Category: News Releases

Through dynamic seminars during an intensive 17-month program, fellows will study leadership theory, effective communication, motivation, critical and strategic thinking, change management, emotional intelligence and complex social and cultural issues. Seminars are delivered by four partner universities: Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Fresno State and UC Davis. Fellows will participate in approximately 55 seminar days, including a 10-day national travel seminar and a 14-day international travel seminar.

“The California Ag Leadership Foundation (CALF) grows leaders who make a difference and go on to lead in agriculture, their businesses, communities and families,” said CALF President and CEO Dwight Ferguson. “We recruit a diverse and inclusive set of fellows who represent a broad cross section of the California ag industry and the state’s population.”

CALF invests more than $50,000 per fellow to participate in the program, which is underwritten by individual and industry donations. Ag Leadership is considered to be one of the premier leadership programs in the United States. Since it was first delivered in 1970, more than 1,300 men and women have participated in the program and have become influential leaders and active volunteers in agriculture and other areas.

Class 51 Fellows:

Scott Berndt, RUSD Food Hub

Jake Cecil, Sunsweet Growers Inc.

Nick Escobar, G3 Enterprises

John Gardiner, Gardiner Farms

Matan Goldberg, Agriculture Capital

Tom Gore, Constellation Brands

Mylène Hermier, Duckhorn Portfolio

Carrie Isaacson, Broadhead

Betsy Karle, University of California Cooperative Extension

Miguel Lizarraga, Naraghi Farms

Victor Lopez, Yara North America

Ahna Miller, Driscoll’s

Kel Mitchel, Renewable Resources Group

Charlotte Mitchell, California Farmland Trust

J. Scott Petersen, San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority

Jessica Saltzman, Farm Credit West

Kevin Souza, Harris Woolf Almonds

Ryan Stapleton, Delicato Family Vineyards

Donglan Tian, Bayer

Marlene Velasquez, Rumiano Cheese

Darcy Vlot, Vlot Calf Ranch Inc., Cross Creek Farms

Will Weiss, Bella Vista Farming Company

Debbie Willmann, Index Fresh

Jarett Zonneveld, Alta California

Judy Sparacino has been promoted to programs manager. Judy joined the foundation in 2007 as program coordinator, and has been a valued and critical team member supporting the fellowship program. In her expanded role, she will continue to support the fellowship program and take on new responsibilities associated with the fellow selection process and supporting the domestic and international seminars, as well as serving as the foundation’s archivist. Judy will also take on more duties related to our efforts to sustain and expand the D.C. and CA Exchange programs, working with our exchange programs consultant.

Deanna van Klaveren (32) has been promoted to alumni engagement manager. Deanna joined the foundation in 2019 as a part-time alumni coordinator, following many years of service on the Alumni Council (AC) and as a member of the board of directors. Her support of the AC and alumni over the past two years has been critical to engaging our more than 1,300 alumni. Deanna’s new full-time role will provide expanded service and opportunities for growth and connection to our alumni, as envisioned in the strategic plan.

Emily Lazzerini has moved into the new role of development coordinator. Emily joined the foundation in 2010 as enterprise coordinator and has been responsible for maintaining all donor files and records, amongst other duties. Emily’s expertise related to our donors and endowment funds has served an essential need as our foundation’s investment accounts have grown over the last decade. Her new role will focus critical support on the foundation’s expanding development program.

Darlene Din (35) has joined the team as exchange programs consultant, providing guidance and assistance to the staff and exchange programs committees, following many years of volunteer and contractor support to the foundation. She will also support staff and the Ed Team related to the domestic and international seminars, organize exchange activities and develop and propose exchange program expansion options in 2022, consistent with the strategic plan.

These new and expanded roles are critical to the foundation’s ability to meet our goals related to our strategic plan’s critical priorities, living our mission of “Growing leaders who make a difference,” embodying our values of integrity, excellence and respect and achieving our vision to become “Leaders united to strengthen California agriculture and sustainably supply the world.” We look forward to keeping you informed of our progress.

Feel free to contact Dwight Ferguson at dferguson@agleaders.org or (831) 585-1030 with any questions about these changes.

New Address: 80 Garden Court, Suite 270 / Monterey, CA 93940

In order to help us realize strategic priorities, improve access, teamwork and effectiveness and be more accessible to our alumni and stakeholders, we have moved our foundation office to Monterey. The change will give us more space to collaborate, the ability to host meetings and will also include a place for visiting alumni to work. The new workspace will allow us to continue to meet the needs of the program, the foundation and our alumni as we begin work on the goals identified in our strategic plan, while ensuring that our fellows experience an exceptional program. If you are in the area, we welcome you to stop by for a visit!

 

 

With more than 50 years combined engagement on the Education Team, Perry and Flores bring substantial experience, program awareness and mentoring skills to the positions. Their new roles will begin on May 1, 2021 to coincide with the departure of current Director of Education Shelli Hendricks. Perry will also continue her role as coach to all program fellows.

