Cerritos College Recognizes Industry Members for Advisory Roles

Eleventh Annual Breakfast Features Guru of the Los Angeles Economy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 30, 2009

Media Contact: Aya Abelon, Public Affairs; (562) 860-2451, ext. 2287

NORWALK, Calif. – April 30, 2009 – Cerritos College hosted nearly 300 industry professionals and college staff at the 11^th annual Advisory Committee Members’ Recognition Breakfast on Thursday, April 30. Members of 46 individual committees include business, industry and community leaders who preside on various advisory committees at the college to provide consultation and development of career and technical education programs. Also attending the breakfast were representatives from the area unified school districts and regional occupational program, and staff representatives of the local and the state elected officials.

“Thanks to the tremendous input of the advisory committee members, the college can prepare tomorrow’s workforce,” said Nick Kremer, executive dean of Community, Industry and Technology Education at Cerritos College. “With our state facing an economic crisis, the committees’ advice and support is a key, not only to the college’s successful career and business education programs, but also to California’s economic recovery.” 

Jack Kyser, Founding Economist of the Kyser Center for Economic Research of the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation served as keynote speaker for the breakfast.

Called the “guru of the Los Angeles economy” by the Los Angeles Business Journal, Mr. Kyser is responsible for interpreting and forecasting economic trends in the Los Angeles region (Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties), and for analyzing the major industries of the region.  Utilizing this information, he helps develop job retention and creation strategies for Los Angeles County. Mr. Kyser’s advice is frequently sought by business, government and the media.

Kyser gave a somewhat bleak outlook of the local and state economy. With unemployment still climbing, businesses struggling and housing prices continuing to decline, he predicts painfully slow growth for both the state and the county.

“This is going to be a tough period. People are going to feel unhappy for quite a period of time,” said Kyser. “It will take a while but it will get better.”

He also recognized community colleges’ role in job training. He suggested that community colleges keep their antennas up and seek the next developing need for education and urged colleges to use their ability to respond quickly and fill emerging needs. Kyser pointed to green technology as one of the fields that is quickly emerging. He noted the potential for the Los Angeles area to become a center for green technology. 

Advisory committees at Cerritos College provide college departments with advisement and industry currency in areas including administration of justice, automotive, business administration, composites, computer and information sciences, culinary arts, nursing, welding and woodworking.

Cerritos College serves as a comprehensive community college for southeastern Los Angeles County. Communities within the college’s district include Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, La Mirada, Norwalk, and portions of Bell Gardens, Lakewood, Long Beach, Santa Fe Springs and South Gate. Cerritos College offers degrees and certificates in more than 180 areas of study in nine divisions. Annually, more than 1,200 students successfully complete their course of studies, and enrollment currently surpasses 26,000 students. Visit Cerritos College online at www.cerritos.edu.

###