Criminal and Legal Justice Day was an unforgettable, behind-the-scenes look at how public safety and justice work together in Napa County. The day kicked off with an introduction to local law enforcement agencies, giving participants a clear picture of how the agencies intersect to serve the community. We then toured the brand-new Napa County jail facility, gaining firsthand insight into modern corrections and rehabilitation efforts - followed by a much-appreciated lunch from Mother’s Tacos!
The afternoon featured powerful presentations from the Napa County Victim Witness Program and Judge Lind, highlighting the human impact of the justice system and the importance of accountability, compassion, and due process. The day wrapped with an engaging Q&A panel that brought it all together, featuring the Sheriff, Police Chief, Public Defender, Deputy District Attorney, and Judge Lind. Their candid discussion sparked thoughtful questions and real-world insight into leadership, ethics, and collaboration in government.
LNV participants left informed, inspired, and energized about civic leadership and public service.
Leadership Napa Valley (LNV) is pleased to announce upcoming Informational Mixer dates for individuals interested in applying to Class 39, our next cohort of community leaders.
Leadership Napa Valley is a premier leadership development program designed to connect, educate, and empower individuals to become more effective leaders in business, government, and community service. Through immersive, behind-the-scenes experiences and collaboration with a diverse group of participants, LNV equips leaders with the skills, insight, and relationships needed to help shape Napa Valley’s future.
Participants in Leadership Napa Valley will:
Gain insider insight into Napa Valley’s government, economy, and community
Build lasting relationships with a diverse and influential network of leaders and alumni
Develop critical leadership skills to drive meaningful change
Participate in hands-on projects that create real community impact
Whether you are a business professional, nonprofit leader, entrepreneur, or civic-minded resident, Leadership Napa Valley offers a unique opportunity to elevate your leadership and service.
Thursday, March 5 Napa Valley College – Wine Education Complex 2277 Napa Vallejo Highway, Napa
Thursday, March 12 Napa Valley Vintners 1475 Library Lane, St. Helena
Wednesday, March 25 Lucky Penny Productions 1758 Industrial Way #208, Napa
Those interested are encouraged to complete the Interest Form found on the APPLY TO LNV page to receive an invitation to attend an Informational Session and learn more about joining Leadership Napa Valley Class 39.
If Leadership Napa Valley has been meaningful to you, we invite you to share your experience and help spread the word.
Together, we’re building the next generation of Napa Valley leaders.
Shape the Future of Napa Valley — Join Leadership Napa Valley Class 39!
Do you know someone who’s passionate about Napa Valley and ready to make a lasting impact? Leadership Napa Valley (LNV) will soon begin accepting applications for Class 39, and we invite you to help us spread the word.
If LNV has been meaningful to you, share your story and encourage friends, colleagues, and community leaders to take part in this transformative experience.
Why Join Leadership Napa Valley?
Leadership Napa Valley is a premier leadership development program that connects, educates, and empowers individuals to become more effective leaders in business, government, and community service. Through immersive, behind-the-scenes experiences and collaboration with fellow participants, LNV equips leaders with the skills and relationships needed to shape Napa Valley’s future.
Participants will:
Connect with a diverse and influential network of leaders and alumni
Engage in hands-on projects that create real community impact
Whether you’re a business professional, nonprofit leader, entrepreneur, or civic-minded resident, Leadership Napa Valley will elevate your ability to lead and serve.
Interested? Complete the interest form to receive an invitation to our upcoming Informational Sessions and learn more about joining Class 39.
INTEREST FORM
Together, let’s build the next generation of Napa Valley leaders.
Leadership Napa Valley's Class 38 was welcomed to City Hall for Government Day which kicked off with a refresher on civics, an exploration of city and county budgets, and a fireside chat with Napa City Manager Steve Potter and Napa County CEO Ryan Alsop.
Class 38 next enjoyed lunch at the Napa City Fire Department where officials and members from various services in Napa County rotated through the tables for Q&A sessions. Deputy Fire Chief Ty Becerra facilitated a demonstration of the Fire Department’s receipt and response to a call, demonstrating how quickly the team mobilizes into action.
Then came the cornerstone of the day – a mock city council meeting where Class 38 took on roles like Mayor, City Council Member, Town Staff, and engaged citizens to debate two hypothetical scenarios – upholding the town ordinance on the number of chickens allowed per household and authorizing funding for a new sports complex.
We’re delighted to highlight an inspiring example of how Leadership Napa Valley alumni continue to foster and expand community-driven initiatives. Molly’s Angels was selected as a practicum project for Class 37, where team members Ana Baber, Anne Retterer, Jolie Baumgardner, Natalia Ramírez Guzmán, and Rigo Nava partnered with the organization to help broaden its offerings. Together, they introduced a free curb-to-curb van service for seniors living in Napa County. The van—purchased by Molly’s Angels with generous support from Napa County Health and Human Services—was a vital first step in launching a program aimed at reducing social isolation and improving quality of life by providing reliable transportation to community hubs such as the library, farmers market, senior center, and local shopping centers. .
