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We had a flash of inspiration reading a story in the Wall Street Journal about a woman who was not in the C-Suite but was considered indispensable to her organization. We all have one or more. Someone who is the glue that holds it all together, the go-to person on projects, the spirit that makes the corporate culture special.

The Business Journal always recognizes founders, entrepreneurs, and C-Suites, but we thought it would be wonderful to recognize a group whose contributions too often go unacknowledged: The Indispensables.

The response was overwhelming. The caliber of organizations and the quality of nominees are reflective of the very best Orange County has to offer. In fact, the level of response was so great that we regrettably could not include every deserving nominee.

We’re especially grateful to Chipotle, our diamond sponsor, for championing this section. A company doesn’t earn a reputation for promoting from within and investing in its people by accident – it takes recognizing the indispensable people already on the team. Their support of this issue is a reflection of that same value.

It is truly an honor to celebrate these invaluable team members and have their exceptional efforts publicly recognized. The work they do and the difference they make are truly Indispensable.