The Ventura Land Trust recently announced the induction of three new members to their board of trustees Jane Montague, Sunjay Moorthy and Mark Watkins.
Jane Montague, a Ventura native and graduate of Loyola Marymount University, is a registered California Professional Engineer and a Certified Floodplain Manager who specializes in land, earth and water. For 30+ years she has owned and operated Ventura-based Lewis Engineering, the first engineering consulting firm to receive the City of Ventura’s Green Business Certification.
In addition to serving on the Ventura Land Trust Board, Montague also volunteers with Surfrider Ventura, Ventura Botanical Gardens, Ojai Valley Land Conservancy and the Sierra Club where she has participated in and helps coordinate the Wilderness Basics Course program. She lives in Ventura with her husband Curt and their two adult children.
Sunjay Moorthy was born in India and lived in England and in several U.S. states while growing up. For the past 30 years he has worked at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). He currently serves as JPL’s Deputy Manager for Institutional Communications. In 2000, he received the NASA Exceptional Service Medal for his leadership role in communications and technical documentation.
In addition to serving as Treasurer of Ventura Land Trust Board, he is on the Spanish Hills Country Club Board of Governors and serves as their Men’s Golf Chair. In addition, he is a certified umpire for District 63 Little League and Channel Coast Umpires. When not working, Sunjay enjoys golf, baseball and exploring nature. He and his wife Elizabeth live in Ventura.
Mark Watkins, a registered California Civil Engineer, received his undergraduate Civil Engineering degree from California State University Chico and a Masters in Public Administration from California State University Northridge. He has enjoyed a long career of public service working for the County of Kern, as the Public Works Director for the City of Thousand Oaks and most recently as City Manager for the City of Ventura. Mark retired from the City of Ventura in 2017.
Mark has been an active hiker and backpacker since his youth and is also a sailor, diver, kayaker, and surfer. He and his wife Amy have lived in Ventura for more than 30 years and his three daughters were born and raised there.
Ventura Land Trust (formerly the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy) is dedicated to permanently preserving and protecting the land, water, wildlife and scenic beauty of the Ventura region for current and future generations. Founded in 2003, the 501(C)(3) non-profit organization is supported by over 600 members, local businesses and government partners. The land trust manages 90 acres of land along the Ventura River and is negotiating the purchase of its first hillside property. The Ventura Land Trust’s offices are located in the Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Rd, Ventura, CA 93003. For more information, visit www.venturalandtrust.org.Adrienne Stephens
