Dwyer new director at CSC

Seen as a stabilizing force

Steve Dwyer

Steve Dwyer

The board of directors of Cancer Support Community Valley/ Ventura/Santa Barbara has named Steve Dwyer as the organization’s new executive director.

Dwyer, a resident of Thousand Oaks, served as chief of the Ventura County chapter of Habitat for Humanity for more than five years. Most recently, he held an adjunct professor position in nonprofit leadership and development at Pepperdine University.

As its third director in four years, Dwyer hopes to bring organizational and financial stability to the T.O.-based nonprofit group. Longtime chief Suzanne Drace had been serving as interim executive director following the May 2018 resignation of Bridget Karl.

Dwyer will manage the organization’s fundraising and administrative staff, and collaborate with its board of directors, board of trustees, medical advisory board and speaker’s bureau.

“I’m looking forward to working with the board and the clinical and administrative teams to build on the 27-year history of valuable cancer support programs that CSC has provided to our community,” said Dwyer, who began his duties in February.

Prior to joining the nonprofit sector, Dwyer spent 22 years in finance leadership positions with General Electric and other corporations. He and his family spent 17 years living in Hong Kong and Singapore where he held leadership positions supporting business growth across the Asia- Pacific region.

Dwyer earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Cal Lutheran University, a master’s degree in international commerce from the University of Kentucky, and a master’s degree in advanced business practice from the University of South Australia.

“Steve brings a valuable combination of business and nonprofit leadership experience to the team,” CSC Board Chair Andrea Roschke said. “Our community is fortunate that Steve chose to devote his business, finance and management skills to help CSC in its decades-long mission to support families affected by cancer.”

Dwyer’s duties also include management of the professional cancer support programs offered to adults and children throughout Ventura and Santa Barbara counties and West San Fernando Valley by CSC’s clinical staff.

Founded in 1991, the Thousand Oaks-based Cancer Support Community provides educational and therapeutic programs at no cost to cancer patients and their families.

Last year, CSC served more than 2,300 individuals through 770 support group sessions, 650 mind/body wellness classes and 90 workshops.

“Our goal is to broaden the organization’s reach and to provide high-quality support at no cost to individuals and families as they deal with the challenges of cancer diagnosis and treatment,” Dwyer said.

He and his wife, Barbara, a substitute teacher at schools in the Conejo Valley, have two grown children who reside in Texas.

Acorn staff report