FONTANA – Several dozen high school students are learning real-world employability skills at Etiwanda High School as part of a model partnership between the Chaffey Joint Union High School District and the Fontana Chamber of Commerce.
 
The Professional Skills Certificate program offers training to more than 60 students over six Saturdays through mid-November on subjects ranging from dressing for success to how to get promoted to conflict resolution. Business owners and managers are teaching the courses, offering real-world insight on how to succeed in the workplace.
 
The program was developed by the Chaffey District in partnership with the Fontana Chamber, and represents a new way of thinking when it comes to addressing the labor needs of local businesses, said Fontana Mayor Acquanetta Warren, who helped establish the newly created Fontana Mayor’s Education Coalition. Local school districts meet regularly with business and community leaders to discuss ways to better prepare Fontana students for the workforce.
 
“Our whole approach in Fontana is bringing like-minded stakeholders together to address the needs of businesses while creating career opportunities for our young people. The Professional Skills Certificate program is a wonderful example of how, in a collaborative model, we can build a workforce of the future,” Warren said.
 
The first classes were held Sept. 7. Additional sessions are scheduled for Sept. 21, Oct. 12, Oct. 26, Nov. 2, and Nov. 16. Business leaders who are participating in the program include: Julie Kelly (Santa Fe Machine Works), Jason Zara (World Financial Group), Phillip Cothran (Goosehead Insurance), Holly Stiver (Crown Technical Systems), Amy Loera (Tio’s Mexican Restaurants), Raj Sangha (Dhindsa Group of Companies), Vanessa Ortiz (Globally Exclusive), Artina McIntosh (Empowering Success Now) and Ken Lindt (Harbor Truck Bodies).
 
After completing the coursework, students will receive certification, which they can include in their resumes.
 
“We’re extremely grateful for the support of the Chamber and individual businesses in providing students with this valuable training,” said Dr. Mathew Holton, Superintendent of the Chaffey District. “It’s a significant investment of time and resources on their part, but the payoff will be even bigger, in terms of how their knowledge and expertise will positively impact students’ lives.”
 
Fontana Chamber President Phil Cothran, whose son is teaching one of the classes, said the Professional Skills Certificate program will help students understand what is required of them in the workplace.
 
“Fontana is an ideal community to establish this kind of working relationship between schools, the business community and local government,” said Cothran, who also serves as Chairman of the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board (WDB). “The fact that nearly 30% of our population is under the age of 18 creates a sustainable labor pool that can and will drive even more business opportunities for our community.”
 
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About the Fontana Mayor’s Education Coalition
The Fontana Mayor’s Education Coalition is an intentional network of schools, businesses and local leaders committed to helping prepare students in the city for current and future job and career opportunities. With 214,000 residents and a robust business climate, Fontana has emerged as an economic and population hub in the Inland Empire and Southern California. Strategic partners in the Fontana Mayor’s Education Coalition include the City of Fontana, the Fontana Chamber of Commerce, Fontana Unified School District, Chaffey Joint Union High School District, Colton Joint Unified School District, Etiwanda School District and Chaffey College. Among those providing critical support are the Lewis Group of Companies, Building Industry Association Baldy View Chapter, Fontana’s representative on the San Bernardino County Board of Education, the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board.

Contact:   Steve Lambert, The 20/20 Network
                 (909) 841-7527/ steve@the2020network.com

Mary Calta graduated from California State University at Los Angeles with a BA in Music and a Masters Degree in Secondary Education.

Mary is a former Middle School teacher of 32 years.  After leaving her teaching career in 2012, Mary joined the Fontana Chamber of Commerce as an Ambassador. She also belongs to a few organizations such as Business Network International (BNI), The Rock Church, and World Outreach Center in San Bernardino.

Mary is currently an independent associate of Legal Shield. Mary enjoys traveling and working with young people and being a part of networking organizations.

