Oxnard Chamber Names “2012 Woman of the Year”

(OXNARD, Calif.) –The Oxnard Chamber of Commerce will honor FOOD Share CEO Bonnie Weigel with their “2012 Woman of the Year” award at the 62nd annual Community & Business Awards luncheon on June 22.Weigel, a third generation Ventura County native, has served as CEO of FOOD Share, Ventura County’s regional food bank, since December 2008. Under Weigel’s leadership, FOOD Share has grown to serve more than 74,500 people monthly, a number that has nearly doubled during her three year tenure. Weigel manages a staff of 30, works with 150 partner agencies, oversees a corps of over 300 volunteers and serves a with the board of directors who provide more than 3,000 hours of volunteer service to the organization each month. “I am humbled to receive this honor from the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce,” Weigel said. “I feel very fortunate to live in a community where there are so many dedicated, compassionate and hardworking women. I am one of a very large sisterhood here in Ventura County who are dedicated to helping others.”Weigel’s role at FOOD Share includes building relationships within the community, securing and growing donations, establishing collaborative partnerships and managing resources, which includes overseeing an operating budget of $3.6 million and establishing a long-term plan to meet a growing demand for food. Weigel serves on the board of directors of the California Association of Food Banks and is a part of the Ventura County Ag Futures Alliance organization and the United Way Ventura County Women’s Leadership Council. She also serves on the board of governors for the Tower Club and is vice president for the Ventura County Chapter of California Women for Agriculture. She has participated in the Grameen Creative Social Business Lab work at California State University, Channel Islands and has received the Rotary International Paul Harris ‘Service Above Self Medal,’ the Pacific Coast Business Times’ ‘40 Under 40′ recognition and the Pacific Coast Business Times’ ‘Top 50 Women in Business Award’ for 2008 – 2012. Most recently, Weigel accepted a director’s seat on the Ventura County Community Foundation Board of Directors and in February 2011 was appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown as a 31st District Agricultural Association Ventura County Fair Board member.Weigel, a resident of Ventura, lives with her husband of 20 years and two daughters, ages 18 and 14. She enjoys entertaining, photography, her horses and painting.