Message from the Chair
Our Workforce IS Essential
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San Bernardino County is poised for a strong post-COVID recovery, in large part because we have the kind of robust labor force businesses covet. Young. Growing. With access to training and career support. At WDB, we believe all jobs – and all workers – are essential, and are reinforcing that by encouraging job seekers to make the most of the opportunities that exist. Did you know, for instance, that through our partnership with CalJobs, WDB has access to more than 20,000 available jobs in San Bernardino County? Or that throughout the pandemic, our three America's Job Centers of California have provided uninterrupted online and virtual assistance to anyone looking for work? Or that our Business Services team surveyed more than 400 companies, conducted a series of coronavirus-related virtual workshops and created a digital COVID-19 Resources guide, providing up-to-date information on federal and state support, as well as our own Rapid Response and Layoff Aversion programs? Thank you for your support, and for more on our services, please visit our website.
Phil Cothran, Chairman, San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board
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Labor Market Intelligence
SB County shows steady COVID recovery gains
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Across the Inland Empire, the biggest job gains were in trade, transportation and utilities (up 15,600), followed by professional and business services (up 2,300). Construction (up 1,900), manufacturing (up 800) and leisure and hospitality (up 100) all posted gains. Click here for the complete Inland Empire labor market report for November, compiled by the California Employment Development Department.
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Hanh’s Story: WDB partnership helps support “a dream worth living’’ |
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Even as a child, Hanh Tran knew that health care would play an important role in her life. Her mom struggled with osteoporosis for years, eventually succumbing to another devastating disease, pancreatic cancer. “So many people helped her, and so many people have helped me, I want to pay it forward,” says Tran, a single mother who is launching her career in radiology thanks, in part, to a partnership between WDB and Arrowhead Regional Medical Center’s School of Radiology Technology. For Tran, a first-generation Vietnamese-American, WDB's support was a difference maker and allowed her to follow what she describes as “a dream worth living.” Click here for more on this inspiring story.
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Meet Marlena Sessions, our new Director of Workforce Development |
WDB is proud to welcome Marlena Sessions as San Bernardino County’s new Director of Workforce Development. One of the most respected workforce development professionals in the United States, Marlena served as Chief Executive Officer for the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County from 2009-2017, and prior to that served as the Council’s Chief Operations Officer for nearly nine years. Click here for more.
Video Interview: Marlena Sessions talks with Fontana Mayor Acquanetta Warren about meeting the hiring needs of businesses.
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Business Success Story:
"It's great to have an advocate"
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Metroll had a choice of places to set up shop when the building components manufacturer expanded in Southern California a decade ago. It chose San Bernardino County – in large part because of the support it received from WDB. Fast forward, and that support has played out once again – this time in helping Metroll and companies throughout the county navigate the worst economic downturn since perhaps the Great Depression. “People used to say, if you can survive the recession of 2007/2008 you can survive anything. This has been much more difficult,” said Andy Patel, general manager of Metroll Fontana. “It’s great to have an advocate in the county as opposed to fighting blindly.” For more, click here.
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Cothran, Sterling, Patterson re-elected to WDB leadership posts |
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Fontana business owner Phil Cothran, who has served on the WDB for 25 years, has been re-elected Chairman. Cothran is owner of Phil Cothran State Farm Insurance and President of the Fontana Chamber of Commerce. Also re-elected were vice chair William Sterling, President and CEO of Sterling Synergy Systems Inc., and 2nd Vice Chair BJ Patterson, CEO of Pacific Mountain Logistics.
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Important message on our COVID-19 Response
The San Bernardino County Workforce Development Department is working closely with our County partners to serve and protect our community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Providing accurate, useful, and timely information is an important part of this effort.
Please visit CountyWire, the County’s primary source of public information, at https://wp.sbcounty.gov/cao/countywire/ to view the latest County Update. It provides an update on our vaccination efforts, a follow-up with the county’s first vaccine recipients, and a new tool for determining how long someone should self-isolate after being sick or testing positive.
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