Ventura County Works

In this episode, you'll discover how Ventura County's NextGen program is helping young people ages 14 to 24 prepare for successful futures through hands-on job experience, education support, and personalized guidance. You'll learn how the program removes barriers to employment by offering paid work opportunities, mentorship, career exploration, and essential life tools at no cost to participants. Whether you're a student, a parent, or a community member, this conversation will give you insight into how NextGen empowers youth to build confidence, gain critical skills, and take their next steps toward long-term success. 

En este episodio, exploramos una de las barreras más importantes para el empleo en la actualidad: la alfabetización digital. Acompáñanos mientras exploramos Northstar Digital Literacy, un recurso gratuito en el Condado de Ventura que te ayuda a desarrollar las habilidades tecnológicas y la confianza necesarias para solicitar empleos, usar computadoras y tener éxito en la fuerza laboral actual. Escucharás a Eddie Jiménez, facilitador de talleres del programa Ventura County WORKS en el America's Job Center of California, y aprenderás cómo acceder a talleres, evaluaciones y herramientas gratuitas para mejorar tu carrera.

In this episode, listeners will learn about Fields of Opportunity for Farm Worker Families, a free, federally funded program in Ventura County designed to support farm workers and their families in building better futures. The episode explores how participants can access career training in high-demand industries, receive one-on-one career coaching, and gain essential support such as transportation, childcare, and work gear. Listeners will also hear how Cell-Ed, a mobile learning platform, offers flexible education options including English language learning, GED prep, and digital literacy—all accessible from any cell phone. This holistic approach helps individuals upskill, secure stable employment, and thrive in their communities.

In this episode, we explore how healing takes many forms—through careers, community, and connection. Join us as we dive into VC Heal, Ventura County's new healthcare careers program created in response to the devastation of the Thomas and Woolsey wildfires. Funded by disaster recovery grants, VC Heal offers no-cost healthcare training, supportive services, life coaching, and career navigation to help local residents, especially those in low- to moderate-income communities, launch or advance careers in the healthcare sector. Discover how this initiative is helping individuals move from crisis to stability while strengthening the region's healthcare workforce for the future. 

In this episode we tackle one of the biggest barriers to employment today: digital literacy. Join us as we explore Northstar Digital Literacy, a free resource in Ventura County that helps you build the tech skills and confidence you need to apply for jobs, use computers, and succeed in today's workforce. You'll hear from Eddie Jimenez, Workshop Facilitator for the Ventura County WORKS program at the America's Job Center of California, and learn how you can access free workshops, assessments, and tools to boost your career.

In this special episode, originally recorded for Our Ventura TV, Rebecca Evans and Vicente Nicario speak with George Alger about the Workforce Development Board of Ventura County, discussing how this federally-funded organization connects employers with skilled workers and helps job seekers find career opportunities at no cost. Rebecca explains their efforts to raise awareness about their services through local media and partnerships, while Vicente details the resources available at their America's Job Centers, including workshops, computer access, and career navigation assistance for adults 18 and above. They outline how the board focuses on priority sectors like healthcare, manufacturing, and technology while addressing employment barriers through specialized training programs and on-the-job opportunities designed to create sustainable career pathways for Ventura County residents.

Tune in as we explore SkillUp Ventura County, an innovative program offering residents free online skills training and certification opportunities. In this episode, Rebecca Evans, Executive Director of the Workforce Development Board of Ventura County, leads a discussion with key partners. Joining her are the team from Managed Career Solutions (MCS) and special guest Kerry Twomey from Metrix Learning. Discover how this two-year-old program has already helped nearly 1,800 residents complete over 13,000 courses, representing more than 4,000 hours of training. Learn about success stories of participants who've secured better employment opportunities, sometimes being hired on the spot thanks to their new skills. Whether you're looking to change careers, advance in your current field, or simply expand your skillset, this episode reveals how SkillUp Ventura County provides accessible, flexible, and completely free online training that aligns with local industry needs.

