This week, I was honored to be recognized as one of the most influential female leaders in Orange County real estate at the inaugural Orange County Power Women Awards, presented by Bisnow OC. Bisnow's Power Women Series, held annually in many markets across the U.S., shines a light on the women making a significant impact on the real estate industry. 

Receiving the Orange County Power Women Award from Bisnow OC.

The event provided me the opportunity to take part in a discussion, during which a panel of female executives shared their experiences about navigating the road to success, in what has been historically a male-dominated industry, and the challenges we faced along the way. I was deeply honored to receive this award and proud to stand among these female leaders of the Orange County commercial real estate industry.

As reported in my newsletter last week, Orange County is making it easier for local small businesses to do business with the County! Starting September 1, Orange County-based small businesses will be first in line as they compete for hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts issued by the county government.

To that end, OC Supervisor Andrew Do and I updated the County’s procurement process to engage local small businesses and expand opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses. The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the first-ever Local Small Business Preference Program at our August 13 meeting. For more information, please click here.
 
We are always striving to make Orange County a great place to live, work, and play. This addition to our procurement process will give our local and small businesses more opportunities to work directly with the County by providing services and products that further enhance the Orange County economy, producing local jobs and adding to our quality of life.
 
Orange County joins numerous other governments in adopting a preference policy for procurements – Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Sacramento, and Imperial Counties are some of the many that offer preference programs in their procurement policies.

Orange County oversees a $6 billion budget covering public safety, parks, homeless services, mental health programs, child protective services, and many more areas.
 
According to a report from the U.S. Small Business Administration released last year, 3.9 million small business in California created jobs for over 7.0 million employees. As the third largest populated county in California, and the sixth largest in the country, by 2011, Orange County had 86,473 small businesses registered.

Join the youth Mariners936 (Sea Scouts) in Dana Point Harbor for an exciting ‘Bring a Friend to Sail’ event Saturday, August 31, when kids ages 12-18 can explore the mariner and sea scout program. From 1 PM to 4 PM, youth can sail on a number of the vessels, and from 5:45 PM on, the program will offer 30-minute harbor cruises on the fleet’s bigger boats, crewed by youth currently in the program. Sign up for one of the memorable cruises! 

The Mariner936 Ship is the largest Sea Scout Ship in the U.S. Going strong for over 40 years, the Mariners936 Ship has given youth an opportunity to learn to sail and has offered valuable life and leadership skills.

And that’s a wrap! This month, OC Public Libraries’ completed another successful Summer Reading Program. The goal of summer reading is offer the community learning opportunities to prevent the summer slide. What’s the summer slide? The summer slide is a decline in reading ability and other academic skills that can occur during the summer months when school is not in session.

Patrons of all ages had the opportunity to attend informational, educational and recreational programs at their local library. Almost 40,000 patrons signed up this summer to participate in the summer reading program. And 85,000 community members attended one or more of the programs.

Not only did OC Public Libraries offer learning opportunities, their Lunch at the Library program, in partnership with the California State Library and local school districts, saw six branches serve over 20,000 free lunches throughout the summer.

Mixed Media Collage artist Fernando Del Rosario brings his “Real Heroes” collection of inspiring quotes and original composed art to John Wayne Airport (JWA). Del Rosario’s artwork is now on display in the JWA Community Focus Space through September 17.

Mixed media collage art by Fernando Del Rosario, will be on display as part of JWA’s Community Focus Space Program.

Based on a childhood comic book collection 31 years in the making, Fernando Del Rosario brings together an imaginative way to express his love for comic book superheroes and inspirational quotes by extraordinary people through his art. Children and adults alike who travel through John Wayne Airport are sure to enjoy his vibrant exhibit.

Enjoy the Music in the Park final summer concert Sunday, August 25 in Laguna Beach, featuring LA Sound Machine (Gloria Estefan Tribute) from 5 PM to 7 PM at Bluebird Park (Bluebird Canyon Dr./Cress St.) Free trolley service is available to the park.

Mission San Juan Capistrano is pleased to offer a new program for the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) community, including adults and children on the autism spectrum, as well as their families, friends and caregivers. This program encourages individuals to explore, reflect, and learn in an environment that is comfortable for them.

