Meg Cipolla Accounting Manager – Food Share of Ventura County Where do I even start…this was, by far, my favorite session of the three we’ve had in the program. I enjoyed “pulling back the curtain” to see behind the scenes of a few of our public works. Speaking for myself, I know that I’ve taken…

Aaron Ferguson Coordinator Of Distance Learning – Oxnard Union High School District Three instant takeaways from my first session as a VCLA Cohort: I’m not great in a drum circle but you can definitely feel the love. My dog is not as well trained as the dogs at the Search Dog Foundation, but she does…

Al Lowe President – Al Lowe Construction, Inc. For my VCLA Cohort XXIX immersion activity, I had the opportunity to spend a half day with the CEO and other members of the administrative staff of Community Memorial Health System. I have been associated with healthcare because my father was a doctor and well as my…

Sheila Norman Community Education Administrator – Ventura County Fire Department The driving force behind me applying to Ventura County Leadership Academy (VCLA) was to get out of my comfort zone and expand my personal effectiveness. However, this opportunity comes with anxiety and feelings of unworthiness- not knowing what to expect or what would be expected…

Dr. Jesus Vaca Superintendent – Somis Unified School District It was a pleasure joining Jesus “Chuy” Loza, CEO of FRESKA Produce International located in Oxnard, CA for my recent VCLA immersion activity. My biggest “aha moment” was realizing the amount of revenue made by a small, local company. Established in 2004, they made over 100…

Waheed Akberzie Clinical Project Manager – SetPoint Medical I know nothing about the law and didn’t study to become a lawyer. So why was I in the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office? As an incoming member of Ventura County Leadership Academy ‘s Cohort XXIX, we’re required to complete an immersion activity that challenges myself and…