Cultivating Civic Leadership and Community Stewardship
The Leadership Santa Maria Valley (LSMV) Steering Committee serves as the strategic and operational backbone of the Chamber’s premier leadership development program. Comprised of dedicated program alumni and local professional leaders, the committee ensures the program continues its long-standing legacy of "preparing tomorrow’s leaders today."
The committee is responsible for overseeing curriculum development, coordinating monthly topic days, mentoring the current cohort, and ensuring the program aligns with the Chamber’s broader mission of fostering community engagement and regional prosperity.
Advisory Committee Roles & Responsibilities
Advisory Committee members take a hands-on approach to managing and elevating the LSMV experience. Their core responsibilities include:
Curriculum & Topic Day Planning: Supporting class members with monthly topic day planning (such as Local Government, Agriculture, and Health & Human Services).
Legacy Project Oversight: Guiding and vetting the annual class project, ensuring it delivers measurable, long-term benefits to the Santa Maria Valley community.
Alumni Engagement: Fostering a robust network of LSMV graduates to ensure continued civic involvement long after graduation.
Program Sustainability: Assisting with recruitment, interviewing prospective candidates, and securing sponsorships to keep the program accessible and resilient.
Committee Selection Process
To maintain a balanced, diverse, and deeply committed leadership team, the Advisory Committee follows a structured, annual election process:
Eligibility: To ensure a firsthand understanding of the program’s values and workload, nominees must be graduates of Leadership Santa Maria Valley in good standing with the Chamber.
Nomination Period: Nominations and self-nominations open each spring. Alumni interested in shaping the next generation of local leaders submit an application detailing their professional background and vision for the program.
The Election Process: The sitting Advisory Committee initially reviews all applications to verify eligibility. If there are more qualified applicants than available spots on the committee, the final vote goes out to the broader LSMV alumni network to elect the incoming members.
Get Involved in the LSMV Advisory Committee
Steering the future of Leadership Santa Maria Valley is one of the most impactful ways to give back to the community and help cultivate the region's next generation of decision-makers.
Are you an LSMV alum ready to step into a leadership role? Contact Terri Oneschuck, LSMV Program Director, to learn more: terrio@santamaria.com or call (805) 925-2403 x 824