As a focal point of the June 5 Greater Irvine Chamber’s Celebrate Irvine program, Kate Klimow, Chief Operating Officer and Associate Vice Chancellor, Advancement Operations, University Advancement & Alumni Relations, UC Irvine, will moderate a panel discussion on Sustaining Relevance For Your Business in a Changing World.
In her role at UC Irvine, Klimow provides strategic planning, management, and direction to support the fundraising objectives of UC Irvine’s University Advancement & Alumni Relations division. Her time at UC Irvine also included leading the government relations team, serving as Chief of Staff for Strategic Communications and Public Affairs division, and Chief Administrative Officer for Beall Applied Innovation.
Klimow has a broad-based business perspective gained from working within both the public and private sectors throughout her career. Her varied experience in public affairs from the Arizona Department of Commerce to the Disneyland Resort and the Orange County Business Council, among other Fortune 500 companies and non-profit associations.
Honored as the 74th Assembly District Woman of the Year 2016, Klimow has also been recognized by OC Metro as “20 Women to Watch” and has been nominated three times for the Orange County Business Journal’s “Women in Business Awards”. She was appointed by UC President Janet Napolitano to serve as one of two Staff Advisors to the Regents for a two-year term. She has served as Chair for the Greater Irvine Chamber's Board of Directors. She presently serves on the board of OC Forum and the National Philanthropy Day - Orange County committee.
Meet the Panelists:
Massis Chahbazian, President & CEO, The Printery, Inc., owns and operates the commercial printing company based in Irvine, which he founded in 1989. With well over 40 years of industry expertise, he has led the company through decades of change, remaining competitive in a field marked by tightening margins and evolving demands. His strategic approach—focusing on accurate pricing, operational efficiencies, capacity maximization, waste reduction, and diversification to provide solutions in a digital environment—has proven essential to maintaining a profitable business model. Educated at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno State University, Chahbazian has also been deeply engaged with the Greater Irvine Chamber, serving twice as Chairman of the Board and contributing as a member or chair of multiple committees. He has served as Chair of the Printing Industry Association covering 13 Western states.
Dennis Crupi, Vice President of Global Marketing, Ingram Micro, leads the company’s global marketing strategy, which is designed to simplify, scale, and drive profitability in collaboration with its top vendor partners and customer segments. He is focused on elevating Ingram Micro’s brand reputation, partner relationships, and business outcomes. Leveraging Ingram Micro’s brand playbook and the power of its intelligent experience platform, Xvantage™, he and his team centralize and accelerate global marketing initiatives to drive tangible business outcomes and strengthen perceived value among internal and external audiences. Under Dennis’ leadership, Ingram Micro is elevating its owned and industry event presence, enabling its PR teams, maximizing advertising opportunities, and leveraging strategic media alliances to better communicate with its customers, vendors, and end-user ecosystem at scale. Dennis holds a B.A. in communications from California State University, Fullerton.
Manuel Gonzalez is the Senior Director of Food Production and Culinary at Northgate Gonzalez Markets, a family-owned and operated supermarket chain with over 40 stores throughout Southern California. Gonzalez leads the strategic development of the company’s commissary operations and culinary programs. A third-generation member of the Northgate family, he combines deep operational experience with a passion for authentic Mexican cuisine to help transform the business into a culinary-led organization. He also plays a key role in store design and concept development, most recently contributing to the successful launch of Mercado Gonzalez—an immersive retail destination that celebrates Mexican culture through food, design, and experience. With a master’s degree from Pepperdine University and a Certificate in Culinary Arts from the Culinary Institute of America, Gonzalez is focused on delivering quality, freshness, and cultural authenticity across the organization. He also leads efforts to align manufacturing, merchandising, and forecasting to elevate the customer experience and drive long-term growth.
Susan B. Parks, is the President and CEO of Orange County United Way, leading the nonprofit organization’s mission to improve lives and strengthen the Orange County community. Parks is a former board member and one of the founding members of Orange County United Way’s Women’s Philanthropy Fund, and has a key role in the development of the nonprofit’s 10-year strategic plan to achieve substantial and sustainable social change in the county. Under her leadership, the organization launched three key initiatives—United to End HomelessnessSM, United for Financial SecuritySM, and United for Student SuccessSM. She spearheaded the organization's acquisition of 2-1-1 Orange County (211OC), connecting the community's most vulnerable residents with health and human service resources via a free, 24-hour emergency contact center. She serves on the Commission to End Homelessness and is a member of the UC Irvine Chief Executive Roundtable. Prior to joining United Way, Parks held executive roles in several Fortune 500 and 1000 companies. She has received numerous accolades, including the 2023 LA Times Inspirational Women in Leadership Award, the 2021 Excellence in Executive Leadership Honoree Award by the CSU Fullerton’s Center for Leadership, the 2020 Woman of the Year Award from Congressman Lou Correa, and the Impact 2020 CEO of the Year Award.
The 2025 Celebrate Irvine honorees will be presented awards at the event held on Thursday, June 5, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., at the Irvine Marriott, 18000 Von Karman Ave.
Meet the 2025 Honorees:
BUSINESS OF THE YEAR - Doing Good Works, a certified social enterprise driven by a mission to harness the power of business to transform lives and connect communities.
EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR - Kathy Azeez-Narain, Chief Digital and Innovation Officer at Hoag. She leads the health system’s digital transformation and strategic marketing initiatives.
ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR - Peter Cline, U.S. Army veteran and founder of Service to Success, a recruiting and technology firm that helps leading employers connect with and hire talent from the military community.
Individual tickets for the 2025 Celebrate Irvine event are $195 for Greater Irvine Chamber members and $250 for non-members. Plated lunch and complimentary parking are included. Sponsorships and tables are available for purchase.
City of Hope Orange County, the diamond-level Leaders Circle partner of the Greater Irvine Chamber, is the presenting sponsor for the 2025 Celebrate Irvine.
For more information and sponsorship opportunities, email events@irvinechamber.com.
