Mohammed Hasan has been elected president of El Concilio, a nonprofit providing direct assistance and educational opportunities to underserved Latino communities in Ventura County. As it happens, Hasan marks 50 years of service in Ventura County this year, a milestone El Concilio will celebrate in 2025.
“I believe as human beings we aren’t very big in and of ourselves. But through our actions as organizations, we can have a much greater influence,” says Hasan, who has volunteered with El Concilio for 12 years, previously serving as vice president. “El Concilio provides education, legal services, direct aid, and more to some of the most vulnerable populations in the county. I look forward to continuing this important work.”
The leadership role at El Concilio continues a life of giving back. Service to others, says Hasan, is the essence of life and key to his longevity.
When Mohammed Hasan arrived at 24 years old in New York from what was is today Bangladesh the idea was to pursue a PhD at the University of Florida at Gainesville. But a PhD in the United States is often associated with professorship. “People kept saying to me ‘So, you want to teach? You want to be a professor?’”
Hasan was clear: “I didn’t want to teach. I wanted to solve actual problems!”
After earning two master’s degrees from the University of Iowa – one in transportation and another in environmental engineering – Hasan’s path took to him westward, arriving at the Ventura Regional Sanitation District in 1974.
“Mohammed thinks about the constituency – the people actually affected. He really believes in what he does,” say John Zaragoza, the former mayor of Oxnard, who has counted Hasan as a friend for nearly 45 years, since the two were division heads for the City of Oxnard. “I know he’s very concerned right now about saltwater intrusion into Fox Canyon. That’s a big, long-term problem. But he’s out there sharing that information now. He knows tomorrow is just around the corner.”
In addition to his role at El Concilio, Hasan is an elected director at United Water Conservation District in Oxnard, which is responsible for abating saltwater intrusion into Fox Canyon. He’s also an elected commissioner at the Local Agency Formation Commission for Ventura County (LAFCO), which oversees government boundary-making and orderly development. He is a cofounder of OceanForesters, an engineering firm looking to reduce the impacts of climate change by building coastal resiliency. He does all of this as owner of an engineering consulting firm, Hasan Consultants, itself 40 years old.
“The key to long-term success is knowing yourself,” says Hasan, “and if you really want to know yourself, you help out those in need. This is where my thirst for education began, in wanting to help people.”
In May of this year, Hasan flew to Milwaukee to be awarded the BC.WRE, the highest post-license certification in water resources engineering accredited by the Council of Engineering and Scientific Boards.
“Mohammed leads with his heart,” says Ventura County Supervisor Janice Parvin. “I work with him on the LAFCO, and you always know he does his homework. He asks all the right technical questions. But it’s not just his expertise that brings people along with him. He really cares. It’s why he’s a leader and mentor to so many in Ventura, both in and outside of government.”
Hasan encourages young people to avoid negativity. “There’s too much information and negativity out there. It’s hard to stay on the subject. Negativity can come from parents or teachers or friends. Don’t let it distract you. If you find someone who lifts you up and inspires you, cherish that person. Smile within. Even for the little things, we must pat ourselves on the back.”
El Concilio Family Services 2025 Board of Directors: Mohammed Hasan, President; Jeanette Sanchez Palacios, Vice President; Tom Cady, Treasurer; Elisabeth Paniagua, Secretary; Andres Herrera, Immediate Past President; Anthony Avila, new Board Member; Angelica Cisneros, new Board Member; Carmen DeArcos Gonzalez, Board Member; Marina Martinez, Board Member; Roy W. Prince, new Board Member; Lupe Servin, Board Member; and Natalie Yanez, Board Member.