Kremenchuk in central Ukraine, where it employs 900 staff. Bottling company Coca-Cola HBC shut down operations in the country and sent staff home, joining a growing list of firms including Carlsberg AS, Nestle SA and AB InBev Efes, a joint venture between Anheuser-Busch InBev NV and Anadolu Efes, to halt local production becaus...

A Cheering Crowd Welcomes Home Olympic Skaters at JWA

Wednesday, February 23, 2022

(Orange County Register) Cheering fans were limited this Winter Olympics as athletes from around the world gathered to compete during the pandemic. But as pairs skaters Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier and singles skater Mariah Bell returned to Orange County from Beijing, their supporters made themselves heard at John Wayne Airport. Family, friends and fans greeted the skaters, who train at The Rinks and Great Park Ice in Irvine, holding signs and balloons. Knierim and Frazier won silver as part of the figure skating team. Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG: Olympic medalist pairs skaters Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier, center, pose fo...

City of Irvine Resumes One Irvine Revitalization Program

Wednesday, February 23, 2022

The City of Irvine resumed its One Irvine Program on Feb. 14. One Irvine is a neighborhood revitalization program that enhances neighborhood conditions as neighborhoods age and transition to new generations of homeowners and facilitates specific improvement projects in collaboration with residents. As a master-planned community, much of Irvine’s residential history is characterized by the development of newly constructed homes in newly created neighborhoods. With the City recently celebrating 50 years of incorporation, some of the City’s original neighborhoods are now facing challenges associated with an aging housing stock, infrastructure, and public amenities. “I couldn’t be more thrilled to see this progra...

Handel’s Adds Fifth Orange County Ice Cream Shop in Irvine

Wednesday, February 23, 2022

(Orange County Register) Popular frozen treats brand Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream & Yogurt has been expanding in O.C. with stores already open in Newport Beach, Lake Forest, Laguna Niguel, and Rancho Santa Margarita. Now it will add a fifth scoop shop, opening Thursday, Feb. 24, in Irvine at The Market Place. Locals love its creamy, old-fashioned recipes with comforting flavors like black cherry, blueberry cheesecake, butter pecan, cherry vanilla, salty caramel truffle, and more. John Wolikow and John Messenger are the owners of this new location. “I grew up eating Handel’s Ice Cream as a kid in Youngstown, Ohio, where Handel’s originated,” Wolikow said. “We make th...

Irvine Forward Foundation Established to Support Education and Career Readiness Programs

Wednesday, February 23, 2022

The Irvine Forward Foundation (IFF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has been established to support educational achievement through scholarships, career readiness, and community engagement. Scholarships supported by IFF: Lt. Col. Thomas U. Wall Scholarship — Funding for the scholarship began with a $20,000 endowment from the Thomas U. Wall trust in 1992. The funds were placed in an account at a financial institution and the interest from the funds determines the number of scholarships to be awarded on an annual basis. Eligible students must be a U.S. resident, U.S. military veteran, or child or grandchild of a U.S. Military veteran who is pursuing ...

Irvine-Based Architectural Design Firm Reimagines Koreatown Landmark as Independent Living Oasis, Medical Offices

Wednesday, February 23, 2022

One of L.A.’s most iconic sites is now the focus of an upcoming adaptive reuse project led by Irvine-based Varisco Design Build Group. Once an L.A. landmark, the former Shriners Hospital building’s newly reimagined look will be facilitated by 147,000 square feet of tenant improvements and an effective repurposing of the space into senior living and medical offices. This blend of residential and medical units, both with outstanding amenities, demonstrates VDBG’s unique and diverse range of abilities and applied understanding of different spaces. The project’s innovative design and sustainability efforts also include features such as solar-powered parking lifts to serve as traffi...

Economy Gained Momentum in February Despite Inflation Worries

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

(The Wall Street Journal) U.S. economic growth picked up this month but inflation pressures increased as the Omicron wave of Covid-19 ebbed and Americans resumed dining out and traveling, according to surveys of purchasing managers. Private data firm IHS Markit said on Feb.22 that its composite Purchasing Managers Index for the U.S. rose to a two-month high of 56.0 in February from 51.1 in January. A reading above 50 indicates growth, while a level below 50 signals contraction. Price pressures intensified this month, according to the firm and other reports released Tuesday. Worries about inflation hurt U.S. consumer sentiment in February, according to ...

