2015 BUSINESS SUCCESS STORIES
Meet Parker Hannifin - CARSON
Workforce Challenge: Carson-based, the Parker Hannifin Company is one of the world-leaders in water desalinization and purification. Initially, the company reached out to the South Bay Workforce Investment Board (SBWIB) requesting assistance as a result of an impending employee layoff. During the initial planning meeting, it was brought to the attention of SBWIB’s Rapid Response Team, that there would be additional 50-60 employees affected as the result of a recent company merger. The challenge facing Parker Hannifin and its employees was a language barrier. Many of the employees, who were working on the floor in production, were unable to communicate effectively in English. As a result, production and safety issues were being compromised.
Workforce Solution: To combat the looming layoff, the Rapid Response team switched gears from Layoff planning to Layoff Aversion. SBWIB staff secured one of its local educational partners, Family First Charter, to bring in an on-site instructor to teach English as a Second Language (ESL). The English classes were conducted on-site, three days per week for one hour after shift ended. Class was structured into two groups, one for beginners and the second for intermediate. During class, students were only allowed to communicate in English. The company's safety manual and other working forms were presented, studied and testing was done at the end of eight months for comprehension. Committed to the process and its employees, the company also agreed to pay the employees for a portion of their time in attendance. To date, Parker Hannifin is proud to announce that (45) of its employe es have since completed the program and have been retained.
Outcome and Benefits: As a result of the ELS classes, Parker Hannifin stated that the comfort and communication level of the employees has increased, safety records have also increased and all employees that completed the program have remained employed. Some of the employees that completed the classes have been promoted and now play a more integral role in the supervision of other employees.
Chevron - EL SEGUNDO
Workforce Challenge: Chevron Products Company is a global energy producer and its Chevron El Segundo Refinery is the largest producing oil refinery on the West Coast. The El Segundo Refinery was built in 1911. The City of El Segundo (Spanish for “the second”) was named after the refinery. This was the second refinery built by the Standard Oil Company, which later became Chevron, in California.
SBWIB Partnership: Chevron is dedicated to preserving a robust and diverse natural environment in the surrounding areas. Chevron also invests in improving public health, bolstering education and boosting local economies. Chevron Refinery has partnered with the South Bay Workforce Investment Board (SBWIB) on a continuous basis. In its commitment to its employees, Chevron together with SBWIB, has developed a Trainee Program for new hires.
Outcome and Benefits: The SBWIB Workforce Development team has made arrangements to pre-screen applicants for Chevron Refinery to interview, which has resulted in many new hires over the years. This pre-screening process enables Chevron to select from the most skilled applicants available, saving time and money. As part of this partnership, Chevron and SBWIB continue to seek innovative ideas to improve the surrounding communities they serve.erve.
SpaceX- HAWTHORNE
Workforce Challenge: Founded in 2002, SpaceX, Space Exploration Technologies designs, manufactures and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft. Headquartered in Hawthorne, California, SpaceX has gained worldwide attention for a series of historic milestones. In December 2010, this privately owned company was the first of its kind to return a spacecraft from low-Earth Orbit. The company made history again in May 2012 when its, Dragon Spacecraft, attached to the International Space Station, exchanged cargo payloads and returned safely to Earth – a technically challenging feat previously accomplished only by governmental agencies.
South Bay Partnership: SpaceX is the world’s fastest-growing provider of launch services. Profitable and cash-flow positive, the company has nearly 50 launches on its manifest, representing close to $5 billion in contracts. These include commercial satellite launches as well as NASA missions. Maintaining qualified staff will enable SpaceX to maintain its present course.
Outcome and Benefits: Seeing the need to maintain a healthy, vibrant, cutting-edge science, technology and engineering workforce, SpaceX has committed to an ongoing partnership with the South Bay Workforce Investment Board and continues to exhibit an outstanding, on-going dedication to the aerospace industry, its employees and the surrounding communities it serves.
South Bay Partnership: Centinela Hospital, under the direction of CEO Linda Bradley, is consistently at the forefront in providing innovative and integrated healthcare. Ms. Bradley also serves as Vice Chair of the South Bay Workforce Investment Board and is Chairperson of the SBWIB’s Healthcare Industry Sector Partnership. Through her leadership, the Partnership works with local hospitals, clinics and post-secondary schools to develop career pathway training programs that meet the regional needs for skilled healthcare professionals.
Outcome and Benefits: Centinela Hospital is valued for its ongoing efforts in giving back to the communities that it serves. Representatives of Centinela Hospital actively participate on numerous Chambers of Commerce in the surrounding region; including Inglewood Chamber, Inglewood Airport Area Chamber, Hawthorne Chamber, El Segundo Chamber and Manhattan Beach Chamber. They sponsor numerous civic and community events including the annual, Health and Safety Fair, which provides valuable healthcare information and free health screenings to hundreds of local residents. We are proud to recognize Centinela Hospital, as a major business and community leader within the South Bay Workforce Investment Board region.
Centinela Hospital Medical Center - INGLEWOOD
Workforce Challenge: Centinela Hospital Medical Center (Centinela Hospital) has provided innovative and integrated healthcare services to the residents of Inglewood and the surrounding areas since 1924. Centinela Hospital is one of only two California hospitals to be ranked among the top 25 hospitals in the nation by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and is recognized throughout L.A. County for exemplary healthcare services.
