Workshop #9 Recap

“Leadership and learning are indispensible to each other.” John F. Kennedy

Government Day informed, influenced, and inspired the Class of 2017 throughout a day at the Newport Beach Civic Center.

Ryan Painter, Community Services Supervisor, City of Irvine, Steve Knollmiller, Program Coordinator High School Youth Action Team, City of Irvine, and three Irvine area high school seniors, informed on the impact of City funded positions (including for high school students) managing student activities with a budget of $650,000 per year.

Maj. Gen. Andrew W. O’Donnell Jr. – US Marine Corp., Retired, inspired with his reflections on his long career both as a Marine One pilot, and as the Commanding Officer of Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1.)

Mary Locey, City of Newport Beach Public Information Specialist (Class of ’16,) hosted a tour of the Civic Center detailing its state of the art environment designed to maximize workplace efficiency, and Katie Eing, Newport Beach Emergency Services Coordinator, presented a sobering overview of emergency preparedness in the Newport Beach Civic Center Emergency Command Center – including discussion of earthquake and other disaster vulnerabilities and how the City strives to protect its citizenry.

Highlights of the day included candid panels with influential Mayors and City Managers moderated by Steven Rosansky, President and CEO of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce (Class of ’02,) including Costa Mesa Mayor Katrina Foley, Irvine Mayor Don Wagner, Newport Beach Mayor Kevin Muldoon, and Tustin Mayor Dr. Allan Bernstein and City Managers Tom Hatch, City of Costa Mesa, Sean Joyce, City of Irvine, Dave Kiff, City of Newport Beach, and Jeff Parker, City of Tustin.

Along the way the Class picked up lots Government Day “swag” including Police and Fire Department Challenge Coins and City of Tustin and City of Newport Beach totes of goodies.