CALIFORNIA : SOUTHLAND FOCUS : Valley Agency Replaces Interim Executive

The Valley Economic Development Center has appointed a new interim president--its second in two months--as the agency tries to rebuild after a management shake-up this summer. Roberto Barragan, a 39-year-old Princeton-educated banker, has been named to replace Wilma Berglund, who was installed in early August. State officials did not want Berglund to be chief of the agency while running its state-funded small-business centers, said Marvin Selter, acting chairman of the VEDC’s board. Berglund could not be reached for comment, but Barragan said she chose to retain her permanent position and resigned the interim post Sept. 3.