An Impactful Start to 2026: Highlights from the 4th Annual Our Region | Our Future Summit

In a positive display of regional leadership and collaboration, The Valley Economic Alliance hosted its 4th Annual Our Region | Our Future Summit on Monday, January 12, 2026, at the Orchard Conference Center at California State University, Northridge. The at-capacity gathering brought together a diverse cross-section of leaders from across the San Fernando Valley and greater Los Angeles region, reinforcing a shared commitment to economic resilience, sustainability, and long-term regional competitiveness.

Bringing together nearly 300 senior executives and leaders from business, government, higher education, healthcare, infrastructure, and the nonprofit sector, the Summit served as a vital forum for shaping the region’s economic future at the start of 2026. The program opened with a robust Industry Clusters Panel moderated by Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Stephen Cheung, featuring executives from Kaiser Permanente, Bobrick, Child Care Resource Center, and Turner & Townsend-Heery, who explored the intersection of healthcare, manufacturing, childcare, and capital investment in driving long-term regional growth.

The Summit featured a strong lineup of keynote presentations. The corporate keynote was delivered by David Yeom, Chairman and CEO of Evite, who shared insights on innovation, leadership, and scaling a modern, purpose-driven company in a rapidly evolving economy. The government keynote was delivered by California State Controller Malia M. Cohen, who spoke about the importance of fiscal stewardship, economic opportunity, and accountability in strengthening California’s communities. The luncheon keynote was presented by Ellen Riotto of the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission, who explored regional activation opportunities surrounding the FIFA World Cup and upcoming global events, and how the Valley and greater Los Angeles region can leverage them for long-term economic impact.

One of the most informative segments of the day was the City Panel with Regional Partner Cities, featuring Mayor Tamala Takahashi (Burbank), Mayor James Bozajian (Calabasas), Mayor Ara Najarian (Glendale), Deputy Mayor Vahid Khorsand (Los Angeles), and Mayor Joel Fajardo (San Fernando). The discussion focused on economic development, sustainability, housing, infrastructure, and the role of intergovernmental collaboration in ensuring a high quality of life across the Valley.

A highlight of the program was a fireside chat between Alliance Board Chair Armida Colmenares-Stafford and Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, which explored regional recovery, long-term investment, public-private partnerships, and the leadership mindset required to navigate economic and social uncertainty in the years ahead.

The program featured a special presentation on the transformation of Radford Studios by Zach Sokoloff of Hackman Capital Partners, highlighting the significant investment and redevelopment of one of the San Fernando Valley’s most iconic creative campuses and its growing role in the region’s creative economy and production ecosystem.

The Summit also marked a major milestone for The Alliance with the presentation of the organization’s Energy & Sustainability Roadmap, developed through its Livable and Sustainable Communities Initiative in partnership with CSUN’s Institute for Sustainability and regional stakeholders. The Roadmap outlines a coordinated regional framework to advance sustainability, resilience, and economic opportunity across the Valley.

“This Summit reflects the impact of partnership and what is possible when leaders from every sector come together with a shared purpose,” said Armida Colmenares-Stafford, Chair of The Valley Economic Alliance. “The conversations we had reinforce our collective responsibility to lead with vision and collaboration to ensure a strong, resilient, and prosperous future for the San Fernando Valley.”

“From economic competitiveness and workforce readiness to sustainability and preparing for major global events on the horizon, today’s Summit demonstrated the depth of leadership and commitment across our region,” said Sonya Kay Blake, President and CEO of The Valley Economic Alliance. “The Alliance is proud to serve as a convener and catalyst for the partnerships that will shape the Valley’s future in 2026 and beyond.”

“The conversations and connections at this Summit reflect a Valley that is energized, aligned, and ready to lead,” said Greg Martayan, Vice President of External Affairs. “The Alliance is committed to working across sectors to ensure our region remains competitive and prepared to seize the opportunities ahead.”

With its continued growth and influence, the Our Region | Our Future Summit has further solidified itself as a premier regional leadership convening for the San Fernando Valley. The success of the 2026 Summit was made possible through the generous support of the Alliance’s partners, including Cornerstone Sponsor Southland Regional Association of Realtors; Legacy Sponsors CSUN David Nazarian College of Business and Economics, Turner & Townsend Heery, Van Nuys Airport, and Kaiser Permanente; Visionary Sponsors Poppy Bank, CBIZ, Tierra Del Sol, Glendale Community College, Port of Long Beach, and the Los Angeles Rams; and community partner American Institute of Architects San Fernando Valley.

To access the digital program book, please click here. For more information on The Valley Economic Alliance and its regional initiatives, visit EconomicAlliance.org.