The 22nd annual Leadership Lompoc Valley Class (LLV) got underway this past weekend. Participants spent the weekend at the Embassy Suites in San Luis and at the Chumash Challenge ropes course at Cal Poly.

Their time was spent learning about the history of the Lompoc Valley and learning leadership skills. The Cal Poly activities are designed to bring the class together through a series of bonding exercises.

Following the retreat, LLV students meet during monthly topic days, exposing the participants to various aspects of the community. This year/s schedule of topic days includes: Local Government Day, Media/Communications Day & Arts; Public Safety; Health & Community Services Day, Mid-Year Retreat, Military/Aerospace Day, Education Day, Business & Economics Day, Community Enrichment Day. Graduation ceremonies will be held in May.

This year/s class includes: Angel Garcia, Deputy Inspector General VAFB; Col. Bob Gibson, Vandenberg AFB; Jaime Marks, Mid-State Bank & Trust; John Stults, Excel Personnel Services; Mick Greer, Lompoc Healthcare District; Pam Buchanan, Lompoc Valley Home Health Care; Angela Reynolds, ITT; Dallis Widick, CoastHills Federal Credit Union; Jody Taylor, Lompoc Family YMCA; Lisa Hart, Marian Medical Center; Dr. Niki Sandoval, Non-Profit Support Center; Paul Bommersbach, vice principal, Lompoc High School; Billie J. Chadwick, Century 21 Armstrong Realty; Erena van der Heijden, Northrup Grumman; John Keth, The Party Shop; Megan Hale, Embassy Suites; Dr. Nolan T. Higa, Sunset Speedway Car Wash; Pauline Imano, Countrywide Home Loans; Sarah Wagner, planner at VAFB; Susan Haury, Sexual Assault Prevention, VAFB; Victor Jordan, Lompoc Vision; William Hinshaw, self-employed. The program is conducted by a dedicated group of volunteers who serve as the Board of Trustees. All of the board members are graduates of the program. Many have served 10 years or more. The program is funded through student tuition and sponsorships.

The 10th annual Youth Leadership Lompoc Valley class got under way at its retreat on Sept. 15 and 16 at Camp Roberts and the Chumash Challenge Ropes Course at Cal Poly. They, like the adults, spend their retreat time learning about the community, learning leadership skills and bonding at the ropes course. The YLLV program also mirrors the adult program, investigating monthly topics. YLLV topic days for the upcoming session include: Health and Human Services Day, Law and Government Day, Education Day, Quality of Life, Military and Aerospace Day, and Regional Economics. Graduation is held in April.

The class participants include: Kaitlin Allen, Lompoc High School; Maura Andrews, Cabrillo High School; Arjun Ayyar, Cabrillo; Denise Brown, Cabrillo; Brittany Brown, Lompoc High; Shelby Carpenter, Lompoc High; Emily Casarez, Cabrillo; Stephanie Conroy, Lompoc High; Juan Flores, Lompoc High; Maribel Garcia, Lompoc High; Donovan Imano, home schooled; Denne Lane, Lompoc High; Nestor Trevino, Lompoc High; Brett Malta, Cabrillo; Summer Miller, Cabrillo ; Laura Reinacher, Cabrillo; Rebekah Rogers, Cabrillo; Veronica Romo, Lompoc High; Charles Smith, Valley Christian Academy; Tionna Tank; Cabrillo; Nikki Tennant, Cabrillo; and Sandra Torres, Lompoc High.

The YLLV class will be introduced to the Chamber membership at the Oct. 25 luncheon. Again, just as the case with the adult program, the program is conducted by a dedicated group of volunteers who serve as members of the Board of Trustees. Many of the members have been with the program since the beginning.

Denny Anderson is president and CEO of the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau.

September 25, 2007