Attention all So Cal business owners and tweeps. Clear your schedules on February 18th for the first ConnectOC event being held at the Costa Mesa Hilton. This event is bringing together all of he Orange County professionals to meet, mix, mingle, and more.

Founded by a few Orange County Professionals, ConnectOC was devised as a central portal of event-hosting for Orange County Networking throughout the year. The mission of ConnectOC is to use social media to connect, socialize, network and contribute in meaningful ways to each other, the Orange County community as well as the local economy.

Hit the jump for the full press release of the event or click the link to view a list of event sponsors that can be found on the group website: www.facebook.com/connectoc

RSVP and be sure not to miss this fantastic event!

CONNECTOC Event Rings in New Year at Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa

COSTA MESA, Calif., January 15, 2010 – Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa is ringing in the New Year in style by hosting ConnectOC’s inaugural event, Welcome to 2010, on Thursday, February 18 from 6:00pm-9:00pm. There is no charge for attendance.

The first 200 attendees will receive complimentary drink tickets along with appetizers. Goody bags of donated items from numerous Orange County businesses will be available for attendees on a first-come, first-serve basis. Nintendo Wii stations will be set-up throughout the venue and Hilton Executive Chef Chad Krahling has designed a specially priced, food and beverage menu for those who would like to order additional items.

“We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to use social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn to broaden familiarity with our hotel,” says Christine Weijland, Hilton’s E-Commerce manager. With the event being leveraged primarily though social media, she said the hotel’s sales and marketing staff hopes to introduce the additional functionality of the hotel, its restaurant and meeting space to the local community.

Self-parking is $5 and all revenues will donated to Share Our Selves (www.shareourselves.org), a local charity battling homelessness and poverty. Numerous OC companies, restaurants and hotels have kindly donated items, giftcards, services, hotel stays and much more toward the silent auction, the evening’s primary fundraising venture.

“I’m happy to see so many of us local professionals using Social Media to stay in touch, be informed, and find opportunities. We are leading change, progress, and innovation.” said ConnectOC Co-founder Paul Tran, who is humbled by how many great businesses — despite 2009′s economic woes — are coming out to show love for great causes and for each other. “All of our attendees are in for a big treat, and if the positivity and community stimulus keeps up, so will our events!”