Scott Owens Awarded John Wagenknecht Leadership Award

Scott Owens was awarded the John Wagenknecht Leadership Award at Leadership Napa Valley (LNV) Class 31’s graduation on May 24, 2018. Passionate, thoughtful, positive, encouraging, driven, kind, helpful, and friendly are just a few of the words his classmates used to describe him in making their selection. Scott “makes everyone feel included,” said one classmate. He is “a great ambassador for our community.” Scott currently serves as executive assistant to the president & CEO of the California Health Care Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing meaningful, measurable improvements in the way the health care delivery system provides care to the people of California.

Leadership Napa Valley established the John Wagenknecht Leadership Award to celebrate the achievements of the late John Wagenknecht, who launched Leadership Napa Valley in 1987 and served as the organization's first program coordinator. The annual award is presented to a member of the current class who exhibits a positive attitude, shows vision, is a team player and a resource for others, and makes it a priority to keep the class connected. The award is presented annually at the graduation ceremony by John’s son, and Napa County Supervisor Brad Wagenknecht.

Past Honorees include Angela Jackson (Class 30) , Jeni Olsen (Class 29), Kathy Glass (Class 28), Liz Alessio (Class 27), Mark Kuhnhausen (Class 26), Stephanie Kendall (Class 25), Julie Morales (Class 24), Rose Hari (Class 23), Mary and Jason Luros (Class 22), and Kathy Baird (Class 21).

Scott Owens graduated Class 31 with fellow classmates Jarret Anderson, Napa Fire Department Battalion Chief; Quinn Arntsen, Farella Braun + Martel Senior Associate; Lorna Barker, Director of Infinite Possibilities, Let the Magic Unfold; David Busby, Director, The Table; Elizabeth Cabell, Finance Manager, City of Napa; Roland Cavanagh, President, Roland R. Cavanagh, PE Inc.; Miryam Chae, Director, Direct Marketing, Constellation Brands; Jerry Curiel, General Manager, La Morenita Market; Michele Dahlberg, President, Friends of Scientopia; Linda Fine, Nonprofit Development and Communications Consultant; Jennifer Goodrich, Director of Sales & Account Management, Wineshipping; Marcia Hadeler, Realtor, Coldwell Banker; Allison Haley, Napa County District Attorney; Shannon Halikas, Promotions Manager, Treasury Wine Estates; Gary Hercules, Outreach Marketing Manager, Autodesk Inc.; Choolwe Kalulu, Director of Media, Napa Valley College; Peg Maddocks, Executive Director, NapaLearns; Liz Marks, Development Director, Mentis; Paul Martinez-Everett, Real Estate Agent, Windemere Napa Valley; Marie Matz, Farmworker Foundation Program, Napa Valley Grapegrowers; Christine McMillan, Owner, CM Destinations & Consulting; Becky Merry-Barrango, Senior Sales Manager, Leisure Sales, Visit Napa Valley; Katarina Mezeiova, Director of Finance, The Westin Verasa Napa; Courtney Murray Cortez, Director of Business Operations, Stony Hill Vineyard; Margaret Niland, Retired, Medtronic PLC; Molly Rattigan, Napa County Deputy County Executive Officer; Wes Salter, Mortgage Loan Originator/Loan Officer, Mortgage Solutions Incorporated; Shawn Smith, Staff Services Analyst – ITS, Napa County; and Corinne Weaver, Supervising Psychiatric Social Worker I, Napa State Hospital.

LNV is a nine-month program to identify, train and motivate current and future leaders. Participants come from many backgrounds including business, government, the professions, the arts, and the academic world. Participants strengthen their leadership and teamwork skills, learn ways to get involved in community life, and get a behind the scenes look at business and industry, government, education, social services, criminal justice, the arts, and hospitality.

About Leadership Napa Valley

Now in its 31st year, Leadership Napa Valley (LNV) began in 1987. The program annually selects class members from a diverse cross-section of Napa Valley applicants. During the nine-month program, class members develop leadership skills and learn teamwork and experience the many different pieces, from government to nonprofits that make Napa County such a special place to live. In the practicum portion of the program, they work in teams to develop meaningful projects intended to have a lasting positive impact on the community. Today, LNV is recognized as one of the best leadership training experiences in the country. To date, more than 800 people have graduated from the program with a deeper commitment to making Napa Valley a better place to live, work and grow.

LNV is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that relies on support from community members like you. To find out more about how to get involved, visit leadershipnapavalley.org.