Meet New Los Gatos Saratoga Recreation Executive Director Stephen Ma

Los Gatos Saratoga Recreation's board of directors has appointed Stephen Ma as the agency's new executive director.

He began his official duties Oct. 9.

Ma brings more than two decades of leadership experience. During the last three years he served as vice president of administrative services for the Monterey Peninsula College District.

Ma is known also has a strong financial background. He spent seven years as the chief business officer for the San Dieguito Union High School District, in the San Diego area.

Ma's colleagues describe him as a person with high integrity, who is trustworthy with a calm personality and has great listening skills, the agency said in a press release.

"I've been in education a long time," Ma said, adding that working for LGS Recreation is like coming home due to his love for learning.

"What was really unique about this position is that the agency has three school districts as partners," Ma told Los Gatos Patch.
 
LGS Recreation was formed in 1956 by the Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District.

The agency was re-organized by the Los Gatos Union School District, the Saratoga Union School District and the Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District as a separate joint powers to ensure the effective and efficient provision of community education and recreation services to the communities of Los Gatos, Saratoga, Monte Sereno and Mountain communities.

The agency is busy getting ready to sponsor many of the town's most popular holiday events such as the 57th annual Children's Christmas and Holidays Parade on Saturday, Dec. 7 and the Santa in Town Plaza Park event.

LGS Recreation also runs two community centers for youth and adults on Main Street in downtown Los Gatos.

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