Tech Companies Face a Fresh Crisis: Hiring

Sunday, February 20, 2022

(New York Times) On some of her very long days, and most of her workdays of late are very long, Tiffany Dyba, a 39-year-old recruiter in New York, recalls with a little nostalgia a hiring job she once held at a luxury-fashion designer. Back then, people were so eager to get her their résumés that a young woman once looked up Dyba’s photo on LinkedIn and then waited outside her office on Madison Avenue to intercept her on her way into work. On another occasion, Dyba, making conversation with a possible hire, mentioned that she had a fondness for toffee — an...

Americans Want to Travel and Are Eager to Splurge, Companies Say

Friday, February 18, 2022

(The Wall Street Journal) More Americans are satisfying their wanderlust and spending big to do it, companies say. With daily new Covid-19 cases falling, restrictions easing and the strongest consumer finances in recent history, Americans are finally emerging from the pandemic eager to splurge on everything from travel and sports events to restaurants, cruises, and theme parks, executives say. Companies including Marriott International Inc., Expedia Group Inc., Coca-Cola Co., and MGM Resorts International told analysts recently that business is already improving from an Omicron dip and indications point to an American public eager to live large. “Premium customers, who after being cooped up for 2020 and the first part of 2021, are traveling an...

UCI Becomes Founding Member of Collegiate Esports Leadership Group

Friday, February 18, 2022

University of California, Irvine has become a founding member of Voice of Intercollegiate Esports to take an active role in shaping the higher education esports ecosystem. As a member of VOICE, UCI will join other collegiate esports leaders in conversations about issues in the esports environment. UCI Chancellor Howard Gillman will head the organization’s President’s Council, convening key people from many of the top academic institutions to address the rapidly growing esports landscape. “UCI is thrilled to be a founding member of VOICE,” Gillman said. “I look forward to working with other university leaders to provide guidance to the nascent an...

With More Than $11 Million in Support, Chapman Institute Champions Access for Students With Disabilities

Friday, February 18, 2022

In the struggle to make education more inclusive, too often people with disabilities have been on the outside looking in. But now Chapman University’s Thompson Policy Institute on Disability (TPI) is increasing access and opportunity for all individuals, aided by growing support from foundations and other donors. In September, TPI received a $3.5 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to fund a Technical Assistance Collaborative supporting innovative approaches to preparing educators to teach all students equitably in general-education classrooms. The Gates Foundation grant establishes the California Educator Preparation Innovation Collaborative (CalEPIC). The gift elevates the total amount of foundation grant an...

CathWorks Joins Greater Irvine Chamber as Silver-Level Leaders Circle Partner

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

CathWorks, a medical technology company dedicated to improving the care of patients suffering from coronary artery disease, has joined the Greater Irvine Chamber as a silver-level Leaders Circle partner. “CathWorks is excited to partner with the Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce toward achieving our vision of leading innovative digital health platforms that improve the lives of patients globally. Together, we are building a community that attracts and cultivates the next generation of top talent, entrepreneurs, and investors who share the common passion for helping patients,” said Ramin Mousavi, president and CEO, CathWorks. CathWorks, is a global company with offices in Israel, Japan...

Historic Marine Aircraft Could Return to Great Park in Irvine

Monday, February 14, 2022

(Orange County Register) The CH-46 helicopter that evacuated the ambassador and flag from the roof of the American embassy during the fall of Saigon in 1975 may soon take a new journey, landing at the Irvine Great Park. The helicopter and another 40-plus aircraft of the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum in San Diego could soon be on display in a newly restored hangar once part of the Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. The base was the original home of the aviation museum when it was active in the late 1980s. Since then, the artifacts of American aviation have been housed at th...

Orange County Microbusiness Grants Available

Monday, February 14, 2022

Local underserved microbusinesses and entrepreneurs that have been impacted by COVID-19 can apply for funding from the County beginning Feb. 14. The Orange County Microbusiness COVID-19 Relief Grant Program will provide $2,500 grants to microbusinesses and entrepreneurs facing barriers to accessing capital, including businesses owned by women, minorities, veterans, individuals without documentation, individuals with limited English proficiency, and business owners located in low wealth communities. To learn more and apply, visit oconestop.com/grant-relief-programs. For questions about the program or assistance submitting an application, call the Orange County Business and Economic Recovery Call Center at 714-480-6500.

