(Essential Elements continued)
to Sacramento, cabinet level individuals, policy stakeholders, to educators, to faculty, to all segments of higher education. We needed to do a better job of telling our story as a Valley.” With the first Essential Elements event, The Very Last Drop: Managing Water and Food Production, in March 2014 that process of gathering leaders to discuss big topics and find ways to act on them began. Two more events followed in June and November of 2014— Energizing the Valley and Generating Jobs and Trading Partners: Export Evolution, Logistics and Valley Economic Development— focused on job creation and trade logistics respectively. Representatives from groups both public and private attended: the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the USDA, Merill Lynch, the Governor’s Office, the University of California, and Chevron included. The slate of speakers was equally impressive for Shifting Ground. Lynda Resnick, Vice-Chair and Co-Owner of The Wonderful Company,
Council of Northern California; and Glenda Humiston, Vice President
discussed how her company worked to create new pathways to
of the University of California Division of Ag and Natural Resources.
college and careers in the Central Valley through philanthropy.
Three panels were held throughout the day, each focusing on a
“It’s our long standing belief that doing well by doing good is what
to take a little bit of vision, some positivity and some leadership.” Houston emphasized the need to attract talented workers and to educate the workforce. Russell Teall, President and Founder of
that can be taken when the conference is over. Tangible results have already been seen from the first three meetings. “The series has accomplished everything we hoped it would and
specific time frame. Panel One examined challenges and changes
BIODICO, commented on the role of biofuels. Dahlberg emphasized
business should be about,” she said. “We believe in giving back and
facing the Valley from 2015 to 2020, Panel Two tackled 2020 to 2030
the role of agriculture research and the need to secure sustainable
more,” Van Horn said. “We’ve seen new programs generated in ag
investing and collaborating with people and communities where our
and Panel Three offered projections for 2030 and beyond.
funding for it.
technology, renewables and trade and an increase in the number of
employees live and work.”
internships available to students. We’ve also seen an uptick in our
Panelists included Robert Tse, Chief Strategy Officer for the
The Wonderful Company sponsors a host of programs targeted
United States Department of Agriculture; Davena Witcher, Executive
toward supporting education in the Central Valley. Resnick estimated
Director for the Alliance for Medical Outreach and Relief; Joseph
that 55,000 students in 83 schools have been reached while 1,500
Castro, President of California State University, Fresno; Jim Houston,
college scholarships and 1,300 teacher grants have
Undersecretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture;
been awarded through Wonderful Education.
Robert Casamento, Energy Management Consultant for Deloitte; and
The company operates a charter school
Jeff Dahlberg, Director of the UC Kearney Agricultural Research and
in Delano, offers parent engagement
Extension Center.
programs, and summer camps focused on science and agriculture careers and has also done extensive philanthropic work in local communities. At the conference, presentations were also
One of the main points many speakers brought up was the necessity for industry, private and public partners to work together. Humiston spoke about the importance of building California’s
The EE goal is ‘to reach cabinet level individuals in Sacramento, policy stakeholders, educators, faculty…. (and) do a better job of telling our story as a Valley.’ — Stuart Van Horn, Vice Chancellor, WHCCD
Central Valley Slingshot initiative—which brings together employers and colleges to collaborate on curriculum development—and the AB86 adult education consortium, which is focused on providing short-term certification pathways for adult learners. WHCC’s recent Apps for Ag Hackathon, which brought six teams of software developers together to create mobile apps for use in agriculture, was another direct result of partnerships formed and ideas dreamed up through Essential Elements. need for a hopeful outlook.
jobs in agriculture. Casamento spoke about the Valley’s potential as a global hub for
WHCCD is involved in several regional initiatives, including the
One of the main takeaway ideas from Shifting Ground was the
funding and research infrastructure and of working to create more “It’s all about synergy and partnership,” she said.
participation in regional initiatives.”
Sponseller highlighted the changing landscape of healthcare, including growing concerns about patient privacy and excitement
“We’ve got to get out of the Valley funk and this feeling that we’ll always be second rate,” said Jack Gualco of The Gualco Group,
delivered by Joe Del Bosque,
agriculture technology and stressed the potential of the area as an
about new technologies—such as 3D printing—that could
Inc. “We need to have this sense of
California Water Commission
untapped source of innovation similar to Silicon Valley.
fundamentally change the field.
incubation in the Valley that calls on
member; Lance Donny, CEO of
“Why couldn’t this be the global hub of agriculture technology?”
OnFarm Services; Art Sponseller,
he said. “Why not create the Valley as the place of choice for students
the event could be. While each Essential Elements event revolves
together to try to force things to happen
who want to get an education and change the world? It’s just going
around discussion, the goal of each is also to produce action steps
differently. The opportunities are
President/CEO of the Hospital
The day concluded with a discussion around what the results of
colleges and private capital to work
tremendous.” Above left to right: Produce expert Michael Marks of Sacramento’s CBS13/CW31 television stations, Robert Tse, USDA, Jim Houston, California Department of Food and Agriculture and Lance Donny, CEO of OnFarm Services were among the many high profile speakers. Below right: Jack Gualco of the Gualco Group, Inc.
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West Hills magazine
Fall/Winter 2015-16
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