On October 30, Dr. Brenda Thames, ECC's President and CEO, was honored with the Esther Williams Award of Excellence by the South Bay Workforce Investment Board (SBWIB) at their 30th Annual Awards Ceremony.

The Esther Williams Award of Excellence is an annual award given by the SBWIB to recognize individuals for their outstanding commitment to advancing educational equity and workforce development in the South Bay. The award is named after Esther Williams, a pioneering member of the SBWIB and the first board chairperson in 1982. The award is considered the organization's highest honor and acknowledges individuals who strive to improve the quality of life in our community through professionalism and leadership.

Dr. Thames currently serves on SBWIB's Board of Directors and is a mentor for their Youth Development Council. Congratulations President Thames on your well-deserved honor!

El Camino College retirees caught up with former friends and colleagues at this year’s Annual Retiree Luncheon on November 7. The room was filled with smiles and shared memories as former ECC employees reconnected over lunch and enjoyed campus updates from Superintendent/President Dr. Brenda Thames and Foundation Executive Director Andrea Sala.

Attendees welcomed newly retired employees and enjoyed a warm afternoon of reminiscing and socializing. This event is hosted annually by the El Camino College Foundation.

View the full Retiree Luncheon 2025 photo album HERE.

On October 30th, the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the annual State of the State address where State Senator Ben Allen, representing District 24, and Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, representing District 66, provided key legislative updates and discussed policies affecting the state and South Bay community. Attendees gained insights into regional and state-level developments including education, public safety, housing insecurity, workforce development, federal funding, and the corporate/small business economy. El Camino College and Foundation leaders proudly attended the event.

Pictured from L to R: McKenzie Neely-Wright (AT&T), Mistee Ruiz (Torrance Chamber Board Chair), Donna Duperron (Torrance Chamber President/CEO), Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, Andrea Sala, Ann O'Brien, State Senator Ben Allen, Heidi Wang, and Julieta Arámburo. Not pictured: President Brenda Thames, Kerri Webb.

The 2025 El Segundo State of the City event took place on November 13 at the new California SMASH Pickleball & Social Club. With over 500 guests in attendance, the event was hosted by the El Segundo Chamber of Commerce and featured Mayor Chris Pimentel and the City Council, highlighting key accomplishments and the vision for the future of El Segundo under the theme "Where Big Ideas Take Off". Topics included local business and commerce developments, community growth, citywide improvements, and an overview of the "El Segundo | Vision 2050" general plan update, which aims to balance corporate strengths, professional sports, and community needs over the next 25 years.

Pictured above (L to R): Lily Craig (El Segundo Chamber Board), Andrea Sala, Minnie Torres (Kinecta), Heidi Wang, and Marsha Hansen (El Segundo Chamber President/CEO).

The El Camino Community College District Board of Trustees is seeking applicants to serve as an appointed member to fill a vacancy until the next regularly scheduled election for governing members in November 2026.

A qualified applicant must be appointed to serve the remainder of the four-year term, which expires in November 2026. Eligible candidates must be at least 18 years old, a resident of the El Camino Community College District Trustee Area 5 (which includes Torrance and Redondo Beach), and a registered voter.

The El Camino Community College District Board of Trustees generally meets on the third Monday of each month at 4 p.m. Completed applications are due no later than 4 p.m. on December 12. The Board will interview candidates on December 18 and intends to make a provisional appointment that same day. Additional information about the Board of Trustees application process can be found HERE.