2023 Coachella Valley Business Conference & Economic Forecast

Featured Guest

Jeff Van Wagenen C ounty E xecutive O fficer , C ounty of R iverside

Jeff Van Wagenen is the County Executive Officer for Riverside County. He has After beginning his career working in the District Attorney’s Office as a prosecutor, Van Wagenen opened a criminal defense law firm in 2000. As a specialist in criminal law, certified by the State Bar of California, Van Wagenen handled Jeff Van Wagenen has served the residents of Riverside County in one capacity or another for more than 25 years, including three years as Assistant CEO.

many of the County’s most serious and high-profile cases. During this time, he was often asked to serve as a Judge Pro Tem in the Superior Court, handling felony and misdemeanor matters. In 2011, Van Wagenen returned to the DA’s Office to serve as an Assistant District Attorney and was assigned the countywide administration of the office. To these relatively unique experiences (as the administrator of a large law office, a prosecutor, a defense attorney, and a judge pro tem), he added the Managing Director of Riverside County’s Economic Development Agency (EDA) in late 2014. Among other things, RivCo EDA (now called the Office of Economic Development) works to enhance the economic position of the county’s residents and businesses.

Suzanne Holland started her career with the County of Riverside 27 years ago and has served as an Executive in Economic Development, Finance, Library and Community Services. Her diverse background has been instrumental in providing public service to Riverside County residents as well as fostering economic vitality for the growing region. In addition to being the Director of the Office of Economic Development, Holland also serves as the Library Director for the Riverside County Suzanne Holland D irector , R iverside C ounty O ffice of E conomic D evelopment Van Wagenen lives with his wife and two children in the city of Riverside. Master of Ceremonies

Library System (RCLS) with 36 library branches countywide. She is also the Special District Director for over 62 special districts utilizing financing programs for municipal services to enhance the community. Her experience includes utilizing resources effectively and efficiently to solve community issues and developing sustainable programming to benefit the residents of Riverside County. After earning her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California, Riverside, Suzanne continued her education and earned her Master of Arts in Leadership and Organizational Studies from California Baptist University. She has spearheaded projects such as Enhanced Infrastructure Finance Districts, Tourism Recovery Campaign and Public-Private Partnerships, which included three new libraries and programs that have received numerous awards and recognition.

Holland resides in Norco, CA with her husband and two beautiful daughters. Suzanne and husband, Rod, celebrated their 31 st wedding anniversary in December of 2022.