top of page
Conference

Leadership Conference

2025 Golden Hub of Innovation Award Honorable Mention and Winners

On June 11th, ACC-OC welcomed over 250 elected officials and regional leaders to the 2025 Leadership Forum and Golden Hub of Innovation Awards, celebrating exceptional public service and innovation across Orange County.

 

We are grateful to Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairman Doug Chaffee, Supervisor Don Wagner, Yorba Linda Mayor Janice Lim, and ACC-OC President Jamey Federico, Council Member for Dana Point, for their valued participation. Special recognition goes to Dr. Ronald S. Rochon, President of Cal State Fullerton, for his inspiring keynote address.

 

Also, thank you to our own ACC-OC Director of Member Services Kathryn Morrison, a U.S. Army Veteran, for her meaningful presentation of the Valor Award—Honoring First Responders & Veterans.

 

The evening was a powerful testament to the leadership, collaboration, and innovation shaping a brighter future for Orange County.

2025 Legacy Award

DisneylandForward Project by Disneyland Resort and the City of Anaheim  

ACC-OC Innovator of the Year 

Chief Brian Fennessy, Orange County Fire Authority  

City Manager of the Year 

Mark Pulone, City of Yorba Linda

Valor Award - Honoring First Responders & Veterans  

Orange County Fire Authority Santiago Hand Crew Firefighters

City Staff Leader of the Year 

Sandra Lozeau, Deputy Director of Housing and Community Development, City of Anaheim

Technology-Driven Transparent Governance Excellence 

City of Newport Beach for The Newport Beach ADU Website Initiative 

Collaborative Community Development & Innovation 

Salida Del Sol Housing Project by Jamboree Housing and the City of San Juan Capistrano

Community Safety and Resilience Excellence 

Falck Mobile Care Sensory Friendly Ambulance Program with the Thompson Autism and Neurodevelopmental Center at CHOC  

Environmental Sustainabilty & Energy Efficiency

Orange County Sanitation District (OC San) Headquarters

Transportation Innovation and Mobility Solutions 

The City of Costa Mesa Adams Avenue and Pinecreek Drive Intersection Multimodal Improvements Project

Honorable Mention:  City of Santa Ana PBX (Planning Building Express) Project

Honorable Mention: Dana Point Economic Development Initiatives: City of Dana Point, Visit Dana Point and the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce

Honorable Mention: Transportation Corridor Agencies in Partnership with the Irvine Police Department: Motorcycle Officer and Motor School Training Officer Program

Honorable Mention: Municipal Water District of Orange County: Leak Detection Program La Paz Road Landslide Resiliency Project

Honorable Mention:  Anaheim Transportation Network – “The Charge” Project

2024 Golden Hub of Innovation Award Winners

ACC-OC 2024 Legacy Award

OCVIBE 

ACC-OC Innovator of the Year 

Sheriff Don Barnes – Orange County Sheriff Department Real Time Operations Center

City Manager of the Year 

Dennis Wilberg, Mission Viejo

First Responder of the Year 

Newport Beach Fire Chief Jeff Boyles

City Staff Leader of the Year 

Emeline Noda, Director of Recreation & Community Services/Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, City of Los Alamitos

Technology-Driven Transparent Governance Excellence 

Dr. Kostas Alexandridis – Professional Contributions to Digital Transformation Technology in Orange County 

Collaborative Community Development & Innovation 

CalOptima Street Medicine Program

City of Lake Forest Community Investments – Strategic Economic Investment Program (SEIP)

City of Placentia – Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Packing House District Expansion

Community Safety and Resilience Excellence 

City of Mission Viejo and Councilmember Wendy Bucknum – California Sober Living and Recovery (CASLAR) Task Force

Orange County 3rd District Supervisor Donald P. Wagner, Chairman of the Board – Fentanyl Crisis Funding 

Yorba Linda Water District – Wells Fargo Heli-Hydrant and Helicopter Landing Zone  

Environmental Sustainabilty & Energy Efficiency

Dr. Jack Brouwer & Dr. Plamen Atanassov – UC Irvine Clean Hydrogen Hub  

Transportation Innovation and Mobility Solutions 

Orange County Transportation Authority I-405 Express Lanes Project

bottom of page