Meet Parker Hannifin - CARSON
Workforce Challenge: Republic Services, Inc., incorporated in 1996, is the second largest provider of services in the domestic non-hazardous solid waste industry. Through its subsidiaries, Republic strives to safely and sustainably provide reliable non-hazardous solid waste and recycling services for commercial, industrial, municipal and residential customers.
SBWIB Partnership: For the last three years, Republic Services has partnered with the South Bay Workforce Investment Board’s, Youth Services Department, to shore up teenagers looking to enter the work place. This partnership and commitment to local area youth, has provided, hands-on training in the specific area of Advance Manufacturing Welding.
Most recently, 13 students from local schools were granted the opportunity to pair up with an experienced Republic Services Welder. As a work-experience component to the Bridge-to-Manufacturing program, these students learned how workers repaired metal containers through welding and on through the process of painting and adding fresh decals to recirculate for customer use.
Outcome and Benefits: As a result of the training, several students were given the opportunity to learn, while they earned, for a total of 160-200 hours, priming them for possible entry into the field. For the past several years, Republic Services has utilized the many recruitment and business services from the SBWIB’s Inglewood One-Stop Center to reach their possible candidate pool. The One-Stop also prescreens many candidates for Republic’s available positions and has established several On-the-Job Training contracts as a result and has held positive recruitments to meet their hiring needs.
Zephyr Tool Group - INGLEWOOD
Workforce Challenge: Zephyr Tool Group has established a reputation as a leading designer and manufacturer of assembly and fastener installation tools for the aerospace industry. Finding qualified personnel to run their CNC, grinding, and heat treat machines has always presented a challenge.Zephyr has opened their doors to machinist interns from our Bridge-to-Manufacturing program and allowed them to shadow their experienced machinists in house. Within a short period of time, the interns were running Zephyr’s sophisticated CNC machines. They were also grinding and utilizing the heat treat process to manufacture tool bits and fasteners for the airline and aerospace industries.
Workforce Solution: Zephyr also is a volunteer partner of the SBWIB’s manufacturing sector work group. The group of eighteen Bridge-to-Manufacturing interns gained valuable work experience learning how to run and maintain the machines at Zephyr and manufacture special tools. As a result, Zephyr hired some of the interns for full-time employment.
Outcome and Benefits: Zephyr continues to lend us a hand by allowing high school students, in a manufacturing Career Pathway, to intern. The interns gain hands-on experience by running sophisticated manufacturing machines and learning to manufacture Zephyr’s impressive line of tools.
Northrop Grumman - REDONDO BEACH
Workforce Challenge: Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions to government and commercial customers worldwide. Northrop Grumman Corporation was formed by Northrop's 1994 purchase of Grumman. The company’s Aerospace Systems, headquartered in Redondo Beach, California produces aircraft, spacecraft, high-energy laser systems and microelectronics.
SBWIB Partnership: Northrop Grumman Corporation together with the South Bay Workforce Investment Board maintains a strong commitment to programs that improve education and human services, promote cultural awareness, diversity and supports troops and veterans. Every year Northrop Grumman expands the classroom into the workplace, providing internship opportunities to hundreds of high school and college students in the South Bay and across the Country. Northrop Grumman works in partnership with K-12 schools; and with the participation of Northrop Grumman employees, the company promotes science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Northrop Grumman’s commitment to education and training attests to the company’s belief that it’s “Never too early for students to start thinking and dreaming big for their future.”
Outcome and Benefits: Northrop Grumman has partnered with the South Bay Workforce Investment Board for more than 30 years. Utilizing the services of South Bay One-Stop Centers to, post-employment opportunities, recruit and hire skilled workers. The company also works actively as a member of the SBWIB’s Advanced Manufacturing Sector Partnership and collaborates with industry and education partners for the development of a skilled aerospace industry workforce. It is through these various programs and projects that Northup Grumman remains one of SBWIB outstanding employer partners.
a strong economy, providing networking opportunities, supporting the interests of business before government, taking political action, and promoting the community. Through these competencies, the Chamber helps business to grow and collaborate to assure prosperity for the Torrance Area.
Outcome and Benefits: The Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce has been invaluable and has played an integral role in the South Bay Workforce Investment Board’s (SBWIB) partnership with the City of Torrance. Also of importance, is the connecting of the business community with the SBWIB and the referral of numerous employers to the Business Services team. The Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce has provided a valuable training environment for the participants of the Transitional Subsidized Employment Program resulting in a mutually beneficial business collaboration.
Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce - TORRANCE
Workforce Challenge: The Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce (TACC) has been deeply rooted within the City’s culture since 1913, within one year of the City of Torrance’s establishment. Throughout the years, the Chamber has grown alongside its city, providing programs and services that have positively impacted the city’s economy for generations. Seventy-five years ago, in 1939, the Torrance Chamber became incorporated as an accredited chamber of commerce.
South Bay Partnership: Today the Chamber is a membership organization comprised of approximately 800 businesses. The Chamber’s mission is to provide for its members by creating
