A Great Start to Cohort XXVIII

​Justin Doering

Director, Ventura County Deputy Sheriff's Association

It was a great first day of Ventura County Leadership Academy.  My favorite takeaway from the first session was being able to hear the background and expertise of those amongst our own cohort. There are so many leaders from such a wide array of professions. I truly look forward to connecting with one another as our journey continues.

As an added benefit to the day, the team building drum circle was a first for me. I did enjoy being able to let my guard down a bit and participate in such a unique icebreaker.

Finally, a huge thank you to the Search Dog Foundation. As a lifelong Ventura County resident, I had no idea this foundation existed right in our backyard. These dogs and their handlers go through intense training to be certified for disaster rescue across the country. I was taken back by the expansiveness of the grounds and the amount of effort needed to recreate such devastating disaster sites in order to help save lives in the future.