UCI’s 2021 Fundraising Tally Hits $248M Thanks to Donors

Monday, February 14, 2022

(Orange County Business Journal) Orange County philanthropists who count personal connections to the University of California, Irvine, helped make 2021 the second-largest fundraising year in the university’s history. “Despite the pandemic, we’re blowing it away [with fundraising], and people’s hearts are being touched. Their wallets are speaking,” said UCI Foundation Trustee James Peterson. The former Microsemi chief executive known locally as Jimmy P added: “We’re in an uncertain time, but one thing is certain: people’s desire to give is expanding.” 2021’s collection of UCI gifts includes an abundance of mega-sized donations directed at the school. Earlier this month, UCI disclosed that the estate of philanthropis...

Why an Internal Audit is Good for Your Business

Monday, February 14, 2022

(Orange County Register) It’s safe to say no one in their right mind would ask to be audited. The term “audit” generally strikes fear in most of us, as it’s associated with bad behavior and negative consequences. The IRS audits and then penalizes taxpayers. Companies fail SEC audits, and stock shares plummet. Politicians resign in disgrace when corruption is discovered. However, the above examples are called “external audits,” which are examinations conducted by outside parties that are often involuntary. There are also “internal audits” conducted voluntarily by business owners and management that we should not fear. Internal audits, also called performance or operational audits...

Irvine's Visionary Housing Mix Ensures Economic Vitality and Diverse Opportunity

Friday, February 11, 2022

By Bryan Starr, president and CEO, Greater Irvine Chamber, as published in Irvine Standard, February 2022. Irvine’s economy is as diverse as it is innovative. In tech, the city is home to the world’s biggest brands and important companies that deliver high-paying jobs across multiple industries. In health care, we’re fortunate to have world-class medical institutions with Hoag, Kaiser, MemorialCare, UCI Health and soon, City of Hope serving our community. We are also home to Orange County’s largest employer: UC Irvine and its 25,000 employees. And Irvine Unified School District is home to 2,000 teachers and staff. As diverse as these industries are, there’s one thing I consistentl...

Warehouse Industry Targeted by US Wage Enforcers

Friday, February 11, 2022

(Bloomberg) The U.S. government’s minimum-wage enforcers plan to zero in on the warehouse and logistics industry, amplifying scrutiny of a sector criticized during the pandemic for its labor practices. A combination of explosive growth, low wages and the widespread use of contract staff demands that greater attention be paid to how the sector treats its “essential workers,” Jessica Looman, the acting administrator of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, said in an interview Tuesday. “We want to make sure that the outcome, as we’re continuing to move out of this pandemic, hasn’t been an opportunity for greater exploitation o...

EV Battery Developer Enevate Expands

Wednesday, February 09, 2022

(Orange County Business Journal) Enevate, the Irvine firm developing fast-charging batteries for electric vehicles, has signed a lease for over 125,000 square feet for a pre-production line and new headquarters at 34 Parker Drive. The new facility in the Spectrum area of the city represents a substantial growth in space from the company's existing space of 20,000 square feet at UCI Research Park. “With Enevate’s expanding customer base, increased number of projects, and more employees we simply ran out of room at our current facility,” said Enevate CEO Robert Rango. “This is a major milestone for the company during a very exciting tim...

Power Source is Community’s Choice

Wednesday, February 09, 2022

Businesses and residents in Irvine — along with those of Buena Park, Fullerton, and Huntington Beach — have an option to choose whether they would like to utilize 100% renewable power offered through the Orange County Power Authority (OCPA) or remain with Southern California Edison (SCE) for their electrical power. On Feb. 8, the Irvine City Council unanimously approved the Orange County Power Authority as the default power profile for residential and commercial service for 100% renewable energy choice. All Irvine residents and businesses will be, by default, powered by OCPA unless they choose to opt out. According to the City o...

Trained In Irvine, Three-Time World Champion Nathan Chen Takes Lead into Olympic Free Skate

Wednesday, February 09, 2022

(Orange County Register) At the end of an Olympic epic in which Nathan Chen, who trains at the Great Park Ice in Irvine, soared like a star shooting through a sky full of brilliance, his sport, like the rest of the planet unable to do anything but look on with amazement, the 22-year-old dropped a hint that he might be human after all. At least off the ice. Between Tuesday morning’s world record-setting short program and Thursday’s long program, Chen admitted he had a to-do list he had to take care of. “Chores,” he said. Chores? “I’ve been here for a while,” he said with ...

