Getting the expertise to advance in your career, learn a new skill, or operate or start a new business is easier than ever at Orange Coast College (OCC).
Small new businesses as well as established organizations are discovering a wide variety of opportunities from online courses to customized workforce training delivered at the work site.
George Blanc, OCC’s administrative dean of economic development and community education, has watched the college’s noncredit online program grow from a handful of classes two years ago to more than 150 course offerings today.
“Flexibility is the beauty of online,” Blanc said. With busy work and family schedules, many participants are taking advantage of the modestly priced courses, which deploy a combination of interactive Web sites and e-mail lessons for training. New courses start the second week of each month.
Typical courses include mastering the Internet, Web site design and software training. OCC recently introduced online certificate programs in a series of areas, including customer service, management and purchasing.
If you prefer person-to-person training, Orange Coast College Economic Development and Community Education presents workshops and seminars as part of its Business Program on the Orange Coast College campus at 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa. Some popular classes include travel careers, computer classes, customer service and leadership training.
OCC can also tailor programs to meet a company’s specific needs, such as computer skills, accounting, management and supervision, English as a second language and sales and marketing. Training can be on campus or at the company’s work site.
Orange Coast College’s credit program offers classes in a wide range of subject areas for students who prefer the traditional college curriculum.
“Your business is our business” is the slogan for the college’s Small Business Assistance Center, which offers entrepreneurs consulting, counseling and training. Interested small businesses to contact George Blanc at (714) 432-5916 or via e-mail at gblanc@cccd.edu.
The goal is to help businesses function more effectively, increase their profitability, expand employment opportunities and contribute to the vitality of the coastal area.
By networking with other educational institutions, Chamber of Commerce and other Orange County economic development agencies, OCC’s Small Business Assistance Center taps into a wide variety of resources in the community.
An example is the Small Business Conference and Expo, at Orange Coast College on Wednesday, April 26. Sponsoring agencies include the Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley and Newport Harbor Chambers of Commerce, the Small Business Administration, the California Manufacturing Technology Center and S.C.O.R.E. Frank Everett, owner and president of Vortex Industries and “Small Business Owner of the Year,” will be the keynote speaker.
The daylong event will feature a full day of small business information, including seminars, networking opportunities and counseling services.
