Growing
leaders
who make a
difference (home).

Leading the Way (Home)

1,300+

GRADUATES OF THE PROGRAM

52

YEARS SINCE THE PROGRAM began

17

MONTHS TO COMPLETE THE PROGRAM

24

FELLOWS IN EACH CLASS

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Upcoming Events (Home)

Dec 07
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Partnerships (Home)

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About the Foundation (About)

The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit corporation committed to leadership training and transformational learning experiences in partnership with four California universities: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo; Cal Poly Pomona; California State University, Fresno; and the University of California, Davis. The foundation supports the longest continuously-operating leadership training experience of its kind in the United States, the California Agricultural Leadership Program. The program is considered to be one of the premier leadership development programs in the world. The foundation also supports alumni learning opportunities and other educational fellowship programs as well as fosters industry partnerships.

Read About the Foundation’s History

Board & Staff (About)

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See Full List

Partner Universities / Education Team (About)

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Learn More

Contact Us (About)

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Videos (News & Resources)

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Get in Touch

Meet the Board (About/Board & Staff)

Michael Young / Chair

Wegis & Young
Class 35

Read Bio

Cameron Boswell / Vice Chair

J.G. Boswell
Class 42

Read Bio

Emily Rooney / Secretary-Treasurer

Agricultural Council of California
Class 39

Read Bio

Yissel Barajas

Reiter Affiliated Companies
Class 40

Read Bio

Karen Caplan

Frieda's Inc.

Read Bio

Jason Cole

Cole Limited
Class 42

Read Bio

Correen Davis

The Gorrill Ranch
Class 45

Read Bio

Rob Goff

Wonderful Orchards
Class 45

Read Bio

Fidela Irigoyen

Wells Fargo
Class 21

Read Bio

Joel Kimmelshue

Land IQ
Class 37

Read Bio

Mike Mendes

Trinitas Farming
Class 39

Read Bio

Paul Parreira

Parreira Almond Processing Co.
Class 44

Read Bio

Dr. Martin Sancho-Madriz

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Read Bio

Meet the Staff (About/Board & Staff)

Dwight Ferguson

President & CEO
Email

Read Bio

Abby Taylor-Silva

Executive Vice President
Email

Read Bio

Dr. Robert Flores

Co-Interim Director of Education
Email

Read Bio

Dr. Peggy Sears Perry

Co-Interim Director of Education
Email

Read Bio

Kelli Coffey

Donor Relations Manager
Email

Read Bio

Sharon Harney

Finance Manager
Email

Read Bio

Judy Sparacino

Programs Manager
Email

Read Bio

Deanna van Klaveren

Alumni Engagement Manager
Email

Read Bio

Meredith Rehrman Ritchie

Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Email

Read Bio

Mia Mirassou

Administrative Assistant
Email

Read Bio

Darlene Din

Exchange Programs Consultant
Email

Read Bio

Liza Teixeira Robertson

Writer/Editor
Email

Read Bio

(About /About the Foundation)
The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit corporation committed to leadership training and transformational learning experiences in partnership with four California universities: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo; Cal Poly Pomona; California State University, Fresno; and the University of California, Davis. The foundation supports the longest continuously-operating leadership training experience of its kind in the United States, the California Agricultural Leadership Program. The program is considered to be one of the premier leadership development programs in the world. The foundation also supports alumni learning opportunities and other educational fellowship programs as well as fosters industry partnerships.

Read About the Foundation’s History

(About/About the Foundation) The program has pushed me to new depths of leadership and personal growth so I’m more effective within the agricultural industry and in my community.

-#01385e

Four exceptional partner universities deliver comprehensive, diverse and high-impact curriculum at program seminars. (About / Partner Universities)

Fellows learn from first-rate educators, subject authorities and individuals from diverse professions and backgrounds. Most of the monthly seminars rotate between these four universities.

The CALF Education Team consists of core faculty members from each of our partner universities, plus two other team members. The group discusses curriculum design and implementation, program evaluation, session scheduling, speaker needs, participant progress, program logistics, the application process and other program related matters.