$57M Gift to UC Irvine Will Establish World-Class, Campuswide Depression Research Center

Monday, February 07, 2022

The estate of Audrey Steele Burnand has gifted $57.75 million to the University of California, Irvine to fund the creation of a new campus-wide center that will pursue research into the causes and treatment of depression and also support the UCI-managed Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center. More than $55 million of the gift is earmarked for advancing depression research at UCI. It’s believed to be the largest philanthropic donation to a U.S. university to support research focused solely on depression, which is the most prevalent mental health disorder in the U.S. “This is a truly transformative gift from a longtime and great supporte...

Greater Irvine Chamber Executive Team Leader Laura Perdew Receives Designation from Industry Association

Monday, February 07, 2022

Laura Perdew, IOM, vice president of marketing and communications for the Greater Irvine Chamber, was recognized as an Accredited Chamber Executive (ACE) by the Western Association of Chamber Executives (W.A.C.E.). The designation is awarded only to those chamber executives and staff professionals who meet stringent criteria set by the association’s board of directors. Perdew was awarded accreditation this year at the association’s annual conference in Glendale, AZ. She joins her colleague Jessica Welch, senior vice president, Greater Irvine Chamber, who also is an Accredited Chamber Executive. Perdew also holds an IOM certificate in nonprofit organization management from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The accreditation program wa...

For Southern California airports, Super Bowl LVI is a Whole New Ballgame for Air Travel

Friday, February 04, 2022

(Orange County Register) Just down the street from SoFi Stadium, a stone’s throw from LAX and neighboring rocket builder Space X, Levi Stockton stood among a shiny fleet of private jets inside a hangar at Advanced Air, where his company operates private charter flights, among an array of services, at Hawthorne Municipal Airport. On this day — a little more than a week before Super Bowl LVI — things are relatively quiet here, save for the occasional thunder of a Gulf Stream taking off or the chop/chop of a small helicopter approaching, as he walked out onto the edge of the smal...

Intentional Design of Lennar Foundation Cancer Center at City of Hope Orange County Creates Hope and Healing

Friday, February 04, 2022

Glimpses of Hope - February 2022 Update: When Lennar Foundation Cancer Center opens its doors in Irvine later this year, it will be unlike any other comprehensive cancer center. Patients and their families will see and feel the difference as soon as they enter. Natural light will stream through the many windows. Soothing colors of earth, sky, and sand will cover the walls. Stone, metal, and wood elements will be prominent throughout, with beautiful art inside and glimmering water features outside that create inviting spaces. Water and fire also serve as inspiration. In the waiting room shown above, for instance, warm woo...

Six Reasons Meta Is in Trouble

Friday, February 04, 2022

(The New York Times) Meta, the company formerly known as Facebook, suffered its biggest one-day wipeout ever on Feb. 3 as its stock plummeted 26 percent and its market value plunged by more than $230 billion. Its crash followed a dismal earnings report on Feb. 2, when Mark Zuckerberg, the chief executive, laid out how the company was navigating a tricky transition from social networking toward the so-called virtual world of the metaverse. On Feb. 3, a company spokesman reiterated statements from its earnings announcement and declined to comment further. Here are six reasons that Meta is in a difficult spot. User growth ha...

Strong Jobs Report Shows Resilience of Economic Recovery

Friday, February 04, 2022

(Market Watch) The U.S. added a robust 467,000 jobs in January and hiring was much stronger at the end of 2021 than originally reported, indicating businesses did a better job of recruiting workers to fill record openings even as omicron blitzed the economy. The unemployment rate rose to 4% from 3.9%, the government said on Feb. 4. Economists polled by Wall Street had forecast 150,000 new jobs, but many investors were bracing for the first contraction in employment since December 2020 because so many workers got sick from omicron last month. A record 7.8 million people said they missed time from work last month du...

