Leading Orange County companies are supporting the Greater Irvine Chamber's 2026 ASPIRE half-day power conference on Thursday, Nov. 12, at UCI Beall Applied Innovation, 5270 California Ave., #100, Irvine, helping bring business professionals together for practical strategies in talent development, team performance, and emerging technologies.
WeShare Health serves as Presenting Sponsor, joined by Leadership Sponsor City of Hope Orange County. Representing City of Hope Orange County, Marilen Coughenour, MPA, Executive Director, HR Strategic Partner, will provide an organizational update during the conference.
Additional partners include Business Sponsor UC Irvine; Automotive Sponsor Kia North America, Inc.; Media Sponsors LA Times Studios and Video Resources; Print Sponsor The Printery; Floral Sponsor Fleur Eros; and Community Partner Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner.
Parker Aerospace, Edwards Lifesciences, and Southern California Edison are also supporting ASPIRE as table sponsors.
From Expert Strategies to Practical Application
Built around the theme: Talent. Team. Tech., ASPIRE will feature accomplished speakers sharing strategies to help professionals strengthen their leadership, build high-performing teams, and harness emerging technologies.
Attendees will receive an exclusive ASPIRE workbook featuring speaker-developed content and dedicated space to capture key strategies, develop action plans, and identify steps they can implement immediately upon returning to work. Designed to extend the value of the conference beyond the presentations, the workbook—printed courtesy of The Printery—will serve as a practical resource for continued professional development.
The workbook will complement presentations by:
- Jessica Chen, best-selling author of Smart, Not Loud, global speaker, and CEO of Soulcast Media — Keynote: Humanity at Scale: The New Rules for Achieving Peak Performance in an AI-Driven Workplace. Chen will explore how combining AI fluency with distinctly human skills can improve productivity, collaboration, adaptability, and professional performance.
- Stefan Bean, Orange County Superintendent of Schools — TALENT: Recognizing potential, developing talent, and preparing people for the evolving demands of the workforce.
- Kristine “Krissy” Collins, Dean, UCI Division of Continuing Education — TECH: Approaching artificial intelligence thoughtfully, practically, and responsibly in an increasingly technology-driven workplace.
- April Diaz, Founder & CEO, Ezer + Co. — TEAM: Building trust, communication, adaptability, and organizational cultures that enable teams to thrive through change.
- Colin Diaz, Founder & Owner, Focus on Win 360 — TALENT + TEAM + TECH: Bringing the conference's three pillars together with a practical framework for translating strategies into actionable next steps.
Dave Coffaro, President & CEO of the Greater Irvine Chamber, will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the 2026 ASPIRE half-day power conference.
Designed for early- and mid-career professionals seeking advancement and seasoned leaders looking for fresh approaches to team development, ASPIRE combines expert presentations, audience engagement, and opportunities to connect with Orange County business professionals and career and peer mentors.
The program will also feature the Greater Irvine Chamber Aspiring Leaders Awards, recognizing Orange County's early- to mid-career professionals under 40 who are making a difference in their organizations, industries, and communities.
Check-in and continental breakfast begin at 8:00 a.m., with the conference starting promptly at 9:00 a.m., followed by lunch from 12:30–1:00 p.m. Admission also includes opportunities to connect with Orange County business professionals and career and peer mentors. Convenient complimentary parking is available.
BUTTON: REGISTER HERE
Regular Admission Registration
- Greater Irvine Chamber Members - $260
- Non-Members - *$305
At-the-Door Registration (pending available space):
- Greater Irvine Chamber Members - $265
- Non-Members - *$330
*Apply $55 of your registration fee toward a new Chamber membership within 30 days of the event.
For information on becoming a sponsor for ASPIRE, contact events@irvinechamber.com.
