‘Extraordinary’ official is retiring

By: Kitty Dill, of the Ventura County Star
This story was originally featured in the Ventura County Star, March 27, 2004, and is featured here with their permission.

At age 10, Carol Shahinian was rounding up neighborhood friends in East Los Angeles to stage carnivals and plays.

Decades later, Carol, now Carol Keochekian, is at retirement age and can reflect on life's destiny, how she bypassed becoming a play director to star instead in public and professional service.

As a thank–you ceremony where she will be the leading lady approaches, many are assessing ways the Thousand Oaks resident has shaped her community. Keochekian's achievements, volunteer and otherwise, have affected thousands of county residents –– many of whom don't know her.

"I am a Carol fan," said Dennis Gillette, former Thousand Oaks police chef and current City Council member. Before retiring in 2000 as California Lutheran University's vice president of administrative services, Gillette was Keochekian's boss. "She has one of the most refreshing management styles I've ever seen, a can–do attitude with a high skills set," he said. "An extraordinary person."

Represented CLU

Since 1992 the soft–spoken Keochekian has been senior director of university relations at CLU, which opened in 1961. The campus covers 225 acres and caters to nearly 3,000 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students.

As the major face and voice for CLU, Keochekian has spoken for the university at public events and gatherings. She orchestrated community relations for the successful passage of the campus master plan and the master plan modification approved in December 2003. As executive director of the CLU Community Leaders Association, she coordinates activities of 300 members. Her steerage of numerous publications includes the award–winning CLU Magazine, published three times yearly.

Such achievements came during her second affiliation with CLU. During the first tenure, which started in 1979, she was director of women's programs, then director of Adult Education Services, and meanwhile earned a bachelor's degree in public affairs.

Perhaps her best known initiative is Creative Options: A Day for Women, which just celebrated its 25th version with 700 attendees, 73 workshops, a keynote speaker and a concluding inspirational speaker. The mammoth undertaking was launched when daylong events for women were considered novel. Options grew steadily into its own legend, hosted by the Women's Resource Center and co–sponsor, the American Association of University Women, Thousand Oaks Chapter.

"I hope I've been able to help," said Keochekian in her CLU office, which overlooks a serene patch of lawn. "It's been enjoyable."

Of importance has been CLU's responsibility to the community, students and evolving job–market needs, she said. Examples of changes are the addition last year of a biotech industry focus, and of new faculty members this year, changes considered vital because "teaching is the central core of who we are."

The biggest challenge has not been having ideas or programs but finding the monetary resources.

"I've enjoyed working with faculty, staff and community leaders who volunteer to give of their time and resources," she said.

Helped serve people

Keochekian's career embraces programs that serve people and can improve the quality of their lives. For Pleasant Valley Health Care district, she was director of public relations (1986–1992). Before that, she served as director of public information at Conejo Future Foundation (1978) and development coordinator for Tres Condados Girl Scout Council (1977). All drew upon ground–floor experience in education and jobs in journalism and writing, including time at the East Los Angeles Tribune–Gazette.

An impressive resume lists a variety of appointments –– from Ventura County Harbors and Parks Commission, which she chaired, and the Ventura County Commission for Women to the Ventura County Cultural Heritage Board, and the Conejo Valley Bicentennial Committee. The Commission for Women Friends gave her an honorary life membership.

Her many honors include twice being named Woman of the Year. She was president of the Thousand Oaks Library Foundation Board of Directors and the Conejo Valley Historical Society.

Patience solves problems

Several colleagues spoke of Keochekian's patience, from her perspective a birth gift.

"I've found if you can be patient, a lot of problems will solve themselves. On the other hand, I'm a problem–solver, so maybe patience isn't the right word; it's problem–solving."

That's likely why word of Keochekian's attitude spread. "I don't think I've ever applied for a job," she said.

"I've learned by doing," she said, including refining the politics of persuasion. "When I was president of the Historical Society and the Stagecoach Inn burned down, we wanted to rebuild but needed additional money to finish the first floor so it could be opened to the public."

She visited the Conejo Recreation and Park District and persuaded it to help, which expanded the district's mission beyond its traditional recreation role, she said.

Asking for money started even earlier, she said with a laugh. As a senior at an all–girls school, she wanted to direct and act in "I Remember Mama." But putting on the play meant asking the head nun for $25 to pay royalties.

Mustering courage, she did so, and "it was so successful the play became an annual event."

Reverence for education was woven into Keochekian's upbringing by her father, who owned a mom–and–pop grocery store, and mother.

In the early '60s, Carol Shahinian and Sark Keochekian met at an Armenian church, and they married. Later, during a trip north, the Keochekians stopped at historic Du–Par's restaurant in Thousand Oaks and were attracted by the lure of the semi–rural landscape. They resolved to move here and did in 1964.

Keochekian's last day as senior director of university relations will be March 31, but she will continue to edit the magazine, and she is on the search team for a successor.

'Untiring commitment'

Ritch K. Eich, CLU vice president for marketing and communications, said, "It's highly unusual, but we wanted her help." She's held in high esteem and has an "untiring commitment" to civic, professional and social service organizations, he said.

"I have served with some of the finest people at Pomona College, University of Michigan and Stanford University during my 25–year career, and I've never worked with a more dedicated, loyal and ethical practitioner in our profession," he added.

Relaxing and traveling will top Keochekian's to–do list for at least a few months as she and Sark, who retired seven years ago as a Thousand Oaks High School teacher, catch up with their four children and families. Annette Keochekian is an anesthesiologist and lives in Davis with husband Aaron Setran and their two children. Kathryn Walters, a CPA, lives in Thousand Oaks with husband Mark and their three children. Christy Keochekian is a furniture designer in Boston, and she and husband Trung Phung have an infant son. Armen Keochekian is a planner who, with wife Erin Shannon, calls Cardiff–by–the–Sea home.

Is she happy with life? "Yes. I feel really fortunate that Sark and I met and married, and pleased to work here making a difference to young people."