3 Educators Named to Business Group

Three college presidents have been elected to the board of directors of the Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley, a consortium of business leaders and volunteers.

Blenda J. Wilson, president of Cal State Northridge, Pierce College President E. Bing Inocencio and Mission College President William Norland joined the 90-member board at its quarterly meeting last week.

The board is composed of representatives from government, business and education communities working to develop ways to spur economic growth in the Valley.

William Allen, alliance president and chief executive officer, said the organization asked the three educators to join the board in an effort to create a network among the colleges in the area. Valley College President Tyree Wieder was already a board member.

Inocencio said an integral part of increasing an area’s economic viability is to strengthen its pool of employees, preparing them for jobs that may result from the alliance’s efforts.

“In any economy, education and training is a critical element,” he said. “I consider it an honor and an opportunity to participate in the economy of the San Fernando Valley in this way.”

The alliance, established after the Northridge earthquake to help create jobs and encourage the economic vitality of the Valley by attracting new businesses and retaining existing ones, is made up of leaders from the United Chambers of Commerce, Valley Industry and Commerce Assn., Valley Economic Development Center and the California Industrial Leadership Council.