Eriksen Hired as Director of Purchasing

The Coast Community College District welcomes John Eriksen as the new director of purchasing. Eriksen, 35, worked for the Long Beach Unified School District in their purchasing department for 10 years, and as buyer supervisor for six.

“As the supervisor, I purchased all the technology for over 120 schools and offices and I oversaw the stock office which maintained 1,500 stock items in our warehouse,” John explained.

Now as the District’s purchasing director, John is eager to take on new challenges. John said, “I am really excited about working for the District and look forward to this new chapter in my professional career.” Fiscal Director Kim Allen said, “We are very happy to have John as a part of our team. He brings a wealth of expertise and is a great addition to the department.”

John is currently attending the University of La Verne to complete his B.A. in business administration, and has started taking classes to become a Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM).
John lives in Long Beach with his wife Sharon, his 9-year-old son Justin and 4-year-old daughter Kayla.
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Banner's First Step

The first step in the ERP process will be Luminis.   Luminis is a portal system that will provide a means to deliver personalized information, Web services and community interaction to all campus constituents.   Luminis will provide real-time data eventually allowing students to register and/or drop classes, view their grades, their current class schedule and view the availability of classes.   Faculty members will have the ability to run classroom chats for online classes, and a place for them to post announcements, homework and final grades.   All students, faculty and staff will be assigned their own campus-wide ID number and password which will allow them to log onto their personalized portal.   OCC's web services manager, Glen Profeta, is the project team lead.

Coming and Going - HR News

The District would like to welcome these new employees:

Duffy, Michael J., GWC, Security Coordinator
Niroumand, Madjid, OCC, Director, International Center

Congratulations and best wishes on your retirement.

Hernandez, Richard C., OCC, Director, EOPS/CARE/CalWORKs, retirement effective 01/01/06.

An Orange County native who was born and raised in Santa Ana, Richard C. Hernandez attended both Orange Coast College and Santa Ana College, majoring in political science.   Dick joined OCC's administrative staff in 1969 as Director of the college's Special Opportunities Program.   He later became Director of Extended Opportunities Programs and Services.   Dick retires as Director of EOPS, a position he has held for many years.   For a number of years, Dick also ran an OCC summer program for disadvantaged youth that introduced young people to educational opportunities in vocational and technical career programs.   Students enrolled in the program had either not completed their high school education, were high school graduates who left school without obtaining marketable skills, or were students who had been identified as potential dropouts by their high school teachers and counselors.

The program received national attention and praise.   While spending 36 years at Orange Coast College, Dick served for more than a decade as a member of the Rancho Santiago Community College Board of Trustees.   Richard and his wife, Elizabeth, have been married for nearly 50 years.   They live in Santa Ana.

Mefford, Mickey, DIS, Supervisor, Computer Operations, Classified Management, retirement effective 12/29/05.  

After thirty-five years with the District, Mickey Mefford, Manager of DIS Computer Operations, is retiring.   In 1966, Mickey started as a Computer Lab Assistant at OCC and in 1970 became a full-time employee.   During his years with the District, Mickey has been responsible for a number of departments within DIS, and currently is responsible for the contingency planning, daily production reports for OCC, GWC, CCC, the District offices and physical security in DIS facilities which includes 24/7 coverage and the operation of all DIS computer systems.

In addition to his managerial position, Mickey has two teaching credentials, one in computer science and another in fine arts.   Mickey continues to teach in Coastline's Fine Arts division, where he has been adjunct faculty for the past twenty-eight years.

In retirement, Mickey and wife Diane are looking forward to spending as much time as possible with their children and five grandchildren.   They plan to visit son Christopher, his wife Yoko, and new granddaughter in Japan where Chris teaches at the University of Nagoya.   They'll also be visiting daughters Stephanie and Lori and their families in the Cincinnati, Ohio area.   Their itinerary also includes golf trips together, surfing vacations and trips abroad.   We all wish Mickey much happiness in retirement.
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Impressive Trio Inducted Into Alumni Hall Of Fame

More Than 15,000 Turn Out For Children's Book Fest

Upcoming Fare In The Captain's Table

Impressive Trio Inducted Into Alumni Hall Of Fame

An impressive trio of former Orange Coast College students were inducted last Thursday evening, Sept. 29 into the college's Alumni Hall of Fame.

