Program Overview
Leadership Santa Cruz County's upcoming Class 36 is a 10-month program that meets one Friday each month from September through May with graduation in June. An August orientation is scheduled to make introductions and go over the program's guidelines.
Meet our Team
Trudie Ransom, Executive Director Trudie was a member of LSCC’s Class 30. She is the owner of the SUP Shack at the Santa Cruz Harbor and executive secretary at the Capitola Chamber of Commerce.
Board of Directors
Executive Committee
Chair: Danny Reber, Executive Director, Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce
Vice-Chair: Laura Owen, Director of Community Development & Learning,Santa Cruz Community Credit Union
Secretary: Mary Andersen, President, San Lorenzo Valley Chamber of Commerce; Publisher,
Treasurer: Nicole Beaver, Branch
Manager, Bay Federal Credit Union
Board Members at Large
Casey Beyer, Executive Director, Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce
Jess Brown, Executive Director, Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau
Karen Hibble, Executive Director, Aptos Chamber of Commerce
Janet Janssen, Founder/CEO, Life in Business Coach and Consultant
Phil Neuman, CEO, Cyber Ascend Technologies
Richelle Noroyan, Corporate and Community Relations Director, Second Harvest Food Bank
Shaz Roth, CEO, Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture
Lisa Murphy, Director of Human Services, City of Santa Cruz
Class Days
August 23
ORIENTATION
Welcome, introductions, program guidelines.
September 8 & 9
LEADERSHIP RETREAT
A two-day retreat with challenging team-building exercises, an overview of community issues, and a self-assessment exercise.
October 7
HOUSING & ECONOMICS
Local housing and economic issues followed by a planning and design exercise.
November 4
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
A look at the community’s health care and human services and field trips to local human service providers.
December 2
BUSINESS & TOURISM
Gain an understanding of small business and tourism issues. This day includes a behind-the-scenes tour of the Boardwalk and a field trip to a local business.
January 6
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Presentations from state, county and local political leaders.
February 3
EDUCATION
Interaction with leaders from our public schools, community college, and university
March 3
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
Meet leaders in law enforcement, the District Attorney, and the public defender. Visit the county jail and the Watsonville Courthouse.
March 24
THE PAJARO VALLEY
This day involves a tour of the Pajaro Valley with a focus on the history, events and resources that have shaped this part of the county.
April 14
AGRICULTURE
Visit agricultural sites in the Pajaro Valley. Learn about the importance and challenges of this major industry in our community.
May 5
Art & Culture
Discover the diversity and richness of the art and culture of the community which adds to the uniqueness of Santa Cruz.
June 2
ENVIRONMENT & INDUSTRY
Exposure to issues related to the area’s natural resources. Includes examples of sustainable industries along the North Coast.
June 15
GRADUATION
Interaction with leaders from our public schools, community college, and university
Overview
Class members get a rare opportunity to actually see, hear and experience, up close, how our community’s business and services work. You will have a chance to walk through the correctional facilities in downtown Santa Cruz and in Watsonville, tour the big trees in the San Lorenzo Valley, and hear the story of Big Creek Lumber and their mission to preserve our majestic forests, walk the fields of our county’s rich and diverse agribusinesses. And, if you’re very lucky, get a taste of a famous Gizdich Ranch pie.
Beginning with a two-day leadership retreat, class members participate in a total of 12 all-day classes throughout the year. Each class has its own specific focus and flavor. Along with valuable leadership training, you will get a clear picture of the deep commitment and affection our many community leaders have for our diverse and special community here on the Central Coast. And along the way, it is our hope that you, too, will share in the love and passion we have grown to have for Santa Cruz County.
The participants of Leadership Santa Cruz County are people who desire a broader exposure to the growing concerns of this county and who wish to discover the leaders within themselves. Class members have ranged from teenagers to seniors, and those in between. They have been newcomers and long-term residents. Class members and alumni reflect the diversity of the community: ethnically, geographically, professionally and economically.
Throughout its existence, Leadership Santa Cruz County has provided quality, non-partisan instruction and watched its alumni go on to take responsible positions throughout the community.
Our History
Ensuring the long-term stability of a community is a difficult task. It requires the creativity and vision of those people in leadership roles as well as a solid understanding of the many ingredients that make up this community. With this in mind, in September of 1985, the Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce created the Santa Cruz community’s first and finest leadership training program called Leadership Santa Cruz (LSC). Two years later, the Watsonville Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture (now the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce), joined the Santa Cruz Chamber as a co-sponsor and the program was renamed Leadership Santa Cruz County (LSCC). The Capitola Chamber of Commerce became a sponsor in 1989, followed by the Aptos and Scotts Valley Chambers in 1990, and the San Lorenzo Valley Chamber of Commerce in 1992. The chambers of commerce have been joined by numerous sponsoring business organizations and non-profits to guarantee the long-term success of its program in its fourth decade of operation.
Our Mission
The purpose of Leadership Santa Cruz County is to educate, motivate, and increase the awareness of individuals in leadership roles in Santa Cruz County, enabling them to address the issues, needs, and opportunities facing the county now and in the future.
Alumni Association
With the graduation of the approximately 1,500 LSCC class members, we have formed an Alumni Association that allows the LSCC experience to live on. The LSCC Alum Association organizes leadership forums, alumni events, and a variety of networking opportunities throughout the year.