Sustaining the Rebuild: PCC’s Continuing Commitment to Community Recovery Episode 164
Release Date: 03/31/2026
TRANSCRIPT - Sustaining the Rebuild: PCC’s Continuing Commitment to Community Recovery Episode 164
The Future Of Work
Leslie Thompson [00:00:00]: PCC is committed to maintaining its role as a resource hub. Having people having gone through these pathways that are going to be ready to get in there and do the actual work that needs to be done. And it's not just swinging hammers. There's a lot of work to be done in different capacities. Dr. Salvatrice Cummo [00:00:17]: Hi, I'm Salvatrice Cummo, Vice President of Economic and Workforce Development at Pasadena City College and host of this podcast. And we are starting the conversation about the future of work. We'll explore topics like how education can...
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Sustaining the Rebuild: PCC’s Continuing Commitment to Community Recovery Episode 164
The Future Of Work
What does it actually take to create a sustainable and equitable recovery plan after a disaster? In this episode, host Dr. Salvatrice Cummo, Vice President of Economic and Workforce Development at Pasadena City College and co-host, Leslie Thompson, Director of Operations at Economic and Workforce Development at PCC, dive into the real, hands-on ways Pasadena City College is leading the region’s recovery and preparing the workforce for what’s next. In their conversation, they pull back the curtain on how PCC rapidly launched solutions after the Altadena fires—organizing immediate...
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TRANSCRIPT - The Nation’s First Goods Movement Training Campus at Port of Los Angeles with Gene Seroka, Executive Director of Port of L.A Episode 163
The Future Of Work
Gene Seroka [00:00:00]: We also have an MOU, a Memorandum of Understanding, which is an agreement to work together between the California Community Colleges and the Port of Los Angeles to help build curriculum, to help guide education for certification and training. Those who can build syllabus and classwork as a profession can bring that here to the port so we can work on these various training modules and career progressions for our workforce. Dr. Salvatrice Cummo [00:00:31]: Hi, I'm Salvatrice Cummo, Vice President of Economic and Workforce Development at Pasadena City College and host of...
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The Nation’s First Goods Movement Training Campus at Port of Los Angeles with Gene Seroka, Executive Director of Port of L.A Episode 163
The Future Of Work
We are diving into the evolving landscape of the Goods Movement with Gene Seroka, Director of the Port of Los Angeles. Our host, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo and Gene Seroka have a candid conversation about the challenges and innovations shaping the goods movement sector and how turbulent changes in trade policy, tariffs, and technology are impacting supply chain management. They also discuss the importance of steady leadership and long-term investment in careers and future-forward problem solving. Gene Seroka shares insights on launching the Port Optimizer—a groundbreaking digital platform that’s...
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Transcript -Breaking Barriers: Reimagining Career Pathways for the Next Generation with Jesse Diaz Director of Market Development Los Angeles at Propel America Episode 162
The Future Of Work
Jesse Diaz [00:00:00]: I believe these pathways are vital because they can collapse right the distance between learning and earning, allowing people to start working toward a career and income at the same time, which is crucial in this current economic climate. Salvatrice Cummo [00:00:14]: Hi, I'm Salvatrice Cummo, Vice President of Economic and Workforce Development at Pasadena City College and host of this podcast. And we are starting the conversation about the Future of Work. We'll explore topics like how education can partner with industry, how to be more equitable, and how to...
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Breaking Barriers: Reimagining Career Pathways for the Next Generation with Jesse Diaz Director of Market Development Los Angeles at Propel America Episode 162
The Future Of Work
For many students, alternative career pathways are the key to unlocking systemic barriers and breaking through rigid environments that keep economic mobility out of reach. Salvatrice Cummo sits down with Jesse Diaz, the Director of Market Development Los Angeles at Propel America to unpack how to build more equitable career opportunities. As a first-generation Latino college graduate and lifelong educator, Jesse brings a powerful personal journey—growing up in Boyle Heights and navigating nontraditional pathways from athletics to nonprofit leadership. Together, they dive into the challenges...
