Veteran members of all-volunteer career network will work to improve program relevancy and enhance employer outreach
CAPITOLA – PROFILE of Santa Cruz today announced that Barbara Burkhart has been elected as its Executive Director and Rosalie Castello Flores has been elected as its Associate Director. Both are veteran members of the all-volunteer career network and both have committed to improve PROFILE’s services and programs. 
“My election as Executive Director is very exciting because I’m filling a vacancy and it means PROFILE of Santa Cruz is succeeding in its mission of helping county residents to rejoin the workforce,” Burkhart said. “My mission is to continue the programs that assist our members in their professional development. I also want to ensure that our services are updated regularly so that they remain relevant for today’s market conditions.”
PROFILE helped nine of its members to find jobs in June, a 10% success rate, based on total number of PROFILE members. Both full-time and part-time positions were secured by members in the banking, education, food service, hospitality, non-profit and technology industries.
Flores fills the roll vacated by outgoing Associate Director Phil Rodriguez who accepted a position in May with Hartnell College in Salinas. She will direct employer outreach activities for the organization and will be responsible for booking guest speakers for member meetings.
“I look forward to helping PROFILE members connect with local employers to help them find opportunities for their professional development,” Flores said. “Through a dedicated effort of networking with Santa Cruz County business leaders that need highly-qualified workers, we hope to enhance PROFILE’s core mission and help our members achieve their career objectives.”
Burkhart has served PROFILE in several capacities over past months, including seminar workshop developer and leader, and training and operations manager. She currently serves on the boards of both New Music Works and Baroque Festival of Santa Cruz. Before becoming an active member of PROFILE, she had extensive experience as an administrator.
Flores has 10 plus years of experience leading marketing and public relations campaigns for businesses and government entities. Before joining PROFILE, she served at Cari-Ro as a director of international business and policy development. She has also served in associate development in training at PROFILE.
PROFILE of Santa Cruz, a chapter of Experience Unlimited, is an all-volunteer networking group for skilled professionals. Members come from diverse fields, including sales, marketing, training, finance, technology, human resources, manufacturing, and administration. PROFILE’s mission is to connect local employers with talented professionals and to provide services and workshops at no charge to members.
Services include job seekers meeting regularly with other career professionals to update their job search skills, share job leads and provide support through workshops and training. Workshops include job search strategies, resume writing, interview techniques, résumé evaluations, mock interviews, communication skills and negotiating.
Residents of Santa Cruz County are encouraged to enroll in person at PROFILE’s office at 2045 40th Ave in Capitola. After enrollment, orientation is every Monday, except holidays, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
For more information call (831) 479-0393, email [email protected] or visit the www.SantaCruzPROFILE.org website.