Three experts in organizational and leadership development will facilitate breakout sessions at the Greater Irvine Chamber’s 2025 ASPIRE Half-Day Power Conference on Thursday, Nov. 20, 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., at The Westin South Coast Plaza, 686 Anton Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA.
Breakout facilitators will guide professionals at every career stage to turn insight into action through this immersive program designed to strengthen leadership, connection, and accountability across all levels of experience.
Breakout sessions, CONNECT, DEVELOP, and ADVANCE, will be offered in three tracks:
- Early-career aspiring managers
- Mid-career managers
- Senior-level leaders
CONNECT:
Greg LeFever, Professor, MBA Program, Concordia University Irvine, will lead participants through exercises on building professional relationships—at first, second, and third-level connections—and crafting a “power statement” that communicates their personal leadership brand.
LeFever teaches leadership, strategy, and selling skills at Concordia University Irvine. The bestselling author of The Impowered Life, he helps professionals strengthen relationships, build trust, and leverage accountability to advance both personally and professionally. He is the founder of IMpowered Fitness, a holistic wellness center in Orange County, and Empowered Youth Life Style, a nonprofit that helps young people embrace healthy, balanced living.
DEVELOP:
Maritza Salazar Campo, Ph.D., Professor of Organization & Management, Paul Merage School of Business, University of California, Irvine, will explore how leaders can take a systems approach to creating alignment—bridging differences, integrating perspectives, and fostering shared priorities across teams.
Dr. Campo is a leadership researcher and career catalyst for brilliant but overlooked leaders. For more than a decade, she has been dedicated to studying and coaching cross-functional teams, scientific collaborators, and high-potential professionals in fast-moving organizations. A tenured professor at UC Irvine, leading Team Science initiatives across the University of California, Irvine and UCLA medical schools, Dr. Campo has taught at Stanford, USC, and NYU.
ADVANCE:
Chris Rosenberg, founder of The Meridian Advisory Group, will guide attendees in reflecting on their learning, identifying goals, and developing accountability partnerships to carry momentum as they launch into 2026.
With more than 20 years of executive and entrepreneurial experience, Rosenberg helps equip leaders with tools to accelerate growth and create lasting impact. Earning three consecutive rankings on the Inc. 500 list, she has scaled a startup to achieve eight-figure annual revenue. She has built and led global sales and service teams, designed tailored curricula to accelerate leadership pipelines, and facilitated executive roundtables with C-suite leaders and founders worldwide. As a published author and contributor to Fortune and Business Insider, Rosenberg translates complex leadership challenges into practical, actionable frameworks that audiences can apply immediately.
Rosenberg will also open the 2025 ASPIRE program with the keynote address, The Leadership Growth Ladder. Known for her dynamic speaking style and results-driven takeaways, Rosenberg inspires professionals at every stage to rethink how they lead, collaborate, and unlock their full potential in today’s evolving workplace.
Colin Diaz, founder of Focus on Win 360, will close the conference with a summation, Build & Maintain Momentum for Operational Excellence, by helping participants transform inspiration into execution, building 30-60-90-day action plans, and reinforcing peer accountability for sustained growth.
A dynamic stage presence and respected business leader, Rebecca Hall, founder, president, and CEO of Idea Hall, will serve as master of ceremonies for the 2025 ASPIRE conference.
Top Aspiring Leaders will be recognized at ASPIRE 2025.
ASPIRE is for ambitious professionals ready to elevate their leadership, sharpen their skills, and expand their circle of influence. Experience this half-day power conference through the lens of career growth and leadership evolution—whether you are an early- or mid-career professional striving to rise, or a seasoned leader seeking fresh strategies to inspire and connect with today’s multigenerational workforce.
Participants will leave with clear takeaways, actionable plans, and accountability partners to fuel growth beyond the conference.
Attendees who complete the full conference will receive from the Greater Irvine Chamber:
- Accountability Partner(s)
- Action Plan Workbook
- Certificate of Completion
- Digital Badge to showcase on LinkedIn or professional profiles
- Professional Development Letter outlining the skills and learning outcomes gained
Check-in and registration are 8:00 - 8:30 a.m. The ASPIRE conference will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 12:30 p.m. The admission price includes buffet breakfast and lunch, complimentary parking at The Westin South Coast Plaza, and access to Orange County business professionals and career and peer mentors.
Register before Oct. 31 to save up to $55!
Early Bird Registration (through Friday, Oct. 31):
- Greater Irvine Chamber Members - $155
- Non-Members - *$195
Regular Admission Registration (beginning Saturday, Nov. 1):
- Greater Irvine Chamber Members - $200
- Non-Members - *$250
At-the-Door Registration (pending available space):
- Greater Irvine Chamber Members - $210
- Non-Members - *$265
*Apply $55 of your registration fee toward a new Chamber membership within 30 days of the event.
City of Hope Orange County is the presenting sponsor for ASPIRE 2025.
For information on becoming a sponsor for ASPIRE, contact events@irvinechamber.com.
