The Verdugo Workforce Development Board (VWDB) announced today the appointment of the following individuals to its Board of Directors:
- Ara Aslanian, President, Inverselogic, Inc.
- Susan Cabral-Ebert, President & Assistant Business Representative, IATSE Local 706 Make-up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild
- Jeremy Dylan Lanni, Political Affairs Representative for United Nurses Associations of California/ Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP)
- Darlene Sanchez, Deputy Director, City of Glendale Economic Development Corporation
- Russell Tanakaya, General Manager, Glendale Embassy Suites
The Arroyo Verdugo Subregion Steering Committee, which includes City Council members for the Cities of Glendale, Burbank and La Cañada Flintridge, officially appointed the Board members on Monday, May 16, 2016. The VWDB is a 32-member public-private partnership comprised of business, education, labor, government and other community leaders. The Board represents the consortium of the three cities under a Joint Powers Agreement and is responsible for planning and overseeing the workforce development and business services funded primarily by the United States Department of Labor under the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act of 2014.
“I am pleased to welcome the new members to the Board,” stated Judith Velasco, Director of the VWDB. “They each bring a wealth of industry expertise and an array of contributions to our communities, representing the core values that are the foundation of our organization.”
Representing the high-technology industry, Mr. Aslanian has served as President of Inverselogic, Inc. located in the City of Glendale, for more than 18 years. The company provides business strategies & technology including network integration, application development, Amazon web services, Cisco solutions, cybersecurity and technology support. Notably, he is also the Board President of The Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge as well as the prior President of La Cañada Unified School District’s Technology Review and Advisory Committee.
Ms. Cabral-Ebert has been a member of IATSE Local 706, Make-up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild, since 1978, serving as the Assistant Business Representative of the Guild since 2003 and the President for an outstanding 14 years. Prior to joining the Guild she worked as make-up artist in the film and television industry, where she won a plethora of awards for Outstanding Makeup, along with four Emmy nominations. Moreover she is involved with the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce where she served as the Co-Chair of the Legislative Action Committee, and where she currently serves as the Co-Chair of The Entertainment, Arts and Emerging Media Committee “TEAM Hollywood.”
As a graduate of Boston and Yale Universities, Mr. Lanni has had a passion for the labor movement, partaking in national, state and local issue campaigns his entire life. He currently is the Political Affairs Representative for United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) and has been with the organization for more than 12 years. His responsibilities include raising the union’s profile in the political arena, educating and mobilizing the membership on political issues, and participating in labor coalitions.
With over fifteen years of experience in municipal government with the Cities of Walnut and Monrovia prior to coming to Glendale, Ms. Sanchez oversees the Glendale Economic Development Corporation and is responsible for managing City assets, economic development contracts and development agreements. Her focus within business services and attraction programs contributes to the overall economic vitality of our community.
Leading the Verdugo region within the hospitality industry is Mr. Tanakaya, the General Manager of Embassy Suites in the City of Glendale. The Glendale Embassy Suites has worked with the Verdugo Jobs Center staff in the past, providing employment opportunities for our customers. Additionally, Mr. Tanakaya serves on the Board of Directors for the Glendale Chamber of Commerce and is also an exceptional Adjunct Instructor of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Glendale Community College.
The new Board members’ expertise will assist the Board in carrying out its responsibilities and achieving its mission to transform lives, businesses, and the community through innovative workforce services.
The VWDB has been serving the tri-city consortium for more than 30 years with innovative employment and training services that create the competitive human capital required for sustained growth and industry leadership. It provides services out of its Verdugo Jobs Center, a proud member of the America’s Job Center of California, located in the City of Glendale and its satellite office, Burbank Workforce Connection. The VWDB has earned recognition for its specialized programs that successfully train and employ people with disabilities, veterans, English language learners, low income and youth.