William Kearney, Co-Chair
A native Californian, William Kearney graduated from UCLA in 1971 with a bachelor’s degree in economics. Following a four-year managerial position with a paper recycling plant, he joined Merrill Lynch in 1975. During his career with Merrill Lynch, Bill has coordinated private placements for the West Coast, functioned as the Sales Director for offices from Encino to San Luis Obispo and served on the National Advisory to Merrill Lynch Management. In 2004, Bill was honored with the Merrill Lynch Lifetime Achievement Award.
In addition to serving on many non-profit boards, Bill has served as the president of six different Ventura County charitable organizations: Casa Pacifica, Ventura County Taxpayers Association, Rubicon Theatre Company, Ventura Rotary Club, the CSU Channel Islands Foundation Board and the Foundation Board for the Community Memorial Health System. Over the years, Bill has received several service honors: the Milton M. Teague Award from the United Way, the Guardian Angel Award from Casa Pacifica, the Larry and Barbara Meister Community Service Award, the Robert J. Lagomarsino Award for higher education, and the Dr. Cephas Bard Community Leadership Award from the Community Memorial Health System. In 2011, Bill and his wife, Elise, were named Ventura County Philanthropists of the year by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Most recently, during the graduation ceremony in May 2015, Bill was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from California State University at Channel Islands for his service to the University.
Richard Rush, PhD, Vice Chair
Richard R. Rush became president of California State University Channel Islands in June 2001.Before arriving at CI, President Rush spent nine years as president of Minnesota State University (MSU), Mankato, where he created ties between MSU and regional industry, the local community, and civic leaders. Prior to that, Mr. Rush played a key role in the founding of CSU San Marcos while serving as Vice President in Charge and, subsequently, as Executive Vice President.
Mr. Rush serves or has served on the boards of the Economic Development Cooperative – Ventura County, Camarillo Chamber of Commerce, Community Memorial Hospital, Casa Pacifica, California Campus Compact, and American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) Council of State Representatives, among others. In addition, he serves as Chair of the P-20 Regional Council for the Improvement of College Attendance and Success which focuses on improving the college-going rates of students, particularly from communities with historically low participation. He lives in Camarillo with his wife, Jane. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in English Renaissance Literature and Master of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Mike Sedell, Treasurer
Mike Sedell retired in 2012 from the position of City Manager with the City of Simi Valley, California, a position he had held with the unanimous support of his City Councils for 17 years. Prior to that Mike had served as Simi Valley’s Assistant City Manager, Deputy City Manager, and various other City administrative positions for a total of 37 years with the City. In addition, Mike had left the City and served as Chief of Staff to Congressman (and former Simi Valley Mayor) Elton Gallegly in Washington D.C. and in California from 1986-1990.
Mike holds a Bachelor Degree in Political Science and Urban Studies from Cal State Northridge, and received his Masters Degree in Public Administration from USC in 1975. For many years, Mike also taught a seminar in Intergovernmental Relations with Cal State Northridge’s Master of Public Administration program.
In 2013, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors unanimously appointed Mike to a Trustee position on the County’s Retirement Association Board, a nine Member Board which is responsible for the oversight and investment of over $4.2 billion of retirement funds on behalf of the County and its employees. He also currently serves as Past Chair of the Ventura County Health Clinic Oversight Board and has been a long-term Board Member and Past Chair of the Board of Interface Children/Family Services.
Born and raised in West Los Angeles, Mike came to Simi Valley in 1972 and currently resides there. His wife of 37 years passed away in 2015 and he has a son who is an attorney and lives in Seattle.
Jessica Arciniega, Secretary
Jessica received her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Pitzer College. Formerly an associate at Wasserman, Comden, Casselman and Esenten, LLP, Jessica has now been an Assistant General Counsel at the Agricultural Labor Relations Board since 2012. Jessica is also formerly a board member of MICOP (the Mixteco Indigenous Community Organizing Project).
Betsy Chess
Born into a pioneer Santa Paula ranching family, Betsy Blanchard Chess grew up with a desire to understand and preserve Ventura County agriculture. She has a keen awareness and respect for the contributions of the past as they enrich the future. She continues her family’s deep commitment to community involvement and support.
She has written extensively on Ventura County agricultural and business history and in 1988 became editor and publisher of The Broadcaster Magazine for the Farm Bureau of Ventura County. In 2004, the magazine was expanded to include Santa Barbara County and renamed Central Coast Farm & Ranch. She retired from the magazine in 2013. Betsy has had a concurrent career as an arts manager and volunteer. She has been Executive Director of New West Symphony, interim ED for the Rubicon Theatre and Director of Development for MVC. As a volunteer she most was most recently president of the Ventura Music Festival. In 2017 Betsy joined the board of the Limoneira Company, only the third woman on the board in the company’s 123-year history.
In 2014, Chess was named Ventura County Volunteer of the Year by the Association of Fundraising Professionals of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties and was one of the recipients of the Ventura County Star’s 25 over 50 award.
David Fukutomi
David Fukutomi, a prominent government and private sector consultant specializing in security and emergency management, has recently been appointed as a member of Community Memorial Health System’s Board of Trustees. Fukutomi has held several consulting positions in a career spanning over 20 years. His government service has included stints with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. He has served as a consultant to various government agencies including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S Department of Veterans Affairs and State of California.
A Camarillo resident, Fukutomi also has served in management positions with national firms and is adjunct staff at the Naval Postgraduate School, Center for Homeland Defense and Security, where he leads the Center’s Pacific Executive Leaders Program.
