Jeff Parker, new CEO/President of Village Management Services Inc., was unavoidably detained on a trip and was not available to speak as announced at the Video Club’s General Meeting, Thursday, October 17. The meeting was cancelled and has been rescheduled to Thursday, January 16, 2020, at 6:30 pm in the Video Lab.
NEXT MONTH: A panel including club members John Kelly and Bill Hemberger on producing 30-second spot announcement videos with lots of short video examples. Thursday, November 21, 2019, at 6:30 pm in the Video Lab.
Meet Jeff Parker, new CEO/President of Village Management Services Inc., and learn about his vision for Laguna Woods Village at our next General Meeting on Thursday, October 17, 2019, in the Video Lab (located inside Gate 12 between Clubhouse 2 and the pool). Open free to all Village Residents and their guests. Snacks and socializing at 6:30 pm, program at 7 pm.
After graduating from from the University of California, Santa Barbara, Jeff Parker, found his calling during his California State University, Long Beach graduate studies. Delving deeply into his interest in government, he earned a Master of Public Administration.
Before coming to the Village, Mr. Parker served as City Manager of the cities of Walnut, Claremont, Patterson, and, most recently, Tustin.
He was instrumental in the expansion of Claremont Village and the beginning stages of preserving Tustin’s air hangers, but it is perhaps his tenure with Walnut that best prepared him to understand and address the issues of an active senior community like Laguna Woods Village.
“I believe my most significant accomplishments while serving Walnut include the city’s first and only senior center, which now offers a variety of programs and services for the active aging population, and Dial-a-Cab, which provides city residents discount travel to local retail and education venues, medical facilities, and more,” said Mr. Parker.
At Laguna Woods Village, Mr. Parker’s long-term vision is for Village Management Services to continue building a foundation of quality services provided to Residents in the most efficient and effective manner. “I want to guide VMS through its continued growth as a first-class service organization with the best and brightest individuals and have fun doing it,” he said.
Mr. Parker strives to tailor his management style and philosophy after one of the most influential people in the history of our nation, Abraham Lincoln. In addition to the Great Emancipator, he admires Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi. What these three great leaders share in common, the quality Mr. Parker lauds, is their ability to resolve conflict without violence.
More than 12 years ago, Mr. Parker survived a brain tumor that resulted in 50 percent hearing loss. His experience fuels philanthropy as a longtime tumor research donor— and propels him to embrace the philosophy of living life to its fullest. To that, he enjoys golf and travel. Future plans include Paris and London, as well as the very last state on his bucket list. “Alaska awaits!” he said.
The message Mr. Parker wants to share with VMS Staff and Residents is a simple yet important one.
“I have a clear understanding of what you do here, and I support you all,” he said. “I believe if we work hard, respect each other, and have fun, we will achieve success. Please stop by and say hi–I have an open-door policy.”
For more information, contact President Steve Carman, steve.carman@mac.com, 424-254-6583.
videocluboflagunawoods.com 
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