Mike Mathews Manna had to look no further for a new executive director when it met Mike Mathews.

Right after the local food bank’s board of directors selected Mathews, he was at the food bank becoming familiar with the system and making mental notes on how he could streamline everything.

“I want to make everything run more efficiently,” Mathews said.

Running an organization well is what the longtime resident of Thousand Oaks does best. He’s worked for 25 years for city governments, including Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Moorpark and Malibu, as a management analyst or assistant to the city manager.

He understands marketing, risk management and organization and said he’s looking forward to the opportunity to use all those skills for Manna.

“And I want to be able to help people,” he said.

“We are thrilled to have someone who is well-connected within the community,” said Veronica Ellias, president of Manna’s board of directors.

Mathews moved to Thousand Oaks as a child in 1963. He said he attended third grade at Thousand Oaks High School because Acacia School hadn’t been built yet. He graduated from Thousand Oaks High School.

He’s served on the board of the Las Virgenes branch of the American Heart Association, the Conejo/Las Virgenes Future Foundation and Hospice of the Conejo—where he was president three times. He was also president of the Westlake Medical Center Citizens Advisory Committee and is a member of the Thousand Oaks Kiwanis Club.

Mathews and his wife, Jean Duffy, have worked for Conejo Valley Days for many years. He’s been a CVD executive board member and has chaired three winning grand marshal races.

He knows he must hit the ground running as more and more people are looking to the food bank for help during the current downturn.

“Mike has tremendous fundraising and grant-writing experience, and he has some great  event ideas to raise both funds and friends for Manna,” Ellias said.

“We’re gearing up for Thanksgiving and will need food and volunteers to get turkey dinners to those who need them,” he said.

He’s hoping a partnership with Macy’s in Thousand Oaks will bring in some cash. The retailer is offering Manna a fundraising opportunity with its Fashion and Compassion campaign. A $10 ticket, purchased at Manna or at any register at Macy’s at The Oaks mall, offers 10 percent to 20 percent off almost everything at Macy’s on Sat., Nov. 14. The ticket is also good for $10 off a purchase of $25 or more.

In the meantime, Manna volunteers are hoping people continue to drop off needed items such as disposable diapers, jars of jelly and canned pasta.