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Sept. 14 — Ventura County Civic Alliance — Registration now open for ‘Future of the Region Conference’ with guest speaker Fernando Torres-Gil, PhD

by Community Contributor • January 1, 2026 • Comments Off

Future of the Region Conference

MEET OUR PANELISTS

Phil Buttell

CEO, Los Robles Health System

In addition to overseeing Los Robles Health System, a 386-bed Level II trauma center, Mr. Buttell serves as a board member of the Hospital Association of Southern Calif. and is the chair for Ventura County. He has a long career in healthcare around the country.

Drew Powers

City Manager, Thousand Oaks

Mr. Powers has served as Thousand Oaks City Manager for 10 years and prior to that worked in the City Manager’s Office in Ventura. He has guided the city through major economic expansions, including the growth of the regional biotech sector.

Lauren Arzu

Executive Director

First 5 Ventura County

As executive director, Ms. Arzu works alongside community partners to strengthen systems for young children and their families. First 5 works to ensure children from prenatal to age 5 reach their full potential.

Danielle Montoya, Ph.D.

Office of Medicaid Evaluation

Virginia Commonwealth University

Dr. Montoya, a local resident, will share the perspective of young professionals facing the challenges of housing affordability, finding high-quality jobs, starting a family, and remaining in the region.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Fernando Torres-Gil, PhD

is a nationally recognized expert and researcher on aging, gerontology, healthcare, demographics and politics.

Dr. Torres-Gil is a Professor of Social Welfare and Public Policy at UCLA, Director of the UCLA Center for Policy Research on Aging, and an Adjunct Professor of Gerontology at USC.

He has been appointed by three U.S. Presidents to serve on various committees including the Federal Council on Aging and served as the first ever U.S. Assistant Secretary on Aging in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Locally, he has previously served as:

vice president of the Los Angeles City Planning Commission, board member of the Los Angeles Harbor Commission,

board member of the Los Angeles Airport Commission, and

board member of the California Endowment.

Monday, September 14

Schedule:

8:30 – 9:00 Registration and networking

9:00 – 10:00 Welcome and keynote address

10:00 – 10:55 Panel Presentation

10:55 – 11:00 Concluding remarks

V.C. Office of Education Conference Center

5100 Adolfo Road, Camarillo