Driving Forward Together in 2026
As we enter a new year, I’m filled with anticipation and excitement for what lies ahead for the OC Chapter. Our Board of Directors is committed to serving our membership with focus and intention, and we’re energized by the strong momentum already building for the year ahead.
In the coming months, we will prioritize informative and timely Lunch & Learn workshops, increased collaboration with our neighboring Los Angeles, Inland Empire, and San Diego chapters, and continued efforts to strengthen engagement and value for every contractor and associate member. We also recognize that many of our members operate along chapter borderlines, and when events are repeatedly held in the same locations, attendance can be challenging. To address this, we’re excited to begin taking our chapter events on the road – bringing educational opportunities to areas we haven’t previously visited while forming mutually beneficial partnerships with association member vendor locations.
Your input is essential to making this vision a reality. We encourage you to share ideas for educational topics, seminar concepts, and potential borderline venues with our VP of Events, Bill Deeble. Together, this is a vision we can truly bring to life.
February is a special month for me – it’s my birth month – and it always reminds me how grateful I am to have been born in the USA with the opportunity to pursue my dreams and, most importantly, to share those dreams with others who have helped me along my journey. We all need people in our lives who bring out the best in us, encourage us, and empower us to do the same for others. When we seek out our purpose and pursue it with confidence, great things happen.
I’m thrilled to welcome our new 2026 Board of Directors for Team OC and look forward to an exciting and rewarding year ahead. We kicked things off strong with two impactful days of leadership training in January, followed by a full house at our annual chapter kickoff event, attended by contractors, associate members, and even a state legislative representative. February also brought our first Lunch & Learn of the year at Southwest Boulder & Stone in Fullerton. Thank you to everyone who participated.
Looking ahead, be sure to save the date for our annual golf tournament on April 16 – an event that always draws a great crowd and promises a beautiful day of golf and camaraderie. As we continue to support growth and opportunity within our industry, student members are encouraged to apply for the CLCA LEAF scholarships, which are awarded to deserving industry-related students. The application deadline is April 15, and more information on qualifications and the program can be found online at clca.org/leaf.
Here’s to a productive, connected, and successful year ahead. Let’s go!
~ Edward L. Wallace, 2026 CLCA OC Chapter President