The SPOT all started when John, Ruth and Bob were throwing around ideas one afternoon trying to think of something Bob could do to keep him busy and out of trouble. Little did we know what we were starting! Over the years as we watched the SPOT grow and develop, we also watched as students came and went and changed their lives for the better. We also watched our staff mature and develop into a wonderful team of professionals. The success of the SPOT was a direct result of the quality of our staff and we were truly blessed to have such a wonderful team.

Deborah Pembrook (left) our first SPOT instructor is know for her expert knowledge of graphics, her creativity and her incredible patience as an instructor. Her loyalty and dedication have made us feel honored to have her at the SPOT. Our well known SPOT logo was Deborah's creation!

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Michele Allen came to our little office to set up our QuickBooks and ended up becoming the SPOT QuickBooks Professional, traveling far and wide servicing businesses and individuals. Her excellent customer service and skills generated a reputation for the SPOT as being the place to call for QB help.

Ginger Dillman (right) came to work for John through the county's On the Job Training program. She also was one of the students in our very first training program held in our new Capitola campus. After completing the training we hired her on as our first administrative employee. As the SPOT grew and learned new things so did Ginger. She developed and created our Job Placement program, received the 2005 Santa Cruz County award as Educator of the Year and is now the Director of the Capitola Campus. Like proud parents, we have watched Ginger recreate herself and become a truly amazing woman.

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Wendy Martin is the newest SPOT employee. She was one of Deborah Pembrook's outstanding students and Ginger was quick to see Wendy's potential as being her much needed assistant. Just one of the advantages of having a pool of students who will all need jobs upon graduating.

There is so much to say about Joanna Troy! Joanna came to us a little less than a year after we opened. We soon realized we had a very special person on board. Joanna speaks several languages, lived on a sail boat for a year while sailing the world, worked in a research lab and somehow found the time to get her Masters Degree in Psychology while she worked full time at the SPOT. While at the SPOT she created new curriculum, developed data bases and became the most requested instructor for on-site training. Like Deborah, Joanna's loyalty and dedication were always appreciated. Dennis, her significant other will attest to her long hours of working at home on all her projects! Thanks for being so understanding Dennis.

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Gary Taylor was our first real IT Manager and instructor. As he said at the dinner, he watched us grow from 10 PC's to over 100. As we grew and opened the Watsonville campus and then the Marina campus, he had the joy (!) of setting up the new computers and networks. And of course he was the one we all called in a panic when our computer didn't work properly only to discover we had forgotten to plug in our network cable or had entered a password with our "CapsLock" turned on by mistake. Thanks for all your patience Gary!

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Yvette Diaz was yet again one of our outstanding students. She was hired on as our Administrative Assistant in Watsonville and brought with her the most contagious and uplifting laugh you could ever hear! She was quick to learn the day to day routine of her job and combined with the outstanding training she had received, she was able to take her experience and obtain a job with Santa Cruz County. Although we were sad to see her go, we were also very proud of her.

Deb Walker (right) used to work "over the hill" for one of the high tech companies before it downsized and she landed at the SPOT. An admitted computer "geek", working on her computer is like her life line and she goes nowhere without her external hard drive! Deb is a top notch web designer and another of our outstanding instructors. She has been with the SPOT for over 4 years and admits it is the longest she has stayed at any one company.

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Sandra Jimenez came to the SPOT as the Admin Assistant in Watsonville after Yvette left us. Of course Sandra being Yvette's sister-in-law gave her an edge up on the job. Watching Sandra grow and mature and become more self confident has been a wonderful experience to share with her. She has become the backbone of the Admin department and the entire staff knows they can depend on her to keep things running smoothly. 

Karen Weston, another SPOT graduate, wore many hats when she worked for the SPOT. She assisted the Sales Manager, worked with students as their Student Coordinator and being a graphic artist at heart created our flyers and brochures. Karen was always ready to take on a new project and as much work as we piled on her, she always kept her beautiful smile.

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Jorge Savala. Where do I begin? So big he barely makes it through the door without bumping his head, a voice so deep he rivals Barry White, but a teddy bear with a heart of gold! There was never a dull moment with Jorge around. And always with the jokes! I don't think he can get through a conversation without joking about something. Since his parents retired and moved from Santa Cruz, John and I have fallen into place as segregate parents to the point of  "can I borrow $40?" weekend phone calls.

Olga Evans was brought in by EK (the new owner) all the way from Minnesota. In the short 3 months she has been at the SPOT she has worn every hat there is, from instructor to HR Manager. Everyone on staff has helped Olga assimilate into the SPOT family and all have been charmed by her wonderful and effervescent personality. After all, you do need a good sense of humor to work at the SPOT! I have left Olga and Sandra with a mantra:

Everything is going to be just fine. Everything is going to be just fine. Everything is going to be just fine.....