Workforce Development Board of Ventura County Adds 2 New Board Members

The Workforce Development Board (WDB) of Ventura County announced the addition of two new board members and the reappointment of two others to three-year terms. The Ventura County Board of Supervisors made the appointments official at its May 9 meeting.

The new board members are Sumantra Sengupta, MBA program director and management faculty member at California Lutheran University, and Dona Toteva Lacayo, director of business development at the Port of Hueneme/Oxnard Harbor District.

Sengupta has 25 years’ experience in operations and business development within agriculture, business services and the manufacturing sector. “Education must have an active seat on the board,” says Sengupta. “Our region is not creating as many jobs as it should. One way to attract new industries to the county is by having properly skilled, trained and educated workers to fill the job demand.“

Lacayo has over 16 years of experience in global logistics and transportation development. “By collaborating with other board members and members of the community, I hope to focus my efforts on economic development opportunities that will stimulate family-sustaining jobs in the region,” says Lacayo.

Reappointed were Victor Dollar, senior vice president of Brighton Management and past WDB chair, and Tony Skinner, executive secretary/treasurer of the Tri-Counties Building and Construction Trades Council.

“The WDB is a very hard working board,” says WDB Board Chair Jim Faul. “Members know that through their efforts they have a unique opportunity to have a positive impact on businesses, educational institutions and the labor force in Ventura County.”

The WDB also salutes retiring board members Barry Zimmerman (nine years), Director, Human Services Agency, Will Berg (nine years), Port of Hueneme City Council member, Martel Fraser (seven years), labor relations/recorder, United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 770 and Gerhard Apfelthaler (three years), dean and professor at the School of Management, California Lutheran University.

Members of the WDB include leaders from business, economic development, education, labor, government and community-based organizations.

About the Workforce Development Board of Ventura County

The Workforce Development Board administers federal funds that help to support American Job Center locations and other free adult, youth, and employer programs and services in Ventura County. For more information, call 800-500-7705 or visit www.workforceventuracounty.org.