Technically, Gary Butterworth is retired.
And, judging by the schedule he keeps (and the energy he displays) in retirement, it’s no surprise that he likes to describe himself as “The 72-Year-Old Teenager.”
“For all practical purposes, I refer to myself as a ‘RINO,’ (Retired in Name Only),” says Butterworth, a former HR professional who did indeed retire from the County of Ventura in 2024.
He had spent the previous eight years with the County’s Human Services Agency as the lead facilitator of learning.
Butterworth, whose experience providing training dates back to 2006, continues to book training facilitations around Ventura County and well beyond, as an educational consultant known as The Edutainer.
He’s worked as a training specialist since his retirement from HR, delivering webinars, conference presentations (including PSHRA events) and keynote speeches, in addition to providing training.
And, as a former radio and television broadcaster with 20 years of experience on the air Butterworth has honed his communication skills over decades. In fact, his talent for communicating helped guide him toward his role with the County of Ventura.
“I wanted to find a position that allowed me to use my entertainment ability as a presenter and combine that with my passion for helping others with their communication skills,” says Butterworth, who is also currently serving as a talk show host for Ventura’s CAPS Media Cable 6.
Butterworth earned a master’s degree in communication studies from California State University, Northridge in 2005. With his education and the training experience he gained in the private sector, Butterworth “thought I had earned my bona fides to go into the public sector as a human skills learning facilitator.”
When he learned of the open manager of learning & development position with the County of Ventura in 2016, “I eagerly pursued and successfully interviewed for it,” says Butterworth.
“Helping those who are on the front lines dealing directly with members in my community with their communication skills has been the most satisfying career of my life,” he continues.
“When I have training participants of mine thanking me explicitly for tools I have introduced to them in class, for which I created a space for them to practice in a safe environment, and with which they have successfully transferred to their jobs, I am filled with pride. It has been a genuine epiphany to realize that this career in public sector HR literally and positively impacts neighbors in my community.”
A member of PSHRA since March 2016, Butterworth’s introduction to the organization came when he was invited to be a guest speaker at an event hosted by PSHRA’s Channel Islands chapter in southern California. Butterworth was grateful for the warm reception and level of engagement he saw among chapter members during his presentation.
He attended the chapter’s next meeting as an audience member. He quickly realized “the value of not only learning from the speaker, but the networking potential from interacting with other attendees from around our Tri-County area,” says Butterworth, who has served as a board member at large for the Channel Islands chapter, and as its president in 2023-2025.
“As trainers, we often feel like an ‘outsider’ in HR. And, so I thought I could learn more about the institution of human resources by becoming more involved with public servants in a professional association such as PSHRA. Boy, was I right!”
Butterworth has not only learned more about public sector HR, “I have had the good fortune to have been encouraged and accepted to speak at numerous PSHRA conferences since I joined my local chapter. A classic win-win!” he says.
“And the friendships I have developed by attending conferences have grown well beyond HR. Joining PSHRA was one of the best decisions I have ever made in my career.”
19 October 2026
Category
Stories of Impact