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences

Core Faculty Member
Dr. Robert Flores
805-756-2169
rflores@calpoly.edu

Dean
Dr. Andy Thulin
805-756-2161
athulin@calpoly.edu
(About / Partner Universities)

#ffffff

Core Faculty Member
Dr. Robert Flores
805-756-2169
rflores@calpoly.edu

Dean
Dr. Andy Thulin
805-756-2161
athulin@calpoly.edu
(About / Partner Universities)

#01426a

Core Faculty Member
Dr. Robert Flores
805-756-2169
rflores@calpoly.edu

Dean
Dr. Andy Thulin
805-756-2161
athulin@calpoly.edu
(About / Partner Universities)

#ffffff

Core Faculty Member
Dr. Robert Flores
805-756-2169
rflores@calpoly.edu

Dean
Dr. Andy Thulin
805-756-2161
athulin@calpoly.edu
(About / Partner Universities)

#01426a

We’d love to hear from you.

Contact Us
California Agricultural Leadership Foundation
80 Garden Court, Suite 270
Monterey, CA 9394

Main
Phone: 831-585-1030
Fax: 831-424-4107
Email: info@agleaders.org
(About / Contact Us)

Staff (About/Contact Us)

President & CEO

Dwight Ferguson

Executive Vice President

Abby Taylor-Silva

Co-Interim Director of Education

Dr. Robert Flores

Co-Interim Director of Education

Dr. Peggy Sears Perry

Donor Relations Manager

Kelli Coffey

Finance Manager

Sharon Harney

Programs Manager

Judy Sparacino

Alumni Engagement Manager

Deanna van Klaveren

Marketing & Communications Coordinator

Meredith Rehrman Ritchie

Administrative Assistant

Mia Mirassou

Exchange Programs Consultant

Darlene Din

Writer/Editor

Liza Teixeira Robertson

Consultants (About / Contact Us)

The California Agricultural Leadership Program (CALP) grows leaders who make a difference.
(Programs / About the Program)

Our premier leadership development program – highly respected and the longest-running of its kind – teaches fellows leadership skills that help them expand their impact, increase their leadership capacity and tackle complex challenges.

Through our exceptional curriculum, our fellows become lifelong leaders that individually and collectively act as a catalyst for a vibrant agricultural community and make a significant difference in the agricultural industry, their businesses, communities and families.

Focus on Emerging Leaders
For more than 50 years, CALP has provided an advanced leadership development experience for emerging, mid-career agricultural leaders. All of our fellows come to the program with great leadership potential. The program provides tools to increase their self-awareness and set them on a path toward greater influence and leadership impact.

First Step Toward Lifelong Learning
Over the course of an intensive 17-month program, fellows are immersed in numerous topics, including leadership theory, effective communication, motivation, critical thinking, change management, emotional intelligence and other skills and tools that contribute to improved performance. Fellows engage in situations and discussions focused on complex social and cultural issues, providing them with an opportunity to build enhanced critical thinking skills that, combined with a broader perspective, help graduates guide creative solutions throughout their lives.

In addition, individualized executive coaching and personal assessment instruments provide focus on fellows’ strengths and areas for growth through the development of goals and strategies for growth and improvement.

A Life-Changing Experience
In addition, individualized executive coaching and personal assessment instruments provide focus on fellows’ strengths and areas for growth through the development of goals and strategies for growth and improvement.
(Programs / About the Program)

Resources/Quicklinks

Program Summary Program FAQs Step-by-Step Fellow Selection Process Recommend a candidate

Leadership from the Inside Out
For more than 50 years, CALP has provided an advanced leadership development experience for emerging, mid-career agricultural leaders. All of our fellows come to the program with great leadership potential. The program provides tools to increase their self-awareness and set them on a path toward greater influence and leadership impact.

First Step Toward Lifelong Learning
Over the course of an intensive 17-month program, fellows are immersed in numerous topics, including leadership theory, effective communication, motivation, critical thinking, change management, emotional intelligence and other skills and tools that contribute to improved performance. Fellows engage in situations and discussions focused on complex social and cultural issues, providing them with an opportunity to build enhanced critical thinking skills that, combined with a broader perspective, help graduates guide creative solutions throughout their lives.

In addition, individualized executive coaching and personal assessment instruments provide focus on fellows’ strengths and areas for growth through the development of goals and strategies for growth and improvement.

