Photo Description: Panel participants from left to right included Whitney Robare, Deputy Director - Monterey Peninsula Airport District, Richelle Noroyan, Public Affairs Field Coordinator – CSDA, James Derbin, General Manager - Castroville CSD, Kelli Gutierrez, Clerk of the Board, Monterey County Mosquito Abatement District, and Felipe Melchor, General Manager, Monterey Regional Waste Management District aka ReGen Monterey
By: @Richelle Noroyan
As part of the Monterey Peninsula Chamber’s Business Insights Breakfast series, the Chamber partnered with CSDA to present a program focused on special districts. CSDA Coastal Network Public Affairs Field Coordinator Richelle Noroyan opened the program by providing an overview of special districts, including their role in local government, the services they provide, and how they are governed. Following the presentation, a panel of representatives from four special districts discussed the services their agencies provide to the community.
Special district panelists included Whitney Robare, Deputy Director of the Monterey Peninsula Airport District; James Derbin, General Manager of the Castroville Community Services District; Kelli Gutierrez, Clerk of the Board for the Monterey County Mosquito Abatement District; and Felipe Melchor, General Manager of the Monterey Regional Waste Management District, also known as ReGen Monterey.
The special event was held June 11 in the Ferrante Room at the Monterey Marriott, which offers expansive views of Monterey Bay. Attendees received a program that included information about special districts, as well as a list of special districts providing services in Monterey County. In addition to local business leaders, representatives from the office of Senator John Laird attended. Staff representing the Monterey Board of Supervisors included Jane Parker, Kimberly Craig, and Marilyn Viera.
This was the first time a program focused on special districts was presented as part of a Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce event. CSDA and the chamber collaborated on the program to increase awareness among the business community about the role special districts play in local governance and the essential services they provide to residents and businesses.
In response to the event, Monica Lal, CEO of the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce said, “Our mission at the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce is to support member success, promote the regional economy, and we do this with partners like the CSDA. Special Districts play an incredibly important role in our county, and it is important to provide platforms for our businesses, government agencies, non-profits, and community members to gather and share information.”
As part of CSDA’s grassroots development and engagement, as well as efforts to raise awareness and understanding of special districts, CSDA Public Affairs Field Coordinators strategically meet and build relationships with local and reginal leaders across the state, including chambers of commerce. If your special district or your CSDA-affiliated chapter is interested in learning more, contact your CSDA Public Affairs Field Coordinator.
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