GILROY
– The Strand, an old presence with a new image in downtown, was
the befitting site for a reception and ceremony honoring 19
graduates of the 2003 Leadership Gilroy Program.
GILROY – The Strand, an old presence with a new image in downtown, was the befitting site for a reception and ceremony honoring 19 graduates of the 2003 Leadership Gilroy Program. The evening marked the culmination of nine months of intensive training in community awareness, leadership and networking.
“The program is about developing people to be leaders in the community, as well as in their own organizations,” said Bob Kraemer, current board president. “They learn about their capabilities and interests and create a network by working together.”
Leadership Gilroy, founded in 1996, has successfully graduated six classes and more than 120 students.
Louis Sandoval, a 2003 graduate and past president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, joined the program to acquaint himself with resources in Gilroy so he could better serve in local groups.
“With the Leadership Gilroy education, I can see everyone’s views – from public works, to health, to education – and I can base my decisions on more than just my one-sided input,” Sandoval said.
Participants said the team-oriented projects also lead to valuable and lasting friendships.
“The friendships I’ve built through people in the program have been great – it’s a good networking tool, which was a surprise,” said Christopher Montoya, graduate and owner of Gilroy Health & Fitness and Out & About magazine. He added that the program was a “good stepping stone” to getting involved in the community. Having lived in Gilroy only three years, it accelerated his learning process about the community.
Arminta Jensen, owner of Ruggeri-Jensen-Azar & Associates, a civil engineering firm, agreed.
“The things you learn about the community and how it works – both the knowledge and the relationships– are extremely valuable,” she said.
Keynote speaker Susan Valenta, executive director for the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce, which works supportively with Leadership Gilroy, likened leadership to “the collective synergy that makes positive change while continuing to achieve a balance.”
Presenting the 2003 class project were Kristi Abrams, traffic engineer for the City of Gilroy, and Suzanne St. John, executive director for CMAP. St. John played the documentary video she and classmates produced through CMAP that filmed the class restoring the Youth Center at Gilroy’s San Ysidro Park. The video, “Painting the Future of Gilroy,” can be viewed on CMAP’s Channel 20.
Jay Baksa, city administrator and a founding member, says the program is open to anyone with a serious interest in developing their leadership skills within the community. Half of the tuition, $850, is paid for by the individual or a sponsoring employer, organization or agency. The other half is funded by donations.
