The Californer - NeighborWorks America selects Cabrillo EDC CEO for NeighborWorks Achieving Excellence Program

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Program offers leaders tools and support to advance organization's performance and capacity

VENTURA, Calif. - Californer -- NeighborWorks America is proud to announce that Victoria Brady, Chief Executive Office of Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation in Ventura is one of 50 leaders selected for the NeighborWorks Achieving Excellence Program, conducted in collaboration with the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

The NeighborWorks Achieving Excellence Program is a 16-month program that equips executives with the skills to advance their organization's performance. Each participant identifies and clearly defines a specific challenge or opportunity critical to their organization's success then spends the program addressing that challenge.

"It is both an honor and a vital opportunity to be selected for the NeighborWorks Achieving Excellence Program. As we face growing challenges in providing affordable housing, collaboration with leaders across the industry is essential. Through this program, I look forward to working alongside innovative minds and leverage shared insights to create impactful solutions that strengthen our community and ensure access to safe, affordable homes for all," said Victoria Brady, CEO of CEDC.

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The only comprehensive training of its kind, Achieving Excellence includes three formal sessions at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, as well as executive coaching and structured peer learning. The first session at Harvard University will take place the week of March 31, with additional sessions planned for October 2025 and April 2026 plus multiple peer group meetings and a graduation. Between sessions, participants actively work on clearly defined goals critical to their organization's success and work closely with their executive coach and peer group.

"Never has it been more important to have a program like Achieving Excellence," said Christina Deady, senior director of leadership and workforce development at NeighborWorks America. "Addressing housing challenges requires collective effort. This program highlights how NeighborWorks America engages with public and private sector partners to drive investment and innovation in affordable housing organizations that generate measurable economic benefits for families and communities alike.

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"Strong, resilient and adaptive nonprofit organizations are essential to the successful development of affordable housing and broader economic development. Achieving Excellence equips leaders with the tools to build stronger organizations, more engaged and results-oriented staff and board members working to achieve even greater impact in their communities. This not only affects the organizations and communities but also results in a stronger pipeline of energized leaders throughout the nonprofit sector," said Deady.

Achieving Excellence has graduated more than 500 executive directors, CEOs and other senior leaders since the program began in 2002, with astounding results from each class. Independent evaluations have shown tremendous results for organizations that have participated in this program.

For more information about the NeighborWorks Achieving Excellence Program, go to www.neighborworks.org/ae.