Oxnard Leadership Explores Personal Leadership and Local Businesses

Do you know your leadership style? Oxnard Leadership Program participants found out during their most recent session, which featured presentations on the “Four Models of Leadership” and Ventura County's Workforce Development Board, and tours of Haas Automation and the Channel Islands Harbor.  
 
The eighth session took place Friday, August 16, and Celina Zacarias, Senior Director of Community and Government Relations for California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI), helped coordinate the day.
 
The day began with an eye-opening presentation on “Four Models of Leadership” from Andrew Lorenzana, CSUCI Community and Government Relations Specialist. Everyone answered a series of questions to discover their Leadership Orientations:

1. Structural: Leaders who emphasize rationality, analysis, logic, facts and data
2. Human Resource: Leaders who emphasize the importance of people
3. Political: Leaders who emphasize the importance of building a power base: allies, networks and coalitions
4. Symbolic: Leaders who believe that the essential task of management is to provide vision and inspiration

 You can take the online version of the assessment to find your leadership style.
 
The group then welcomed Tracy Perez, Regional Manager of United Staffing Associates, for a presentation about the Ventura County Workforce Development Board (WDB), which she chairs.
 
WDB is a public board of leaders from an array of fields who are appointed by the County Board of Supervisors. Their vision is for Ventura County to have a high-quality, skilled workforce to support the changing business needs of employers in today’s global, competitive environment. Learn more about the WDB.

After lunch at Cabo Seafood Grill & Cantina, a local favorite in Downtown Oxnard, the class visited Haas Automation’s 1.1 million square foot facility for a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the largest machine tool builder in North America.
 
They toured the showroom to learn how each of the machines work, then took a catwalk tour of one of its four warehouses to see innovation in action. With a local team of 1,200 people, Haas is one of the largest employers in Oxnard.   
 
To end the day, the group traveled to Marine Emporium Landing where they were treated to an electric boat tour of Channel Islands Harbor. They were guided by Steve Buenger and Harbor Director Mark Sandoval, who shared the history of the harbor, an overview of current projects and proposed improvements to the area.
 
Every year, the Oxnard Leadership Program leads participants through 10 unique, day-long experiences to gain a better understanding and appreciation of Oxnard and the surrounding areas’ realities, opportunities and challenges. Each session includes visits to various locations and provides participants with a unique opportunity to meet key business and government leaders who play integral roles in the region.

In September, session nine will focus on local agriculture with visits to Reiter and AGQ Labs, and a presentation by Agricultural Commissioner Ed Williams. 

Learn more about the Oxnard Leadership Program.