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of artificial intelligence (AI) and explore how businesses in Ventura County can harness its transformative power. Discover the common misconceptions about AI and learn how to navigate the practical challenges of adoption. Gain insights into the critical role of the human element in successful AI implementation and uncover strategies for equitable integration across your organization. Whether you're a seasoned tech leader or just starting to explore AI's potential, this episode will equip you with the knowledge and tools to unlock new opportunities for growth and innovation.

Join Dr. César Morales, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, as he discusses how education and industry work together to create career opportunities in Ventura County. Learn about the Ventura County Office of Education (VCOE) Career Education Center programs in healthcare, transportation, welding, and veterinary assistance. Discover how local education systems partner with employers to provide work experience and internships for students. Dr. Morales shares insights on workforce development and explains how education serves as a bridge between job seekers and employers in Ventura County.

In this episode, you'll learn about a new program in Ventura County called "Sowing Seeds of Success," designed to support farmworkers. The program offers essential job skills training, career coaching, and language learning through a mobile platform, making it accessible for workers with busy schedules. You'll hear about the program's goals, eligibility requirements, and how it addresses challenges like time constraints and language barriers. The discussion covers the role of employers and community organizations in providing work-based learning opportunities and career advancement. You'll also discover how the program uses technology to deliver content and provide coaching support. Lastly, you'll find out how community members and businesses can get involved in supporting and strengthening this initiative for farmworkers.

In this episode of Ventura County Works, host Doug Foresta is joined by Rebecca Evans, Executive Director of the Workforce Development Board of Ventura County, and Celia Sandhya Daniels, a dedicated board member. The conversation focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace, with a specific emphasis on the LGBTQ+ community. Celia, a transgender woman and entrepreneur, shares her personal experiences and insights on promoting true inclusion in organizations. The discussion covers topics such as the importance of allyship, moving beyond performative actions, fostering compassion for trans and gender-expansive communities, and the future of LGBTQ+ individuals in the workforce. 

Discover exciting career opportunities in advanced manufacturing and technology with Job Connect Ventura County. In this episode, Rebecca Evans, Executive Director of the Workforce Development Board of Ventura County, and Crystal Murillo from Career TEAM discuss how this innovative program, funded by the state of California, connects job seekers with education, training, and skill development to meet the needs of local employers. Learn about the focus on manufacturing and technology sectors, the support provided by career coordinators, and the flexibility of the program designed to accommodate working students.

Rebecca Evans, Executive Director of the Workforce Development Board of Ventura County, continues her discussion with Cynthia Avila, Business Solutions Manager. They explore the breadth of services offered to local businesses, including the HR hotline for no-cost human resources assistance. Other business solutions highlighted include tax credits, customized training programs, job fairs, and webinars on relevant workforce topics. Cynthia spotlights the value of the workforce board as a conduit, linking employers to partners and resources countywide. Rebecca wraps up by urging all regional businesses, large and small, to connect with the workforce board to discover how they can be supported.

This episode features a conversation between Rebecca Evans, Executive Director of the Workforce Development Board of Ventura County, and Cynthia Avila, Business Solutions Manager at the Workforce Development Board. They discuss the business solutions team at the workforce board, including how the team connects job seekers to good opportunities with local employers. Cynthia provides examples of recent job fairs and open house recruitments hosted by the team, as well as advice for businesses and job seekers to utilize the services of the workforce board. Rebecca also highlights the workforce board's partnerships with community organizations and previews upcoming initiatives and events.

In this episode, Rebecca Evans, Executive Director of the Workforce Development Board of Ventura County, is joined by James Hughes, Regional Director of Operations for Career Team LLC.  James describes Career Team's human-centered approach to workforce development, meeting customers where they are and helping remove barriers to employment. He discusses innovating ways to expand access and opportunities in communities, as well as Career Team's track record of success across the country. The local Career Team staff is also introduced as transitioning to take over these critical workforce services in Ventura County in partnership with organizations like the Workforce Development Board.

