P.O.W.E.R. Collaborative Network
Meeting Summary
November 12, 2008The P.O.W.E.R. Collaborative Network (PCN) members extend a most hearty thank you to Gloria Smith, General Manager of the California Employment Development Department’s 54th and Crenshaw Los Angeles Office for hosting the November meeting. Also, we want to extend a special appreciation to Connye Thomas, Site Manager at this office, for making all of the arrangements just right for this impressive meeting and network session. Ms. Thomas’ email is connye.thomas@edd.ca.gov
Gregory Clayborn, President of Clayborn Insurance provided a great overview on the opportunities in the health and life insurance industry. He shared employment areas and what it takes to be a licensed agent. The PCN members in attendance valued the work of MR. Clayborn that presented for this insurance theme meeting two additional insurance company representatives from Kaiser and AFLAC. Mr. Clayborn can be reach by phone at (323) 559-3416, or email: gclayborn@gmail.com
George Papacalos, Sales Executive for Kaiser Permanente Health Plan, Inc. gave a stimulating presentation about the importance of investing in a healthy workforce. The long-term investment helps increase a more productive workforce. Kaiser offers a wide variety of health plans. The opportunity to have low co-payment, deductible and preferred physician plans for employees, along with deductible plans that help save for future health care expenses, including premiums and long-term care services, with tax-free dollars. Mr. Papacalos’ office number is (562) 777-2632 george.n.papacalos@kp.org
Gary Polk, District Sales Coordinator for American Family Life Assurance Company (AFLAC) provided a positive overview on how his company is working with small and mid-sized firms to help their employees eliminate or reduce the pressure of company-paid health plans. In a tight labor market AFLAC works to introduce choice and health plan portability at the employee level and saves on FICA contributions. The PCN members really liked receiving the AFLAC mascot stuff duck as part of the presentation. To reach Mr. Polk his number is (714) 456-9005, ext. 104, or email: gary_polk@us.aflac.com
Willa Robinson, Deputy Division Chief of the California Employment Development Department (EDD) shared the work her agency is dong with helping to exchange employee skill sets from the mortgage industry to more productive industries. On November 19, 2008, the EDD conducted a Talent to Work™ job and resource expo that reached out to residential construction, mortgage, and financial industries affected by the downturn in the housing market for new placement opportunities. The California general construction trends reveal that a significant drop from trough the years 2004 to 2007, with a 51 thousand job increase to an 88 thousand job lost, respectively. Ms. Robinson’s email address is Willa.Robinson@EDD.ca.gov
Dean Jones, CEO, Southland Partnership Corporation, extended an invitation to all PCN members to utilize the no-cost community job announcement web site, www.ISartOnMonday.com to share training and job programs. This community service program is part of the non-profit public benefits provided by the Southland Partnership, which operates the PCN enhancing the development of workforce needs of all southern California organizations and businesses. Mr. Jones’ office number is (310) 637-7248, or email POWERSOLA@aol.com
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The next PCN meeting is Thursday, December 11, 2008, 10 AM – Noon, hosted by the Goodwill, Serving the People of Southern Los Angeles County. Our meeting host is LaVonté Jackson who has made special accommodations to meet at the California Endowment, 1000 Alameda Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Ms. Jackson’s email address is LJackson@goodwillsolac.org
PCN Meeting Attendees for November 2008
Adriana Angel, CalState Long Beach Student
Arecelia Sandoval, Personal Involvement Center, Inc. – Healthy Marriage
Ava Archie, Los Angeles County Office of Education – Job Club
Barbara Lynn, Personal Involvement Center- Healthy Marriage
Calvin Cooper, Boys Republic
Carolyn Richie Jamison, Los Angeles Unified School District, ECC Mid-Wilshire
Catherine Caldera, State of CA Employment Development Department
Cleon Joseph, Los Angeles Police Department
Connye Thomas, State of CA Employment Development Department
Davi Dancy, State of CA Employment Development Department
David Dirks, Harbor Interfaith Services
Dean Jones, Southland Partnership Corporation / P.O.W.E.R. Collaborative Network
Deserine Estrada, Los Angeles Unified School District
Devona Gardner, US Pretrial Services
Edie Glass, The Riley Arts Foundation
Enzinna Arguijo, State of CA Employment Development Department
Floria Griffin, LA County Department of Public Social Services
Gail Coyne, East Los Angeles College
Gary Polk, AFLAC
Gene Persip, Community Build, Inc.
George Papacalos, Kaiser Permanente
Gregory Clayborn, Farmers Insurance
Guillermo Galvin, Los Angeles Police Department
James Jones, Gangsters For Christ
Joseph Rouzan, City of Los Angeles – Community Development Department
Josie Starling, Wings of Refuge
Joy McKenzie, United First Financial
Joy Tsuhako, Social Security Administration
Karen Robinson, Allstate Insurance
Keith Sweet, Los Angeles Urban League
Kenneth Kamara, Vermont Slauson Economic Development Corporation
Kenneth Tyler, LA County Dept. of Public Social Services
Kira Madison, Los Angeles Police Department
LaVonté Jackson, Goodwill, Serving the People of Southern Los Angeles County
Leola Barner, OneSource Careers, LLC
Loretta Jackson, Broad Spectrum Community Development Corporation
Lyrice Marsh, Sister-Ta-Systah Ministries, Inc.
Manny Curry, Gevity
Maryd Miller, City of Los Angeles-Youth Opportunity Movement
Maxine Hammond, Los Angeles Unified School District – ECC Mid-Wilshire
Michael Bennett, Los Angeles Urban League
Monique Anderson, University of Phoenix
Pat Atitesi, Lutheran Social Services
Portia Smith, CA EDD (Retired)
Rae Boone, JH Marketing and Advertising
Reneé Moon, City of Los Angeles
Rick Conroy, Westfield Fox Hills
Robert Hamm, Los Angeles Unified School District
Sarah Crowley, Covenant House California
Stephen Thompson, Los Angeles OIC
Tonya Haynes, Phoenix Business Development Group
Vernell Taylor, Union Bank of California
Veronica Martin, Allstate Insurance
Vertia Wright, OneSource Careers, LLC
Willa Robinson, State of CA Employment Development Department
William Billadeau, Housing Authority, County of Los Angeles
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PCN started in January 2001, focused on job coordination for community residents in order to assist in public & private sector work placement. The PCN members are community builders serving to identify, nurture, & mobilize local assets by enhanced networking to rejuvenate economies, strengthen business investments, & ultimately build up civil society. The PCN meets monthly sharing job recruitment, funding, training, workforce projects, & other related topics at various member locations.
P.O.W.E.R. - Partnership Opportunities With Economic/Educational Resources