STOCKTON, Calif., June 6, 2022 – HealthForce Partners Northern San Joaquin Valley, a health sector partnership of the North San Joaquin Valley region working to address the healthcare workforce shortage, is pleased to announce its new Executive Director, Dr. Paul Lanning. Dr. Lanning will begin his role effective June 13.

"I'm very excited to be returning to the Central Valley to assume this important leadership role," Lanning stated. "I am a firm believer that the economic vitality of our region is dependent in large part on our ability to ensure a robust pipeline of well-trained professionals to meet the multiple healthcare needs of our communities. That can best be accomplished through programs that grow a workforce locally, providing opportunities for students and residents from all backgrounds to participate in innovative programs involving our region's education institutions and healthcare providers."

Dr. Lanning possesses an accomplished track record of transformational leadership, consultation, and growth of nonprofit organizations. With entrepreneurial experience, numerous industry awards for marketing, communications, and fundraising excellence, and more than $200 million raised for charitable causes, Lanning brings a breadth and depth of experience to his work that is an asset to the Central Valley. His background includes two decades of leadership roles that spans local, regional, and statewide levels in roles such as President/CEO of the Foundation for California Community Colleges, Vice President for University Advancement at San Jose State University, and Assistant Vice President of Development at University of the Pacific, and he has served as a consultant to numerous other nonprofit organizations throughout the state. Dr. Lanning has also taught graduate courses in nonprofit leadership, fundraising, marketing, program review and grant writing at University of the Pacific.

"I've been fortunate to work in the past with several of the institutions now engaged in this [workforce] effort through HealthForce Partners,” Lanning said. "I'm looking forward to what we can accomplish by working together to provide healthcare career pathways for young people and ensure the health and wellness of residents throughout the three counties served by this partnership.”

Prior to his career in nonprofit leadership, Lanning was the recipient of the Entrepreneur Business of the Year Award from the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce as the founding CEO of Today’s Communications in 2000, and in 1998 was instrumental in the acquisition of a privately-held Silicon Valley telecommunications firm by a publicly-traded cable provider in a $45 million deal. He began his career in marketing and public relations roles in the Los Angeles Dodgers minor league system and later spent several years working with professional and amateur sports organizations and personalities in strategic planning, corporate sponsorship, fundraising, media, e-commerce, and event management.

A San Jose native, Lanning earned a B.A. in political science from UC San Diego; M.S. in sport management from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst; and Ed.D. in education administration and leadership from the University of the Pacific. He has also earned the CFRE designation and has served on numerous community and nonprofit boards, including those for the Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce and the San Francisco 49ers Academy.

Dr. Lanning and his wife Jane reside in downtown Lodi.

About HealthForce Partners Northern San Joaquin Valley

HealthForce Partners brings together top executives and operational leaders from healthcare, education, and workforce development to craft innovative programs and systems change strategies that address the staffing priorities of employers and expand career opportunities for community residents in the North San Joaquin Valley region, including the counties of San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Merced. By facilitating collaborative planning, the Partnership is changing the way healthcare employers, educational institutions, and workforce development agencies work together. To learn more visit www.healthforcepartners.net.

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