The Future of Work Conference Panelists Revealed

On Tuesday, October 28th, from 8 am to noon, the Economic and Workforce Development Division of Pasadena City College (PCC EWD) is hosting its 7th Annual Future of Work Conference in Westerbeck Recital Hall on PCC’s beautiful campus. The subject matter this year impacts all Angelinos and residents of the greater LA region: “Mobilizing for Recovery and Regional Renewal.” Conference panelists will discuss how their agency is addressing the challenges posed to its particular sector by this year’s wildfire situation, whether that’s as a local policy director, economic advisor, or business liaison. Register here to ensure a ticket to the live event.

Panelists on the Front Lines of Fire Repair and Recovery

As always, the PCC EWD is honored to have so many highly qualified and knowledgeable speakers join its leadership in these discussions. The wildfires, to date, have caused the loss of over 16,000 structures, burned more than 57,000 acres, and driven insurance and capital losses to over $164 billion. Repairs and recovery won’t be fast but must be comprehensive if the region is to regain its former functionality (and natural glory). Accordingly, the panelists who will be sharing their expertise and activities are currently working directly on fire-related projects, rebuilding lost assets and recreating those that can’t be recovered.

And, as is usual for the Future of Work Conference, our speakers’ qualifications are stellar and formidable. They present an enlightened and informative perspective of where the LA region is now, its immediate response to the fires, and where and how it intends to move forward:

LA County:

Monica Banken, policy deputy for Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger. Ms. Banken brings a highly sophisticated profile to the conversation. In her present role, she oversees policy implementations for social services, education, child and older adult welfare, film policy, and economic and workforce development. She is also Chair of the Legislative Outreach sub-committee for the LA Area Chamber of Commerce World Trade Week Committee, while also serving on the Boards of the LA Economic Development Corporation, Kollab Youth, and the South Bay Aerospace Alliance. Her voice carries a long distance.

Kelly LoBianco, Director, LA County Department of Economic Opportunity. Ms. LoBianco has shared her unique perspectives at previous PCC EWD conferences, bringing economic and financial insights to the challenges faced by today’s fraught industrial sectors. In her work with this agency, she steers economic development strategies that enhance opportunities for County and regional workers, small, medium, and large businesses, and (especially vital to PCC) the colleges that train local workforce participants. Her focus is on developing an equitable economy that provides a foundation for sustainable growth.

The Community Colleges:

Anthony Cordova, Vice Chancellor of Workforce and Economic Development for the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. California’s 116 community colleges served over 2.1 million students in AY 2023-2024, most of whom were seeking well-paying jobs in growing industries. Mr. Cordova’s role as Vice Chancellor is to assist each of them in attaining that goal by building robust workforce development initiatives that provide the skills and abilities demanded by today’s complex business community. Mr Cordova brings his own unique skill set to the job, having developed Bakersfield College’s Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Automation. That success also led him to his roles as Chair of the California Community Colleges Baccalaureate Degree Program Steering Committee and as President-elect of the California Community College Association of Occupational Education.

Business Leadership:

Lizzy Okoro Davidson, Director of Pasadena Women’s Business Center. Ms. Davidson brings a wealth of business development talents to her inaugural role as director of this newly launched (2024) agency, an official Small Business Administration Resource Partner. As a business owner herself, she has created focused solutions for businesses of all sizes, from finding access to funding to scaling out operations. These focused activities enhanced her efforts to promote economic development practices through collaboration and advocacy, especially for women employees and entrepreneurs, who make up 47% of California’s workforce. In her role as Director of the Pasadena WBC, she and her team identify and break down barriers to success that currently impede the progress of women in the workplace.

The City of Pasadena:

Mayor Victor Gordo of Pasadena. Mayor Gordo has been focused for years on growing Pasadena’s economic success and has welcomed the opportunity to participate in several PCC EWD conferences and events. An immigrant from Mexico, Mayor Gordo’s lived experience mirrors that of millions of Angelinans: he worked where he could as a young man (delivering newspapers), then took on the double challenge of working and attending college, including completing law school at night. His tenacity in overcoming hurdles demonstrates his capacity for focus, intention, and doing what is necessary to find success. In addition to his work as Pasadena’s top civic leader, Mayor Gordo is also the General Counsel and Secretary-Treasurer of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 777, bringing his union development skills to the City’s leadership. A graduate of Pasadena City College himself, Mayor Gordo also brings his local perspective to this decidedly regional conversation.

Pasadena City College:

Pasadena City College Vice President, Economic and Workforce Development Division, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo. Dr. Cummo has been leading the PCC EWD since 2017 and was promoted in 2022 to Vice President of the EWD Division. She brings years of business development experience, from managing large retail stores to engaging in Chambers of Commerce activities to federal agency work as the Director of PCC’s Small Business Development Center, an affiliate of the Federal Small Business Administration. In that role, she was instrumental in helping entrepreneurs from all sectors achieve their dream of business ownership. Her appointment to the PCC EWD in 2017 expanded her acumen to include workforce development focused on building the well-trained, flexible labor force needed to support the region’s sustainable and equitable infrastructure. Dr. Cummo received her Ph.D. in Organizational Change from the USC Rossier School of Education.

The PCC EWD 2025 Future of Work Conference promises to be engaging, stimulating, and informative for all who attend. Please join us as we strategize the LA region’s next steps to economic and workforce success.