Leadership Conference
2026 Golden Hub of Innovation Award Winners
Community Safety and Resilience Excellence
SAFE Skies: Stanton Aerial Fireworks Enforcement (SAFE) Program
Collaborative Community Development & Innovation
San Gabriel River Trash Mitigation Initiative, City of Seal Beach
Technology-Driven Transparent Governance Excellence
A Unified Digital Ecosystem, City of Los Alamitos
Environmental Sustainability & Energy Efficiency
Groundwater Well Site Project – Laguna Beach County Water District, City of Newport Beach, and City of Fountain Valley
Transportation Innovation and Mobility Solutions
241/91 Express Connector Project – TCA, OCTA, RCTC, and Caltrans
Valor Award
Laguna Beach Fire Department – Rancho Fire Response
City Staff Leader of the Year
Karin Koch, Director of Economic Development, City of Irvine
City Manager of the Year
Tamara Letourneau, City Manager, City of Laguna Niguel
ACC-OC Innovator of the Year
Annette M. Walker, MHA, President, City of Hope Orange County
ACC-OC Legacy Award
Dana Point Harbor Revitalization Project
The Golden Hub of Innovation Awards recognizes outstanding individuals and organizations in Orange County for their exceptional creativity and leadership in driving innovation across various sectors, fostering progress and prosperity within our communities.
2026 Golden Hub Award Categories Include:
Technology-Driven Transparent Governance Excellence
Collaborative Community Development & Innovation
Community Safety and Resilience Excellence
Environmental Sustainability & Energy Efficiency
Transportation Innovation and Mobility Solutions
Valor Award - Honoring First Responders and Veterans
City Staff Leader of the Year
City Manager of the Year
ACC-OC Innovator of the Year
Legacy Award (Judges' Choice)
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
Honorable Mention: City of Santa Ana PBX (Planning Building Express) Project
Collaborative Community Development & Innovation
Salida Del Sol Housing Project by Jamboree Housing and the City of San Juan Capistrano
Honorable Mention: Dana Point Economic Development Initiatives: City of Dana Point, Visit Dana Point and the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce
Community Safety and Resilience Excellence
Falck Mobile Care Sensory Friendly Ambulance Program with the Thompson Autism and Neurodevelopmental Center at CHOC
Honorable Mention: Transportation Corridor Agencies in Partnership with the Irvine Police Department: Motorcycle Officer and Motor School Training Officer Program
Environmental Sustainabilty & Energy Efficiency
Orange County Sanitation District (OC San) Headquarters
Honorable Mention: Municipal Water District of Orange County: Leak Detection Program La Paz Road Landslide Resiliency Project
Transportation Innovation and Mobility Solutions
The City of Costa Mesa Adams Avenue and Pinecreek Drive Intersection Multimodal Improvements 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