RIVERSIDE (February 27, 2013) -- A prominent Riverside community advocacy group has named Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, president of California Baptist University, as one of the city's most influential leaders during the past 25 years.

 The Raincross Group, formed by Riverside residents in 1987, celebrated its 25^th anniversary on February 21, 2013. Raincross members marked the milestone by nominating and voting on the 25 people they felt had been most influential to the leadership of the city in the past quarter century.

 "Out of the hundred plus nominations, 25 people stood out to our membership," Wendel Tucker, Raincross Group president said. "This gives us a chance to reflect on the outstanding leadership we have had as a city over the last quarter century and pushes us to emulate their example as we move ahead."

 "Each of them intersects with each other in a myriad of ways and as such provides a strong leadership web that makes Riverside great," Tucker said.

 Since becoming president in 1994, Ellis has guided CBU's growth from 808 students to a current enrollment of 6,031. California Baptist University is a private, non-profit Christian institution affiliated with California Southern Baptist Convention. The university's four colleges and six professional schools including Engineering, Nursing, Allied Health and others have developed strong ties to the greater Riverside community and beyond.

In addition to Ellis, honorees recognized at an event celebrating the Raincross Group  anniversary were: Kathy Allavie, Dr. Chuck Beaty, Jane Block, Bob Buster, Jane Carney, Jack Clarke, Jr., Henry Coil, Dr. Jim Erickson, Tom Evans, Judge John Gabbert, Dr. Larry Geraty, Art Littleworth, Dr. Ron Loveridge, Roger Luebs, Rose Mayes, the late Judge Vic Miceli, the late Art Pick, Duane Roberts, Cindy Roth, John Tavaglione, Ofelia Valdez-Yeager, Jennifer Vaughn-Blakely, Dr. Timothy White and Jacques Yeager.

 

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