You can contact Mary at:
Phone: 213-200-5041
Email: marycalta@prodigy.net​

​CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc. (“CKE”) is a privately held company headquartered in Franklin, Tenn. CKE is not a franchisor and conducts substantially all of its restaurant activities and operations through its subsidiaries. Carl’s Jr. Restaurants LLC and Hardee’s Restaurants LLC own, operate and franchise the Carl’s Jr., Hardee’s, Green Burrito® and Red Burrito® concepts. Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s operate as one brand under two names, acknowledging the rich regional heritage of both banners. After recent international openings in Chile, Carl’s Jr. Restaurants LLC and Hardee’s Restaurants LLC now have over 3,800 franchised or company-operated restaurants in 44 states and 43 foreign countries and U.S. territories. Known for its one-of-a-kind premium menu items such as 100 percent Black Angus Thickburgers®, Made from Scratch™ Biscuits and Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders™, as well as an award-winning marketing approach, the Carl’s Jr./Hardee’s brand continues to deliver substantial and consistent growth in the U.S. and overseas. The Carl’s Jr./Hardee’s system is now 94 percent franchised, with international restaurants representing 22 percent of the system. 

Five Star Catering & Event Productions "Our Name Says It All". We believe food is an art form. We take the freshest quality products and create the most wonderful menus that will tantalize your taste buds.
Whether you're looking for elegant Wedding Catering, great food for your Corporate Event/Holiday Event or festive food stations for an upcoming Birthday or Quinceanera, you can count on us to tend to every detail of preparation, presentation and serving.
 
We specialize in classic catering - a focus on simplicity, elegance, and creating a total environment that reflects the spirit of the event. We invite you to share your vision with us and let us show you what we can do together.

​“Oggi” stands for “today” in Italian. It symbolizes freshness as well as “the here and the now”. Bring your appetite to Oggi’s and never leave hungry or thirsty. We prepare all of our pizza and other dishes fresh in the store daily. In addition, our sauces, dressings, burgers, and much more are made fresh daily from scratch. Oggi’s Fontana will always has the latest sports games on. Make Oggi’s your place to watch your favorite teams win the big game. There is no bad seat in the house. Oggi’s Fontana master chefs are experts at creating the perfect pizza and our brewers craft award-winning beers daily. The friendly staff is there to serve and make you feel like family. Come see why Oggi’s Fontana can be your favorite place for pizza, beer & sports!  

​Securitas knows Security. It is our only business. As The Leader in Protective Services, we invest in people, knowledge and technology to deliver customized, cost-effective and class-leading solutions. Headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, Securitas employs over 345,000 people in 56 countries. Here in the US, Securitas taps the talents and expertise of our 100,000 employees and more than 450 branch managers to deliver the most comprehensive and locally-focused security in the industry.
 
With a 94% customer retention rate and providing services to 80% of Fortune 500 companies, Securitas is the only organization capable of providing security expertise and solutions across the Six Pillars of Protective Services; specifically: On-Site, Mobile, and Remote Guarding; Electronic Security, Fire & Safety, and Corporate Risk Management. Through our class-leading Securitas Operation Center and by leveraging the largest mobile footprint in North America, Securitas delivers Integrated Guarding, a customizable and highly flexible security solution.
 
Moving forward, Securitas is also leading the industry’s transformation from reactive to forecasted security. Our unparalleled ability to gather, analyze and utilize large volumes of data from a variety of sources is set to deliver a quantum leap in our clients’ ability to make insightful, data-driven security decisions.
 
Global best practices. Innovative and highly localized services. Securitas is: one source, one contact for full spectrum security.

Since 1973, Cedar House Life Change Center has been dedicated to improving the lives of those suffering from Substance Use and Co-occurring Disorders in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties by providing evidence-based, therapeutic clinical treatment along with a full continuum of care.  We envision achieving healing and wholeness for individuals, families and communities.

Since 1987, Thompson Pipe Group - Los Angeles has manufactured and delivered concrete products to municipalitites and water owners throughout California and the region. Headquartered in Rialto, Thompson Pipe Group is  a family owned company with nearly 1,500 employees and almost a dozen locations. 

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