ABOUT VCLA:

Ventura County Leadership Academy (VCLA) connects and cultivates a diverse network of passionate, capable leaders through immersion in both critical issues shaping Ventura County and opportunities for personal and professional growth. VCLA’s comprehensive program ignites awareness and inspiration, helping cohort members discover their individual pathways toward impacting our region.

The curriculum includes focus sessions on public safety, education, economic development, water, transportation, health care, nonprofits and volunteerism, the environment, agriculture and land use, regional issues, and governance. The sessions are interactive with open dialogue between presenters and program participants. Participants also conduct site visits and field trips as part of background research on the various topics of discussion. It is a nine-month program that includes one full-day session each month from September through May and also includes a two-and-a-half-day trip to Sacramento to study current legislative issues and an immersion activity.

VCLA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

ABOUT PATTIE:

I am doing exactly what I love and exactly what I'm great at.

I get to meld my two passions together; collaborating with community leaders and emerging leaders, and facilitating connections for the betterment of Ventura County. As a lifelong member of this area, I’m glad to give back to my hometown.

I have supported many business, community and non-profits in the Ventura County area, including serving on the boards of the Ventura Family YMCA, the Ventura Chamber of Commerce, and with Ventura County Leadership Academy.

I am a proud Downtown Ventura Rotary Club member and serve on the newly appointed Ventura Homeless Taskforce.

I volunteered as a “Big” with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program and developed and implemented the “Teacher of the Month” program in Ventura that is in its eighth successful year.

Two of my greatest professional honors were receiving the Poinsettia Award in 2012 as Volunteer of the Year and being named the Alumni of the Year in 2019 by Ventura County Leadership Academy.