The Shops at Mission Viejo is expanding, adding an outdoor shopping and dining ‘village’.
Simon, the mall owner, announced the multimillion-dollar expansion March 27, saying construction would be done by the holiday shopping season — in 2026.
“Outdoor living is such an integral part of the Orange County lifestyle, and creating more open-air experiences is a significant point of emphasis in our plans,” Patsy Sanquist, the mall’s general manager, said in a statement.
The addition sounds similar to the an expansion project ongoing at the Brea Mall, which is also owned by Simon. There, the company knocked down a vacant Sears building where it will build an open-air expansion plus apartments.
In Mission Viejo, the mall is adding 50,000 square feet of retail and dining space.
Restaurants that have signed on for the expansion include North Italia and Pacific Catch. The village space also will feature a two-story Arhaus, which sells furniture and home decor.
Construction is scheduled to begin later this year, Simon reps.
$2 million for young adult job training
Orange County United Way is the recipient of a $2 million grant from California’s Employment Development Department, which will go toward a young adult career program.
The Orange County Opportunity Young Adult Career Pathways Program works with partners Goodwill OC, Chrysalis, Working Wardrobes and MECCA OC, to provide career training and support services to young adults ages 18-28.
“We believe in the potential of our young adults. They deserve access to high-quality training, living-wage careers, and the opportunity to live, work, and thrive in the very place they call home,” said Andrew Fahmy, executive director of OC United Way’s United for Financial Security initiative.
Fahmy said the program goes beyond job training, “ensuring that the next generation is prepared, empowered, and positioned for success both personally and professionally.”
With the EDD grant, the career program will offer training in technology, healthcare and professional services. The program will enroll 240 participants, with 161 participants aimed at earning credentials and 175 participants landing a job.
California’s grant money is part of a larger pool of funding provided by the U.S. Department of Labor.
For more information about the United for Financial Security initiative, go to ocuw.to/financial-security.
OCC Hot Team moves to nationals
Orange Coast College culinary arts students won the 2025 American Culinary Federation’s Western Regional Student Team Competition held March 15 in Las Vegas.
OCC’s Hot Food Team now moves up to represent the Western region in the national championship.
The OCC five-member team includes Nykolas Peppers, Blanca Granados, Josias Rodriguez, Georgia Williams and Khoa To. “We are so proud and excited for our students, who are continuing a legacy started in 1996.” said culinary arts instructor Davina Dunner.
The ACF is the largest professional chef’s organization in North America.
On the move
Tim Byrne on March 21 was named deputy chief executive officer at the Transportation Corridor Agencies, replacing Amy Potter, who served the organization for more than 20 years. Most recently, Byrne was director of Express Lanes with the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority, where he oversaw the opening of the county’s first express lanes on the 10 freeway. The TCA operates the 73, 133, 241 and 261 toll roads in Orange County.
Jason Biado is the new senior vice president of Distribution at MobileX in Irvine where he will lead the company’s strategic direction and operations for MobileX’s wholesale, master agent and dealer channels. Most recently, Biado led Channel Expansion and Sales Development at Dish Wireless and Boost Mobile. Before that he founded and led Summit Mobile, a wireless startup, and spent over 13 years at Cricket Wireless in various executive roles.
Hideaki Takizawa is the incoming chief financial officer at Christie Digital Systems and its subsidiaries in Cypress, effective April 1, 2025. He is succeeding Michael Phipps, who already pivoted to president and chief operating officer in November. while keeping the CFO role. Previously, Takizawa was general manager of Ushio Group’s Business Management Division.
On board
Bill Brooks, Barry Curtis and Kimberly Pollard recently were appointed to the board of directors at Families Forward, a nonprofit that helps local families facing a housing crisis. Brooks is the vice president of Leasing & Real Estate for Capital Group. Curtis is the senior director of Entitlement at Irvine Company, and Pollard is senior vice president of Large-Scale Communities at Seabreeze Management Co. Families Forward provides affordable housing, food and diaper assistance to families in crisis. For more information about the nonprofit, go to families-forward.org.
Good works & Milestones
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast raised $84,000 at the eighth annual Women of Greatness Brunch & Bubbly, hosted by OneRoot Foundation on March 16. The fundraiser “honored the women who have impacted the lives of Orange County youth and their families.” The money will support BGC Central OC programs and initiatives that guide future female leaders at the club. At the event, the 2025 Woman of Greatness awards was presented to Michelle Yoshino, a longtime executive at Xerox Corp., for her “commitment to mentorship, philanthropy, and youth empowerment.”
Status Update is compiled and written by Business Editor Samantha Gowen. Submit items and high-resolution photos to sgowen@scng.com. Allow at least one week for publication. Items are edited for length and clarity.