Employer Testimonials

Jake Rivas
The North Face, Design Director for Footwear

"During my time at Vans Snow Division and the North Face, I've hired two designers from the talented pool of CCA graduates.

"Nick Cronan began as a freelancer who helped with brainstorming and sketch exploration during crunch times of the design season. Bringing on talented help allowed us to continue to explore new ideas while I was tied up in the day-to-day functions of RD&D management. Nick had an outstanding work ethic, and I later hired him as a designer.

"Tory Cross started as an intern for me at Vans. Upon his graduation, we found a great fit for him designing in the equipment division here at the North Face.

"Both alumni are now full-time North Face product designers, making an impressive impact on the outdoor market that we all work and play in."

Amana Harris
ArtEsteem, Director

"After I graduated, I worked for a year at a wax and plastic prototyping company. I then moved into substitute teaching, which led me onto my path of combining art, education, and social justice to address issues of academic disengagement, self-esteem, and expression for at-risk youth.

"In 1995, I created ArtEsteem with Attitudinal Healing Connection to provide an art class to seven local community children. Ten years later, we serve over 500 youth a year at the elementary, middle, and high school levels and have impacted over 5,000 students since our inception.

"Our interns from the CCA Center for Art and Public Life have been wonderful. I've seen students change majors, mentor students in need, and become more successful teachers as a result of working at ArtEsteem. Students gain as much as they give and are often surprised at the relationships they build."