Chief Executive, Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley

Ragsdale is the chief executive of the Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley, a Canoga Park-based nonprofit. She took on the role in 2021. The Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley was founded in 1992. Earlier this year, the organization was recognized by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, D-Encino, as the 2024 California Nonprofit of the Year for Assembly District 46. Ragsdale’s previous roles include president of philanthropy at Adventist Health Simi Valley, an associate at World Financial Group and associate vice president of philanthropy at Southern Adventist University.

Founder, President, Children’s Hunger Fund

Phillips is the founder of Children’s Hunger Fund, a Sylmar-based nonprofit that helps children and families. The organization was founded in 1991. It has since grown to 32 countries. Its main product are Food Paks, which are shoebox-sized packages filled with non-perishable items distributed to people CHF helps. In the 2022-2023 fiscal year, CHF distributed more than 120,000 domestically and another 200,000 internationally. The organization has been expanding, and in April announced that it acquired land in Prosper, Texas, to house a facility. It is expected to cost $35 million.

President, Chief Executive, Los Angeles Jewish Health

Surowitz is the president and chief executive of Los Angeles Jewish Health, the largest single-source senior housing provider in Los Angeles assisting over 4,000 seniors annually, both in-residence and in the community.  Since starting at Los Angeles Jewish Health in 2020, Surowitz has strategically pivoted the organization to further enhance and expand community and residence-based programs and services to better serve seniors in need.  Prior to coming to Los Angeles Jewish Health, he was the CEO of Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center.

President, Valley Industry & Commerce Association

As president of the Valley Industry & Commerce Association, Waldman oversees all VICA operations with an emphasis on advocacy and development. Waldman has been president of VICA, which was founded in 1949, since 2008. The group represents more than 1.8 million residents and 245,000 businesses. The Valley Industry & Commerce Association’s offices are in Van Nuys.

Prior to that, he spent seven years as chief of staff in the California State Assembly and four years as a legislative aide in the state legislature. Waldman earned his juris doctor from Loyola Law School and his bachelor’s degree in political science from California State University, Northridge. He’s currently on the board of the California State University, Northridge Foundation. He is also on the boards of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Valley Economic Alliance as well as the Los Angeles Press Club’s advisory board.

Waldman is also a decorated Army veteran.

President, Chief Executive, Regional California Black Chamber of Commerce of the San Fernando Valley

Townsend is president and chief executive of the Regional California Black Chamber of Commerce of the San Fernando Valley, which provides strategic assistance to small, minority, emerging, African American and women-owned businesses. Affectionately known as Ma’Dame Townsend, she’s served in the role for more than 20 years. Townsend has also been active on the advisory board of the Los Angeles County Business Federation and on the Black and African-American Advisory Panel of the California Community Colleges.

Senior Director of Development and Donor Relations, Valley Village

Swearman has served as the senior director of development and donor relations at Valley Village since 2018. The San Fernando Valley-based nonprofit provides supportive housing, community-based enrichment, life skills and therapeutic programs to adults with developmental and intellectual challenges. Since 2019, Swearman has been a vice chair on the Valley Industry & Commerce Association’s Executive Committee. He’s also been the chair of VICA’s Not-for-Profit Committee since 2022. Last year he received VICA’s Membership Champion Award.

Chief Executive, West Valley-Warner Center Chamber of Commerce

Williams has served as chief executive of the West Valley Warner Center Chamber of Commerce since 2008. With nearly 700 members, it’s the largest chamber in the San Fernando Valley, supporting and promoting local businesses. Williams is also the director of the organization’s Community Benefit Foundation, which established the Valley Asian Cultural Festival in 2022. Williams serves on the board of United Chambers of Commerce, where she is the co-chair of outreach. She has received the New York Life Women in Business Community Leadership Award and was a 2022 recipient of United Chambers’ Inspirational Women of the San Fernando Valley Leadership Award.