Cerritos College and Northrop-Grumman Team
for Workforce 2000
What does it take to remain competitive in
tomorrow's aerospace industry? Simply ask the 100 recent
graduates of Northrop-Grumman's Workforce 2000--a
two-year skill enhancement training program designed to
help today's professionals succeed in the next
millennium. Their success is a direct result of a unique
collaboration forged between defense industry giant
Northrop-Grumman and the Cerritos College Composite
Technology Center (CTC).
"You deserve a big round of applause for
your efforts," exclaimed Northrop-Grumman Vice
President of Operations V.G. De Stefano, addressing the
program's most recent graduates at their commencement
luncheon. In fact, a number of top executives from
Northrop's Pico Rivera and El Segundo facilities were on
hand for the May ceremony held at The Proud Bird
Restaurant in Inglewood.
In his remarks, De Stefano emphasized how
Workforce 2000 has served a twofold purpose. "You
have completed this program for yourselves and no one can
take it away from you. And by becoming a sharper
workforce, you are giving Northrop-Grumman a competitive
edge within the industry.Now, we can brag not only about
our equipment, but the people behind it."
For the past 24 months, "Wave I" of
Workforce 2000 has been involved in an intensive program
that focused on personal development as well as upgrading
technical skills. Classes were held at both the College
and the worksite. While CTC Director Terry Price and
staff offered instruction on how to apply the latest
composites technology, College Counseling Professor David
Young challenged students to work on their interviewing,
communication and leadership skills. For many, this
program served as their first introduction to community
college coursework.
"What's so great about this is that each
of these students now has eight units of credit they can
apply to further classes here at Cerritos," noted
Price. "And some have already taken the first step
by talking to Counseling Professor Philip Salazar."
Vice President of Academic Affairs/Provost Dr. Morgan
Lynn took the opportunity to laud the graduates for their
efforts and congratulated Northrop-Grumman for their
business savvy. Indeed, with the success of Wave I, plans
are underway to make this program available to more
Northrop Grumman employees. By July 1998, 140 employees
will be receiving their certificates as part of Wave II
or preparing for the Wave III class in October.
Article Taken from the Cerritos College Board
of Trustees Newsletter "The Falcon's Nest"
June 1998
CT Processes | Participants | Links
Web Author: Terry Price (tprice@cerritos.edu)
Disclaimer
Last update: 11/14/01 |
