Howard Hakes, president of the Crescenta Valley Drug & Alcohol Prevention Coalition, introduced the organization’s new executive director David Marquez to the leadership team at the 2011 Strategic Planning Retreat on Jan. 22.

An extensive national search was done for the executive director that provided over 60 candidates, all with outstanding resumes. At a board meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 17 the Hiring Committee recommended Marquez as the best candidate to lead the coalition and implementation of the Drug Free Communities Grant.

Marquez brings to the coalition extensive experience as a professional manager overseeing community development and collaborative-based programs, considerable experience in implementing legislative and policy in the area of youth and family services and public safety and community health. Most recently, he served as a consultant for City Solutions, as an executive team member for Community and Economic Development. He also served as the executive director for Central City Neighborhood Partners in Los Angeles from 2001 to July 2004.

Marquez, his wife Judith and their son Roan live in the Mount Washington area of Los Angeles. The public is invited to meet Marquez on Thursday, Feb. 10 at the Crescenta Valley Library, 2809 Foothill Blvd., La Crescenta from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the upstairs meeting room.

The Crescenta Valley Drug & Alcohol Prevention Coalition is a community-based non-profit collaboration. The mission of the Coalition is to create awareness and maintain a safe and healthy drug-free community by providing our youth a secure, caring and supportive environment. Through the award of a federal Drug Free Communities Grant, the coalition will provide leadership development and implementation for sustainable prevention strategies for the Crescenta Valley.

  Coalition Director, David Marquez