Congratulations to the 2024 graduates of the Oxnard Leadership Program!

On November 21, the WVCBA celebrated the eighth graduating class of the Oxnard Leadership Program since it began in 2016.  The ceremony took place at Channel Islands Maritime Museum, thanks to the museum's Executive Director Doug Riffenburgh, a member of of the graduating class. Friends, family, session coordinators, and Oxnard Leadership Steering Committee members were on-hand to cheer on the 12 members of the Class of 2024 who completed the 10-session, 10-month program. ​

Congratulations to:
Ashlee Coronado, Water Conservation/Outreach Technician - City of Oxnard Wastewater Division
Brooke Primero, Program Development Manager- Stacy Miller Public Affairs
Catalina Solis, Development Coordinator - Community Action of Ventura County
Cherry De Windt, Owner - Fight Foundation
Doug Riffenburgh, Executive Director - Channel Islands Maritime Museum
Felipe Flores, Management Analyst - Ventura County Continuum of Care
Jacy Yu, Development Director - Kidstream
Jennifer Duarte, Director, Property Management - The Collection at Riverpark
Mitch Diswe, Founder - Devoted Care Services
Seth Wilmoth, Program Director & Operations Coordinator- SEEAG – Student’s for Eco-Education and Agriculture
Summer Santivanez, NAM Business Process Enabling Lead - Bayer Crop Sciences
Torin Curren, Business Owner - Woodchuck Woodworks

The Oxnard Leadership Program is an initiative of the Oxnard Foundation For Education And Economic Development (OFEED) a 501(c)(3) organization. Formed in 2014 by the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce (now WVCBA), OFEED's mission is to support the interaction with and advancement of education and development of our future workforce, and to assure the Oxnard community has an adequate supply of quality jobs.

Oxnard Leadership Program began in 2016 to educate individuals about local issues and resources, connect them with decision-makers and major players, and better prepare them as leaders within the community. More than 60 people have graduated from the program with many going on to serve their communities, as elected officials, board members, commissioners, neighborhood council members, and other leadership roles.

The Leadership Program has been generously supported by the Gene Haas Foundation since 2022. Their support helped provide partial scholarships to eight of this year’s graduates. 

Leadership participants experience 10 sessions in the 10-month program ranging from government to energy to education. Some of the unique experiences this year included meeting with California Assemblymember Steve Bennett; seeing up-close the voting equipment that counts election ballots; and going up the historic Oxnard Pagoda, which most residents have never done. In addition to graduation certificates, graduates received congratulatory certificates from the City of Oxnard, Ventura County Board of Supervisors, and Assemblymember Steve Bennett.

Applications are closed for the 2025 program.