Results in from West Hills College Essential Elements latest policy session

More than 100 community members and industry leaders attended the daylong event, which focused on topics including job creation, economic development and career and technical education and featured a slate of informative speakers including Lynda Resnick, Vice-Chair and Co-Owner of The Wonderful Company.

Resnick spoke at length about The Wonderful Company’s philanthropic pursuits in the Central Valley over the past several years, including their innovative educational and health and wellness initiatives, their robust scholarship program, their career focused summer camps for middle and high school students and extensive community outreach. Resnick encouraged companies and groups to give back to the community. The Wonderful Company’s efforts have reached more than 60,000 Central Valley youth.

“It’s our long-standing belief that doing well by doing good is what business should be about,” Resnick said.

Remarks were also delivered by Joe Del Bosque, California Water Commission member; Lance Donny, CEO of OnFarm Services; Art Sponseller, President/CEO of the Hospital Council of Northern California; and Glenda Humiston, Vice President of the University of California Division of Ag and Natural Resources.

Other speakers included Robert Tse, Chief Strategy Officer for the United States Department of Agriculture; Davena Witcher, Executive Director for the Alliance for Medical Outreach and Relief; Joseph Castro, President of California State University, Fresno; Jim Houston, Undersecretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture; and Jeff Dahlberg, Director of the UC Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center. 

Three panels of experts from the fields of health care, agriculture, trade and technology fostered discussions throughout the day about what the Valley’s economic and social infrastructure will look like in the future. Attendees discussed the idea of the region becoming an agriculture technology hub, the importance of creating 21st century training programs supporting the needs of the agriculture, trade, energy and healthcare fields, and positioning the San Joaquin Valley as a competitor in the global marketplace.

“Global needs require Central Valley responses,” said Dr. Stuart Van Horn, Vice Chancellor of Educational Services and Workforce Development for the WHCCD. “This theme was pervasive throughout the event.”

An action outcomes report will be available soon. Visit essentialelementsseries.com to view and download panel and keynote presentations.