ASD Accessibility Hour will take place four times throughout the 2019-2020 school year. These dates and times (listed below) were selected to provide a quiet and less-crowded experience for visitors on the spectrum to explore the Mission at their own pace. During ASD Accessibility Hours, the Mission will offer a “quiet room” from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. if visitors need a space to desensitize and decompress. The Mission is proud to be a place of inspiration, education, and preservation for all.

ASD DATES AND HOURS

• Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019: 4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 27. 2019: 8 a.m. – 9 a.m.*
• Tuesday, April 28, 2020: 4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
• Friday, June 19, 2020: 8 a.m. – 9 a.m.*

*opening an hour early

Call for pricing and to schedule!

General admission rates apply during ASD Accessibility Hour. Attendees are welcome to arrive before 4 p.m. on ASD Hour afternoon dates and stay after 9 a.m. on ASD Hour morning dates. To reserve your spot for ASD Accessibility Hour, contact Group Bookings at bookatour@missionsjc.com or (949) 234-1306. For more information, please click here.

• Attended the OC Parks Summer Concert at Salt Creek Beach to introduce our popular South County bands, Family Style and Tijuana Dogs, and provided sunscreen sprays to the 5,000+ attendees.
• Appeared on Village Television in Laguna Woods with Ocean Institute Dan Pingaro and talk show Host Ken Goldenberg to discuss the upcoming Tall Ship Festival. More on this in next week's newsletter!
• Toured and met with the leadership of the Valero Refinery, which produces products such as gasoline, jet fuel, and approximately 15% of the asphalt used in Southern California.
• Was recognized as one of the most influential female leaders in Orange County real estate at the inaugural Orange County Power Women Awards presented by Bisnow.
• Participated in the United Way Leadership Council meeting.
• Presented a certificate of recognition to my outgoing policy intern, Christian Rottman. 

Introducing Family Style and Tijuana Dogs at our OC Parks Summer Concert at Salt Creek Beach.

L-R: Backstage with Family Style founding members Tony and Vic Rodriguez at our summer concert at Salt Creek Beach.

With Mission Viejo Councilwoman Wendy Bucknum and her husband Paul at our concert at Salt Creek Beach.

With HomeAid OC Executive Director Scott Larson and his wife at the concert.

Presenting sunscreen spray to attendees at the concert.

Receiving the Orange County Power Women Award from Bisnow.

Touring the Valero Refinery.

With my outgoing policy intern, Christian Rottman. 

• Attended the Aliso Viejo City Council meeting to present commendations to Cub Scout Pack 700 for earning the prestigious Supernova Award. 
• Presented a certificate of recognition in honor of the ribbon cutting ceremony for Bella Kitchen and Bath in Mission Viejo.
• Presented a certificate of recognition in honor of the ribbon cutting ceremony for F45 Training at Outlets at San Clemente.
• Presented a certificate of recognition in honor of the ribbon cutting ceremony for LB Fitness and Dance Academy at the Piazza Wellness Center in Dana Point. 
• Presented a certificate of recognition in honor of the ribbon cutting ceremony for Resource MFG in Lake Forest.
• Attended the OC Parks Summer Concert at Salt Creek Beach.

My Community Relations Advisor, Sergio Prince (far right), at the Aliso Viejo City Council meeting with Mayor Ross Chun, presenting commendations Cub Scout Pack 700 for earning the Supernova Award. 
(Photo courtesy of Kelly Tokarski. City of Aliso Viejo PIO)

At the ribbon cutting ceremony for Resource MFG in Lake Forest.
(Photo courtesy of Takata Photo & Design)

At the ribbon cutting for F45 Training in San Clemente.

At the ribbon cutting for LB Fitness and Dance Academy in Dana Point. 

At the ribbon cutting for Bella Kitchen and Bath in Mission Viejo.
(Photo courtesy of Takata Photo & Design)

With Vlesydi Loveland, Supervising Park Ranger, South Coastal Operations, at the OC Parks Summer Concert at Salt Creek Beach.