Tag Archives: leadership

A Near Death Experience And Lessons Learned

May 12, 2016 jd

On August 11, 2014, while working on a fire in the Klamath National Forest, Tom Browning and two others were forced to take refuge in fire shelters while the fire burned over them. Tom, a retired Fire Battalion Chief, shared this near death incident on Tuesday night with more than 20 FFA and 4H students from Bear River and Nevada Union high schools as part of the Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation’s Speaker Series. The series brings business education – through access to business leaders, life experiences, and leadership tips – to local high school students.

When faced with an adverse or dangerous situation, Browning’s advice to the students is to “stay calm. You can’t think when you panic or are overwhelmed. Being calm is contagious.”

Browning has more than 40 years of firefighting experience, including 34 years with the City of Grass Valley Fire Department. He retired as a Battalion Chief in 2011. Since his retirement, he has been a member of the North San Juan Fire Protection District, where he serves as volunteer Battalion Chief. He is also a member of Nor-Cal Team II, a federal Inter Agency Incident Management Team, whose responsibility is to help manage large wildland fires on federal responsibility lands.

Browning is a sixth generation Nevada County resident, and has served as past president of the Nevada County Livestock Producers and the Nevada County Farm Bureau; and is a current board member and past president of the Nevada County Fair Board. He holds his AA degree in Administration of Justice and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management.

In sharing leadership and life experience advice, Browning emphasized to the students that they should “focus on education and learn as much as they can; experience and learn from life’s lessons; be ethical by doing the right thing even when no one is looking; never give up; and never stop learning.”

The Fairgrounds Foundation’s speaker series, which began in October, featured six speakers. Students had an opportunity to hear about the speaker’s career path, how they achieved their goals, insight regarding their area of expertise, and an opportunity for questions. The series, sponsored by Sandy Ballou of California Outdoor Properties, will start up again in October and high school students are invited to attend.

About the Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation: The Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation’s mission is to support and improve the community’s Fairgrounds, and to support youth in agriculture. For more information about the Fairgrounds Foundation, or to become a member, visit NevadaCountyFair.com/foundation/.

Help keep this blog going
Contact ODell Realty

Error: Contact form not found.

nevada county fair

Nevada County Fairgrounds’ CEO to be Inducted into Western Fairs Association’s Hall of Fame

November 23, 2014 jd

Western Fairs Association (WFA) announced this week that they will induct Sandy Woods, Chief Executive Officer of the Nevada County Fairgrounds, into the Western Fairs Association’s Hall of Fame at its upcoming convention in Reno.

The WFA Hall of Fame honors individuals who have made substantial contributions to the Fair industry through leadership, education, legislation and outstanding service.

Woods is being recognized for her contributions to the Fair industry, including her work at the Nevada County Fairgrounds. She has worked at the Nevada County Fairgrounds since 1995, where she started as Deputy Manager, and has served as the CEO since 2009. Additionally, Woods has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Western Fairs Association since 2005, and served as the WFA Board President in 2012. She is currently Chair of the California Fairs Alliance, which provides advocacy and resource development for the network of California fairs.

“Sandy’s service as an Officer, and as the President of the Western Fairs, set a new bar for leadership,” noted WFA Executive Director Stephen Chamber. “Her continuing role as the Chair of the California Fairs Alliance has helped California’s 78 fairs move through the difficult challenges driven by the Great Recession. Celebrating her service will be the highlight of our January Convention.”

Prior to her work at the Nevada County Fairgrounds, Woods worked as the Controller/CFO for MasterCard for the western United States. She also has an extensive background and career in international agriculture. Upon moving to Nevada County, she became the general manager of the Nevada City Winery and remains a director at the Winery. She is also a past director of the Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation, as well as a member of the Foothill Lions Club.

“The Hall of Fame Board of Governors did an outstanding job,” said WFA President Pat Kress. “Sandy defines commitment and service to the fair community. She has worked tirelessly on behalf of the California fair network. She is a great addition to the WFA Hall of Fame.”

The Western Fairs Association is a non-profit trade association serving the Fair industry throughout the Western United States and Canada. WFA serves fair-related businesses, fair management, fair board directors, festivals, and industry associations.

Woods’ induction will take place in January at WFA’s industry awards celebration in Reno.

Live in Nevada County?
Call or email for a Free Market Analysis of Your Home

John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI

O’Dell Realty
(530) 263-1091
<a href=”mailto:johnodell969@gmail.com”>Email John</a>

BRE#00669941

nevada county fair

Heritage Lamb To Be Showcased At Junior Livestock Auction At The Nevada County Fair 2011

August 4, 2011 jd

Preparing for the Junior Livestock Auction on Sunday of the Fair are (from left to right): Bear River Ag teacher, Steve Paasch; Paige Lambert, who is raising the Heritage Lamb for the Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation; and Ed Mertens, Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation Board Member

By Wendy Oaks

The 2011 Heritage Lamb will be showcased at the Junior Livestock Auction on Sunday, August 14, at the Nevada County Fair. Proceeds from the lamb will be used to assist the Foundation in its efforts to continue to improve the Fairgrounds.

