Dr. Nicolas Palacios – Global Marketing Manager – Amgen 97% of development here in Ventura County is planned as Agriculture or Open Space, meaning the remaining is what is allocated to housing, commercial and industrial developments. This is just one factor influencing housing here in addition to the larger issues affecting the crisis across the state.…

Martha Johnson  Program Administrator – Ventura County Health Care Agency Get a peek into a VCLA session with this video shared by current cohort member Martha Johnson for her third sessions, covering water, waste, public works, and a visit to The Situation Room Experience.  View the video HERE.  

Rhett Mauch Chief Executive Officer – Search Dog Foundation As a new Ventura County Leadership Academy member, I was allowed to participate in an immersion experience to take an in-depth look into an attribute of our county that I was interested in learning more about. I took this opportunity to visit Santa Cruz Island, the…

Gopi Nadella LCDR Judge Advocate General’s Corps. – U.S. Navy This one has a special place in my heart! Through Ventura County Leadership Academy and the wonderful Pattie Braga, I had the opportunity to meet with Eric Knight, Executive Director at the Humane Society of Ventura County last week. Really appreciate the time that Eric took to share with me his journey…

Tina Wang Program Management Analyst – County of Ventura It’s hard to believe we are halfway through our VCLA sessions. Each one has been incredibly impactful, and our most recent one on the unhoused and social safety nets was just as informative and eye-opening as our previous ones. Thank you, Pattie Braga (Cohort XVII), for…

Jay Doniaz Financial Inclusion & Education Manager – Ventura County Credit Union Participating in VCLA’s Housing and Transportation sessions was such an eye-opening experience that provided valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing Ventura County. The diverse range of speakers and topics covered throughout the day shed light on the intricate relationship between housing, transportation,…