An ambassador to the United States, a former Major League baseball player, and a fashion industry icon were inducted into the Hall of Fame during a ceremony in the Student Center.

The Alumni Hall of Fame is co-sponsored by OCC's Associated Students and the college's Alumni Association. Approximately 150 local business, civic, education and community leaders, and students attended this year's 18th induction ceremony.

Inductees included: Dr. Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika, ambassador to the United States from the Republic of Zambia, Brent Mayne, former Major League baseball player, and Paul Frank, director and head designer of Paul Frank Industries.

Mbikusita-Lewanika, Mayne and Frank are in elite company. They're the 61st, 62nd and 63rd persons to be inducted into OCC's Alumni Hall of Fame. More than one-and-a-quarter million students have attended the college during its 58-year history.

The new Hall of Famer was introduced to the audience Thursday by retired OCC professor of home economics, Patricia Mogan.

"She came to us in 1960 as a 17-year-old student," Mogan said. "Her father, who was a member of the North Rhodesian parliament, came to the U.S. to search for a college for his daughter. He visited schools on the East Coast, then came to Southern California. He fell in love with Orange Coast College.

"Beatrice - which is the name that we knew her by at that time - became a student leader on the OCC campus. She had a sparkle about her, and she gave us the impression that she had everything under control. She did outstanding work in the classroom, and has gone on to make Africa - and the world - a better place."

"I would like to thank the officials of OCC for welcoming my father in 1959 and giving him a campus tour," she told the audience. "He was greatly impressed, and Orange Coast College ended up setting the foundation for my life. It prepared me for everything that I have since encountered."

In closing, she thanked her professors and the college for supporting her during her two years on campus.

"Thank you for the investment you made in me. It has turned out to be an investment that has paid dividends for children all over the world."

Brent Mayne played baseball at OCC in 1987 for his father, Mike Mayne, who was an OCC baseball and football coach for 28 years.

Brent Mayne hit .297 for the Pirates in '87, and led the team to a 35-13 season record and the Orange Empire Conference title. He went on to play for two years at Cal State Fullerton. Mayne was All-Conference both years, and was voted a 1988 All-American.

The former OCC catcher enjoyed a 15-year Major League playing career, playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Kansas City Royals, New York Mets, Oakland A's, Colorado Rockies, Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants.

He was introduced to the audience by his father, Mike Mayne, who retired in 2004 after spending 28 years as an OCC coach.

Brent Mayne called his induction into the Alumni Hall of Fame a "great honor."

Brent Mayne said he learned everything he needed to know from his OCC experience.

"Not only did I learn everything I needed to know about playing baseball, but I learned about responsibility and showing up on time. I developed a work ethic. This is a great school, and I'm very grateful that I had an opportunity to come here and to play for my dad."

Frank has been playing in bands since he was 13. While an Orange Coast College art student from 1994-96, he experimented with altering his band's clothing. In 1995, his $100 million design business was born...small at first, but on a steep growth curve. The neophyte company featured customized wallets and a sock puppet monkey.

Before long, Paul Frank Industries began to feature clothing, accessories and watches. It now produces bicycles and surfboards. Within three years of its founding, the Paul Frank brand - featuring Julius (the sock puppet now turned into a cartoon character) - had permeated the fashion world from mainstream to couture.

Today, Paul Frank Industries is a cultural phenomenon that features more than 200 different characters - all created by Frank - that are executed by 15 gifted designers. Frank possesses one of the few brands that can be sold at Disneyland, in Pac Sun, in Nordstrom and at high-end boutiques. Paul Frank retail stories are located throughout the world.

Frank was introduced by his former OCC fashion instructor, Christine Amaral.

"Paul has an extraordinarily creative mind, and he discovered his passion while at Orange Coast College," Amaral said. "Paul Frank is our friend, and a strong supporter of the college."

He concluded his remarks by thanking Orange Coast College for giving him a strong foundation.

"I'm honored to receive this award, and I owe a lot to this school," he said. "Thank you very much!"

More Than 15,000 Turn Out For Children's Book Fest

More than 15,000 people turned out for Orange Coast College's second annual Orange County Children's Book Festival.

The fest, designed for children from preschool through high school, was held on campus Sunday, Oct. 2.