A Life-Changing Experience
In addition, individualized executive coaching and personal assessment instruments provide focus on fellows’ strengths and areas for growth through the development of goals and strategies for growth and improvement.
(Programs / About the Program)

Learning Focus at Partner Universities (Programs / About the Program)

Monthly seminars rotate between our four partner universities. With a different focus at each university, the seminars provide an integrated and comprehensive curriculum. Many of these themes and topics are threaded and reinforced throughout the fellowship across various
seminars.

FOCUS:
Managing conflict through effective communication, power and privilege, community
leadership.

FELLOWS WILL:
Adopt and practice crucial conversation skills and develop self-awareness in managing
conflict.

Engage in curriculum focused on building awareness about power and privilege, including how we get it, how we use it, why understanding it is important to our leadership growth, and how it can be used to positively influence people, situations and change.

Learn how to better engage in the political process by developing a more thorough understanding of the state legislative process.

Explore the value of servant leadership via up-close examination of Sacramento-area service programs.

FOCUS:
Managing conflict through effective communication, power and privilege, community
leadership.

FELLOWS WILL:
Adopt and practice crucial conversation skills and develop self-awareness in managing
conflict.

Engage in curriculum focused on building awareness about power and privilege, including how we get it, how we use it, why understanding it is important to our leadership growth, and how it can be used to positively influence people, situations and change.

Learn how to better engage in the political process by developing a more thorough understanding of the state legislative process.

Explore the value of servant leadership via up-close examination of Sacramento-area service programs.

FOCUS:
Managing conflict through effective communication, power and privilege, community
leadership.

FELLOWS WILL:
Adopt and practice crucial conversation skills and develop self-awareness in managing
conflict.

Engage in curriculum focused on building awareness about power and privilege, including how we get it, how we use it, why understanding it is important to our leadership growth, and how it can be used to positively influence people, situations and change.

Learn how to better engage in the political process by developing a more thorough understanding of the state legislative process.

Explore the value of servant leadership via up-close examination of Sacramento-area service programs.

FOCUS:
Managing conflict through effective communication, power and privilege, community
leadership.

FELLOWS WILL:
Adopt and practice crucial conversation skills and develop self-awareness in managing
conflict.

Engage in curriculum focused on building awareness about power and privilege, including how we get it, how we use it, why understanding it is important to our leadership growth, and how it can be used to positively influence people, situations and change.

Learn how to better engage in the political process by developing a more thorough understanding of the state legislative process.

Explore the value of servant leadership via up-close examination of Sacramento-area service programs.

The California Agricultural Leadership Foundation offers three educational exchange programs that serve a dual purpose: (Programs / Exchange Program)

to educate public officials about the agricultural industry and its challenges and to provide agriculturalists with the opportunity to understand public policy implementation and the decision-making process. The exchanges intend to raise awareness through education, and to foster better communication between the regulating community and the regulated community.

1

Washington, D.C. Educational Fellowship Program

LEARN MORE
2

California Educational Fellowship Program

LEARN MORE
3

California Counties Educational Fellowship

LEARN MORE

Washington, D.C. Educational Fellowship Program

The Washington, D.C. Educational Fellowship Program (also known as D.C. Exchange) is organized and hosted by the Ag Leadership Alumni Council. It brings together
government representatives – from congressional staff to federal agency employees – for an in-depth and significant learning opportunity.

The goal is to educate D.C.-based decision makers about current issues and complex challenges facing California’s agriculturalists, and to foster open communication between those producing our agricultural products with federal entities. More than
400 individuals have participated since the D.C. Exchange began in 1982. As a participant in this program, fellows will join up to 20 people to travel for one week to a designated region of California and take part in issues-based activities and hands-on agricultural experiences. One-on-one talks, small group discussions, expert panels and site visits will enhance understanding of priority topics that might include water, crop protection, trade, environment, inspection and surveillance, farm worker housing, food safety, immigration, imports/exports and transportation. In addition, participants will get a valuable personal view of agriculture by staying with agricultural families.
(Programs / About the Program)

Resources/Quicklinks

Program FAQs Application Process Contact Us

SUBHEAD

Alumni Directory & Class Rosters

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(Alumni)

View Alumni Directory

View Class Rosters

Get Involved

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Contact Us

An advisory committee to the Foundation Board of Directors, the Alumni council supports our over 1,300 alumni in connection through lifelong leadership learning opportunities, regional events, conferences, as well as ways to support the fellowship program. This council also supports the Board with fund development and other strategic priorities. (Alumni / Alumni Council)

