The Cerro Coso Community College Foundation made it possible for 15 college students to attend this year’s Indian Wells Valley Economic Outlook Conference on February 26. Hosted by the Ridgecrest Chamber of Commerce, this year’s conference theme was Generation XYZ & Me and focused on generational diversity in the workplace and its effects on the economic outlook.

For the first time in recorded history, labor markets in the 21st century are comprised of members of four generations. This situation presents very real challenges, and opportunities, to organizations and businesses and how they address issues of talent engagement, leadership development, and people management.

College President Jill Board was among the line-up of guest speakers. She shared how education has embraced new technologies and ways of teaching for developing new leaders. “Today’s new students have had extensive and rapid exposure to an ever-increasing amount of information, which makes them the most informed generation to have lived on our planet,” she said to the crowd. “It is all about relationships and our ability to understand, learn, and effectively leverage multigenerational diversity will assist us in building the trust needed to form and maintain a high performing labor force.”

More than 250 people attended the five hour event. Cerro Coso - helping to bridge the generation gap!