Dozens of children's authors were on hand to talk about their work, read selections from their books and sign autographs.

Highlight of the day was an appearance by astronaut Buzz Aldrin, author of the new children's book, "Reaching For the Moon." Aldrin signed his new book and answered questions from the festival's main stage. Aldrin's new book debuted number two on the June 12 New York Times Bestseller List for Children's Picture Books.

Other leading authors who attended included Julie Mammano, author of "Rhinos Who Surf" and "Rhinos Who Snowboard," Karen Winnick, author of "Mr. Lincoln's Whiskers," Robin Glasser, author of "A is For Abigail," and Barbara Odanaka, author of "Skateboard Mom."

Additional featured authors included Mary Cappellini, Evan Cooper, Stacia Deutsch, Michael Emberly, Debby Garfinkle, Carl Green, Nickki Grimes, Monica Gunning, Lisi Harrison, Robin Rector Krupp, Lael Littke, Jim Pascoe, Lana Perez, Naomi Rose, Sanoe Lake, Francesca Rusackas, Natalie Standiford, Cecily Von Ziegesar, Miava Williams and Joyce Lee Wong.

Sponsors of this year's Orange County Children's Book Festival included OC Metro, OC Family Magazine, Time Warner Books, Shea Homes, Rockstar Energy Drink, Southwest Airlines, KOCE-TV, Radio Disney AM 1110, Borders, Comcast, Little, Brown and Company, Giggling Gorilla and Grandparents Rock.

Four major bookstores were represented at the fest, including Borders, Barnes & Noble, Mysterious Galaxy Books and Once Upon a Story Books.

Exhibitors included children's book stores, educational supply stores, newspapers and magazines, large chain bookstores, non-profit organizations concerned with literacy and public and private school programs.
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OCC Hosts Wheelchair Rugby Exhibition Saturday To Benefit Disabled Students

A wheelchair rugby exhibition to benefit disabled students was hosted Saturday, Oct. 15 by OCC's club for disabled students, Campus Colleagues.

The match began at 10:30 a.m. in Peterson Gymnasium with all proceeds going to support scholarships for disabled students.

The match will feature two Southern California wheelchair rugby teams.

"It was lots of fun," said Bob Zhe, OCC's disabled students' counselor. "We've been sponsoring a wheelchair rugby exhibition for the past decade or so, and it's one of our most popular events on campus year in and year out."

For information about the wheelchair rugby exhibition, contact the Disabled Students Center at 25505.
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Upcoming Fare In The Captain's Table
 
Thursday, Oct. 20 - Greece
Thursday, Oct. 27 - China
Thursday, Nov. 33 - Japan

Reservations are taken for the following times:
11:30 a.m., 11:45 a.m., noon and 12:15 p.m.

Meals are priced at $9, plus 70 cents tax. For reservations, call Ext. 25835 #4
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Karen McLucas nominated for 2005 Remarkable Woman Award

Karen McLucas, staff assistant, distance learning department at Coastline, was nominated by the American Association of Women in Community Colleges (AAWCC) for the 2005 Remarkable Woman Award.

For the past 10 years, Karen has been a member of the AAWCC, and currently holds the position of Vice President of the Mentorship Program, Women Hold Up Half the Sky. This was created by a group of women in the Southern California local AAWCC chapter as a way to put on a special event that all Southern California members could attend.

“This is a very special honor to receive from my peers,” Karen said. “The AAWCC is one organization that has been a positive force in my life and has caused me to grow as a woman.”

Karen also volunteers for Coastline Community College, and at the Youth Detention Center of Sylmar. Inspired by her teenage son’s need of a male mentor, she did volunteer work with The One Hundred Black Men of Orange County from 2000-2003.

Karen recently started a new organization, “My Father’s Arms,” that reaches out to 12 to 18-year-old girls to support and encourage them through life’s disappointments as well as good experiences that may be missing from their home life.

The Remarkable Women Awards Luncheon will be held Friday, Oct. 14, 2005 and is hosted by the Orange County Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners.

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One-Stop Opens New Satellite Location

Fullerton residents now have job service center job-seekers can now turn to the services offered at the Orange County’s newest One-Stop Center, a satellite branch now open in Fullerton.

