Starting in July of 2002, Ventura County Leadership Academy has been celebrating those who are living our mission of connecting and strengthening our county. These leaders from the business, education, non-profit, and public sectors represent the best of Ventura County.
20th Annual - April 27, 2023
Alumna of the Year
Amanda Fagan, Cohort XXIII
Business Leader of the Year
Bruce Stenslie, President & CEO, Economic Development Collaborative (EDC)
Educational Leader of the Year
Dr. Julius O. Sokenu, President, Moorpark College
Non-Profit Leader of the Year
Elena Brokaw, Executive Director, Museum of Ventura County
Public Sector Leader of the Year
Scott Whitney, Chief Investigator, Ventura County District Attorney's Office
Founder's Award
Herbert Gooch, Ph.D.
19th Annual - April 21, 2022
Alumna of the Year
Carrie Hughes, VCLA Cohort XX
Business Leader of the Year
Maria Ventura, Southern California Gas Company
Educational Leader of the Year
Dr. Gerhard Apfelthaler, School of Management, CA Lutheran University
Non-Profit Leader of the Year
Jack Hinojosa, Child Development Resources of Ventura County, Inc.
Public Sector Leader of the Year
Sheriff Bill Ayub, Ventura County Sheriff’s Office
Founder's Award
Dr. Tiffany Morse
18th Annual - April 29, 2021
Alumnus of the Year
James Joyce III, Cohort XVII
Business of the Year
PODS Moving and Storage
Educational Leaders of the Year
Dianne McKay, Ventura County Community College District Board Member, Area 2
Non-Profit Leader of the Year
Monica White, Food Share of Ventura County
Public Sector Leader of the Year
County of Ventura COVID Response Team
17th Annual - August 25, 2020
Alumnus of the Year
Andrew Salinas, Cohort XIV
Business Leader of the Year
Greg Van Ness, Tolman & Wiker
Educational Leaders of the Year
Oscar Cobian, Oxnard College
Public Sector Leader of the Year
Jacqui Irwin, CA Assemblymember, District 44
16th Annual - April 18, 2019
Alumna of the Year
Pattie Braga, Cohort XVII
Business of the Year
Montecito Bank & Trust
Educational Leaders of the Year
Dr Jaime Hannans & Dr. Jacob Jenkins, CSUCI
Non-Profit Leader of the Year
Vanessa Bechtel, Ventura County Community Foundation
Public Sector Leader of the Year
Jim Friedl, Conejo Recreation & Park District
Founder's Award
Rudy Gonzales
Ductus Exemplo Award
Sheriff (Ret.) Geoff Dean
15th Annual - April 19, 2018
Alumna of the Year
Emily Barany, Cohort XXI
Business of the Year
Mustang Marketing
Educational Leader of the Year
Dr. Roger Rice, Ventura County Office of Education
Non-Profit Leader of the Year
Dena Jenson, CLU Center for Nonprofit Leadership
Public Sector Leader of the Year
Ventura Fire Department, Ventura Police Department, Ventura County Fire Department, Ventura County Sheriff's Office
Founder's Award
Bart and Heidi Stern
14th Annual - April 20, 2017
Alumnus of the Year
Jim White, Class V
Business of the Year
Patagonia
Community Leader of the Year
Charles W. Cohen, Esq.
