News Release

IWV Campus

"What Industry Needs in a Workforce" Employer Summit

September 10, 2007

Cerro Coso Community College, in partnership with NAWC and Sierra Sands School District, has been awarded a $250,000 grant from the State of California to develop career technical programs in pre-engineering, engineering technology and renewable energy. Part of this grant is funding an Employer Summit scheduled for Friday, September 14, 2007 to identify key skill sets for the workforce of the future in all three industries.

"We are bringing employers together at the Employer Summit in aerospace, mining/manufacturing and renewable energy from all over our service area" stated Ms Valerie Karnes, Dean, Career Technical Education, Cerro Coso Community College. The purpose of this summit is twofold. First, we will identify a core curriculum for the future workforce in engineering, engineering technology and renewable energy. Secondly, we will have distinguished leaders in each industry speak to the community and faculty regarding the needs of employers for a highly skilled workforce.

The Afternoon Session is open to the Public with speakers from the Naval Air Warfare Center at China Lake, US Borax, Florida Power & Light, Kern Wind Industry and Edwards Air Force Base. They will be forecasting of the future of each area for the next 12, 36 and 60 months. The Afternoon speaker lineup begins at 1:30 p.m. and concludes at 4 p.m. in the College Lecture Center.

Learn more about the grant: http://cerrocoso.edu/pio/news/2007/20070625-CTEgrant.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Joann Handeland, Director of Public Information (760) 384-6230