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DECEMBER 2025
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Col. Paul Cook (Ret.) District 1
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Jesse Armendarez District 2
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Dawn Rowe
Chairman
District 3
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Curt Hagman
District 4
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Joe Baca Jr.
Vice Chair
District 5
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Luther Snoke – Chief Executive Officer, San Bernardino County
Bradley Gates – Director, Workforce Development Department
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WDB is committed to helping businesses attract and retain the best employees
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San Bernardino County’s strong economy, growing population and unmatched quality of life have made it one of the most dynamic regions in California. Now, the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board (WDB), through its Economic Development and Business Resource (EDBR) Committee, is working to ensure that local businesses are positioned to lead in one of the most important areas of competitiveness: becoming Employers of Choice.
An Employer of Choice is more than just a great place to work. It’s an organization that attracts and retains top talent by offering competitive compensation, career growth, supportive leadership and a culture that values work-life balance and employee engagement. These employers don’t just fill jobs, they build futures and strengthen communities.
Beginning this coming year, WDB and the EDBR Committee will launch a series of workshops and outreach programs to help businesses develop the traits that define Employers of Choice. Topics will range from effective leadership and innovation to workplace communication, employee recognition and professional development. Businesses that demonstrate strong Employer of Choice characteristics will be featured in future Workforce Update newsletters and social media campaigns, showcasing the companies that are helping make San Bernardino County a premier destination for career opportunity.
Stay tuned to upcoming editions of the WDB newsletter and follow @SBCWorkforce on social media for details on workshop dates and registration.
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What are some of the characteristics of an Employer of Choice?
Competitive compensation and benefits.
Career advancement opportunities and professional development.
Positive work environment.
Job security and stability.
Access to the latest tools, technologies and resources.
Strong leadership and vision, including a clear mission and values.
A positive company reputation and impactful work.
Excellent workplace facilities.
Effective communication and feedback.
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It has been an honor to serve as WDB Chair |
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By William Sterling
WDB Chair
As I conclude my term as Chair of the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board, I want to express my deepest gratitude for the opportunity to serve over the past three years. It has been an honor to work alongside such a dedicated group of leaders, partners and staff who share a commitment to strengthening our workforce and expanding opportunity for residents and businesses across this county.
I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together, from expanding high-impact training programs to forging stronger partnerships with employers, education and community-based organizations. None of this progress would have been possible without the hard work, collaboration and vision displayed by everyone at the table.
As we look to the year ahead, I am pleased to extend my heartfelt congratulations to our newly elected officers. Shannon Shannon will bring great energy and insight as incoming Chair, supported by the leadership of incoming Vice Chair Cinnamon Alvarez and incoming Treasurer Stacy DeVoll. I know the Board is in exceptional hands.
Though I am stepping out of the Chair role, I look forward to continuing to serve and support the important work ahead. Thank you for your trust, your partnership and your commitment to San Bernardino County.
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WDB’s New Executive Leadership Team |
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Cinnamon Alvarez
Vice Chair
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President of SaddleRock Reverse Mortgage |
President of A19 Artisan Lighting |
President of DeVoll Rubber MFG Group |
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 From left: WDB Chair William Sterling, Charmayne Keys and Sheila Jones-Lilley of CareBuilders and WDB Director Bradley Gates.
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How CareBuilders at Home is filling a community need with WDB’s support |
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When Sheila Jones-Lilley founded CareBuilders at Home in 2023, she wasn’t simply launching a business, she was responding to a deeply personal calling. For years, Sheila had been navigating complicated caregiving needs within her own family; first for her mother in Louisiana, and then for her uncle, an aerospace engineer whose quiet, private nature masked a devastating financial scam that left him vulnerable and unable to live independently. With a professional and educational background in the medical care-giving industry, Sheila began to realize that what her family was experiencing was part of a much larger gap in the community.
“I planned to open a business in caregiving after retiring, but I realized I didn’t need to wait until retirement,” she said. “I was already hiring caregivers in Louisiana and California for my family. I knew firsthand how hard it was to find people who are truly committed. Caregiving isn’t a job you choose to get rich. It’s something you do because you care.”
Sheila opened the first and only CareBuilders at Home franchise in Southern California, serving seniors across the Inland Empire region. However, launching a new home-care agency presented challenges, particularly in hiring and retaining skilled caregivers, an industry characterized by high turnover, demanding schedules and unique regional workforce shortages.
Connecting with the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board (WDB) soon became a lifeline for her growing company. Through the WDB Business Services team, Sheila learned about recruitment assistance, job fairs and the On-the-Job Training (OJT) program.