During this interim period, which is expected to last until February 28, 2023 to coincide with the commencement of Class 51, Executive Vice President Abby Taylor-Silva (45) and Program Coordinator Judy Sparacino will also take on additional roles. Predominately, Abby will oversee development of the national and international seminars, with the guidance and support of the Education Team, and Judy will build upon her current role related to selection and program support. As part of their roles, Perry and Flores will eventually help to guide the selection of a new director of education.

CALF President and CEO Dwight Ferguson expressed his gratitude and excitement to Perry and Flores.

“We are very fortunate to have Peggy and Bob join our team in these new roles during such a critical and transformative time for the foundation,” said Dwight. “We are on the cusp of finalizing a strategic plan that will help sustain our fellowship program well into the future, so we may continue to grow leaders who make a difference. Peggy and Bob have the unique skill sets needed to ensure our program, the most critical component of the foundation, is nurtured and given what it needs to achieve excellence.”

Perry is a professor emeritus at Cal Poly Pomona, and has spent her career teaching in the fields of plant science and leadership. Her teaching specialties have included California native plant materials, culinary produce, women in agriculture, leadership development and various issues related to agricultural literacy. Her research has focused on faculty vitality and institutional leadership and adult development. Perry was a member of Class 9 of the California Agricultural Leadership Program (CALP), and has been a member of the Education Team since 1986. She has also led the coaching element of the program for the past 10 years.

Flores recently retired from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo after a 37-year career in higher education. He joined Cal Poly in 1983 after teaching high school for five years. At Cal Poly, he served as a department head and professor in the Agricultural Education and Communication Department. Flores has been a member of CALP’s Education Team for almost 25 years and served as director of education from 1997 to 2000. He has also served as a presenter on the topics of preferential behavior, learning styles and values programming. In retirement, Flores continues in his role as a member of the Education Team. Additionally, he is a member of the Medical Service Corp for the County of San Luis Obispo and a co-advisor to the Latinos in Agriculture student organization at Cal Poly.

Hendricks has served CALF for more than two years, working directly with classes 48-50, and collaborating with the Education Team to navigate continued seminars and contingency planning throughout the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. She also guided the foundation’s reintroduction of alumni learning activities.

In order to provide support and care for her family, Hendricks will be moving to the Greater Phoenix, Arizona area. Through the consulting and coaching entity Blue Horizons Solutions, Hendricks will remain available to support the foundation in an advisory capacity through June 30, 2021, and then on a project basis thereafter.

The foundation is considering various options related to an interim director of education role. For now, Executive Vice President Abby Taylor-Silva (45) will take on the immediate tasks of working with the Education Team to plan upcoming seminars, including but not limited to Class 51 commencement, the San Quentin Seminar for Class 50 and their international seminar.

Hendricks shared that her departure was bittersweet.

“I am deeply grateful to the CALF board of directors, the foundation staff, the Education Team, CALF alumni and especially to our CALF fellows. Your gracious welcoming of me into the community has made this decision even more difficult. However, I choose to believe the relationships and collaborations fostered will continue to be part of the fabric of Ag Leadership for future generations,” said Hendricks.

Dwight Ferguson, the foundation’s president and CEO, shared deep gratitude for Hendricks’ contributions to the foundation.

“We are very appreciative for the working relationship we’ve been able to enjoy with Shelli, and her contributions to our programs. We are certain she will continue to have an important impact in the field of leadership development throughout her career, and we are grateful to her for having shared her talents with our foundation these past two years,” said Ferguson.

Please contact Dwight Ferguson or Abby Taylor-Silva at 831-585-1030 or via e-mail with any questions. We hope you will join us in wishing Shelli all the best in her move and future endeavors.

The Ag Leadership Program, operated by the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation (CALF), is considered to be one of the premier leadership development experiences in the United States. More than 1,300 men and women have participated in the program and are influential leaders and active volunteers in agriculture, communities, government, business and other areas.

“We are delighted to open the application process for Class 51,” said CALF President and CEO Dwight Ferguson. “The California Agricultural Leadership Program is uniquely positioned to prosper and produce leaders who benefit their communities, their companies and California agriculture as a whole due to our unique curriculum, personalized coaching and a dedicated focus on lifelong learning.”

The 17-month program includes approximately 55 days of formal program activities. Four partner universities—Fresno State, UC Davis, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Cal Poly Pomona—deliver comprehensive, diverse and high-impact curriculum designed to improve leadership skills. As a valuable extension to the monthly seminars, fellows participate in national and international travel seminars and receive individualized leadership development coaching. Working with our partner universities, CALF is preparing various options to ensure we continue to effectively implement this program during and following the COVID-19 pandemic.

CALF invests more than $50,000 per fellow to participate in the Ag Leadership Program. The costs are underwritten by individual and industry donations. Candidates are strongly encouraged to talk with Ag Leadership alumni about the program and to attend a recruitment event. All recruitment events will adhere to state and local guidelines for safety and health.

Detailed program information and the phase one application are available online at www.agleaders.org/apply. Phase one of the two-part application process is due no later than April 26, 2021. Individuals are encouraged to complete the application as soon as possible.