When looking for the perfect job, job-seekers will want to do more than just read the daily classified ads. The Fullerton One-Stop Center is a tremendous resource for Fullerton residents looking to enhance their job search. At the Center, they’ll find free access to computers, fax machines, copiers, telephones, free postage (for mailing in applications and resumes), along with free Internet access to bring their search online. The One-Stop Center will even set-up a personal email account specifically for their job search so that they can track employer responses.

If they need assistance with resume and cover letter writing, the One-Stop Center is staffed with professionals who can assist in writing letters, practicing interview skills, job-searching and mastering the Internet for job searching. The One-Stop Center also has access to a vast database of employment listings as well as free Internet resume-distribution sites such as Monster, CareerBuilder and more. In addition, there are resource books, a video library, local and regional newspapers, labor market information, school catalogs, class schedules and postings of local job fairs all available for patrons to peruse at their leisure. A popular feature at all Orange County One-Stop Centers is the on-site interviews, which will take place on select dates at the new Fullerton site. This opportunity connects job-seekers to local employers (known as “positive recruitments”), providing that critical face-to-face contact.

Local businesses can also benefit from the services offered at the Fullerton One-Stop Center. Companies are encouraged to contact the business service team when they are considering a lay-off. By doing so, the One-Stop Center can prepare to assist affected employees. The Fullerton site is located at 1561 E. Orangethorpe, Suite 210 in the Fullerton Business Center. For more information about the One-Stop, call (714) 441-3040 or visit www.oconestop.com. The Fullerton One-Stop is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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Members of the military are welcome in new positions. Recently, Governor Schwarzenegger signed legislation to benefit California’s military and their families. Clearly, there is statewide understanding of the needs of our service people and the hardships they may face while on active duty or when they return home.

Likewise, in an effort to serve members of the military who have so bravely served us, the Orange County One-Stop Centers have teamed up with Coastline Community College and the Orange County Business Service Center for an event like no other. The upcoming Job Fair for Heroes invites service people from the Orange County area and beyond to discover a wide variety of employment opportunities available to them post-military service.

The One-Stop Center has a reputation for success in the Orange County area, placing hundreds of people in jobs throughout the county each year. In addition, the Center offers job-search tools, interview preparation opportunities, access to thousands of employment listings, on-site interviews with potential employers, education and job-training information, as well as business services for companies that are considering a layoff. As a proud participant in the upcoming Job Fair for Heroes, One-Stop employees look forward to sharing their career-services talents with former members of the military as they begin a new chapter in their lives.

The job fair, titled “Job Fair for Heroes: Step Out of your Shoes & Up to Success” will take place on Thursday, November 10th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Joint Forces Training Bases in Los Alamitos. For more information, contact Chick Hinkle at chinkle@coastline.edu or call (714) 241-4940.
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14th Annual President's Courtyard Of Honor Ceremony At Golden West College On October 25

Golden West College Foundation presents its 14th Annual President's Courtyard of Honor ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 25, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The ceremony will take place in the courtyard between the administration and business buildings.  A reception will follow in the Community Center.

The annual ceremony was established in 1991 to honor the college's donors and alumni for their contributions and accomplishments in higher education.

This year's ceremony will honor four Pillar of Support donors and four Alumni Pillar of Achievement recipients.

Pillar of Support donors are individuals and corporations who contribute $25,000 or more and are honored with an 11 x 14-inch plaque attached to one of the selected concrete pillars, which serve to architecturally support the campus buildings.

Brunilda L. Cronk
Brunilda, a former Spanish professor from February 1980 to December 2004, will always be remembered by the students she mentored and the colleagues she inspired.

Bruni, her nickname called by many colleagues and friends, joined Golden West College in 1976 as coordinator of the Bilingual Bi-Cultural Teacher's Aide program.

She later worked as coordinator of the Intercultural Center where she organized community events such as KinderCaminata and Chicano/Latino Day.  Today, these events are important to the college's outreach efforts in helping minority students accomplish their dreams through higher education.  

Bruni earned a bachelor's degree from California State University, Dominquez Hills, a master's degree from the University of California, Irvine, and studied comparative cultures in Madrid, Spain.

This pillar is dedicated to the memory of Brunilda L. Cronk by her family, friends, colleagues, students and acquaintances.

