Louie Valdezby Marya Barlow

Two prominent executives born and raised in Ventura County are the new co-chairs of the CSUCI Planned Giving Advisory Council (PGAC). The PGAC promotes and encourages legacy gifts to the University as a way to support CSUCI students and deepen the University’s impact on the region.

Louie Valdez is Managing Director of Investments at Wells Fargo Advisors in Westlake Village. He grew up in Thousand Oaks, where his family opened one of the city’s first restaurants, Casita Valdez, in 1958. Valdez, a Certified Financial Planner, holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from CSU Northridge and a master’s degree from the College for Financial Planning.

Casita Valdezʼs wagon in the Conejo Valley Days Parade, circa 1965.

“I was fortunate to be the first in my family to attend public university and it was an important first step in my professional development,” said Valdez. “Since my family has been in the Conejo Valley for many years, I feel the importance of supporting our local university. When you walk onto the CSUCI campus, there is a sense of belonging to something special.”

Jonathan Johnen, a partner and co-owner of Farr Johnen & Associates in Ventura and Santa Barbara, is a Certified Financial Planner specializing in life, disability, and long-term care insurance. Born and raised in Camarillo, he earned a bachelor’s degree in business economics in 2006 from University of California, Santa Barbara.

Through the PGAC, we are able to help the University with advancing educational programs, create opportunity, and most importantly help take care of the students.

Jonathan Johnen

Jonathan Johnen“Through the PGAC, we are able to help the University with advancing educational programs, create opportunity, and most importantly help take care of the students,” said Johnen. “I was very fortunate to have great mentors throughout my life, and I feel that joining the PGAC has offered me a small way to honor them.”

CSUCI

As PGAC co-chairs, Valdez and Johnen lead other successful advisors and provide guidance on how to work together to support CSUCI and its students. They offer advice on financial strategies for the University as well as to donors and supporters.

Trying not to fall in the puddle, Jonathan Johnen carefully balances on two soccer balls for this senior year photo at Rio Mesa High School.“We are so fortunate to welcome Louie and Jonathan as co-chairs of our PGAC,” said Director of Planned & Major Gifts Grace Robinson. “Because both were supported at critical times in their own educational journeys, they know the importance of securing a legacy for our students.”

Learn more about legacy giving at: csucilegacy.org

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© Fall 2019 / Volume 24 / Number 2 / Biannual

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