Everard Ashworth, BA, QEP, CPEA
Principal
Ashworth Leininger Group
Camarillo, CA





Everard Ashworth is a principal with Ashworth Leininger Group, a consulting and engineering firm that provides expertise to business and government on air quality, environmental, and coastal zone permitting issues. Ev and his wife Brooke have lived in Ventura for over 25 years. Ev is an active member of the Ventura Sail and Power Squadron, where he has served in a number of capacities including Commander of the Squadron; he continues to teach advanced coastal piloting and safe boating classes. Ev and Brooke are also members of the Ventura Yacht Club. They have two college-age children: Henry, a graduate of Foothill Technology High School, and Emma, a graduate of Ventura High School. Ev is an avid boater, never happier than when he is out on the water.

Richard W. Parsons, BS, MPA
Dredging Consultant to Ventura Port District
Ventura Port District
Ventura Harbor, CA





Richard Parsons has over 40 years of professional experience in Port and Harbor Administration. He understands the complexities involved in successfully designing, permitting, building, operating and maintaining mixed-use waterfront facilities with such components as municipal piers, commercial fishing, recreational marinas, restaurants, retail stores, hotels, yacht clubs and boatyards. He has a thorough understanding of government funding sources and the utilization of local, state and federal resources to effectively further projects. His capabilities include the successful integration of a wide range of public and governmental priorities into project design. In addition, Mr. Parsons has been involved in all aspects of regulatory agency permitting for waterfront facility projects. He is familiar with individual agency requirements and permit procurement and over the years has developed working relationships with many agency representatives.

Mr. Parsons served as General Manager of the Ventura Port District, an independent agency established by the California Harbor and Navigation Code, for 14 years. In this role, he was responsible for obtaining over $30 Million in congressional funding for ongoing harbor dredging as well as $7.7 million for a navigation improvement project. In addition, he served as the Harbor Director for the City of Redondo Beach for 6 years. Mr. Parsons is a retired Commander in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and while on active duty served as the Commanding Officer of LORAN Station, Marcus Island.

Selected Work Experience:

  • The securing of funding and regulatory clearances for the dredging of numerous California waterways as well as overseeing the execution of those dredging projects.
  • Dredging Program Manager, City of Ventura and the Ventura Port District. Achievements included securing $300 million to support dredging operations.
  • Coordinated Ventura Harbor operations. Components of this 275-acre facility included 1,500 leased boat slips and eight restaurants; oversaw operations for commercial fishing facilities, retail stores, a hotel, yacht clubs and boatyards.
  • Coordinated planning/permitting for removal of over 20,000,000 cubic yards of dredged material from Ventura Harbor over a 30 year period required coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, California Coastal Commission, Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board and the APCD and various other environmental and citizen groups.
  • Harbor Director; King Harbor Facility, city of Redondo Beach, CA. Administration and coordination for a harbor facility composed of 1,600 boat slips, 24 restaurants, hotels, apartments, and retail stores. Responsibilities included direction of all land and water leased areas including the Redondo Beach Municipal Pier, Harbor Patrol and City facilities.

Education:

  • Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, Bucknell University, 1966
  • Master of Planning, University of Southern California, 1973
  • Master of Public Administration, University of Southern California, 1973

Affiliations:

  • Member and Past Chairman, California Marine Affairs and Navigation Conference
  • Retired Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Reserve

Brian D. Pendleton, MRED
Business Operations Manager
Ventura Port District
Ventura Harbor, CA





The Ventura Port District welcomes Brian Pendleton as the new Business Operations Manager. Brian is charged with providing asset management responsibilities for a diversified portfolio of real estate holdings including Ventura Harbor Village and Marina as well as multiple leases with hoteliers, marina operators and developer of a 300-unit mixed-use project slated to break ground later this year. Brian's other duties include public finance, risk management and oversight of the Port's facilities and daily business operations.

Brian has over two decades of municipal government experience in commercial revitalization, economic development and real estate. Brian has worked extensively with the business community serving as a key liaison between the public and private sectors and the communities he's served. As part of these activities Brian has planned, designed and implemented numerous business assistance strategies to serve as catalysts for increased economic vitality. Prior to joining the Port, Brian worked in Ventura as Project Manager for the City's Community Development Department where he managed the City's real estate assets, negotiated complex real estate transactions and oversaw special economic development projects.

Brian holds a master's degree in real estate development and a bachelor's degree in public administration from the University of Southern California. Brian possesses a California real estate salesperson license and is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, Urban Land Institute and California Association for Local Economic Development where he served as a committee member for the 2014 annual conference in Sacramento.

Brian, his wife Arlene and three children have called Ventura County home for nearly 15 years.

Oscar F. Peña, BS
General Manager
Ventura Port District
Ventura Harbor, CA





On July 1, 1999, the Port District hired Mr. Peña to fulfill the functions of the General Manager. Mr. Peña previously provided Property Management Services for the District under a fee management contract.

Over the last 15 years as General Manager, Mr. Peña has worked closely with Port District staff, Commissioners and business owners throughout the Harbor to make the harbor a more viable business enterprise and promote economic development within the harbor. Having a thorough understanding of the diverse and unique characteristics in the Harbor and how the Port District functions has been helpful in developing improved relationships with other public agencies, the private sector and tenants throughout the Harbor.

Under the direction of a five-member Board of Port Commissioners, Peña is responsible for the successful operation of the District which includes all real estate transactions, the financial planning of the District, legal and personnel matters, and public safety within the harbor.

Prior to becoming General Manager, Peña worked in the private sector for approximately 20 years, in the commercial real estate industry; specifically, with the management and leasing of commercial properties for office and retail developments, including harbor related mixed use properties.

Oscar and his wife Melissa have been married 36 years and have three daughters who enjoy outdoor activities. They have been residents of Ventura for 21 years. Oscar earned his B.S. degree in Political Science in 1981 from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.

Affiliations:

  • Ventura Visitors and Convention Bureau, Chair and past Board Member
  • Ventura Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Committee Member