King Dennis Gillette – Dennis was nominated by Community Conscience where he currently serves on the Advisory Council. Originally from Minneapolis, he served in the United States Marine Corps after high school and has been a resident of the Conejo Valley since 1963. He was one of 10 deputies who formed the inaugural Thousand Oaks Police Department in 1965. Dennis retired after 25 years with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department and then went on to serve as Vice President for Administrative Services/Treasurer at California Lutheran University from 1988 until 2000. In 2009, Dennis received Cal Lutheran University’s L.L.D. (Honorary) Doctor of Laws Degree. In 1998, Dennis was first elected to the City of Thousand Oaks as a councilman where he served for four terms and also served as Mayor of Thousand Oaks for three terms.
Dennis has been active in the community and has received many acknowledgements for his community service over the years. He served as board member and/or Chair on the Association of Ventura County Cities, Association of Water Agencies of Ventura County, Triunfo Sanitation District, Ventura Regional Sanitation District, Ventura Council of Governments, Pt. Mugu Airport Authority, Ventura County Transportation Commission, and Ventura County Regional Energy Alliance, to name a few. He served on 19 different committees at the local, regional, and national levels including numerous League of California steering committees; such as: League of California Cities Public Safety Policy Committee, Chair, National League of Cities Public Safety and Crime Prevention Committee. Dennis was a board member of Conejo Valley Girls’ Softball Association, AYSO Region 9 Youth Soccer, and a past local chairman of the Boy Scouts of America annual committee.
In the honors department, the Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce named Dennis as “Man of the Year” in 1987 and in 1983 the Junior Chamber of Commerce named the entire Gillette family “Family of the Year.” In the late 1980’s he served for several years on the Community Leader’s Club at CLU and was awarded a Lifetime Honorary Membership. The Conejo Valley Historical Society selected him as “Don Triunfo” in 1992. For twelve years he was an elected member of the Conejo Recreation and Park District and served three times as Chair. In 1989 he served as chair of the long-running Conejo Valley Days. Dennis served as a board member/chair from 1991 to 1996 with the Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce and is a lifetime honorary member. Dennis was also a board chair with the Los Robles Regional Medical Center in 1993 and served as a board member of Conejo Future Foundation. He holds lifetime memberships in the First Marine Division and California Peace Officers Association. In the world of service clubs, Dennis is a long-serving volunteer and member of the Thousand Oaks Rotary Club, rising to the post of club president in 1990-1991. Dennis is married to Terry, a retired English teacher from Conejo Valley Unified School District and they have two daughters and one granddaughter.
Queen Joan Young – Nominated by Community Conscience, Joanie is a member of the Advisory Council. A native of Brooklyn, New York, Joanie’s professional career began at the Janss Corporation followed by a partnership with Joe Brown at Brown Realtors. Joanie then ventured out to open Young Realtors in Westlake Village. With boundless vitality she has reached out to touch the lives young and old through her extensive community leadership and philanthropic endeavors. Her words “I’ve always loved what I’ve done and loved the people I’ve shared my life with,” capture the essence of Joanie’s life and career.
Within her industry, Joanie has served locally and on several statewide committees, such as Affordable Housing. She also served on the City of Thousand Oaks Affordable Housing Committee and their economic development committee known as the Blue Ribbon Committee. Joanie was a founding board member for the REBS Board with California Association of Realtors. Joanie served as the first woman Chair of The Chamber of Commerce; Director and Capital Campaign Co-Chair for Senior Concerns; Chair of the Residential Planned Development Committee for The City of Thousand Oaks; Director and Executive Committee member of the United Way of Ventura County; and a founding member of The Ventura County Community Foundation’s Women’s Legacy.
In 2001, Joanie was elected to the Board of Regents of California Lutheran University. Joanie served as chair for CLU’s Development Committee and North Campus Fundraising Committee and Chair of the Housing Task Force. In 2006, she received CLU’s highest honor, Doctor of Laws Degree, honoris causa, in recognition of her distinguished career as a business woman, civic leader, model employer, social entrepreneur and philanthropist. A 47 year resident of the Conejo Valley, Joanie is married to retired general contractor, and civic leader Richard Young. Together they have raised 5 children and are now enjoying time with their 12 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.