Tulare County Office of Education

2001 Partners

Dr. Dick Heers
Cross Street Veterinary

Nominated by Judy Staley, Tulare Western High School

Dr. Heers is a veterinarian who cares about students who want to pursue a career in animal science. Always there to help provide student opportunities, Dr. Heers makes time for Tulare High School students.

Foster Farms (Porterville)

Nominated by Employment Connection Partners and Services for Education & Employment

Foster Farms finds ways to make trainees feel welcome and motivated. Your effort with welfare-to-work and other groups has generated a positive impact for our community.

Deloitte & Touche

Nominated by Elaine J. Rubio, Golden West High School

Helping students experience accounting functions and practices is an activity that Jane Baugh and the staff at Deloitte and Touche make available to students from throughout the area.

Marie Pinto
Instructor and Consultant, Tulare Joint Union High School District

Nominated by Tulare Chamber of Commerce

Marie, your project partners want you to know that they couldn't get along without you. Whether it's a classroom presentation, job shadowing or training for business partners, you always make time for your partners.

Bea Soxman
Visalia Unified School District

Nominated by School-to-Career Coordinators from Visalia Unified School District

Always behind the scenes, Bea's leadership has helped all Visalia high school students improve their link to the business community. Bea, you are always there for us. Time to take a bow.

Factory 2-U

Nominated by Services for Education & Employment and Tulare County Red Cross

The needs of low-income students and families can seem overwhelming. Factory 2-U consistently provides a supportive work environment and special help for those in need.

David Hobbs
Monrovia Nursery

Nominated by Sally Pace, Woodlake High School

David, as a manager at Monrovia and friend to local schools, your advice and support has made Woodlake High School Agricultural programs grow and prosper. You really make a difference.

Radisson Hotel

Nominated by Services for Education and Employment

Working for adult and student trainees alike, the Radisson Hotel provides a quality mix of work-based experiences. Thanks to the Radisson Hotel for your continued support.

Steve Holdridge
Teacher, Tulare Tech Prep

Nominated by Lisa Munoz, CSET

No one has a personality like Steve Holdridge. His students respond to him because he gives them the educational advantages they need to succeed. His personal touch with students is unique and we're proud to recognize his achievements.

City of Porterville

Nominated by Karen Rappleye, Assistant Director of Porterville Adult School

The City of Porterville has taken a leadership role in bringing workforce development and school partners together through the "partners network". Always proactive, a caring staff makes the City of Porterville a special partner for us all.

Taco Bell (Lindsay and Porterville)

Nominated by Services for Education & Employment

Steve Onsurez, manager of both restaurants, has supported entry-level youth and student workers with quality experiences and opportunities. SEE youth programs and area high school students say thank you for giving them a chance to learn.

Home Depot (Visalia) and
Patty Bohling
WalMart Distribution (Porterville)

Nominated by Amy Hermann, Tulare County Office of Education

Kids and the Power of Work is a program that provides local elementary students the chance to experience first hand the world of work. Patty Bohling of WalMart and the staff of Home Depot in Visalia share their personalities, their experience and their workplaces with these students. They go the extra mile to educate our kids and we thank them for their efforts.

Vicki Howes
Coordinator, CSET

Nominated by Carolyn Kehrli, Cutler-Orosi Unified School District

Vicki has been described as the "dynamic" liaison between CSET and the Cutler-Orosi School District. She is seen as an outstanding role model to her students. She handles inter-organizational communication in thoroughness and good humor. Her faith in the students she works with pushes them to achieve. We commend her for her hard work.

David J. Maciel
CalWORKS Director, College of the Sequoias

Nominated by Tulare County Workforce Investment Department

Nobody works harder than David Maciel at helping to create a system that can work for employers and clients alike. As a founding member of the Training and Employment Association, David is a true champion of customer service.

Michelle Cardoza
Business Teacher at Tulare Western High School

Nominated by Judy Staley and Tulare Western High School

Michelle spends the extra time and energy to make sure that her students' needs and the goals of her district are met. Her willingness to collaborate on many school-to-career projects, such as the on-campus student store, is much appreciated by Tulare Western.

Tulare County Alcoholism Council

Nominated by Services for Education & Employment

Our clients come with many stumbling blocks to successful employment. Tulare County Alcoholism Council works with people in a dignified way to help them get their lives on the right track.

Sonya Brown
Director of Nursing, Tulare Nursing and Rehabilitation Hospital

Nominated by Tulare Joint Union High School District

Finding enough businesses to participate in career pathway experiences for students can be difficult. Sonya Brown and her staff have been instrumental in helping the health career programs in the Tulare area continue to grow. Thanks for your help.

Manuel Lucero
Assistant Principal, Dinuba High School

Nominated by Carlos Quevedo and Duane Goree, CSET

If you want someone to get the job done, just call Dinuba High School. Asstistant Principal Manual Lucero recognizes the importance of career preparation and works tirelessly to assist the efforts of the local CSET office. Because of his involvement in the local community, the office has been able to make new job placement contacts. Thanks, Mr. Lucero.

Porterville Developmental Center

Nominated by Porterville Chamber of Commerce and Services for Education & Employment

The measure of a partnership is often seen in the number of employees that participate. Porterville Developmental Center staff and management are always ready to give of their time and facilities. Thanks for helping our kids grow.

Mel Borbolla
Supervising Probation Officer

Nominated by Brad Albert, CSET, Youth Corps Development Director

Helping young people succeed is what Mr. Borbolla is all about. Tulare County students have benefited from Mel's tireless efforts at helping young people make the right choices. Tulare County is lucky to have someone like Mel who truly cares about the students he's involved with.

Tom Jenkins
Kaweah Delta Health Care District

Nominated by Visalia Chamber of Commerce

Recruiting partners is hard work. When the Visalia Business Education Connection needed new partners, Tom Jenkins took it upon himself to find co-workers who had the willingness to lend a hand.

Wendy Oliveria
Valley Staffing Service

Nominated by Visalia Chamber of Commerce

As an original member of the Visalia Business Education Connection, Wendi has never shied away from a classroom presentation opportunity. With the support of management at Valley Staffing, Wendi launched a special program for high school seniors.

Kelly Morgan
Sierra View District Hospital

Nominated by Porterville Chamber of Commerce, Business and Education Committee

We want to recognize Kelly Morgan for his leadership. Many times, owners, managers, or CEOs don't have the time to work on on-going programs. But Kelly and Sierra View gave of their time and money to support the continued development of a Porterville Health Care Network and the Porterville Business Partner for a Day.

Don Ritter
United Parcel Service

Nominated by Visalia Chamber of Commerce

Whether it's inviting an elementary classroom to tour UPS or presenting a workplace basics class to high school freshmen, Don is always available to provide feedback and support for School-to-Career activities.

Randy Wallace, Project Director
phone: (559) 733-6101
fax: (559) 737-4378

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