In this episode, you'll learn about SkillUp Ventura County, a free electronic training (eTraining) experience through Metrix Learning. Through this online learning portal, you will be able to refresh your existing skills and learn new ones that will help ensure your success in the ever-changing employment market. SkillUp Ventura County is designed to help its residents build a workforce ecosystem that supports positive economic development. Job seekers can explore career pathways, view local job postings, register for free online learning, and receive workforce services. Employers can search for qualified candidates, post jobs, and receive in-depth consulting to address hiring and training needs.

In this episode, you'll hear about 2 exciting services: the Ventura County Works Hub and the Virtual Hiring Board. 

In this episode, Rebecca Evans is joined by Lisa Mitchell, Workforce Development Program Director from the Hospital Association of Southern California (HASC). HASC is a valuable partner that participates in the WDBVC Healthcare Sector Workgroup. Discover the purpose of industry workgroups, and what the workgroup has been able to identify as the workforce development needs in Ventura County. Lisa also shares her thoughts on the top jobs needed locally and positions that can be career pathways for individuals exploring career choices in healthcare.     

This episode, was originally recorded as a Workforce Wednesday segment for KVTA Radio and features a conversation about the resources available for veterans and active-duty members. Discover the veteran program and services available through the America's Job & Career Center in Ventura County, how businesses benefit by hiring veterans, and much more! 

In this episode, you'll learn about the HRCC: SB 1 Program. The HRCC program aims to advance careers in the building and construction trades as a reliable pathway to the middle class for disadvantaged Californians via multi-craft pre-apprenticeship training. Rebecca Evans, Executive Director, Workforce Development Board, Ventura County, Dawn Boulanger, Executive Director San Luis Obispo County (SLO) Workforce Development Board and Ray McDonald, Executive Director Santa Barbara (SB) County Workforce Development Board discuss the investments being made in pre-apprenticeship training partnerships and reveal how they are collaborating across regions. 

This episode, originally recorded as a Workforce Wednesday segment for KVTA Radio, features a conversation with representatives from two vital organizations in the community, the County of Ventura Area Agency on Aging and our local food pantry, Food Share of Ventura County. Discover the supports and resources that are available to those in need, during the holiday season and beyond. 

On March 22, 2021, the Employment Development Department announced that Workforce Development Board of Ventura County was awarded $350,000 for the Disability Employment Accelerator (DEA), a grant funded through the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act. The goal of the grant is to promote employment strategies for People with Disabilities.  This program also creates linkages and engages businesses to develop work-based learning programs for People with Disabilities with significant barriers to employment and addresses the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Linda Lara, Disability Employment Navigator, Managed Career Solutions, joins the program to share more details.

Youth are the future workforce and make up a large portion of the service industry and entry-level employees. During this pandemic, youth are the most impacted population with about 17% receiving unemployment. Since the beginning of the pandemic in Ventura County, according to data from the State of California Employment Development Department (EDD), 60,530 youth ages 18-24 applied for Unemployment Insurance in Ventura County. The number of youth unemployment insurance claims represents nearly 17% of the whole county's total claims. For this reason and many more, it's important to outreach to the youth in our community. Joining the program to talk about Ventura County Youth Careers Program are Alex Renteria, Sr. Mission Services Manager, Goodwill Industries of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties and Patty Cervantes: Mission Services Supervisor, Goodwill Industries of Ventura and Santa Barbara . 

This episode features a conversation with Rosa Serrato, Director of Talent Strategies for Reiter Affiliated Companies in Oxnard, CA. Rosa shares her perspective as a member of the Workforce Development Board of Ventura County and discusses Reiter Affiliated Companies and their role in the local region. Discover the challenges to obtaining the talent that Reiter and the larger agriculture sector needs right now and different occupational opportunities available in agriculture for the local workforce.

Stephen Yeoh, Chief of Peace of Mind for Un1teee, discusses  stepping into the role of Vice Chair of The Workforce Development Board of Ventura County. He also shares his perspective on the top workforce talent needs in the Information Technology (IT) service sector now, and what he sees as potential needs in the near future. 

In this episode, originally recorded as a Workforce Wednesday segment for KVTA Radio, Steve Thompson, Assistant Principal, Ventura Adult and Continuing Education and Amy Tyrell, Chef and Case Manager, Ventura Adult and Continuing Education, join the program to discuss the Prison to Employment (P2E) program, which helps build career pathways and reduce recidivism.