City of Hope Orange County, Greater Irvine Chamber 2022 Women of Influence Presenting Sponsor

Thursday, February 03, 2022

City of Hope Orange County is the presenting sponsor for the Greater Irvine Chamber 2022 Women of Influence event held Thursday, March 24, 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m., at Irvine Marriott Hotel, 18000 Von Karman Ave. “City of Hope is pleased to join with the Greater Irvine Chamber in recognizing the 2022 Women of Influence awardees. This is a big year for Irvine and for us as we open the Lennar Foundation Cancer Center and bring lifesaving cancer services closer to those who need it. Therefore, this group of 2022 honorees are especially close to our hearts — they’re leaders who share our passio...

Free 2021 Tax Preparation Services Available in Irvine

Thursday, February 03, 2022

The City of Irvine, in partnership with Orange County United Way, is offering free tax preparation services to taxpayers who earned less than $60,000 in 2021. Qualifying taxpayers who live, work, or attend school in Irvine can receive help filing their taxes from IRS-trained and certified volunteers, who will also assist eligible taxpayers in applying for tax credits, including the state and federal Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC). The OC Free Tax Prep service is available at Cypress Community Park, 255 Visions in Irvine, from February 2 through April 6, Wednesdays 12–7 p.m. An appointment is required; no walk-ins will b...

U.S. Job Openings, Quits Remained Elevated at End of Last Year

Thursday, February 03, 2022

(The Wall Street Journal) The U.S. labor market remained tight at the end of last year with job openings and worker turnover hovering near the highest levels on record, though there are signs demand cooled as the Omicron variant disrupted the economy in January. The Labor Department said there were 10.9 million job openings in December, up slightly from 10.8 million the previous month. Meanwhile, the number of times workers quit fell to 4.3 million in December, from a record 4.5 million. Hiring slowed to 6.3 million, down from 6.6 million. Separate private-sector data for January showed that employers pulled back on demand fo...

W.M. Keck Foundation Awards $1M to UCI Team to Study Cartilage Formation

Thursday, February 03, 2022

The W.M. Keck Foundation has awarded $1 million to an interdisciplinary team of researchers at the University of California, Irvine to study the formation and health of cartilages, tissues that are vital to skeletal structures. A particular focus for the UCI team, which includes scientists from the School of Biological Sciences and The Henry Samueli School of Engineering, will be an examination of “peculiar cells” that are giant in size and packed with lipid molecules, according to co-principal investigator Maksim Plikus, professor of developmental & cell biology. These cells come together to form and provide mechanical structure to cartilages in the nose, ear...

City of Irvine Offers Green Business Assistance Program

Wednesday, February 02, 2022

The City of Irvine is offering a free Green Business Assistance Program designed to help businesses operate sustainably and receive local and statewide recognition for their efforts. The city program is under the California Green Business Network, which provides a statewide standard of sustainability for Green Business Certification. Assistance will be provided to organizations seeking Certified Green Business status as they implement practices that reduce energy and water consumption, prevent pollution, divert waste from landfills, and create a cleaner, healthier environment for their employees. Participating businesses will receive a free on-site assessment of their business and a customized action plan on ho...

The Great Resignation: UCI Dean of Business School Shares Insights Into Record-Setting Turnover Among US Employees

Wednesday, February 02, 2022

On Jan. 4, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released its latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary. The numbers are staggering: 4.5 million workers quit or changed their jobs in November 2021, the highest number ever recorded in one month. The “quits rate” – the percentage of those who voluntarily left their jobs – jumped back up to 3 percent in November 2021, matching the all-time high set in September 2021. Quits increased in several industries, with the largest coming in accommodation and food services. Ian O. Williamson, dean of UCI’s Paul Merage School of Business, is a globally recognized exper...

Understanding Labor Force Participation Rates and Why People Drop Out of the Workforce

Tuesday, February 01, 2022

(Golden Shovel Agency) UNDERSTANDING THE WORKFORCE Labor force participation rates drop when fewer people of working age are either employed or actively looking for work. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the percentage of working-age people between 25 and 54 years old peaked in 1995 at 72 percent, and it has been on a steady decline since. The St. Louis Federal Reserve, in a 2016 report, stated, “Simultaneously, nationwide the percentage of 16- to 24-year-olds not working is at 13 percent, the highest since WWII and the percentage of those 55 plus not working is at 23 percent, the highes...

