CAMARILLO — Studio Channel Islands recently announced the addition of Mark Barney, Mary DiCesare and Bill Little to its board of directors. Barney, a partner with Ventura law firm Ferguson Case Orr Paterson (FCOP), specializes in transactional law, real estate and land use. DiCesare, director of accounts for Mayerson Marketing & Public Relations (MMPR), brings marketing, public relations and community outreach expertise to the SCI board. Little, a retired Camarillo city council member and former Camarillo city manager, brings many years’ experience working in and with local governments and nonprofit community organizations.
“We are excited to have Mark, Mary and Bill bring their varied areas of expertise to our board of directors,” said Edy Santangelo, SCI board chair. “Their experience will provide dynamic support and fresh ideas on ways we can advance the arts and arts education within the communities of Ventura County and beyond.”
As a partner at FCOP, Barney has more than 25 years of experience in transactional law and real estate and land use, working with business entities of all sizes, including corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, nonprofits, and mutual water companies. Prior to joining FCOP, Barney practiced transactional law at Vinton, Slivka & Panasci in Denver, Colorado, where he remains admitted to practice law, providing clients doing business in that state an opportunity for consistent representation. He also previously practiced at England, Whitfield, Schroeder & Tredway in Oxnard. Barney graduated from the Santa Clara University School of Law in 1989 and attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in English in 1989.A Newbury Park resident, Barney also volunteers his time with the Humane Society of Ojai and Emergency Animal Response (EARS).
With more than 20 years’ experience in the communications industry, DiCesare holds a master’s degree in graphic communications management and technology from New York University and a bachelor’s degree in journalism and public relations from the University of Rhode Island. As director of accounts at MMPR, DiCesare helps develop and implement strategic marketing and communication efforts for both public and private entities, including many nonprofit organizations wanting to increase visibility and expand their reach in Ventura County and surrounding regions. A resident of Newbury Park, DiCesare also serves on the City of Thousand Oaks Community Funding Review Committee. Prior to MMPR, she worked as a senior account executive for Bowne, Inc., an international financial printer, and as a copywriter for Scholastic, Inc. and CBS/Columbia House in New York, NY.
A Camarillo resident for 30 years, Little served as Camarillo city manager for 11 years, from 1989 to 2000, and as city council member from 2012 to 2016. He was responsible for resolving Camarillo’s challenging financial problems in the late 1980s, as well as bringing the Camarillo Outlets to the City. He also played a key role in the acquisition and restoration of the Camarillo Ranch property, an historical landmark and valuable community asset. As a council member and city manager, Little has been involved in numerous other projects and programs still benefiting Camarillo today. Little has served as a board member and officer in numerous community organizations, including the Camarillo Ranch Foundation, Friends of the Camarillo Library, Camarillo Boys & Girls Club and the St. John’s – Pleasant Valley Hospital Community Board. He has also served on the West Region Board of the New West Symphony and is a past member of Camarillo Noontime Rotary. He continues to serve on several Camarillo Chamber of Commerce committees.
Studio Channel Islands is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the arts and creative life within the communities of Ventura County, fostering connections between artists and visitors, and celebrating the cultural identity of our community. Ongoing programs include art classes for adults and children, providing studio space for professional artists, presenting diverse art shows in its Blackboard Gallery and providing community art and cultural events for individuals and families.
Gallery hours are Tues.–Fri., 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Located at 2222 E. Ventura Blvd., Camarillo, CA 93010. For more information, visit www.studiochannelislands.org, or call 805-383-1368.