CLU group elects new officers

(THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - March 17, 2011) California Lutheran University's Community Leaders Association installed its 2011 officers and board at a reception on March 16 at the Plug Nickel Restaurant in Westlake Village.

The newly elected officers of the CLA Board of Directors are President Barry Fisher, director of the County of Ventura Public Health Department; Vice President Leisa Contreras, budget analyst/coordinator of support services for the CLU School of Education; Recording Secretary Gary Gruman, vice president/senior commercial banker for Santa Barbara Bank & Trust; and Treasurer Jake Ganajian, senior vice president/commercial banking regional manager for Rabobank N.A.

The four new members of the board are Jim Gilmore of Thousand Oaks; Douglas Lies, senior vice president for City National Bank; CLU graduate student Nicky Ott of Simi Valley; and John Short, vice president for investments at UBS Financial Services. They join current members Brian Arth of Wells Fargo, Bernie Bauer of Integrated Lighting Concepts, retired banker Bruce Dart of Thousand Oaks, Valerie Vollmer of Plug Nickel Restaurant and Catering, and CLA Past President Jerry Halweg of Tile Institute of America.

Founded in 1963, CLA was developed to stimulate the community's interest in CLU's academic, athletic and cultural programs. Members organize fundraising and social events throughout the year to support academic departments and student scholarships. Since its founding, the organization has provided more than $1.8 million.

Upcoming CLA events include the Hats and High Tea Fundraiser on April 10 and the 11th Annual Golf Tournament on June 16. The organization also hosts a year-round online auction, a Kingsmen Shakespeare Night, tailgate parties and a variety of cultural outings.

For more information and links to the online auction, visit http://www.callutheran.edu/cla/.