Networking in Orange County

Compilation of Multiple Sources (including Mark Kasperowicz & Cynthia Abbott) by MJ Shores as of May 2017 

NETWORKING GROUPS FOR INDIVIDUALS IN TRANSTION (BY REFERRAL OR APPLICATION) 

• ALPs Networking Meeting – Founded by Don Baddorf. Version 2.0 continued by Sue Thornton. alps2pointo@gmail.com 
• CafeNet – Meets 2x /month in OC and San Diego. Founded by CindyMPickens@aol.com or 
• Ethos Networking Group – Meets 4th Saturday of the month at Citrus Café in Tustin. Founded by Dr. Bob Adamik. Now run by Mark Kasperowicz and Jean Latu. mkasperowicz@digitalazimuth.com 
• ExecuNet – Meetings in OC and San Diego. Hosted by Mark James. mjames@hireconsultant.com 
• Laguna Niguel Connectors (LNC) – Monthly Wednesday evening mixer. Source of many job postings. www.lagunaniguelconnectors.com
• McDermott & Bull (M&B) Executive Search – Membership by application, based on title and salary. Offers ongoing networking opportunities for Executives targeting varied functions or industries. http://www.mbexec.netor http://mbsearch.com/
• RGP Leaders in Transition – Terry Goldfarb-Lee hosts this meeting at RGP monthly. Individuals attend once. Diana.Hall@rgp.com 

SPECIALTY NETWORKING GROUPS & EVENTS 

• Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Orange County – http://www.acg.org/occ/
• Financial Executive Networking Group (FENG) – http://www.thefeng.org/
• 500 Startups – http://500.co/startups/
• Harvard Business School Association of OC (HBSAOC) – Breakfast series open to the public. www.hbsaoc.org
• LinkedOC – http://linkedoc.com/
• MIT Southern California – Meetings open to the public. http://southerncalifornia.alumclub.mit.edu
• Network after Work – https://www.networkafterwork.com/events/orange-county
• Orange County Forum – www.ocforum.org
• OCTANe – Monthly networking for up and coming companies and venture capital (VC). www.octaneoc.org
• OC World Affairs Council – http://worldaffairscouncil.org/
• Sales Leadership Alliance of Orange County – http://www.salesmarketingalliance.com/
• SCORE – https://www.score.org/
• Score114 OC Women in Business Networking Meeting – http://www.score114.org/workshops/WomenInBusiness.aspx
• SoCal Private Equity & VC Exchange LinkedIn Group – https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7072370
• SoCalTech – Startups and tech companies – http://www.socaltech.com/
• TechBiz Connection – www.techbiz.org
• Tech Coast Venture Network – www.tcvn.org
• Tech Council of Southern California – https://www.siia.net/tcosc/
• Tech in Motion – http://www.techinmotionevents.com/
• Technology Executives Networking Group (TENG) – http://www.theteng.org/
• UCI Applied Innovation – Brings campus-based discoveries together with OC’s business community to support job creation and economic growth; hosts events & volunteer opportunities. www.innovation.uci.edu/events
• Venture Capital/Private Equity Online Database – http://www.massinvestor.com/
• Women in Technology International (WITI) – www.witi.com/networks/orangecounty 

JOB SEARCH TRAINING & NETWORKING 

• Bootcamp for Executives in Transition –– Hosted by career coaches Kimberly Roush and Tenny Poole. Held at Platinum Resource Group (RGP). www.resourcesglobal.com
• Power Connections – Branding Bootcamp led by Brett Olinger of Power Connections. brett@powerconnections.com
• Saddleback Church Career Coaching & Counseling Ministry – Offers broad training in interviewing resume writing, branding, job search, introductory and advanced LinkedIn training, etc. Open to individuals of all career levels. Church affiliation not required. www.svccministry.vision4work.Org
• Saints Simon & Jude Career Renewal – Offers training and networking opportunities similar to Saddle Church. 

EXECUTIVE JOB RESOURCES 

• Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Orange County – www.acq.org
• BlueSteps Executive Career Site – https://www.bluesteps.com
• RiteSite for Executives – http://www.ritesite.com
• ExecuNet – www.execunet.com
• Executives Network – http://www.executivesnetwork.com/
• The Ladders – www.theladders.com

INTERIM JOB RESOURCES 

• Century Group – Accounting and Finance; Interim placement – http://www.century-group.com/
• Cerius – https://ceriusexecutives.com/
• McDermott & Bull (M&B) Interim Leaders – http://www.mbinterim.com/
• Resources Global Professionals (RGP) – http://www.rgp.com/

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT / VOLUNTEERING

• OneOC.org – Serves Orange County (OC) non-profits, offers non-profits board training and connections. https://www.oneoc.org

EXECUTIVE RESOURCES AND CONNECTIONS 

• Center Club – Executive networking club of OC. Membership required, with some club events open to non-members. http://www.clubcorp.com/Clubs/Center-Club-Orange-County
• Executive Next Practices (ENP) Institute – http://www.enpinstitute.com/
• Forum for Corporate Directors – http://fcdoc.org/ and http://fcdoc.org/events
• Inside Edge – Meets every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month. Support group for leaders with guest speakers. http://www.insideedge.org/
• Orange County Executives and Networker (OCEAN) – (http://www.theoceanwebsite.com)
• Vistage Worldwide – Leadership and executive coaching. http://www.vistage.com/

BOOKS / PUBLICATIONS

• Absolutely Abby’s 101 Job Search Secrets: A Corporate Recruiter Hands You the Keys to Your Job Search Success, by Abby Kohut 
• Chief Executive Magazine – Offers CEO job posting. Subscription includes a digital newsletter and copy of the magazine. http://chiefexecutive.net/ & http://www.theceomagazine.com/
• Never Apply for a Job Again!: Break the Rules, Cut the Line, Beat the Rest, “Never Apply, by Darrel Gurney and Ivan Misner 
• Orange County Business Journal (OCBJ) (and Book of Lists or OC businesses) – http://www.ocbj.com/
• Purple Squirrel: Stand Out, Land Interviews, and Master the Modern Job Market, by Michael B. Junge 
• Rites of Passage at $100,000 to $1 Million+: Your Insider’s Lifetime Guide to Executive Job- changing and Faster Career Progress in the 21st Century, by John Lucht 
• Small Message, Big Impact: The Elevator Speech Effect, by Terri L. Sjodin