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Transcript - Breaking New Ground in Kern County: Shaping Careers and Community with Chris Kelley President of Hard Rock Casino Tejon Episode 161
The Future Of Work
Chris Kelley [00:00:00]: The tribe has been a very critical part of the design of Hard Rock Tejon from the earliest of days. And so what it looks like and what it feels like, they have been directly involved in. And so from the moment that you walk through the doors, you really see and feel that. But they're also team members. You know, Hard Rock Tejon tribal members are a part of that workforce today and will be every day going forward. Salvatrice Cummo [00:00:27]: Hi, I'm Salvatrice Cummo, vice president of Economic and Workforce Development at Pasadena City College and host of this...
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Breaking New Ground in Kern County: Shaping Careers and Community with Chris Kelley President of Hard Rock Casino Tejon Episode 161
The Future Of Work
What does it take to introduce a brand new industry to a community? That is the challenge Chris Kelley, President of Hard Rock Casino Tejon, is tackling in opening the Hard Rock Casino Tejon in Kern County. With more than 20 years of experience in gaming and hospitality, Chris shares inspiring insights on Hard Rock’s partnership with the Tejon tribe, the creation of thousands of jobs, and the impact of introducing an entirely new industry to a region traditionally dominated by agriculture and energy. From discussing amplified guest service and meaningful community relationships, to revealing...
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Transcript - Building the Future of LA Transit with Ali Mir, West Regional Planning Lead, Senior Vice President Episode 160
The Future Of Work
Ali Mir [00:00:00]: Our communities are well versed in what they need. So how do we allow our communities and how do we empower our communities to be front and center in developing the solutions to the problems that they know that they have. And a huge part of that is workforce development and a pipeline of talent from the very communities that are in need of planning solutions, design solutions, engineering solutions. Salvatrice Cummo [00:00:27]: Hi, I'm Salvatrice Cummo, Vice President of Economic and Workforce Development at Pasadena City College and host of this podcast. And we are...
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Building the Future of LA Transit with Ali Mir, West Regional Planning Lead, Senior Vice President Episode 160
The Future Of Work
What does it really take to transform the way Los Angeles moves—and who gets to design the future of our city’s transit? In this episode of The Future Of Work podcast, host Salvatrice Cummo sits down with Ali Mir, Senior Vice President and West Regional Planning Lead (WSP) and a leader in regional planning, to uncover the stories and strategies behind LA’s public transit evolution. From his own transformative experience as a student riding every mode on the LA Metro—and realizing just how diverse and essential ridership is—to incorporating solution-based innovation related...
info_outlineWhat does it actually take to create a sustainable and equitable recovery plan after a disaster? In this episode, host Dr. Salvatrice Cummo, Vice President of Economic and Workforce Development at Pasadena City College and co-host, Leslie Thompson, Director of Operations at Economic and Workforce Development at PCC, dive into the real, hands-on ways Pasadena City College is leading the region’s recovery and preparing the workforce for what’s next.
In their conversation, they pull back the curtain on how PCC rapidly launched solutions after the Altadena fires—organizing immediate support, connecting resources, and building innovative new pathways for rebuilding.
You’ll hear how economic and workforce development isn’t just a division—it’s the engine driving PCC’s response. From the launch of the Skills to Rebuild initiative and rapid business accelerators to flexible, career-focused programs, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo and Leslie Thompson share exactly how PCC is equipping students, supporting local businesses, and creating new opportunities for workers hit hardest by disaster and how we continue to build forward and stay vigilant in the approach to disaster recovery.
You’ll learn:
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How Pasadena City College’s Division of Economic and Workforce Development plays a crucial role in rebuilding and supporting communities in crisis
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How existing assets from the college, such as PCC Extension and noncredit courses, can be rapidly deployed to aid displaced workers and business owners
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The importance of business technical assistance in times of disaster, including how the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and Women’s Business Center (WBC) served over 400 fire-impacted businesses, most of them women-owned
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How career technical education (vocational programming) and initiatives like Skills to Rebuild and the College Corps empower students and create pipelines for workforce development
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