Dear Colleagues,

This year at our Annual General Meeting our members will be asked to make an important decision regarding Cal South’s future. The 2010 Presidential election will significantly impact the leadership model our State Association will employee as we move toward that future. Just as important, it will also lay the foundation for which our association’s leadership collaborates with our members.

Now, more than ever, Cal South requires exceptional leadership. Our association is one of the most diverse in the country. As a unified State Association, our members have specified needs and face unique challenges. Administering these needs will require qualified, expert leadership by your elected representatives. While we have accomplished much over the years, our future is not guaranteed. We must secure our future through strong, exceptional, and extraordinary leadership.

I have been a member of the Cal South community for over 21 years. Like many of you, I have a passion for all that Cal South represents. I have grown through our association in member leagues and clubs, first as a volunteer and Board member in our local recreational league and then as a founder and President of a competitive club. I have played in adult leagues and served our youth community in nearly every capacity. My 21 years experience has afforded me a unique perspective of our soccer community not available to many others.

I have worked diligently with local city municipalities to facilitate agreements for local leagues and clubs in securing fields for their membership. As a Club President, I helped in negotiating a working relationship between Cal South and the City of Lancaster that provided access to the Lancaster National Soccer Center for local leagues, clubs, and State Cup competition. I was President of the Antelope Valley Soccer Council, a collaborative group of area leagues and clubs who worked collectively in developing our relationship with the City and local community.

I have served Cal South on a number of committees, including the State Cup committee where I advocated balanced playing brackets for Open Cup competition. Much of this philosophy is represented today in the President and Governors Cup Divisions. Most recently, I have served as your Assistant Vice President on the Cal South Board of Directors for the past three years.

Professionally I am an experienced leader who has demonstrated leadership for complex operations, a diverse workforce, and multi-million dollar budgets. I am a skilled collaborator, results oriented, believe in building collaborative relationships, enjoy working with people, and experienced at Leading Strategic Change.

I will utilize these skills to guide our great association into the future. I will work collaboratively with our members in implementing a Strategic Plan that ensures our future is secure, and serves the needs of all our members.

I ask for your support, your vote, and in the future, your participation to assure our Cal South legacy.

Johnnie Garza – bio

Johnnie Garza has been involved in the Southern California youth soccer scene for over 21 years. He began his involvement as a recreational coach for the Palmdale Youth Soccer League (PYSL) in 1988. He also contributed to the PYSL recreational program as a referee, and in 1991 became the leagues

Registrar where he served for three years. He moved to the competitive arena in 1995, when he founded the Antelope Valley Soccer Association. He served as the clubs first President until 2005.

In addition to his recreational and competitive background, Johnnie has served Cal South in a variety of positions, first as a coach for the Olympic Development Program in 1998 and 1999, then as the Assistant District Commissioner for District Six (6) from 1999-2002. He served as State Cup Chairperson from 2005 until 2007 coordinating State Cup activities for both the National and Open Cup competitions. He has served on the Cal South Board of Directors as the Assistant Vice-President for the past three years after being elected to his first term in 2007.

Professionally, Johnnie is employed by the U.S. Department of Transportations Federal Aviation Administration, where he has worked for 28 years. He began his career as an air traffic control specialist at Los Angeles Air Traffic Control Center. He as also worked as an Operations Supervisor at the Edwards Air Force Base Flight Test Center Radar Approach Control facility. He has extensive experience as a second and third level manager, and is currently the Director for Tactical Operations for the Western United States, where he manages day to day tactical air traffic operations within the National Airspace System. He is also responsible for customer integration with the FAA and other federal agencies on matters related to airspace capacity and efficiency for all major markets in the Western U.S.

Johnnie and his wife Cindy have been married for 30 years. Together they have served Cal South at nearly every level of involvement within the association. They have raised three children, Stephen, Matthew, and Amy, all of whom grew up playing youth soccer in Cal South programs.