Founder's Award
Suzanne Chadwick, VCLA Advisory Committee
13th Annual - October 17, 2016
Alumna of the Year
Dr. Genevieve Evans Taylor, Cohort XVI
Business of the Year
Ventura County Credit Union
Community Leader of the Year
Dr Steven Elson, Casa Pacifica Centers for Children and Families
Founder's Award
Kathy Long, Former VC Board of Supervisor
Ductus Exemplo Award
Hank Lacayo, State President, Congress of California Seniors
2014-2015 20th Anniversary Celebratory Event
(No formal honorees)
Dr. Priscilla Partridge de Garcia, VCLA Founder
Suzanne Chadwick, VCLA Advisory Committee
12th Annual - October 17, 2013
Alumnus of the Year
Scott Zeller, Cohort XVI
Business of the Year
The Port of Hueneme
Community Leader of the Year
Shanna Wasson Taylor, CEO, Make-A-Wish Tri-Counties
Founder's Award
Michael Powers, CEO County of Ventura
Kay Runnion, Government Affairs Director, VC Coastal Assoc. of Realtors
11th Annual - October 11, 2012
Alumnus of the Year
Patty Brown, Cohort XIII
David Villanueva, Cohort X
Business of the Year
Farmers Insurance Group
Community Leader of the Year
Gus Sanchez, Republic Services
Founder's Award
Charles Sandlin, Roadrunner Shuttle & Limousine
10th Annual - May 19, 2011
Alumnus of the Year
Norbert Tan, Cohort XIV
Business of the Year
Bill Camarillo, CEO of Agromin
Community Leader of the Year
Dr. Richard Rush, President, CSUCI
Founder's Award
Marc Charney, VCLA Co-Founder 7 Advisory Board member
Ductus Exemplo
Randy Churchill, Realtor
9th Annual - April 29, 2010
Alumnus of the Year
Norman Griffaw, Class XI
Business of the Year
Proctor and Gamble
Community Leader of the Year
Armando Lopez, Principal, Plaza Development Partners & Community Activist
Ductus Exemplo
Marianne Ratcliff, (Retired) Opinion page editor, Ventura County Star
8th Annual - June 18, 2009
Alumnus of the Year
Fred Robinson, Class VI
Business of the Year
Waste Management Ventura County
Community Leader of the Year
Cheryl Moore, Executive Director, Work Force Investment Board
7th Annual - June 6, 2008
Alumna of the Year
Alisha Washington, Class II
Emerging Leader of the Year
Alec Loorz, Environmental Activist
Business Leader of the Year
Henry Dubroff, Pacific Coast Business Times
Community Leader of the Year
Mary Schwabauer, VCCF Board President, Farmer, Philanthropist
Ductus Exemplo
Ginger Gherardi, Executive Director, VC Transportation Commission, Retired
6th Annual - June, 2007
Alumni of the Year
Norma Maidel, Class X
Sue Tatangelo, Class VI
Emerging Leader of the Year
Joyce Wilde, Mental Health Activist, Class II
Business of the Year
Ventura County Economic Development Association
Community Leader of the Year
Hank & Leah Lacayo, Community Philanthropists/Activists
5th Annual - June, 2006
Alumna of the Year
Connie Young, Class VI
Emerging Leader of the Year
Jessica Arciniega, Class IX
Business Leader of the Year
Wayne A. Davey
Community Leader of the Year
J. Handel Evans
4th Annual - June, 2005
Alumna of the Year
Dr. Eva Conrad, Class IV
Emerging Leader of the Year
Maria Cobian, Class VIII
Business of the Year
Wilshire Home Entertainment
Community Leader of the Year
Sheriff Bob Brooks
Public Service Organization
Soroptimist International
3rd Annual - June, 2004
Alumna of the Year
Kathy Raffaelli, Class IV
Emerging Leader of the Year
Rosalinda Figueroa, Class IX
Business of the Year
Ventura County Star
Community Leader of the Year
Kathy Long (Ret. Board of Supervisors)
Mike Montoya
Public Service Organization
146th Airlift Wing California Air National Guard
2nd Annual - June, 2003
Alumnus of the Year
David Keith, Class I
Emerging Leader of the Year
Maricela Morales, Class III
Business of the Year
Santa Barbara Bank & Trust
Community Leaders of the Year
Jack O'Connell
Kate McLean
Organizations of the Year
ARC Ventura County
California Lutheran University
1st Annual - July 2002
Special Founder’s Recognition Award
Dr. Priscilla Partridge de Garcia
Distinguished Community Leaders
Suzanne Chadwick & Mike Silacci, Class III
Exemplary Business/Organization
Haas Automation, Inc.
Alumna of the Year
Cathy Brudnicki, Class V