WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA, March 23, 2013
/24-7PressRelease/ -- Five city council members from throughout Ventura County recently joined the board of directors of the Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County. The new members include Jacqui Irwin, representing the city of Thousand Oaks; Keith Mashburn, Simi Valley; Bill Little, Camarillo; Severo Lara, Ojai; and Rick Neal, Fillmore. Each council member brings a wealth of business and leadership experience to the board, which includes representatives from private-sector businesses, the county and each of its 10 cities. This ensures every sector and community has a voice in EDC-VC's growing list of programs and services.
As board members, the five will help guide the organization and ensure it follows its goals and objectives for promoting jobs and economic growth to maintain the county's economic vitality through key programs and services.
"One of our roles at EDC-VC is to be a catalyst for economic development in the region. As a board, we can accomplish this when we bring together private sector businesses with representation of all the cities and unincorporated areas," said Bruce Stenslie, president/CEO of EDC-VC. "Our new board members will work collaboratively with the existing board members to accomplish a great deal on behalf of our region's businesses."
Irwin was elected to the Thousand Oaks City Council in 2004, serving as mayor in 2008 and 2012. She has been involved with several city council committees, ranging from the Crime Prevention Task Force to the Ventura Council of Governments. Nominated by State Assemblymember Jeff Gorell, she was recently honored with the "Woman of the Year" Award for the 37th District by the California Legislators Women's Caucus at the State Capitol.
Though Little is new to the Camarillo City Council, he served as the city's manager between 1988 and 2000. A 25-year Camarillo resident, Little served on the Ventura County Civil Service Commission from 2009 to 2012. He's the past president and board member of the Camarillo Ranch Foundation and Friends of the Camarillo Library.
A Fillmore native, Neal and his wife operate Central Music and Service Professional Plumbing. He was elected to the Fillmore City Council in 2012, and elected mayor by his council peers.
Neal is a firefighter/EMT for the Fillmore Fire Department and volunteer member of the Fillmore Mountain Search and Rescue Team.
Mashburn spent 30 years with the Ventura County Fire Department, retiring as battalion chief. Prior to his election in 2012 to the Simi Valley City council, Mashburn served as a planning commissioner from 2007-2010. He and his wife have owned and operated the retail businesses Awards Specialties, Mashburn Kawasaki and Java Island.
Lara joined the Ojai City Council in 2012 and operates JL & Sons Landscaping Inc. Raised in Ojai, Lara has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, was a youth founder of the Ojai Valley Youth Foundation and a commissioner with Ojai Parks and Recreation.
EDC-VC is a private, nonprofit organization that serves as a business-to-government liaison to assist businesses in Ventura County by offering programs that enhance the economic vitality of the region. For more information about the Small Business Development Center and loan, manufacturing outreach and international trade programs, contact Bruce Stenslie at 805-384-1800 ext. 24, or bruce.stenslie@edc-vc.com. Or visit http://www.edc-vc.com.
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