Rita Simonton
Rita Simonton, the U.S. Masters Swimming World-Record holder, joined this elite organization in 1972; Rita has set 36 world-records in the 70 to 75 age group.  In 1999 and 2003, she was named Swimmer of the Year in "Swim" magazine.  

Today, Rita continues to be one of the top competitors in her age group, concentrating most on freestyle and breaststroke.

She attributes her success to the training and encouragement provided by the college staff members.   Rita especially thanks coaches Jem McAdams, Sandy Bonneau, Ken Hamdorf and Rick Graves.  
Rita will be inducted into the International Masters Swimming Hall of Fame in 2006.

St. Joseph Hospital
Dignity, service, excellence and justice are the four core values of St. Joseph Hospital in the city of Orange.  Their commitment to excellence forms a solid foundation that guides and inspires all who work to extend the healing mission of the hospital's founders-- the Sisters of St. Josephs.  Their mission also extends to the community in the form of partnerships.  Through ongoing collaboration, St. Joseph Hospital and the Golden West College Nursing Program work together to continue the tradition of excellence by fostering the personal and professional development of tomorrow's nursing community.

Waltmar Foundation
The Waltmar Foundation was established by the late Walter and Margaret Schmid a goal of improving the lives of citizens throughout Orange County.  With roots in Orange County since the arrival of its founder in 1911, Walter Schmid, the Waltmar Foundation, is proud to be able to continue the Schmid family's long history of giving students an opportunity to succeed.

Alumni Pillar of Achievement recipients serve as role models of inspiration and motivation for students.  Their experiences and accomplishments validate the importance of a community college education.

John Chavez
It started with his passion for swimming, but by the time John came to Golden West College, his extraordinary skills were noticeably obvious.    

Over the years, John has been on an inspirational mission continuing his love for the sport--despite his disability.   John, who is blind, swam an amazing 250 miles for the 25th Anniversary Swim with Mike scholarship event.  This is one of many charitable activities he truly enjoys. The former Golden West College swimmer and water polo player has won two state championships.  "It is encouraging to be around others with disabilities while knowing that I am blessed to also be able to help others."  John looks at his blindness as an opportunity rather than a disability.

John earned an AA degree from Golden West College and a BS degree in business with emphasis in finance from California State University, San Diego.

Julie Ferrin
While attending Golden West College, Julie was actively involved in theater productions as a sound technician, applying skills learned in the classroom and lab.  Learning real-world techniques has definitely helped her professionally design more than 80 productions.

In 2001, Julie became the sole proprietor of Sound Advice LLC located in Huntington Beach.  Her company specializes in providing sound design expertise, engineering, sound reinforcement and equipment rentals for live theater nationwide.  Currently, she is working with the national musical tour of Peter Pan, starring Cathy Rigby.

John Gustafson          
John Gustafson, 33, co-owner of Gustafson Brothers Automotive, has helped many customers get back on the road.  This is why it is one of the most successful businesses in Huntington Beach.  

With the proper guidance in their young years from dad, neighbors and teachers, John and his brother Frank were given all the right tools to succeed in business.  John gives credit to Frank Whipple, Huntington Beach High School auto shop teacher, Golden West College auto shop instructors Wesley Mole, Andy Anderson, and Marv Johson and body shop instructor Bud Yergain, for helping him realize anything is possible in the mechanical and body repair fields.

John is also a member of the Golden West College Automotive Advisory Council.

Monetta Marcene Ray
With over 20 years experience in the nursing profession, Monetta Ray is dedicated to helping communities understand the importance of good health care in today's society.

In Monetta's position as a manager of education at Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center, she is responsible for developing and furthering the center's educational programs associated with internal and external support services and processes.

Throughout Monetta's career, she has been an active member of important professional affiliations such as the Academy of Medical/Surgical Nurses, Greater Orange County Health Educators Association and Basic Cardiac Life Support Instruction, American Heart Association:  Orange County & Los Angeles Chapters.

In addition, Monetta has been an active participant in community events.  She has also received several professional awards and certifications for her service and leadership skills.  

She is a clinical nurse specialist and a licensed registered nurse.  Monetta earned an AA degree from Golden West College, a BS degree in nursing from California State University, Fullerton, and an MSN degree (Master of Science in nursing) from the University of California, Los Angeles.
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