Raising the 2011 Heritage Lamb is 17-year-old Paige Lambert. Paige was chosen to raise the lamb because of her 4H experience in raising animals and for her leadership skills.

Paige has been involved in 4H for 11 years. She has been raising market swine for seven years, and prior to that, as a junior member, she raised chickens and showed eggs. She is currently raising her first steer, Beef Wellington.

Additionally, Paige is currently the junior head camp director at the Nevada County 4H camp and has been camp counselor for the past four years. She has held numerous leadership positions in her club. She was president for two years, secretary, treasurer, and Sargent of Arms. She has also been a California focus delegate and, last year, a D.C. delegate.

Paige has also served as a Junior Swine Leader, where she taught and assisted novice and younger children the elements of showmanship and raising hogs. She has presented market swine twice in the championship round and been three times in the best set of five hog 4H champions.

In addition to her agricultural work, Paige will also dive on the Sierra College dive team in the Fall and snow boards at a national level.

Paige will receive a $500 scholarship for her efforts. For future plans, Paige will attend Sierra College and plans on obtaining a nursing degree. Her goal is to work as an emergency nurse.

The Foundation is currently seeking donors to contribute to the fund for the Heritage Lamb. The animal will be the last in its specie to be auctioned, and donors can bid on the Heritage Lamb at the auction or they may “bump up” the bid on the lamb by contacting the Fair Office or visiting the Livestock Office during the Fair. The Heritage Lamb was donated by the Paasch Family and Our 49er Feed Store donated all the feed.

For more information about the Foundation and the Heritage Animal program, visit Nevada County Fair Foundation

Wendy Oaks
Publicist, Nevada County Fairgrounds
(530) 273-6217

wsoaks@gmail.com
Website: www.NevadaCountyFair.com

Facebook: Nevada County Fairgrounds

Nevada County Fair August 10 – 14, 2011

For all your real estate needs
Call or email:

John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
Real Estate Broker
O’Dell Realty
(530) 263-1091
jodell@nevadacounty.com

Business, Local Writers & Contributors

Toastmasters – Helping 235,000 People to Become Stronger Leaders

February 19, 2010 jd

By Lisa J. Lehr

Would you like to have more communicative employees—or be one? Have a more effective sales force, or be a trainer with phenomenal presentation skills? Be a more confident, competent leader? Be persuasive, inspirational, and/or entertaining?

That’s what 235,000 people around the world are doing right now, and it’s called Toastmasters International.

This might sound like a shameless plug for Toastmasters…and perhaps it is, because I’ve been a member of Toastmasters for over 10 months now, and I love it, and so do my fellow Toastmasters, and we’d love to have more company!

Toastmasters is an international organization that provides training in speaking and leadership that is on a par with expensive and extensive professional training programs, yet at a fraction of the cost and time commitment.

Nevada County is lucky to have four different Toastmasters Clubs—unusual for a community of our size. Mother Lode Toastmasters meets Monday evenings; Early Risers Toastmasters, Tuesday mornings; Penn Valley Club, Wednesday evenings; and the club I belong to, Empire Toastmasters, meets every Friday at noon at Trolley Junction Restaurant (at the Northern Queen Hotel) in Nevada City.

We’re a small, friendly, supportive group dedicated to helping each other improve at a comfortable pace, wherever we each currently are with our speaking and leadership skills. Our meetings are open to anyone who is interested. Come as a guest; you’ll be invited (but not required!) to participate in Table Topics, in which participants each speak impromptu for about a minute on a given theme. It’s often the highlight of the meeting, and almost always provides the most laughs. Lunch is $14 and reservations are not required.

My fellow Toastmasters and I are available to do a presentation for your business or organization that will explain the program in much greater detail. My own personal and professional growth through Toastmasters has been nothing short of astonishing in less than a year, and my fellow club members have similar stories to tell about being “the shyest person who ever lived”—but no more, thanks to Toastmasters!

Visit this link for more information about the local clubs:

ToastMasters Nevada County

Lisa J. Lehr is a writer and copywriter living in Grass Valley. She can help you promote your business with a full range of online and offline marketing pieces. A member of Empire Toastmasters, she’s available to speak to your business or professional group. Visit her website www.justrightcopy.com for more information, opt in for a message series, and receive a free Marketing Guide.

Lisa J. Lehr
I write words that make you money–just ask me how.
Visit my website and sign up for my fr~ee marketing tips.
New! No~cost Marketing Guide now available at my website.