Nan Drake of E.J. Harrison & Sons was recently installed as 2020 chair of the Economic Development Collaborative’s board of directors at the organization’s 23rd Annual Meeting. She is joined by newly elected officer Ventura County Supervisor Kelly Long as vice chair and Peter Zierhut of Haas Automation, Inc., who is continuing as secretary/treasurer.
“Nan Drake brings extensive experience and in-depth knowledge of our local business community and economy and the challenges we face. Nan has served on our board for 10 years and has worked tirelessly to provide opportunities for business growth and workforce development,” said Bruce Stenslie, EDC’s president and CEO. “We’re excited to have Kelly Long join our executive leadership and we appreciate Peter Zierhut’s continued oversight as secretary/treasurer.”
Drake has served as director of governmental affairs and public relations at E.J. Harrison & Sons for more than 30 years and has been an EDC board member since 2010. In 2019, for the 12th consecutive year, Drake was named as one of the tri-counties’ Top 50 Women in Business, by the Pacific Coast Business Times.
Long was elected as Ventura County Supervisor District 3 in 2016. She has over 25 years of combined experience as an entrepreneur, business executive and school board trustee, and held the office of the Pleasant Valley School Board of Trustees from 2012 – 2016. Long has a degree in mechanical engineering from California State University, Long Beach and holds six patents.
Zierhut, an EDC board member since 2012, has served as EDC board chair in 2016 and as secretary/treasurer consecutively since 2017. Zierhut is a senior-level manager at Haas Automation, Inc., one of the world’s leading manufacturers of industrial machine tools, where he is responsible for oversight of Haas Automation’s motor-sports programs, including sponsorships in NASCAR and Formula 1 racing.
EDC is a private, nonprofit organization that serves as a business-to-government liaison to assist businesses in Ventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles counties by offering programs that enhance the economic vitality of the region. For more information about the EDC Small Business Development Center, loan programs, manufacturing outreach and international trade programs, or other services available to businesses through EDC, contact 805-384-1800 or visit www.edcollaborative.com.