“I was only a month into business and really struggling to hire quality caregivers,” Sheila shared. “WDB representatives came to my office, explained the help available, and got the ball rolling. It changed everything.”
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Atif Elkadi (above, right), Chief Executive Officer for Ontario International Airport (ONT), recently updated the Workforce Development Board on ONT’s continued growth and a new campaign to celebrate the airport’s 10 years of local ownership. “Every flight, every shipment, every traveler contributes to a stronger regional economy, and none of that happens without the skilled workforce you, the Workforce Development Board, help cultivate,” Elkadi said. |
 A study by Oxford Economics showed that Ontario International Airport contributes nearly $4 billion per year in economic activity across the region and supports nearly 30,000 jobs. Since its return to local ownership in 2016, ONT has seen passenger volumes grow by 70%, to more than 7 million annually.
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The recent federal government shutdown has delayed the release of unemployment data at the national, state and local levels. Shown here are the September numbers. For San Bernardino County and the Inland Empire, the month-over-month and year-over-year employment gains were centered in local government and private education services.
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September 2024
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July 2025
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August 2025
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September 2025
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San Bernardino County Unemployment Rate
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5.1%
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6.3%
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5.9%
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5.7%
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California Unemployment Rate*
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5.2%
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6.1%
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5.8%
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5.6%
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United States Unemployment Rate*
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3.9%
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4.6%
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4.5%
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4.3%
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People Employed in San Bernardino County
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978,000
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978,000
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985,700
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991,700
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San Bernardino County Labor Force
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1,030,900
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1,043,200
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1,047,600
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1,051,700
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* Rates Not Seasonally Adjusted
SOURCE: California Employment Development Department
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Lessons learned working the switchboard never go away
By Dr. Judy White
Retired Inland Empire School Superintendent
In 1970, at 16 years old, I learned a valuable life lesson during my very first job as a switchboard operator at Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino. This opportunity came through the city’s program helping youth with part-time employment. My first job was my introduction to the workforce, financial responsibility and acquiring communication skills. I was earning $1.35 an hour, and I quickly came to understand the value of a dollar. At the time, my mother was struggling to keep up with bills, and I was asked to contribute to the household expenses. Though it was a challenge, it was also empowering. Thankfully, after I paid the one bill that I was responsible for, my mother allowed me to keep the rest of the earnings for myself. Working as a switchboard operator taught me more than just job skills. It taught me how to communicate with people from all walks of life. Sometimes, people just needed to hear a voice on the other end of the line that sounded familiar and kind. It was a powerful reminder of the human need for connection – something many of us take for granted.
Years later, when I became a School Superintendent, I never forgot the opportunity that was afforded to me, and so at several leadership positions that I held, within a four decade span, I implemented student-based internships.
Through the years, I have held many top K-12 education roles, but the role, memories and lessons learned of a switchboard operator never escapes my mind or heart.
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Stat of the Month
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The San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board hosts hiring events at the County’s America’s Job Centers of California (AJCCs) and other venues throughout the year. A calendar of these and other events is available online. Check this newsletter every month for additional updates.
Wednesday, December 10 – Hiring Event, Chino Community Building, 5443 B Street, Chino. 9 a.m.-Noon.
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Coming Up
WDB hosts free virtual seminars throughout the week to help job seekers on topics such as interviewing skills, resume building and navigating the employment resources that are available. If you know of anyone who could use this valuable assistance, a calendar of upcoming sessions is available online.
In the meantime, here are some upcoming events and release dates:
Tuesday, December 16: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics releases its November jobs report.
Friday, January 9: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics releases its December jobs report.
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 On any given day, San Bernardino County’s three America’s Job Centers of California (AJCCs) have access to 100 or more job seekers ready and able to fill your positions. To find that perfect employee for your business, please contact your local AJCC:
East Valley: 500 Inland Center Drive, Space 508, San Bernardino (909) 382-0440
West Valley: 9650 9th St., Suite A, Rancho Cucamonga (909) 941-6500
High Desert: 17310 Bear Valley Road, Suite 109, Victorville (760) 552-6550
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Stay up to date
Catch up on past editions of Workforce Update, WDB’s monthly e-newsletter and labor market intelligence report.
If you know others who would like to receive this timely and important information, please invite them to join our mailing list at info.workforce@wdd.sbcounty.gov.
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- WIOA Title I-financially assisted programs or activities are an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. For federal funding disclosure information, visit: workforce.sbcounty.gov/about/ffd/
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