Associates

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Lynne Ashbeck

Lynne Ashbeck joined the Center in 2006 as a Special Consultant, bringing with her 25 years of community facilitation, planning and mediation experience and a strong belief in the ability of local communities to create powerful solutions to the problems they face. She has worked on a variety of Center projects, including transportation challenges facing foothill communities, and is currently involved with regional water planning issues in the San Joaquin Valley and higher education collaborations on the Central Coast.

Outside of the Center, Lynne also works as the Regional Vice President for the Hospital Council of Northern and Central California. Her previous work experiences span higher education (as the Extension Programs Director at California State University, Fresno), health care (as the Director of Education at Children's Hospital Central California) and agriculture, with nearly 20 years of work on behalf of California's dairy industry as the Vice President, Program Services for Dairy Council of California. She holds a Masters Degree in Nutrition from Fresno State and will complete a Graduate Certificate Program in Peacemaking and Conflict Resolution from Fresno Pacific University in the fall of 2008.

Lynne is a current Councilmember of the City of Clovis. She was first elected in 2001, served as the Mayor from 2003–2005, and was re-elected to a second term in 2005. During her tenure on the City Council, Lynne has been instrumental in convening and facilitating community discussions surrounding commercial corridor development, Old Town business plans, neighborhood revitalization efforts, and meeting the needs of the homeless. Lynne also founded the Clovis Citizens Academy as a means to educate and engage citizens in their local government. Prior to her election to the City Council, Lynne served as a Clovis Planning Commissioner for 12 years, giving her a strong foundation in land use planning issues facing communities today.

Lynne has an extensive background in regional and community activities and has facilitated strategic planning for groups ranging from nonprofits to healthcare to agriculture. She is co-chair of the Regional Jobs Initiative, a regional public-private initiative to increase the San Joaquin Valley's job base and is also co-chairing Fresno County's ten-year plan to end chronic homelessness. She was the co-chair of Fresno County's transportation sales tax reauthorization effort that passed with almost 80% favorable voter support. She has served in leadership capacities on the Boards of many local organizations, including Leadership Fresno, Community Food Bank, United Way, and the Fresno Regional Foundation.

Lynne has been recognized for her community work as one of the Top Ten Professional Women of the Year (2007), the Soroptomists' Woman of Distinction (2005); California School Nurse Organization, Central Valley Section (1997); Clovis Woman of the Year (2001); Fresno Chamber of Commerce Leadership Award (1996) and Leadership Fresno Alumnus of the Year (1994).