harris sherline
Harris Sherline, 78, is a retired Certified Public Accountant and executive. He practiced public accounting in Los Angeles until 1970, when he left the firm he co-founded to concentrate on “business management” services and real estate investing for clients. His diverse business background includes experience as a principal in the restaurant industry, real estate investment and management, golf course ownership, a direct mail advertising agency, and as the chief executive officer of a hospital.
He and his wife, Carol, relocated from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara in 1977 and moved to Santa Ynez Valley in 1984.
Charitable Organizations:
Harris has an extensive background in charitable work. During the late 1960’s and early 70’s, he served as a director and president of United Cerebral Palsy Association of Los Angeles County, vice president and director of United Cerebral Palsy Association of California, director and treasurer of the Institute for Cancer and Blood Research, and as president of the Los Angeles County Council of Voluntary Health Agencies.
Hospital Chairman/CEO:
In 1986, Harris became a volunteer with Santa Ynez Valley Hospital in Solvang, California, beginning his involvement with fund raising. He created the hospital’s first Radiothon event and was elected to the board of directors in January, 1988. After becoming chairman of the board in May, 1989, he instituted a major reorganization of the hospital. In November, 1989, Harris also became the hospital’s chief executive officer, serving for almost two years as an unpaid volunteer. He continued in this capacity until 1995, when the hospital’s present affiliation with Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital was successfully arranged, after which he retired. As a result of his efforts, he was named Southern California Volunteer of the Year by the California Association of Hospitals and Health Systems Rural Hospital Center (1990).
Harris’ experience as a hospital executive includes extensive hands-on responsibilities in marketing, advertising and public relations. He authored a series of newsletters, newspaper ads and articles about health care and the health care industry and also researched, wrote and hosted over two hundred radio shows about health care. These were carried by three radio stations in the Santa Barbara market. He is a seasoned public speaker and has appeared before many groups in his capacity as the chief executive officer of the local hospital.
Active Retirement:
Harris continues to be active in business, primarily consulting on evaluating business opportunities for investors and packaging ventures for financing, expansion or sale. He also served as a director and CFO of a Santa Barbara based national franchising company for four years, until the business was sold in March of 2005.
In his spare time, he writes “Letters to the Editor,” which frequently appear in several Santa Barbara publications. He also writes a regular email opinion letter, Opinionfest, as well as editorials for two Internet websites. In addition, he has written a series of articles about seniors for the Santa Ynez Valley News and currently writes two weekly opinion columns for the Santa Ynez Valley Journal.
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