Community Memorial Healthcare is proud to welcome William “Bill” Kearney as its Board of Trustees Chair. Kearney, who has served as a Board of Trustees member since 2015, succeeds Dr. Richard Rush, who completed his term as Chair in January, 2023. Other notable changes to the Community Memorial Board include the addition of local leaders Monica White and Kimberly Hoffmans. Kearney, White, and Hoffmans all bring extensive professional experience in healthcare, education, business, and charitable giving.

“Since joining the Community Memorial Board of Trustees, I have marveled at the talent and passion of everyone involved with our community owned health system. Over that time, it has been wonderful to share in the excitement of a new hospital and to witness the resilience of our organization navigate through the challenges of COVID,” said Kearney. “I’m anxious to work closer with our health system and look forward to doing so alongside a talented Board and leadership team.”

Kearney, of Ventura, is a retired Senior Vice President of Private Wealth Management with Merrill Lynch/Bank of America. During his 43-year career with Merrill Lynch, Kearney coordinated private placements for the West Coast, served as the Sales Director for offices from Encino to San Luis Obispo, and was appointed to the National Advisory to Merrill Lynch Management. In 2004, he was honored with the Merrill Lynch Lifetime Achievement Award.

In addition to serving on various non-profit boards, Kearney has served as President of several Ventura County charitable organizations including the Community Memorial Foundation, Casa Pacifica, the Ventura County Taxpayers Association, Rubicon Theatre Company, the United Way, Ventura Rotary Club, and the Cal State University Channel Islands Foundation. Over the years, Kearney has been the recipient of the Milton M. Teague Award from United Way, the Guardian Angel Award from Casa Pacifica, the Larry and Barbara Meister Community Service Award, the Robert J. Lagomarsino Award for exceptional service in higher education, and the Dr. Cephas Bard Community Leadership Award from Community Memorial Healthcare. In 2015, Bill was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Cal State University, Channel Islands.

“Bill’s diverse background, expertise, and commitment to our community cannot be overstated,” said Community Memorial Healthcare President & CEO, Mick Zdeblick. “His leadership and passion for advancing healthcare are invaluable. I look forward to working closely with Bill and our entire Board as our health system continues to grow and evolve.”

Monica White, of Ventura, is the President and Chief Executive Officer for the non-profit organization Food Share of Ventura County, the county’s largest hunger-relief organization. With an extensive background in sales and marketing, White previously worked as the Director of Marketing and Consumer Sales for the Ventura County Star. She also is a past or current board member for several local organizations, including the American Red Cross of Ventura County, the Museum of Ventura County, the Ventura Chamber of Commerce, and Women’s Economic Ventures. The Pacific Coast Business Times named White as one of the Tri-County’s Top 50 Women in Business in 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022.

Kimberly Hoffmans, of Oxnard, is the President of Ventura College and a previous Dean of Moorpark College. Prior to that, Hoffmans, a registered nurse with a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and a Master of Science degree in Nursing, was a member of the tenured nursing faculty at Moorpark College. She also served as Moorpark College’s Health Science Coordinator. Hoffmans has served on the board of numerous organizations including the Ventura Chamber of Commerce, the California Community College Athletic Association, and the Ventura College Foundation.

Partnership will accelerate Aera Energy’s ability to further reduce carbon intensity and support the development of carbon capture and storage and other emerging technologies.

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments) will partner with international asset management group IKAV to acquire California energy producer Aera Energy LLC.

In September 2022, IKAV, which has deep renewables expertise as well as a strong track record managing U.S. conventional energy assets, announced plans to acquire Aera Energy. CPP Investments, one of the world’s largest institutional investors, agreed to purchase 49% of Aera

Energy from IKAV. Created as a joint venture between Shell and ExxonMobil, Aera Energy is California’s second-largest oil and gas producer and accounts for nearly 25% of the state’s production.

IKAV, CPP Investments and Aera Energy recognize that meeting the complex challenge of climate change will require innovation across the global economy at a significant scale. CPP Investments and

IKAV intend to help Aera balance its energy transition efforts with the need to continue meeting California’s conventional energy demands by investing in a renewable energy portfolio that will power Aera’s existing operations. Over time, renewable power will be deployed across Aera’s land holdings, while selected legacy oil and gas infrastructure will be repurposed to create carbon capture and storage capability.

Constantin von Wasserschleben, Chairman of IKAV, comments: “We are aligned with CPP Investments in our commitment to achieving a smooth and sustainable transition to renewable energy. By delivering an energy solution at Aera that ties renewable growth with the safe and responsible operation of conventional energy assets, we are pursuing the right steps to balance California’s energy demand with its future climate goals.”

Erik Bartsch, Aera Energy President and CEO, comments: “We are excited about the IKAV and CPP Investments joint ownership of Aera Energy. It tells us they believe in the need to meet the energy needs of Californians for decades to come and are confident in our ability to deliver innovative solutions that will help the state meet its bold climate goals. Aera will continue to power the California economy and live our values of exceptional care for people and the environment. We also remain committed to the principles that make us an employer of choice and a valued partner in the communities where we live and work.”

