Bruce Stenslie

President & CEO
Economic Development Collaborative of Ventura County
Phone: 805-384-1800
Website: www.edc-vc.com

Mr. Stenslie joined the Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County (EDC-VC) in November 2007. The EDC-VC is a regional public/private partnership whose mission is to maintain a healthy Ventura County economy through collaboration, education and training as a means to create and sustain quality jobs and improve wealth, thus enhancing the standard of living throughout Ventura County. Targeted services include a business enhancement program and several business loan programs for business growth and expansion.

Prior to joining the EDC-VC, Stenslie served as Deputy Director for the California Workforce Association(CWA). CWA is a non-profit membership organization that develops public policy strategies and builds local capacity to address critical workforce issues. CWA represents California's 49 Local Workforce Investment Boards, over 200 One-Stop Career Centers and other workforce development partners throughout California.

From 2004 through May 2006, Bruce served as Executive Director for the City of Los Angeles Workforce Investment Board (WIB) and as workforce policy director for the Mayor's Office. The LA City WIB is the nation's 2nd largest, directing priorities and investment of over $50 million in workforce funds annually.

Mr. Stenslie has also held several positions within the Ventura County Human Services Agency, serving as Director of the Business and Employment Services Department, as the Agency's Assistant Director and Director of Administrative Services, with responsibilities in the latter for managing the Agency's budget and fiscal office, contracts and facilities, personnel and staff development, business technology, workforce administration and the County Office of
Work/Family. The Ventura County Human Services Agency employs over 1000 workers and administers a budget over $150 million, providing essential services to approximately 90,000 aid and benefit recipients annually.

Through his experience with the County of Ventura, Mr. Stenslie served as administrator of Ventura County's CalWORKs and welfare-to-work programs, as an Economic Development Analyst in the Ventura County Chief Administrative Office, and as Executive Director of the Ventura County Workforce Investment Board.

Bruce has also worked in the non-profit sector, having served several years as the Executive Director of the Candelaria American Indian Council, a regional service and advocacy organization providing services in 11 California counties.

With contacts built over 19 years of experience in workforce and economic development, Bruce is a frequently invited speaker at workforce and economic development forums, addressing legislative policy, workforce strategy, labor market conditions and the strategic linkage of workforce and economic development.

In September 2002 Bruce was invited by Chairman Buck McKeon (R-Santa Clarita) of the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness to represent over 500 Local Workforce Areas across the nation at the Subcommittee's first hearing on reauthorizing the Workforce Investment Act.