District Governing Board presents Barry Jantz, long-time East County advisor and higher education advocate, with Community Leadership Award

El Cajon, CA – On Tuesday, November 10, 2026, the Governing Board of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District awarded Grossmont College alumnus Barry Jantz, with a Governing Board Community Leadership Award. The Board established the Community Leadership Award to formally recognize outstanding community members whose involvement and dedication have contributed to the well-being and advancement of our region. Each year, the award honors an individual who exemplifies a commitment to civic engagement, demonstrates inspiring leadership, and who plays a vital role in strengthening our community.

Barry Jantz is a long-time East County resident, businessman, and civic and community supporter, whose support of the District, the colleges, and students over the years has been unwavering. Mr. Jantz is a well-known entity in East County San Diego, and in many ways, his name has become synonymous with East County. He graduated from Helix High School, and is a proud Grossmont College alumnus, who also took classes at Cuyamaca College. After graduation, he transferred to San Diego State University, as a journalism and political science major. During his time at Grossmont College, he wrote for the Grossmont College G, the college student newspaper. In 2004, Mr. Jantz was inducted into the Grossmont College Walk of Fame.

“As a Grossmont College alumnus and tireless civic leader, Barry Jantz exemplifies what it means to serve East County,” stated Governing Board Member Brad Monroe. “From local government to endowing scholarships for our healthcare students, his decades of investing in the next generation make him truly deserving of this award.

Barry currently serves as the Chair of the Board of the East County Economic Development Council, the Health Services Advisory Board for the County of San Diego, and formerly served as a Board Member for the San Diego Regional East County Chamber of Commerce, where he is still involved as a committee member and advisor. Additionally, he has served on the board of the San Diego Association of Governments and the San Diego County Taxpayers Association.

Mr. Jantz served on the La Mesa City Council for 16 years, and as CEO of the Grossmont Healthcare District for 16 years. Since his "retirement" in 2021, he operates Jantz Communications, specializing in community affairs, strategic planning, and workforce development issues. In all these roles, Mr. Jantz promoted civic engagement, served as a political and community liaison, and advanced economic development policies that benefit East County communities and residents.

“What a tremendous honor it is to be recognized by the District,” stated Barry Jantz. “While at Grossmont College, my love of writing led me to write for the college newspaper as an extracurricular activity. I had no idea the experience would end up fostering my deep interest in public affairs and communications, sparking my career over the next four decades. Thank you so much to both colleges for launching my career pathway, as well as for this recognition.”

During his tenure as the CEO of the Grossmont Healthcare District, he led his board to establish two OSHERs Scholarships which is now endowed, and provides a perpetual scholarship for District students. As the Chair of the Board of the East County Economic Development Corporation, his team partners with Cuyamaca and Grossmont college to host the annual East County Manufacturing Expo, bringing dozens of industry leaders and workforce employers to the campuses to connect with students.

This perfectly complements one of his passions, WorkforceConnect, a non-profit with which he is involved, that creates pathways for students, underserved communities, and those transitioning from the military into work-based learning programs including mentorships and apprenticeships. Through his work at WorkforceConnect, Bostonia Global High School is pioneering career-readiness initiatives that are preparing future Grossmont and Cuyamaca college students for pathways to college and career.

As a fitting result of his impact, Mr. Jantz been recognized as one of San Diego’s most influential people for several consecutive years by the San Diego Business Journal. In 2021, the San Diego Business Journal (SDBJ) added him to the annual list of San Diego Icons, “whose work is so influential and whose contributions so great that the SDBJ recognizes them as ‘Icons’.”

About the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District

The Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District (District) includes Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges, which offer hundreds of degree and certificate programs, including Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, and Advanced/Basic Certificates. The District is the largest provider of higher education and job training in East County, and is a top transfer pathway to San Diego State University. The colleges lead the way in developing educational programs, classes, and services to support our students, and prepare them to meet the needs of changing community and workforce requirements, while advancing social justice and economic mobility. Learn more and enroll at www.gcccd.edu/enroll.

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