Gary Cushing,
鈥�10 B.A. Political Science
鈥淚t鈥檚 Never Too Late for College鈥�
By Marya Barlow
At the age of 52, Gary Cushing was by all measures a success. The self-made owner of several Ventura County restaurant franchises, an active philanthropist and civic leader, he was also happily married, with eight children and 13 grandchildren.
But Cushing still had one dream he hadn鈥檛 realized: a college degree.
In 2007, he enrolled at CI to earn the B.A. in Political Science he had abandoned three decades earlier, when work and family responsibilities prevailed.
鈥淚 was at first hesitant to go back to school because being a nontraditional student I didn鈥檛 know how I would be treated by the 鈥榬egular鈥� students or faculty,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 was treated no differently than any other student. Several professors and students became lifelong friends.鈥�
Cushing excelled at CI鈥攅ven while taking a full course load, working 50 hours a week, and serving as Chair of the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce. During his final year, he presented public policy research on autism at San Jose State University and the University of California, Santa Barbara, and earned CI鈥檚 Political Science program鈥檚 Outstanding Research Student Award.
He earned his Master鈥檚 in Public Policy & Administration at California Lutheran University in 2013. His wife, Julie, an operating nurse at Community Memorial Hospital, worked extra shifts to support him.
鈥淚 try to encourage students to stay in school and not put off their degree,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut I鈥檓 proof that it鈥檚 never too late for college. If people say they don鈥檛 have the time, that鈥檚 just an excuse. You can always juggle your schedule to do what you are driven to do.鈥�
Today, Cushing is President/CEO of the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce and Owner/Principal of Cushing Public Affairs, a firm he founded to lobby for local businesses and organizations. His efforts include launching the Gold Team initiative with California Assemblyman Jeff Gorell to attract and retain Ventura County employers and representing various businesses in Sacramento. Since taking over the Chamber in January 2014, he has turned it around, increasing membership and cash flow.
Cushing also continues to run Camarillo鈥檚 Marie Calender鈥檚鈥攖he restaurant he opened in 1991 after working his way up from his first job as a dishwasher/busboy at age 16 in Marie Callender鈥檚 Burbank location.
He stays closely connected to CI and the community, volunteering on several boards, serving as President of CI鈥檚 Alumni & Friends Association, helping place interns in CI鈥檚 Henry 鈥淗ank鈥� L. Lacayo Institute for Workforce & Community Studies program, and advising the University鈥檚 Strategic Planning Committee. He received CI鈥檚 Alumni of the Year Award in 2013.
鈥淚 know what my educational experience did to broaden my horizon,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 want to help other people to do the same.鈥�
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漏 Fall 2014 / Volume 18 / Number 2