Fukutomi also serves as board president of Pier into the Future, the Ventura Pier’s nonprofit organization.
Dr. Sevet Johnson, PsyD
Dr. Sevet Johnson has served as the Chief Executive Officer for the County of Ventura since March 2022, being officially appointed in August of that year.
Dr. Johnson joined the County in 2009 and most recently served as the Chief Deputy Director of the County’s Health Care Agency prior to serving as the Interim County Executive Officer. She oversees 27 County agencies and departments with an operating budget of $2.7 billion and over 10,000 staff members. As part of her duties, Dr. Johnson also serves as the Ex-Officio Clerk of the Board. By trade, she is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and previously served as the Director of the County’s Behavioral Health Department overseeing the County Mental Health Plan, serving approximately 18,000 clients annually through outpatient services. She enjoys supporting the Board of Supervisors in implementing policy throughout the various agencies to benefit the County.
Leslie Leavens
Leslie is Vice President of Finance and Operations for her family’s farming company, Leavens Ranches LLC, growers of lemons and avocados in Ventura and Monterey Counties, and wine grapes in the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation of Monterey County. She serves on a number of ag industry-related boards, including Saticoy Lemon Association, House Farm Workers!, Farmers Irrigation and Alta Mutual Water Company. She is a past president of the Farm Bureau of Ventura County, a graduate of the California Ag Leadership Program and the University of California, Los Angeles.
Leslie’s interest and commitment to the Museum of Ventura County began several decades ago. She was a member of the Museum’s Fine Arts Committee from 1988 – 2010 and served on the Board of Directors from 1997 to 2003. She is currently a member of the Ag Museum Advisory Council.
Al Lowe
Al Lowe has lived, worked, and thrived in Camarillo for over 40 years. His physician father and his mother were extremely philanthropic. They raised him with a deep faith, a loving heart, a strong work ethic, and a desire to give to others!
Al received his BA in Civil Engineering and later earned his Professional Engineering Certification. He has been a General Contractor for over 38 years and is Founder/President of Al Lowe Construction.
Al is passionate about community service and has served on the Board of Directors for Casa Pacifica Centers for Children and Families, Camarillo Chamber of Commerce, Food Share and the Alliance for the Arts Board of Directors. He currently serves on the Camarillo Health Care District Advisory Panel and the Camarillo Hospice Advisory Panel. Al is a member and past President of the Camarillo Rotary Club. He founded and Co-Chaired the Care for Kids Golf Classic, raising over 1.4 million dollars to benefit Casa Pacifica Centers for Children and Families. Al is dearly loved and supported by his wife, Petra, his five grown children, and his amazing seven grandchildren. He loves to travel and is an avid sports enthusiast. He is grateful everyday to live in this beautiful community, filled with treasured family, friends, and endless opportunities!
Sarah McCarthy-Garcia
Partner and Chief Creative Officer at McCarthy Companies, a leading residential development and general contracting firm. Sarah’s core competencies include creating and executing strategies that attract and retain opportunities for McCarthy to deliver high-quality, sustainable, and livable spaces for clients. She specializes in managing the company’s sales, marketing, and business development functions, and she is passionate about the creative residential design process and crafting vibrant communities that enhance the quality of life for residents and stakeholders. Sarah collaborates with diverse teams of professionals, partners, and clients to explore innovative solutions for the evolving needs and challenges of the market.
Gabriella Navarro-Busch
Gabriella Navarro-Busch is an Immigration attorney based in Ventura, CA.
Before she began her legal practice, Ms. Navarro-Busch worked for the Oxnard Police Department for twenty-three years, first as a 911 Dispatcher and completing that career as Communications Manager, overseeing the operations of the Emergency/911 Communications Center.
Ms. Navarro-Busch is a former President of the Ventura County chapter of the Mexican-American Bar Association, past Board Member for the Ventura County Bar Association and a former member of the Board of Trustees for the Colleges of Law of Ventura and Santa Barbara. She was the 2004 recipient of the State Bar of California President’s Pro Bono Service Award. She has been a consulting attorney for the Mexican Consulate in Oxnard since 2002 and a Member of the Board of Directors for California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA) since 2009.
Ms. Navarro-Busch is the referred attorney for several domestic violence shelters in the county whose clients qualify for immigration relief under the Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA) or under U-visa protections.
Jim Scanlon
Hailing from Santa Rosa Valley, Jim Scanlon has a prodigious background in business, with a focus on financial planning, sales, and strategic development. For nearly a decade, Scanlon has led myriad operations at Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., balancing his commercial success with his dedication to philanthropy and community wellbeing. During his tenure as CEO of Scanlon, Guerra, Burke Insurance Brokers, Jim Scanlon grew the business to more than $100 million in sales, rocketing the family operation to become one of the largest and most successful privately held insurance brokers in Southern California. With his dedication to ethical business practices and meaningful client relationships, Scanlon brings decades of professional integrity and business acumen to MVC’s board.
Julie Tumamait-Stenslie
Deeply rooted in her Chumash heritage, Julie serves as a cultural resource consultant and is renowned for her cultural education programs throughout Ventura County. With ancestral ties to at least 11 Chumash villages, Julie is a respected board member of the Ojai Valley Museum and actively contributes to MVC’s accessions committee. Living in Ojai for most of her life, Julie, along with her husband and three children, is committed to preserving and sharing her cultural heritage. Her invaluable insights will play a crucial role in the Museum’s efforts to promote inclusivity and cultural diversity.