Gherardi was not only the VCTC’s first executive director: she was also its first employee. VCTC started with a $500,000 annual budget agency, but Gherardi, a Pratt Institute-trained art teacher who had run the Los Angeles highway program before joining VCTC, has secured grant funding to fuel its now annual budget of $81 million. Gherardi always made it a point to let people know that the salaries paid to the 20 VCTC employees did not cost taxpayers directly, but are also grant funded.Her talent as a graphic artist and vision led to Gherardi’s creation of a transportation plan for the City of Los Angeles... a plan that was implemented 20 years later. In Ventura County, Gherardi has created a Metrolink system including four stations, oversaw the planned conversion of The Mill to the soon to be agricultural museum branch of the Museum of Ventura County, and created the VISTA and Dial-A-Ride programs. Gherardi, who also serves as a Seaside Park Board director, promoted Metrolink travel to the annual Ventura County Fair.Through it all she quietly built a national network, said Lance. “How do you sum up her career? Mostly she is our generation’s most talented and gifted public transportation” leader and visionary.Former Simi Valley Mayor Bill Davis said that Gherardi - a former Simi Valley councilwoman - said she “wanted to start a commuter train,” and an astonishing 18 months later it was a reality. “The only person I know who could have done it was Ginger,” said Davis, who described Gherardi as “one of the kindest persons, unless you cross her!”“Ginger stayed the course and led us into a fine transportation system,” noted Flynn.Gherardi said that she had just returned from a VCTC related trip to North Carolina: ironically, the airline lost her luggage that contained her cell phone charger. “It’s been a good 18 years, it’s been fun and I had a great time,” said Gherardi to a standing ovation.“Ginger’s great, I like her vision, especially bringing the ag museum into The Mill,” said Norm Wilkinson, the former City of Santa Paula Public Works Director/City Engineer. “That was a plus... she didn’t have to do that.”“It’s the end of an era,” said Supervisor Kathy Long. “Ginger has been a remarkable leader in our county. Her tenacity in known... she was one tough cookie” when it came to county transportation issues and needs.
Ginger Gherardi: VCTC executive director, transportation ‘icon’ retires
October 31, 2007
Santa Paula News
It was only fitting that fake cash - really big, big bills - was used for the table pieces at the dinner for outgoing Ventura County Transportation Commission Executive Director Ginger Gherardi, whose expertise in securing funding is legendary, even on a national level.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesIt was only fitting that fake cash - really big, big bills - was used for the table pieces at the dinner for outgoing Ventura County Transportation Commission Executive Director Ginger Gherardi, whose expertise in securing funding is legendary, even on a national level.Gherardi, a resident of Santa Paula, was lauded by a variety of elected and transportation officials at her recent retirement dinner, held at The Derby Club at Seaside Park. Displayed on a banquet table were the numerous certificates, plaques and gifts Gherardi received from various cities, the county, and public agencies marking her tenure as the head of the transportation commission... its only head since it was formed in 1989.The City of Santa Paula had recognized Gherardi at a recent meeting where Mayor Ray Luna and Vice Mayor John Procter presented her with a unique gift... a photograph of the city’s historic Depot. “I’m thrilled to get this because it’s not a plaque,” said Gherardi. “I couldn’t figure out what to do with all the plaques.”Luna said that Gherardi’s excellent service included her “outstanding support of Santa Paula transportation projects.”“I’ve been the Ventura County Transportation Commission representative since 2000, what a steep learning curve,” noted Procter. “The amount of knowledge that Ginger has is amazing, as are her skills in bringing funds to Santa Paula. She always kept an eye on Santa Paula and made sure we were not lost in the shuffle.”Procter said that while he was the VCTC chair the board was increased to 17 members. “It was akin to herding cats,” he quipped. “Working with Ginger has been a pleasure,” including a trip to Washington, D.C., where Procter said “Everyone knows Ginger and some fear her.”During Gherardi’s career she not only garnered admiration for her remarkable ability to secure funding for county transportation projects, but also for her tenacious pursuit of same through a complicated series of contacts that make Gherardi’s black book bulge with names of state and federal officials. “Ginger has done a wonderful job, I’m proud of what she has done,” said Supervisor John Flynn.Gherardi’s reputation for money securing for county projects is so strong that Steve Lance of Metrolink noted, “One official said when you reach into your pocket for money, her hand is already there!”