Alumni Council Interim Executive Committee (Alumni / Alumni Council)

Heather Mulholland / Interim Chair

Class 44

Read Bio

Bill Van Skike / Past Chair

Class 32

Read Bio

Jason Cole / Board Liaison

Class 42

Read Bio

Alumni Council Regional Directors (Alumni / Alumni Council)

Region 1

Kelly Mora

Class 48

Read Bio

Region 2

Taylor Serres

Class 49

Read Bio

Region 3

Tom Merwin

Class 44

Read Bio

Region 4

Yvonne Sams

Class 45

Read Bio

Region 5

James Ewart

Class 49

Read Bio

Region 6

Ian LeMay

Class 48

Read Bio

Region 7

Anthony Bozzano

Class 43

Read Bio

Region 8

Lucas Espericueta

Class 45

Read Bio

Region 9

Luis Calderon

Class 49

Read Bio

Region 10

John Dmytriw

Class 49

Read Bio

Region 11

Ellen Way

Class 28

Read Bio
Upcoming Alumni Events

Class Liaison | Deceased*

Jump to Class Year

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1

Class Liaison: Ralph De Leon

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2

Class Liaison: Jerry Diefenderfer

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3

Class Liaisons: Michael Campbell & Gus Collin

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4

Class Liaison: Gene Lundquist

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5

Class Liaison: Peter Dinkler

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6

Class Liaison: Bill Chandler

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7

Class Liaison: Roger Wood

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8

Class Liaison: John Muller

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9

Class Liaison: Peggy (McLaughlin) Perry

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10

Class Liaison: Gary Hester

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11

Class Liaison: Jacquie Williams-Courtright

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12

Class Liaison: Maxwell Norton

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13

Class Liaison: David Viviani

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14

Class Liaison: Caroline Berry

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15

Class Liaison: Mark Burrell

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16

Class Liaison: Philip Bowles

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17

Class Liaison: Mary Ann Warmerdam

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18

Class Liaison: Thomas Mulholland

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19

Class Liaison: Danny Merkley

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20

Class Liaison: Vacant

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21

Class Liaison: Debbie Hurley

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22

Class Liaison: John Weiler

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23

Class Liaison: Vacant

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24

Class Liaison: Libby Ouellette

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25

Class Liaison: Cherie Watte Angulo

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26

Class Liaison: Julie Spezia

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27

Class Liaison: Jack Coots

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28

Class Liaison: Jeff Colombini

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29

Class Liaison: Sandy Creighton-Fiack

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30

Class Liaison: Nomie Kautz

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31

Class Liaison: Peggy McNutt

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32

Class Liaison: Deanna van Klaveren

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33

Class Liaison: Julie Morris

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34

Class Liaison: Tricia Stever Blattler

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35

Class Liaison: Theresa (Ward) Becchetti

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36

Class Liaison: Kevin Steward

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37

Class Liaison: Beth Knudsen

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38

Class Liaison: Nicole Hayden

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39

Class Liaison: Rick Stark

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40

Class Liaison: Kandi Manhart-Belding

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41

Class Liaison: Dan Rodrigues

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42

Class Liaison: Nathan Dorn

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43

Class Liaison: Carson Britz

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44

Class Liaison: Justin Perino

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45

Class Liaison: Yvonne Sams

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46

Class Liaison: Gayle Holman

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47

Class Liaison: Jill Scofield

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48

Class Liaison: Paul Crout

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49

Class Liaison: Brean Bettencourt

See List
50

Class Liaison: Lindsey Liebig

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Our mission of "growing leaders who make a difference" depends on you. (Giving)

With your gift, you can be a part of creating successful leaders to positively impact California agriculture and the world.


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Plan Your Gift
Why Your Giving Matters

How to Make a Gift Now (Giving/Give Now)

ONLINE

Make a recurring or one-time gift online

BY PHONE

Call 831-585-1030

BY MAIL

Send your check to:
80 Garden Court, Ste 270
Monterey, CA 93940

Why Your Giving Matters

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Six reasons (and ways!) to give back

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What makes an ideal candidate?

California Agriculture Leadership

California Agriculture Leadership

California Agricultural
Leadership Foundation
80 Garden Court, Suite 270
Monterey, CA 93940
P 831-585−1030

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