March 6, 2020
2020 Cerritos College Economic Development Summit
BUILDING CAREERS FOR THE FUTURE
The Cerritos College Economic Development Summit will bring together industry leaders from business, civic, technology, transportation, and education sectors in the Southeast Los Angeles County region to facilitate a broad dialogue related to future economic development opportunities.
PROGRAM
- 8:30 am – 9 am Check-in/Continental Breakfast
- 9 am – 9:15 am Welcome and Introductions
- 9:15 am – 10:15 am Keynote Speakers
- 10:15 am – 10:30 am Break
- 10:30 am - 11:45 am Panel #1 – Economic Infrastructure
- 11:45 am – 1:15 pm Lunch/Guest Speaker
- 1:15 pm – 2:30 pm Panel #2 – Employer Development
- 2:30 pm – 2:40 pm Closing Remarks
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS

Erin Baird, Account Manager, Higher Education
Emsi
Erin Baird moved to Moscow, Idaho in 1995 for Graduate School at University of Idaho, where she studied Social Psychology. She managed a fast, client facing Independent Pharmacy for 14 years and was passionate about the interactions between both patients and physicians. Erin joined Emsi in November 2015.

Sterling Smith, Consulting Economist
Emsi
Sterling Smith is a Consulting Economist, has worked with educational institutions for five years in both the US and UK. He has conducted over 100 economic studies to help colleges align their curriculum with the local workforce and show the value colleges provide to their local community. Currently, he also manages Emsi’s work related to workforce demand and alignment. Prior to Emsi, Sterling earned his B.S. in Agricultural Economics at Washington State University and was employed with the Washington Grain Commission.

Jessica Ku Kim, Senior Director of Workforce Development
Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC)
Jessica Ku Kim provides strategic direction and leads collaborative efforts to strengthen the alignment of LA County’s workforce and education systems to industry workforce needs, as LAEDC looks towards the future of work in the region and develops strategies to help LA’s workforce navigate a rapidly changing economy.
Panel One – Economic Infrastructure: How can we better connect gateway communities to development opportunities?
What can the Southeast Los Angeles Counties 27 cities and communities do to emphasize their thriving industrial and manufacturing sectors? What impact does transportation have on the economic development of our cities?
Participants:
- Stephanie Cadena, Regional Environmental Planner
Gateway Cities Council of Governments - Melani Smith, Senior Director
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority - Mike Jones, Senior Regional Planer
Southern California Council of Governments
Moderator:
- Robert Duarte, Operations and Projects Manager
Bizfed
Panel Two – Employer Development: How do you recruit better candidates to Meet Your Workforce Needs and train your existing workforce for Growth?
What strategies can be implemented to attract better candidates? How do you improve worker output, reduce turnover, and increase return on investment? How do you develop partnerships and take advantage of the local college's training?
Participants:
- Van Ton-Quinlivan, CEO
Futuro Health - Rebecca Ruan-O'Shaughnessy, Senior Project Manager, Economic Advancement Strategies
Jobs for the Future - Fergus O’Farrell, Engineer, Composites and Tooling
Northrop Grumman - Ben Sandoval, Certified Business Services Consultant and a Program Administrator of
Business Services
Southeast Los Angeles County Workforce Investment Board
Moderator:
- Greg Gonzalez, Senior Manager, Talent Acquisition
Southern California Edison
Lunch will be prepared by the Cerritos College Culinary Arts department
Cerritos College Conference Center
11110 Alondra Blvd., Norwalk, CA 90650
Parking in Lots #1 and #2 (adjacent to Alondra Blvd.) - Parking Permit Required.
Sponsored by
Luncheon Sponsor
Aligning Business Needs, Educational Offerings, and Individual Aspirations
Presented by: Erin Baird and Sterling Smith
EMSI
Building a Competitive Workforce for the Future
Presented by: Jessica Ku Kim
Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC)
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