History of Leadership Santa Maria Valley

On November 16, 1994, Cary Gray and Jim Simmons, two graduates of other Central Coast community leadership programs met at the Garden Cafe in Orcutt to discuss the possibility of creating a leadership program in the Santa Maria Valley.

To their surprise, eighteen individuals from six other California leadership programs expressed an interest in being on the initial Board of Advisors to help define the new leadership program and mold it for the unique requirements of the Santa Maria Valley.

The new team began weekly meetings to develop a proposed budget and start curriculum development. They volunteered to speak at community forums to introduce the program and to begin the recruitment process for the Pioneer Class of 1995 which was scheduled to begin in February 1995.

The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce was approached to determine if it would consent to sponsor the new program. The Chamber's President/CEO, Robert Hatch, was very familiar with the leadership program concept and agreed to approach the Board of Directors for their support. The Chamber agreed. They would provide no direct financial support but would serve as the central hub to administratively guide the new program.

Time was of the essence, since the initial team-building retreat was set for late February 1995—only 101 days from conception to birth. The pace was so hectic that many important decisions, like the final budget, were concluded over a 2:00 a.m. breakfast meeting at Pappy's Restaurant. But vision with action prevailed—the community overwhelmingly supported the new program and 24 candidates began the program. They attended eleven months of intensive community discovery and enlightenment and graduated in December 1995 as the new program's first community trustees.