Aera is the largest onshore oil producer in Ventura County, with oil and gas operations covering approximately 4,300 acres located largely in an unincorporated area just to the northwest of the city of Ventura. Production averages 12,000 barrels per day of crude oil and seven mmcf per day of natural gas. Oil is transported to refineries in the Los Angeles basin; natural gas is shipped to Southern California Gas Co.

Aera and its forerunner companies have been actively producing crude oil in Ventura County since the 1920s. Much of the operation is now in secondary recovery water injection.

Aera and its employees in Ventura are actively involved in the local community. Our company is a longtime member of both the Ventura Chamber of Commerce and the Ventura County Economic Development Association.

Billy Hughes has joined Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation (CEDC), the largest developer of affordable homes in Ventura County, as Director of Real Estate Development. Utilizing over 30 years of experience in the real estate industry as a developer, investor and lender, Hughes will manage and oversee CEDC’s affordable housing activities, and train and supervise project management staff. He will be taking charge of project development and ensuring successful transitions of CEDC’s projects from construction to operation. Hughes has demonstrated experience with affordable housing resources and programs and an ability to work effectively with groups in the community to listen and respond to questions and concerns.

“I am delighted and honored to be joining the Cabrillo EDC Executive Management team,” said Hughes. “After 3 decades of learning and working in the real estate industry, I intend to bring my expertise and knowledge to the development of affordable housing communities that are vital to so many members of the Ventura County community.”

Before joining CEDC, Hughes was the Managing Member of Black Point Investments, LLC (BPI), where he directed the acquisition and renovation of over 3 million square feet and nearly $1 billion in historic renovations including the re-purposing of several textile mills and historic schools. Hughes was the former president at Bi-Coastal Communities which developed affordable multifamily housing throughout the southeast. Hughes successfully developed over 2000 units totaling over $300 million in affordable housing and senior housing. His work with housing and developing authorities was recognized when he was named “Developer of Choice” by the Fulton County Housing Authority.

“Cabrillo EDC was looking for someone who is committed to our values and our mission of meeting housing needs of lower income families and individuals,” said Margarita H. de Escontrias, CEO of Cabrillo EDC. “We believe that Billy Hughes’ vast experience and breadth of knowledge together with the dedication he possesses, will help us continue carrying out our meaningful and strategic work to benefit the communities we serve.”

Rubicon Theatre continues the company’s commitment to the creation of new works with the organization’s 46th mainstage world premiere – a developmental musical production based on Dark of the Moon, the 1945 Broadway play by Howard Richardson and William Berney.

The story of Dark of the Moon: A New Musical follows John, a witch boy from the Smoky Mountains, who falls in love with Barbara Allen, a beautiful and rebellious mortal girl who longs for more life than she finds in the fictitious Appalachian town of Buck Creek. John is willing to give up anything to be with Barbara Allen, and makes a deal with the conjur people to give up his immortality and become mortal if Barbara and he can stay true to each other for a year. Based on the classic stage play of the same name, this new musical adaptation is the sexy, soulful tale of young lovers torn apartby prejudice and fear – a modern melding of “Twilight” and Romeo and Juliet loosely based on a centuries-old ballad. Heart wrenchingly beautiful, and profoundly poetic, Dark of the Moon: A New Musical features a dual score by an award-winning songwriting team with a bluegrass/folk sound voiced by the humans juxtaposed with a rock/soul sound from the witches.

The original play version of Dark of the Moon was originally written by Howard Richardson in 1939 as a dramatization of the centuries-old European folk song “The Ballad of Barbara Allen” and was first performed under a different title at the University of Iowa in 1942. After a rewrite by William Berney who was Richardson’s cousin, the pay opened in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where it was seen by The Shuberts. They transferred the show to Broadway in March 14 of 1945 with the new title. The show premiered in London in 1948 as an early success of then-rising star Peter Brook. The show opened Circle in the Square Theatre in 1951. A national tour was followed by numerous high school and college productions and revivals. Notably Paul Newman and Richard Hart each played the role of John.

The production opens April 1 and continues through April 16, with low-priced previews March 29-31. Performances are Wednesdays at 2 and 7 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Prices are $30 to $69.50 with special discounts for students, seniors, military and Equity members. For a complete schedule, or to purchase tickets, visit www.rubicontheatre.org or call 805.667.2900.

Dark of the Moon features a 29-member cast including an onstage bluegrass band (Whole Hog of Ventura County), and a rock-and-roll pit band.

Barbara Allen is played by newcomer Ava Delaney, Jake David Smith, plays the character of John. Jennifer Leigh Warren portrays Conjur Woman, Conjur Man, played by Timothy Warmen, Olivier Award-winner Lesli Margheritaplays Raven. She is joined by Juliette Redden as Arwen, the curious light witch, and Dylan Goike as Devin.