Technology Education’s Importance Stressed

Ventura County business people need to strengthen their ties with both education and government, believes Marc L. Charney, newly installed president of the Ventura County Economic Development Assn.

“We must work with the education community because we need a labor force that’s well enough educated to learn new technologies,” he said. “Our young people need technical skills, but they also need flexibility. They have to be able to learn new skills as technologies change.”

Charney, a senior partner with the Oxnard-based law firm of Nordman, Cormany, Hair & Compton, said studies have shown that the county lags behind most other Southern California areas in preparing students for careers in today’s rapidly evolving business environment.

As for government, the fiscal problems in Sacramento and at the local level are directly related to the recession, Charney believes.

“It’s all interconnected. When business is off, government revenues are off. On the other hand, business needs help from the government so it can profit and grow.”

VCEDA’s new vice presidents are Carolyn Leavens of Leavens Ranches, government relations; Sue Chadwick of Bank of A. Levy, communications; Robert Foote of H&H; Oil Tool Co., finance; Pierre Tada of Limoneira Co., human resources; Mario de los Cobos of Southern California Gas Co., membership relations, and W. John Kulwiec of Kulwiec Group/Architects. strategic action. Stacy Roscoe of Procter & Gamble is the association’s immediate past president.