City of Hope Orange County’s Carissa Bechtloff Appointed to Greater Irvine Board of Directors

Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Carissa Bechtloff, MBA, senior director of business development at City of Hope – Orange County, has been appointed to the Greater Irvine Chamber Board of Directors. She previously served on the Board from 2016 to 2019 and its executive committee in 2017 and 2018. She served on the Chamber’s Board Development Committee in 2017. “I am excited to return to the Chamber Board of Directors after a year hiatus. I’m looking forward to working with this incredible group of leaders among the Board and Chamber staff, to support the economic vitality of the business community in Irvine and all of Orang...

Concordia University Irvine Selected as Part of #CaliforniansForAll College Corps Program

Sunday, January 23, 2022

Concordia University Irvine has been selected to participate in the #Californians For All College Corps program. Concordia is one of only four private universities in California participating in the initiative. Announced Tuesday, 45 colleges and universities in California will be part of a new public service program that will subsidize tuition for students who do community service alongside their studies. “California is a world leader in both higher education and service,” Governor Gavin Newsom said. “The #CaliforniansForAll College Corps advances these priorities by connecting Californians of different backgrounds with enriching service opportunities throughout the state while making college more affordable for our state’...

COVID Work Rules: A Guide For California Workers

Sunday, January 23, 2022

(Patch) With a huge number of Californians testing positive for COVID-19 during the omicron variant surge, many have been too sick to work. Here are some answers to commonly asked questions as rules and regulations for workplace safety keep changing. As omicron ripples across California, workers are learning they’ve been exposed and coming down with symptoms. What happens next? There are rules employers and workers are supposed to follow to keep workplaces safe and limit the spread of the virus. Most California workers who are working in person are covered by emergency temporary rules from the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, bette...

Microsoft to Buy Activision Blizzard in All-Cash Deal Valued at $75 Billion

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

(The Wall Street Journal) Microsoft Corp. agreed to buy Irvine-based Activision Blizzard Inc. in an all-cash deal valued at about $75 billion, using its largest acquisition by far to grab a videogame heavyweight that has been roiled by claims of workplace misconduct. Blizzard Entertainment is headquartered in Irvine. The deal, if completed, would sharply expand Microsoft’s already sizable videogame operation, adding a stable of popular game franchises including Call of Duty, World of Warcraft and Candy Crush to Microsoft’s Xbox console business and its own games like Minecraft and Doom. Microsoft said the transaction would make it the world’s third-largest gaming company b...

Misty Bond Joins Greater Irvine Chamber Professional Staff

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

Misty Bond has joined the Greater Irvine Chamber professional staff as Director of Sales and Marketing for Destination Irvine. In this role, she will lead the sales mission and marketing initiatives for the destination. “I’m excited to partner with our hotels, venues, restaurants, and local attractions and showcase everything that Irvine has to offer,” Bond said. Prior to joining the Chamber staff, over her 12-year tenure with Marriott International, Bond held sales and event planning leadership roles at hotels in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Anaheim, and Irvine. “Misty brings extensive local, regional, and global hotel sales experience, which is advantageous to enhance Irvine's destination profile,” said Bryan Starr...

Irvine Schools Ranked The Overall Best In Orange County

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

(Patch) Irvine schools are the overall best in the Orange County area, according to Niche's 2022 rankings. Irvine Unified School District shined in categories related to academics, diversity, college prep, teachers and sports, but struggled in categories like resources and facilities, clubs, and food. The 2022 Niche rankings considered multiple factors and data from the U.S. Department of Education for a comprehensive look at a district. This year's analysis considered state testing scores, SAT and ACT testing scores, racial and economic diversity, surveys of student and parent experiences, athletic opportunities, and more. The most heavily weighted category was academics, accounting for 50 percent o...

Gaining a Foothold in US Healthcare, Education, and Social-Service Markets

Friday, January 07, 2022

By Synthia Laura Molina, Managing Director Central I.Q., Inc. The U.S. healthcare, education, and social-service sectors can be a promised land for innovators, entrepreneurs, and executives in the U.K.—and the Irvine Gateway Soft-Landing Program can provide reliable hands-on help to those entering U.S. markets and navigating the American business landscape. U.K. pioneers entering the States need to consider the fit between U.S. opportunities and U.K. mindsets around culture, competencies, brand equity, revenues, operating efficiencies, earnings growth, risk mitigation, competitiveness, scalability, and—for certain enterprises—salability, speed to favorable liquidity events, and investor metrics. In the Irvine Gateway Program, we recommend shelving assumptions about the Land of Opportunity, ho...

