Irvine, CA — June 21, 2021— The CEO Leadership Alliance-Orange County (CLA-OC) announced the launch of two new talent development programs for high school and community college students designed to provide work-based learning opportunities in career pathways for innovation sector jobs. Led by CLA-OC’s Education workstream chair Kimberly Chavalas Cripe, President and CEO of Children’s Hospital of Orange County, co-chair Robin Shanahan, Managing Director and Co-Chief Operating Officer at PIMCO, and Amy Kaufman, Director, Career Education and Workforce Development for CLA-OC, nearly 100 students from across OC high school and community college districts are participating in summer virtual internships and mentorships hosted by CLA-OC member companies.
“CLA-OC wants to foster a vibrant community of OC businesses that attracts and develops talent, and meets the dynamic and evolving needs of individuals and business,” said Mark Percy, CLA-OC President. “We plan to expand upon these pilot programs, facilitate ever-increasing collaboration with education stakeholders, and create better and brighter career futures for all in Orange County – especially for underserved students.”
Launched at the beginning of June with an inspirational kick off message from LensGen CEO, Ram Rao, the six-week CLA-OC Career Exploration Experiences pilot program was co-created at the high school level in partnership with Anaheim Union High School District, Santa Ana-based Samueli Academy, Tustin Unified School District, Breakthrough San Juan Capistrano, and San Clemente-based Simon Scholars. Students from these programs were selected to learn about advanced career pathways within departments of CLA-OC member companies including EY, Ware Malcomb, Tangram Interiors, Pacific Dental, Medtronic, UCI Health and Children’s Hospital of Orange County.“
“At EY, we’re committed to helping underserved students by joining forces with organizations to facilitate access to devices, connectivity and mentoring,” said Kim Letch, EY Orange County Office Managing Partner. “It is an honor for us to participate in the CEO Leadership Alliance OC Career Pathways program and to provide the opportunity for emerging high school leaders to engage in career exploration at EY and to share their creative ideas on how to bridge the digital divide in Orange County.”
The project will culminate with a Virtual Summit with keynote speaker, Jeff Hittenberger, Chief Academic Officer at the Orange County Department of Education, and a student gallery walk of culminating project presentations.
In May, community college students from the North Orange County and the Coast Community College Districts enrolled in the CLA-OC Talent Bridge program offered in partnership with OC computer software firm Alteryx. Students in this program are earning a certification in data analytics while gaining insight to the company’s career pathways. Upon conclusion they will be provided an invitation-only opportunity to network with top-level Alteryx leadership and affiliated Alteryx companies at an upcoming event in July. Said Olivia Duane Adams, Chief Advocacy Officer and Co-founder,”’at Alteryx we believe in serving as an incubator for the workforce of the future while providing global programs supporting data analytics skills development and empowering women in business.”