What began with a single van on a targeted route has grown in response to community needs and feedback. One early innovative idea came from Ana Baber, who suggested expanding the service to include transportation to and from Agape Napa Valley, helping seniors access emergency food and essential services. This connection expanded the reach of the van program while weaving together two organizations committed to serving vulnerable populations.
“The practicum team brought us fresh eyes and bold ideas,” said Deveraux Smith, Executive Director, Molly’s Angels. “Their work didn’t just help us launch a service—it helped us build a bridge between seniors, food access, and community connection. We’re still seeing the ripple effects today.”
Reflecting on the project’s lasting impact, Ana Baber shared, “We wanted to design something that solved more than one problem. Connecting Molly’s Angels with Agape Napa Valley felt like a natural fit—two organizations caring for people in different but complementary ways. Seeing the partnership continue is incredibly rewarding.”
This collaboration is a powerful example of how LNV alumni and current members recognize and strengthen the interconnections between local organizations—working together to meet multiple community needs and amplifying their collective impact.
So, we ask you, our alumni: What stories do you have about your practicum projects? How have they lasted, evolved, and connected with other organizations to create meaningful, lasting change? We’d love to hear and share your experiences!
mailto:admin@leadershipnapavalley.org
Leadership Napa Valley Class 38 poured a lot of heart into Health & Human Services Day. The morning began with classmates dividing into small groups to visit community-based organizations across Napa County. Each group gained a behind-the-scenes look at how these partners support residents daily, asking thoughtful and sometimes tough questions to better understand their impact. Back on site, the HHSA mobile van rolled up, and Class 38 stepped inside to see how it delivers vital services directly into neighborhoods that need them most. Lunch was a true “LNV family” moment, catered by Winston’s Community Unity Project, led by Class 38’s own Cassan Macaraig! In the afternoon, participants rotated through HHSA divisions for a deeper dive into county services. They walked away with a clearer picture of the many hands and hearts needed to support the well-being of the Napa community. #LeadershipNapaValley #Class38 #NapaCounty #NapaHHSA #WinstonsCommunityUnityProject #LNVHealthDay #Community #NapaStrong
Agriculture Day gave Class 38 a front-row seat to what makes Napa Valley so special. From early-morning vineyard walks to conversations with growers, farmworkers, and community leaders, they saw firsthand how many people and programs are working to protect the Napa Valley Agricultural Preserve. Federal, county, and city agencies, nonprofits, and industry groups all share one goal: keeping our valley’s farmland thriving for generations to come. It’s incredible to think that this collaboration fuels a $11 billion agricultural industry while preserving the land and lifestyle we all treasure. Organizations like the Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation, Farm Bureau, Grapegrowers, Vintners, and Winegrowers reminded the group that the Napa Valley’s success depends on both people and place. The day left Class 38 inspired by the partnerships, innovation, and heart that make this valley not just a world-class wine region, but a model for sustainable agriculture and community stewardship.
Leadership Napa Valley (LNV) is requesting proposals from consultants with experience in grant planning, fundraising strategies, fund development and writing. Responses to this Request for Proposals (RFP) will be used to select and negotiate with a consultant to perform assigned tasks on an as needed basis. Responses are due on Monday, October 23rd.
LNV External Fundraising RFP.pdf
Program Day: February 3, 2023 Gray Skies Can't Stop Class 35! Our first stop, at Camille Creek started off strong with homemade scones from one of the students and led into an insightful session about the program, which provides services and enrichment to students that need an alternative place to succeed other than their neighborhood school. The passion and determination that Jeff Scott projected was unforgettable, and helped provide a better understanding as to why this program is necessary and how everyone can be involved to contribute to future successes. It set the tone for the rest of the presenters throughout our day-- passion, devotion and expertise. Shortly after our visit with Camille Creek, we were fortunate to observe various classrooms of children in the Early Childhood Education program. The children were rotating between various stations, each with their own development/sensory goals. It is a true gem for the community! From there, I don't believe any of us were expecting to travel so much that we should have coordinated carpooling efforts to limit the train of cars going from site to site. Nonetheless, we had great insight into the Dual Immersion and language development at Pueblo Vista and Unidos Middle School. Principal Rocca was a great presenter with passion to help students succeed at not only being bilingual but truly immersed with learning school subjects in two languages! At Unidos, Principal Uribe shared her vision for the school and passion to ensure the dual immersion programs continue beyond elementary school. We also had an opportunity to listen, first hand, from Superintendent Mucetti about the obstacles and opportunities our school district is facing. It was surprising to the group to learn how our public schools are actually funded and how pivotal it is to garner community support to continue improving our schools. Though the day was planned around the progression of our dual immersion program, we made a brief stop in a multipurpose room at Napa High. We all came prepared for school lunch in the Napa High cafeteria (we were pleasantly surprised to find boxed lunches). Over lunch, we had an