In this episode, originally recorded as a Workforce Wednesday segment for KVTA Radio, Jacqueline Govea, Center Director at California Employment Training discusses the English Language Learner Program.  

In this episode, originally recorded as a Workforce Wednesday segment for KVTA radio, you'll hear the details about the County of Ventura Farmworker Resource Program.   

In this episode, originally recorded as a Workforce Wednesday segment for KVTA radio, you'll learn about the High Road Construction Careers program. Discover the program details, and how it will help disadvantaged workers develop a career path in an in-demand field. 

This episode was originally recorded as a Workforce Wednesday segment on KVTA Radio on the topic of National Dislocated Worker Grants to address the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic’s impact on California’s workforce. 

Resume expert Dave Mason joins the program to share tips on the best approach to updating your resume, and how to tailor your resume to highlight in-demand skills. Discover the importance of identifying transferrable skills, the ideal length of your resume, and the most impactful part of a resume. 

Victor Dollar, Senior Vice President of Sales for Brighton Management joins the program to discuss how Brighton, and the hospitality industry in general, has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Discover what Brighton is doing to ensure the health and safety of their guests, and the changing workforce needs for the hospitality industry. Victor also shares advice for anyone considering travel and hotel stays now and in the coming months.     

Captain Kirk Lagerquist, Chief Staff Officer at Naval Base Ventura County joins the program to discuss some of the jobs and workforce opportunities that exist on the base, and shares the journey of his own career. Discover some of the unique skills and perspectives that a global base experience can offer.        It is best for us to be mindful of the strength, support and diplomacy as well as security that our US Military provides year round.  As we honor Veterans Day, is there anything else you would like to share? (this is really open ended for anything you’d like to add) 

In this episode, originally recorded as a Workforce Wednesday segment for KVTA radio, you'll discover programs and services that are available to help youth succeed. 

On April 24th Governor Newsom announced that the Employment Development Department or EDD and the Labor & Workforce Development Agency have awarded $10 million to be shared among 42 WDB areas. The WDB of Ventura County was awarded $450,000 from that fund to provide assistance to dislocated workers and layoff aversion services. Here to talk about the ways this new grant funding will benefit Ventura County job seekers and businesses who are significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic are: · Nancy Ambriz: Workforce Operations Manager County of Ventura for the America’s Job Center of California or AJCC · Mary Navarro-Aldana, Field Office Manager, Employment Development Department, Workforce Service *Note, this episode was originally recorded as a Workforce Wednesday broadast on KVTA. 

Trudy Tuttle Arriaga, Ed.D, Associate Dean of Equity and Outreach, Program Director at Cal Lutheran University, joins the program to discuss equity and diversity as they relate to workforce development. Discover how the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted inequities, and how organizations can be part of the solution. 

In this episode, originally recorded as a "Workforce Wednesday" segment for KVTA radio, Lead Manufacturing Faculty, John Clark, discusses How Ventura College is Responding to the COVID-19 Crisis by offering hybrid online/in-person course training in the discipline of advanced manufacturing. 

Peter Zierhut, Vice President, Outside Operations for Haas Automation, Inc., and Vice Chair of the Ventura County Workforce Development Board, joins the program to discuss how Haas Automation was able to continue their operations in a safe manner, and how they have pivoted to survive and thrive during times of disruption. 

Tracy Perez, Market Manager – Serving Ventura County for Manpower and board chair for the Ventura County Workforce Development Board, joins the program to discuss the work that Manpower does and their connection to the workforce industry. Discover the biggest challenges that job seekers and businesses are facing, and how the staffing sector has responded to the economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.   

Rebecca Evans, Executive Director of the Ventura County Workforce Development Board, joins the program to discuss the challenges that the workforce system has faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how the workforce board is supporting job seekers and businesses during these challenging times. 

In this episode, you'll hear from Executive Director Rebecca Evans, as she gives an overview of the services offered for employers and job seekers, as well as the challenges and opportunities in the region.