Northern Santa Barbara County EconAlliance Announces Jenelle Osborne to be Chief Executive Officer

Northern Santa Barbara County EconAlliance Board President Sam Cohen announced today the hire of the organization’s first Chief Executive Officer, Jenelle Osborne, scheduled to begin work with the nonprofit organization in January 2025. “We are pleased to welcome Jenelle back to EconAlliance in this pivotal role after her successful work as the Mayor of Lompoc. I’m confident she will flourish as our new CEO.”

Osborne will take the reins from EconAlliance co-founder and Initiatives Director Victoria Conner, who is retiring from the organization in early 2025.

Jenelle graduated summa cum laude with a degree in History focusing on Public Administration from Texas Woman’s University (TWU.) Her career encompasses over forty years of both private and public-sector positions. Most recently, she has served as Mayor for the City of Lompoc. She owned her own consulting and event planning business from 2005-2020, and served on the EconAlliance Board from 2016-2018. Appointed to the City of Lompoc’s Economic Development Committee, she held positions as Vice Chair and then Chair during her 2012- 2016 tenure. A Texas transplant whose early career included a position as Program Manager for the Law Enforcement Management Institute at TWU, Osborne came to the area in 2000 and has been involved in North County economic development and economic vitality-building for over ten years.

Jenelle has served on various committees and commissions at the local, state, and national level and has advocacy experience and relationships across all levels of government.

As Lompoc Mayor, Osborne held multiple positions on several regional and statewide boards focusing on infrastructure, energy, and housing. During her time as chair of Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG), regional broadband and Highway 101 projects were funded and implemented. As Legislative and Regulatory Chair of the Northern California Power Agency, Jenelle advocated energy issues to the state and federal legislators with favorable regulatory results. Participating in the Transportation, Communication and Public Works Committee for CalCities provided the opportunity to advocate and influence policy decision at the state level.

Jenelle also has been a key partner with Vandenberg Space Force Base in building capacity for commercial space launches, expanding housing, and developing a more secure and resilient region for the base and its surrounding communities.

Pleased to be selected from among numerous applicants, Osborne says of the organization: "EconAlliance has set the standard for regional economic development over the past ten years, and I am excited to lead the organization moving forward. With a history of amazing forums, a diverse and supportive board, and strong industry partners across Northern Santa Barbara County, we are poised to expand membership, advocate for our members, and implement programs to assist and support our local economy. I look forward to seeing everyone at our annual dinner next month.”

Osborne will be introduced as new EconAlliance CEO at the organization’s Annual Dinner/Future Forum Thursday, January 8, The Craft House at the Corque in Solvang. Osborne’s full bio is available in the Staff/Consultants section at https://econalliance.org/about-us/.

EconAlliance is a 501c3 nonprofit organization with a mission to build awareness, advocacy, support and appreciation for Northern Santa Barbara County industries and communities. www.EconAlliance.org