opportunity to hear from Superintendent Barbara Nemko about how her office supports the various programs in our local and neighboring school districts. Budgets are not her offices' only tasks, and the wealth of services they provide needed more slides to showcase! Onward with our visit at Napa High with Principal Ainsworth and sitting in on some of the classes was quite the experience. We heard from students in the dual immersion program for Geography. They shared some of the challenges they experience with a subject taught entirely in Spanish, and how they work with other students to find solutions. After a walk through the Machine Shop and a peek into the Robotics lab where we saw students actively working to assemble their robot for the upcoming season, we loaded up and headed on over to Napa Valley College. Napa Valley College has so much to offer and we had a chance to ask questions from the new President, Dr. Powell. Questions came about the groundbreaking construction of the residence halls. We were happy to hear that housing is going to be dedicated to future students! Our biggest takeaway at the college was listening about the programs being offered and how they tailor education to meet the needs of local business. The teachers want their students who complete a program to be prepared to enter the workforce on day 1. We know that not everyone is destined for a 4-year university and there is immense value to our society for those students/individuals who choose to enter careers like emergency medical services, hospitality, culinary, welding and viticulture. We have to share that the biggest photo opportunity came through with the excitement of seeing the mannequins and live demonstrations from EMT instructor Scott & Marc. It was captivating to witness the breadth of training offered at this location. As we walked through a live class in the welding program and through to the other side of campus, we arrived at our final destination - viticulture building. The manager, Phillip Murphy, shared how the program helps new students and current employees learn new skills to advance in the wine industry. We all took our tastings in hand and enjoyed the newly bottled wine from grapes grown on site. Great way to finish our Day of Education!
________________ Class 35 Education Day Gratitude Team members: Don Maiden - Lieutenant, Napa Sheriff's Office Wahu Oseso - Pharmacy Intern, Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy Josephine Palacios - Financial Advisor, Edward Jones ________________ About this post: The purpose of the Attitude of Gratitude program is (1) to thank our extraordinary Day Coordinators who provide the information and experiences that make each of the program days exceptional, and (2) to reflect on what has changed for the class members as a result of their participation in Leadership Napa Valley. For each of the class program days, a gratitude team is assigned to make sure all the individuals responsible for coordinating, facilitating, and presenting the day are thanked.
Program Day: January 20, 2023 Class 35’s Tourism Day was a fantastic opportunity for members to experience Napa through the eyes of a tourist. The class was spoiled by all its hosts, who represented different sectors of the broader local tourism industry. We started our day at Visit Napa Valley’s downtown center, where Linsey and her staff introduced the class to VNV’s work in promoting Napa Valley and the many ways it supports the county and its economy. The class then walked to the River Terrace Inn (with a brief VIP tour of the downtown floodplain along the way), where we toured their rooms and were met by the ALBA restaurant staff with tasty Bloody Mary’s. The class then was treated to a delicious and scenic lunch on the Wine Train, before disembarking and traveling by Platypus Wine Tour buses to visit V. Sattui Winery for a wonderful spread of charcuterie and wine, along with presentations by local Chamber of Commerce chapters within the county. Finally, Class 35 ended their day with a glass of champagne and tour of The George Hotel in downtown Napa. At each stop our hosts were extremely hospitable and each gave class members generous gifts as part of the visit, including a few lucky class members that received a free future experience through a raffle! Tourism Day wasn't just packed with fun activities; it also increased class 35 members' understanding of various aspects of Napa's tourism industry that might otherwise go unnoticed. The day was both enjoyable and very informative, from learning about the business structure of VNV and their collaboration with state, regional, and local tourism offices to discovering some of the many tourism-focused businesses serving Napa's visitors and residents every day. It was invaluable to have the opportunity to compare the Tourism Day experience to what the class learned during Agriculture Day, and better understand how these different industries work together to create the "Napa Valley Experience." Our class was grateful for the generosity and hospitality of our hosts, as well as for the opportunity to explore the places and experiences in Napa that draw visitors from around the world. ________________ Class 35 Tourism Day Gratitude members: Kecia Lind - Deputy District Attorney, Napa County District Attorney's Office Jenny Lockwood - Business Office Manager, Aegis of Napa Pablo Zatarain - Executive Director, Napa Fair Housing ________________ About this post: The purpose of the Attitude of Gratitude program is (1) to thank our extraordinary Day Coordinators who provide the information and experiences that make each of the program days exceptional, and (2) to reflect on what has changed for the class members as a result of their participation in Leadership Napa Valley. For each of the class program days, a gratitude team is assigned to make sure all the individuals responsible for coordinating, facilitating, and presenting the day are thanked.
LEADERSHIP NAPA VALLEY
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Napa, CA 94559
info@leadershipnapavalley.org
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