Leadership Mountain View Hosts First Luncheon

Approximately 100 people gathered at Microsoft's Silicon Valley campus for the first Leadership Mountain View luncheon Friday.

Almost two-thirds of attendees graduated from LMV, which has been offered by the Chamber of Commerce of Mountain View for 24 years. The group included political leaders, public safety and healthcare workers, teachers and members of the non-profit community.

"What I really like about LMV is that it's really a community program," said Alicia Crank, the LMV director for the last four years.

Recent grad Becky Reyna shared a heartfelt story about how much her experience and fellow LMV class meant to her.

Microsoft sponsored two fellows for the program in particular administrators of the local school district.

"LMV is not about standing alone, but about standing together," said Craig Goldman, superintendent of the Mountain View Whisman School District. Goldman expressed how invaluable the time spent at LMV has been for his team.

Likewise the Community Services Agency plans to send someone to LMV this next year, said Executive Director Tom Myers and LMV grad. As an agency that works with the indigent, the connections made at LMV enhance the services that CSA provides.

This connection came in handy when LMV alumnus Joanne Pasternack, director of the community relations and foundation for the San Francisco 49ers, had extra stadium food to give away. She immediately called up Myers.

When the 49ers Foundation launched its outreach to female athletes, Pasternack called LMV alumnus Keith Moody, the Mountain View High principal and former professional football player.

Pasternack shared several other examples of the value of LMV and concluded that "but for my relationships in Mountain View I wouldn't have been able to some of these things."

Both in her professional and personal life, "these extensive connections...is really a testament to the power of LMV."

Mountain View Police Chief Scott Vermeer, a staunch supporter of the program who sends two officers every year to participate, concluded the luncheon and echoed the day’s sentiments.      

"This is the community connector," he said.