San Gabriel Valley’s Wood Is Top Choice

In the Valley Economic Alliance’s search for a new president and CEO, the Sherman Oaks-based organization is considering a candidate who formerly headed another economic development group in the San Gabriel Valley. Ron Wood is the leading candidate of two final candidates being considered for the leadership position, confirmed Harvey Berg, the organization’s interim president and CEO on Dec. 28. The position became vacant in August when the group’s former president and CEO, Bruce Ackerman, died of cancer. Wood was formerly the CEO of the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership. Before that, he served as the publisher of the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper Group. While he is the lead candidate for the position, Berg said a final decision had not yet been made as of Dec. 28. Wood is being considered because of his familiarity with economic development issues and his work with the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership, Berg added. “He helped grow that organization considerably in size,” Berg said. “In addition to that, he’s a long-time Southern Californian. He’s been into that world, and he seems to have a good understanding and breadth of knowledge on various things that are needed both from a community standpoint as well as an organization standpoint. So, we are quite impressed with his skill and with his maturity.” Berg did not disclose information about the other candidate, and said a final decision would likely be announced in about a week. At the beginning of the search process, the Valley Economic Alliance’s leaders teamed up with a search firm and identified about 15 candidates to seriously consider, with most of them being from Southern California. – Jessica Vernabe