Leadership Santa Cruz County

05/27/2026

This month, Class 39 explored the south county arts and culture scene - and what an incredible day!

Walking downtown, seeing live performances, hearing from local artists, filmmakers, and city leaders... it's a good reminder of how much creativity is woven into this county and how much it matters for our communities.🎨

Special thanks to Tom Brezny at Brezsny Associates Coastal Real Estate Expertise, Janet Janssen, Coach, Trainer, Public Speaker, Jennifer Mount Consulting, for their sponsorships!

05/02/2026

Congratulations to UC Santa Cruz for ranking #2 in Surfer Magazine's Top 10 Surf Colleges in America

"Surrounded by some of the most famed (and diverse) surf spots in the world, UCSC may be cold, but it’s also the capital of consistency. The campus, situated among the redwoods in the hills overlooking the Santa Cruz coast, is just a five-minute drive to the breaks on the west side, and not too much farther to more breaks on the east side."

Discover the top 10 colleges for surfers, combining great waves with excellent academics.

04/24/2026

This is a great conversation between Eric Lombardo of the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County and Jonathan Hicken of the Seymour Marine Discovery Center highlighting the interconnectednes of environmental protection, business, and public health.

Eric, a graduate of Leadership Santa Cruz County (Class 38), works with non-profits, for-profit businesses, and government to create win-win-win outcomes for our community. One of the themes we focus on at LSCC is how we can leverage cross-sector relationships to advance multiple goals simultaneously.

8 likes, 1 comment. "Tunnels, Timber, and Trails: The Balancing Act of the Santa Cruz Wild with Eric Lombardo"

04/21/2026

The application window for Leadership Santa Cruz County's 40th cohort closes this Friday, April 24th at 11:59 PM!
Link in comments 👇

If you or someone you know are in a leadership role and want to connect with leaders in our community, learn about our county, and hone leadership skills along the way, we hope that you/they will apply.

Participants commit to and orientation, a 2-day retreat, and 9 Fridays from August through June. There is a detailed description of the program and topics on our website.

Alums consistently report that the Leadership Santa Cruz County experience and relationships changed their lives, career and understanding of the community. Join us!

04/16/2026

Class 39's Health & Human Services Day centered on the theme of "Meeting Basic Needs," engaging participants for a full day of immersive learning about the critical social and health challenges facing the region. The day wove together expert panels on homelessness and vulnerable populations, a deep dive into the local healthcare system, hands-on volunteer work at Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz, and tours of nonprofit service organizations — all designed to give emerging community leaders a ground-level understanding of how Santa Cruz County addresses food insecurity, housing instability, immigration issues, maternal and child health, and access to medical care for its most at-risk residents.

"We are meeting with health and human providers at a moment of crisis. Food insecurity is skyrocketing, health systems are vulnerable, childcare is being cut, and enforcement is terrifying community members and impacting the local economy," said Executive Director Ryan Coonerty.

The success of Health & Human Services Day would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. We are deeply grateful to Sutter Health, Network Remedy, and Food What?! for their commitment to leadership development and the well-being of our Santa Cruz County community.

04/03/2026

Leadership Santa Cruz County Class 39 had the privilege of going truly outstanding in the field today - touring Driscoll's berry production at Sheehy Ranch in Watsonville and hearing from two remarkable professionals:

Sam Cooley, Senior Agronomist, Driscoll's Northern Region and Eric Peterson, District Manager, Driscoll's Northern Region. They shared the science, strategy, and passion behind growing one of the world's most beloved berry brands.

Santa Cruz County's agricultural roots run deep, and experiences like this remind our cohort why understanding ALL sectors of our community - from the boardroom to the berry row - makes for more connected, empathetic leaders.

Special thank you to our generous day sponsor, Santa Cruz Community Credit Union - your investment in leadership development makes days like this possible.

Photo by Elana Solon, Class 37

03/16/2026

Local government doesn't make headlines the way Washington does. But it's where the roads get paved, the water gets treated, the libraries stay open, and the parks get built.

For Local Government Day, Leadership Santa Cruz County's Class 39 spent the day in Scotts Valley diving deep into how local government actually works - budgets, infrastructure, decision-making, and the art of effective advocacy. They heard from county and city leaders, met the people managing our region's critical systems, and learned from alumni who've taken their civic engagement from classroom to council chambers.

At its best, local government is where democracy is least broken. It's accessible, it's improvable, and it rewards people who show up informed and ready to engage.

That's exactly what we're training.

Thank you to our sponsors who make this work possible: Montalvo Homes & Estates, Bay Federal Credit Union, CyAs Tech, Bruno's Bar and Grill and the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce

03/10/2026

Earlier this class year, the cohort gathered for Housing & Economics Day to examine how shifts in housing and economics are reshaping our region. The day began with an exploration of the history of housing and economic policy in Santa Cruz County, followed by tours of downtown development projects and discussions on urban activation and expansion plans.

Participants engaged in meaningful conversations about housing density, the future of development in the area, and the balance between state mandates and local control over land use. The afternoon featured a neighborhood design exercise and tours highlighting the region's economic transition from the 20th to 21st century.

Special thanks to our generous sponsors and hosts who made this comprehensive day possible: Santa Cruz Warriors and Karon Properties

03/05/2026

Seats are filling fast for the Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership Visit to Napa and Sonoma Counties on March 26th & 27th!

Here's an opportunity to join fellow Santa Cruz professionals for two days of engaging discussions on tourism and economic development, conversations with regional housing, workforce, and transportation leaders, guided site visits highlighting downtown placemaking and infrastructure, and curated networking with wine business leaders at Sonoma State University.

Registration includes all travel, hosted meals, and an overnight stay at the River Terrace Inn along the Napa River in the heart of downtown Napa.
Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are limited. Don't miss your chance to connect, learn, and experience the best of Wine Country. Register today at bit.ly/ChamberCLV

The Santa Cruz Area Chamber has been a longstanding supporter of our Leadership program. ✨

Seats are filling fast for the Chamber Community Leadership Visit to Napa and Sonoma Counties this March!

Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are limited, and you will not want to miss this chance to connect with regional leaders, explore innovative economic development strategies, and experience the best of Wine Country with fellow Santa Cruz professionals.

Do not miss out! Register today to secure your spot at bit.ly/ChamberCLV 🍇

03/02/2026

Applications are now open for the 40th class of Leadership Santa Cruz County! If you or someone you know are in a leadership role and want to connect with leaders in our community, learn more about our county, and hone leadership skills along the way, we're hoping that you/they will apply.

LSCC participants must commit to 9 Fridays and a two-day retreat from August 2026 through June 2027. There is a detailed description of the program, topics, and class dates at leadershipsantacruzcounty.org/program. The deadline to apply is Friday, April 24, 2026. Apply now at leadershipsantacruzcounty.org/apply.

Partial scholarships are available. We are committed to ensuring that the class reflects the diversity of our county in every way.

Alums consistently report that the Leadership Santa Cruz County experience and relationships changed their lives, career, and understanding of the community. Join us!