Kenneth G. Riedlinger has left as president...

Kenneth G. Riedlinger has left as president and chief executive of National Education Corp.’s problem-plagued Applied Learning division. Ronald N. Tapper, executive vice president, succeeds Riedlinger. NEC, the once high-flying vocational education company in Irvine, has recently suffered severe financial setbacks. NEC President Jerome Cwiertnia said through a company spokesman, “It was mutually agreed by Ken and NEC management that the change take place.” Riedlinger could not be reached for comment.