Big Goals for OC Roadways

Wednesday, January 05, 2022

(Orange County Register) Continued work and future project planning on major freeways and toll roads throughout Orange County promise to make 2022 another busy year in transportation activity. Construction should ramp up on the 405 improvement project — entering its last full year before completion — and crews will continue making headway on the last two-thirds of work to be done on the 5 Freeway widening between the 73 and El Toro Road. After years of planning, a project to widen a key stretch of the 55 Freeway should begin midway through the year, launching a four-year construction process. And the OC streetcar, connectin...

How Will California’s Workplace Laws Change in 2022? More Protections Are Coming

Wednesday, January 05, 2022

(Los Angeles Times) Heading into 2022 — and a potential third year of the COVID-19 pandemic — California officials faced a familiar-feeling dilemma. Help businesses recover from an economic roller coaster by quashing burdensome new mandates? Or rescue workers with paid sick leave, higher wages and crackdowns on corporate bad behavior? Given the devastating effects of the last two years on both workers and businesses, the answer had to be all of the above. Labor advocates point to new measures taking effect in January to toughen enforcement of workplace health and safety rules, outlaw piecework in the garment industry and rein in unsafe speed quotas at warehouses. “The pandemic created a ne...

Apple Building Local Semiconductor Development Unit in Irvine

Monday, January 03, 2022

(Orange County Business Journal) Apple Inc. is in the early stages of setting up a wireless chip development team in Irvine, adding a notable new addition to Orange County’s semiconductor sector, one of the area’s core tech industries. The goal of the program, and whether it may pose a challenge to Irvine semiconductor maker Skyworks Solutions Inc. (Nasdaq: SWKS) and the local operations of Broadcom Inc. (Nasdaq: AVGO) remain open questions. The semiconductor supply for Cupertino-based Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) has long been a subject of speculation, including the possibility of bringing some production in-house for the nearly $3 trillion-valued behemoth. For Skyworks, it i...

Orange County's 500 Most Influential People Include Irvine Thought Leaders

Wednesday, December 08, 2021

Bryan Starr, president and CEO of the Greater Irvine Chamber, has been named among the 2021 OC 500, the Orange County’s Business Journal’s annual Directory of Influence. “It’s an honor to be recognized among such a notable group of business and community leaders,” Starr said. “Orange County is truly a remarkable place with so many impressive people moving it forward.” Starr leads the chamber of commerce for OC’s biggest center of business, and its economic development and tourism marketing divisions. Destination Irvine plays a significant role in the recovery of travel to the city; travel spending brought in $781M to city’s econom...

Meet the 2021 Greater Irvine Chamber 40 Under 40 Honorees

Tuesday, December 07, 2021

Forty outstanding Orange County next-generation professionals were recognized during the Greater Irvine Chamber’s 40 Under 40 awards presentation on Dec. 9 at the Marriott Irvine Spectrum, for their demonstrated leadership and accomplishments advancing their industries and the Orange County community. “The Greater Irvine Chamber is honored to recognize 40 of Orange County’s most accomplished young professionals, each a promise of continued innovation for our region,” said Bryan Starr, the chamber’s president and CEO. “I congratulate them all for what they have achieved, the example they set, and I look forward to their future contributions.” View and download the event program here: Meet the Greate...

Verizon Joins Greater Irvine Chamber as Gold-Level Leaders Circle Partner

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Verizon has joined the Greater Irvine Chamber as a gold-level Leaders Circle partner. “Verizon is eager to serve as a Leaders Circle partner with the Greater Irvine Chamber to help drive innovation and move community connection forward,” said Jesus Roman, vice president of Government Affairs for Verizon in the West. Verizon Communications Inc. was formed in 2000 and is one of the world’s leading providers of technology, communications, information, and entertainment products and services. With a presence across the globe, Verizon generated revenues of $128.3 billion in 2020. The company offers voice, data, and video services and solutions on its award-winning networks and platforms, delivering on customers&rsquo...

