Professional groups get active in boosting their industries.

As a student attending James Monroe High School, Talin Jabourian enrolled in a class on finances and insurance primarily because it fit in with her schedule.

The then-junior at the North Hills school had little interest in the insurance industry yet taking that class led to part-time work at a Calabasas agency that then turned into a full-time position following college.

Today, Jabourian is the accountant and commercial line manager at Calabasas Tri-County Insurance and gets invited back to speak before the Monroe High class, part of the national INVEST program from the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America.

"It's an amazing program," Jabourian said. "When I go to the class and speak to the kids I know they have a familiarity with insurance. It seems to be producing very smart people who are interested in the field."

The insurance industry is not alone when it comes to professional groups and organizations in the San Fernando Valley making efforts to recruit people into their particular fields. Accountants, lawyers, and segments of the entertainment industry all do their part.

While high school and college students are a main target they are not the only ones. Career changers or those looking to move up in their career paths also take advantage of what professional groups have to offer in the means of scholarships and mentoring programs.

Image building

Some professional organizations find that getting in the classroom not only promotes their industry but also helps in building up the image of those employed in it.

Really, what kid dreams of growing up to be an accountant?

John McWilliams, an accountant and instructor at San Francisco State University, admits the field lacks a "sexy" role model.

So when promoting the profession to high school students, the California Society of CPAs uses to its advantage glamorous accounting assignments in sports franchises, the music industry and the FBI.

"We try to put a spin on it in the most positive way that we can as far as environments in which you can work," said McWilliams, chair of the society's financial literacy committee.

The insurance industry falls into the same category, so when the San Fernando Valley chapter of the Independent Brokers of America sends representatives into schools they will speak on the variety of roles.

Job titles in insurance include sales representatives, customer service representative, marketing people, even mathematicians, said David Kern, who also works at Calabasas Tri-County and serves on the national InVest board.

"You have just about every walk of life," Kern said. "It does not necessarily require a college degree but a majority of insurance brokers went to college."

Both the accounting and insurance organizations provide financial assistance to students through their scholarship programs.

Local chapters of the CPA society tackle the monetary needs of those going to school, while the state organization targets graduates wanting additional education.

The Valley chapter of the IBA awards several thousand dollars in scholarships for students in the INVEST programs at Monroe and Sylmar high schools who stand out, Kern said.

Promoting law

Lawyers, however, don't have much of an image problem.

Attorney Marcia Kraft credits the television and film industries with playing a big role in promoting the profession to the public.

As president of the Valley Community Legal Foundation, Kraft oversees a program that awards scholarships to students at five area schools, including four in the Valley.

Money for the scholarships is raised at the annual Law Day Gala and a committee with representatives from Pierce College, Valley College, California State University, Northridge, Pepperdine University, and the University of West Los Angeles choosing the recipients.

Students don't need to eye a career as an attorney to be eligible. Those seeking law enforcement, courthouse or domestic violence assistance jobs can also receive a scholarship, Kraft said.

The amounts given by the foundation range from $500 and $1,000 with between 25 to 30 scholarships awarded each year.

"We like to keep our money local and see a community benefit," Kraft said. "By giving these scholarships we are ultimately benefiting the community."

Not for students only

Professional organizations, however, reach out to more than just students to get people interested in jobs in their industries.

The Hollywood Post Alliance recognizes that while there are schools offering classes in post-production much of the learning for those positions takes place on the job.

Still, the organization does award scholarships--with CSUN students being recipients in recent years--and hardware and software used in post-production. HPA Executive Director Eileen Kramer said that when the organization hears back from scholarship winners she has been surprised by what the money and equipment means to getting a career off the ground.

"It surprised me that it had such a strong effect on them and their careers," Kramer said. "It was nice. It seems like you are making a difference."

The Los Angeles chapter of SCORE, an organization serving small business owners and a partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration, also seeks an audience beyond students to pursue careers as entrepreneurs.

As a not for profit the chapter cannot afford scholarships so instead it drums up interest through a free lecture series featuring high profile and successful entrepreneurs as David Gold, founder of 99 Cents Only stores, and Joe Coulombe, founder of the Trader Joe's grocery chain.

The chapter's "missionary work" also includes free workshops and invitations to give talks, said co-chairman Al Portnoy. Recently, he spoke at the Fashion Design Institute in Los Angeles, Portnoy said.

"We are always out in the community," Portnoy said. "We do a half a dozen to a dozen speaking engagements a year whether it be a college class or an association."

BY MARK R. MADLER

Staff Reporter