4 Degrees of Separation

By Merrill Whatley

Shortly after our January 11 VCLA session, I took a trip to Pittsburgh for work. As I write this, I am on Southwest Airlines, flying to Denver on my way back home via Burbank.

In the morning portion of the Local Government focus session, the subjects we covered about city government, county government and special districts may not have a greater available organizational and cultural juxtaposition in America than Continue reading

Ahoy Matey!

By Franki D. Williams

Squid boat: Up to 40% of California’s squid can be distributed through the Port of Hueneme on any given year.

After a morning focusing on local government in Thousand Oaks, I drove the back way through the agricultural fields of Camarillo, a part of the city unfamiliar to me, and met the rest of the cohort at the Port of Hueneme. Upon arrival, we were greeted by Continue reading

Water, water everywhere

By Jon Gathman, Installation Program Integrator at Naval Base Ventura County

How much water comes from the San Joaquin Valley (ie Sacramento) to support the Metropolitan Water District (serving you, me and the 18.999998 million people in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties)?

1. 4%
2. 10%
3. 30%
4. 60%

Continue reading

Thinking Big and Decision Making

By Brad Hughes, Asset Manager for Ventura Investment Co.

They found a way to build the internal combustion engine with 300 horse power and better fuel economy than most cars on the road today whenContinue reading

On Leadership and Exploring the Deep Sea

By Melissa Baffa, Cohort XVII, President, VCLA Board of Directors

Seven years ago, I was a member of Cohort XVII. It was during our session on education that our director asked for volunteers for the position of cohort representative. It sounded like a fantastic opportunity, but I was afraid to raise my hand. I would need to be elected by these fellow cohort members I was just getting to know. The last time I had run for anything was in high school, and I lost that election pretty badly. Being the cohort rep would mean attending the organization’s monthly board meetings, reporting out on our progress, and offering feedback. It would meanContinue reading

Announcing Cohort XXIV

Cohort XXIV has been selected, and will include the following leaders
from throughout Ventura County:Continue reading

Cohort XXIII Reflections

By Nerissa Stacey, Communications Strategist, Mustang Marketing

It seems like only yesterday that I took my seat at Camp Arnaz for Cohort XXIII’s very first session. I remember looking around the room at a sea of unfamiliar faces, not sure what to expect but excited to find out. And now I’m preparing to sit among my fellow cohorts — no longer unfamiliar faces, but instead cherished new friends — at graduation as we conclude Continue reading

Applications being accepted

Applications are now being accepted for the 2018-19 cohort year. Join a diverse cohort of emerging and seasoned leaders, and acquire the knowledge and skills that will help you to make Ventura County an even better place to live.

Download the application and submit it no later than May 18th.

Have questions? Find out more about the application process.

Take Two – The Creation of “GOAT”

By Eva Gomez, Director of Annual Giving and Special Gifts, California State University Channel Islands

It seemed like just yesterday that VCLA Cohort XXIII had gotten together for their first highly anticipated meeting.  As we all arrived for our second meeting, the anticipation and anxiety over what to expect had long disappeared.  Instead, we were hugging, laughing and looking forward to Continue reading

This Is Not Goodbye

VCLA’s founder, Dr. Priscilla Partridge de Garcia, participated in her last board meeting today. She is moving to Iowa to be closer to family, and we will miss her tremendously! Although we know that Continue reading