Irvine: At the Heart of Orange County’s Medical Technology Ecosystem

Friday, November 12, 2021

UCI’s Edwards Lifesciences Foundation Cardiovascular Innovation and Research Center enters a new era with its latest philanthropic gift. National Institutes of Health experts say that people who are fortunate enough to survive a brush with COVID-19 may go on to suffer poor cardiovascular health in the future because of the infection. As these millions stand to join others with heart disease – the leading killer of men and women worldwide – the need for affordable, accessible, advanced treatments is becoming increasingly urgent. Scientists and engineers in UCI’s Edwards Lifesciences Foundation Cardiovascular Innovation and Research Center (CIRC) have been anticipating this outcome since th...

Jorge Mora Named Greater Irvine Chamber Ambassador of the Quarter

Tuesday, November 02, 2021

Jorge Mora, a business development consultant for KTimeHR, has been named the Greater Irvine Chamber Ambassador of the Quarter for Q3 2021. “The Greater Irvine Chamber has provided me with exceptional networking opportunities, which often lead to mutually beneficial business partnerships. Being a Chamber member enables me to develop meaningful professional and personal relationships with local business leaders,” Mora said. “It’s a pleasure to serve as Chamber Ambassador and to participate in events and programs the Chamber offers its members.” Mora became an Ambassador just months after joining the Chamber in 2019 and now serves as vice-chair for the Ambassadors Committee. In addition to carryin...

Wild Rivers Offers Season Passes for 2022 Swim Season

Sunday, October 31, 2021

(Orange County Register) There’s not an official opening date yet, but Wild Rivers developer Mike Riedel is confident enough the water park will be open next spring he’s putting season passes on sale. The original Wild Rivers in Irvine closed in 2011 when the Irvine Company, which leased the property to the park, moved ahead with plans to build apartments. Riedel has been working since then to reopen nearby; he’s creating a new $60 million water park at the corner of Great Park Boulevard and Skyhawk, near the Great Park’s baseball fields. Getting construction permits has been a little slow, but “I think in the coming week...

Irvine Educators, STEAM Programs Honored During Inaugural Greater Irvine Chamber Distinguished Educators Awards

Friday, October 15, 2021

Irvine educators and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) programs were honored during the Greater Irvine Chamber Distinguished Educators event sponsored by Chapman University and held at the Hilton Irvine on Oct. 13. “The Greater Irvine Chamber celebrates Irvine’s world-class education as part of what helps the city live up to its promise as a model master-planned community. The quality of education in Irvine is a key factor in sustaining economic vitality in the region; it’s what ensures we continue to produce a 21st-century workforce,” said Bryan Starr, president and CEO, Greater Irvine Chamber. “Our world-class schools, colleges, and universities are vita...

Irvine: The City of Education

Monday, October 04, 2021

By Bryan Starr, President and CEO, Greater Irvine Chamber | Destination Irvine As published in the Orange County Business Journal, October 4, 2021 (Text included below flipbook.) It’s not surprising that Irvine is one of the best places in the nation to receive an education, from K-12 to Ph.D. More than six decades ago, Irvine was master-planned with education in mind. Visionary city leaders knew that prioritizing education would be the key to the city’s long-term economic vitality and quality of life, so they designed the city around a research institution — known today as the University of California, Irvine (UCI). As the cit...

Bryan Starr Discusses the Legacy of Irvine’s Master Plan in Podcast

Tuesday, August 10, 2021

In a recent radio interview with OC Talk Radio, Bryan Starr, President and CEO of the Greater Irvine Chamber and its destination marketing and economic development divisions, discussed the legacy of Irvine’s Master Plan, the city’s many assets, and the Chamber’s role as convener, champion, and catalyst for economic vitality in the greater Irvine area. “Everything comes back to the master plan,” Starr said, referencing Irvine centered around what is now University of California, Irvine. “The initial step, right away, made us a city of innovation, a city of education, that has been perpetuated into the 21st century.” Impact OC Talk Radio...

Irvine Officials Weigh Veterans Memorial as Part of Proposed Botanical Garden at Great Park

Friday, February 11, 2022

(Orange County Register) Irvine leaders are considering dedicating about five acres of a proposed 125-acre botanical garden at the Great Park to be a veterans memorial. In rare agreement over what should happen with the corner of the Great Park known as the ARDA site, the Irvine City Council on Feb. 8 decided to incorporate the memorial park into a study of the feasibility of developing a large botanical garden, and to immediately get started on a plan for cleaning up the blighted area. The ARDA site at the northern edge of the 1,300-acre Great Park was one of three locations where ...

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