URBANIZING ORANGE COUNTY: LESSONS, OPPORTUNITIES & PITFALLS

Urbanizing Orange County: Lessons, Opportunities & Pitfalls

How can Orange County grow while creating vibrant, economically viable places that still feel distinctly OC? This panel will explore the DOs and DON’Ts of urbanization, drawing lessons from successful projects across California and around the world.

From getting density right and creating mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly districts to reimagining aging retail centers and navigating housing, ownership, and infrastructure challenges, we’ll discuss what Orange County can learn—and how we can apply those lessons to shape the OC of tomorrow.

Featured Thought Leaders:

Jeff Mayer, Master Planner & Design Manager, Mayer Creative

Julia Malisos, LEED AP, Principal, T&B Planning
Tom Bergerson, Architect, AO Architects

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LAI OC Chapter members will get priority when RSVPing for this event.

Must RSVP to attend the event. 

RSVPs for this event are limited. All attendees are given RSVP confirmations on a first-come come first-served basis.
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EVENT INFORMATION
DATE: Wednesday, September 16th, 2026
TIME: 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM

Event Address:
The Pacific Club
4110 MacArthur Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92660LAST DAY TO RSVP IS  SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2026 @ 12PM PST.

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PRICING
Members of LAI and Guest of Members: $85.00 per attendee
Non-Members of LAI: $95.00 per attendee*No refunds for no shows. Please note that the full lunch fee will be charged to those who RSVP and do not show up to the event. This fee covers the no-show cost charged for the meal by the Pacific Club.

**You will be contacted based on your payment preferences selected in this form.  Only LAI OC Members may pay at the door.

Any Questions?
Contact Tiffany at (949) 942-1328 or tiffany@jeanettecjustus.com

EVENT SPEAKERS

JEFF MAYER, Master Planner and Founder, MAYER CREATIVE Jeff Mayer is a master planner, urban designer, and design leader with more than 35 years of experience shaping residential, mixed-use, resort, and large-scale community developments. As the founder and Managing Director of Mayer Creative, he brings together expertise in master planning, urban design, placemaking, site planning, and architectural design. His work has spanned North America, the Caribbean, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Among his notable projects, Jeff served as Lead Master Planner for Town Square Dubai, a major mixed-use community designed to accommodate approximately 80,000 residents. He also developed the Urban Design Guidelines for the Anaheim Regional Intermodal Transportation Center (ARTIC) while serving as a Project Director at KTGY. A graduate of the University of Virginia, Jeff combines a broad international perspective with a practical, collaborative approach to creating places that are both distinctive and responsive to the people who use them. JULIA MALISOS, Principal, T&B Planning  With 20 years of experience in the development industry, Julia is a seasoned planner specializing in entitlement processing, project management, and site design. She has successfully led teams through complex jurisdictional approvals and worked on a diverse range of projects, from large-scale master plans to small infill developments. Her background in both policy and design planning allows her to create practical, innovative, and implementable solutions. As a former Planning Commissioner for her city, Julia brings a well-rounded perspective to land use planning, understanding projects from both sides of the dais. Julia holds a Bachelor of Science in Planning from Arizona State University and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of California, Irvine. She is a LEED Accredited Professional and an active member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI).

TOM BERGERSON, Architect, AO Architects Tom Bergerson brings nearly four decades of architectural and development management experience to every project, with a career defined by thoughtful design, strong leadership, and a deep commitment to his clients. With experience spanning Retail, Hospitality, Commercial, and Mixed-Use development, Tom has played a hands-on role throughout the full project lifecycle—from early visioning and planning through design and construction administration. His portfolio reflects an impressive range of work, including large-scale master plans, hospitality destinations, medical and residential communities, retail centers, and transformative aviation and entertainment projects. Among his notable work are the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe Master Plan in Lake Havasu, the Kahului Master Plan in Hawaii, the 455-acre Classic Club Master Plan in Palm Desert, the Cook Street Master Plan, and the ambitious Thermal Airport Master Plan. The transformation of a historic building into KIA DTLA, demonstrates his ability to approach evolving markets with creativity and purpose.  Tom brings a practical, collaborative perspective to the development process. At the heart of his approach is a simple philosophy: passionately advocate for the client and the project. His combination of experience, creativity, and hands-on leadership helps teams move confidently from concept to reality while keeping quality and client goals at the forefront.

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