A Dazzling Decade of Developing Dreams... ...and turning them into successful careers.
In the Wedding and Event Planning Industry, Joyce Scardina Becker's Wedding Planner Certificate Program has been the stepping stone to send successful students' careers soaring.

/Wedding and Bridal News Articles/ - December 09, 2006 - Ten years of imparting wisdom. Cherie Flores, Social Events Sales Manager at the Vintage Inn and Villagio Inn & Spa, Class of 1999, explains, "The program definitely helped me with my career. I was working for a hotel that paid for me to attend so that I could start their wedding department. The course offered me a very diverse education on all aspects of putting together an event. I learned everything from what linen size to use on any given table, to ceremony customs for different cultural backgrounds, to how many hors d'oeuvres pieces you should plan on for a cocktail hour, to the square footage needed based on the type of party being planned. To this day, I still work with vendors that were guest speakers in the class. The program is great, and I still recommend it to people who want to get into wedding and special event planning."

Ten years of teaching students what it takes. Since its inception in 1997, the Wedding Planner Certificate Program has been the "global benchmark" for all other training programs in wedding planning. Successful candidates receive a certificate of completion, 4.0 extended education credits (a nationally recognized standard for professional development and training) as well as the information and knowledge only a Wedding Planner and Designer with over 25 of experience in the industry can provide.

Ten years of delicious details. The Wedding Planner Certificate Program is designed to give students the technical skills, required knowledge, and practical training they need to succeed. Students are introduced to the wedding market of today, and discuss typical issues a wedding planner handles: budgeting, long-range planning, vendor negotiations & contracts, insurance coverage, timeline preparation, and on-site management. Students learn in detail about the services provided by major wedding vendors, and appropriate techniques for selecting food & beverage, music, flowers, wedding cakes, photographers, transportation, invitations and other products and services. The course also covers wedding protocol and etiquette, with an emphasis on ethnic and religious wedding traditions.

Ten years of emphasizing education. Lisa Carol Simpson, CWC, CMP, Director of Sales at the Dunsmuir Historic Estate, Class of 1998, notes, "The Wedding Planner Certificate program was thorough and thought provoking. Early on I referred to the material regularly. The manner in which Joyce taught the course, organized the material and had us create the infamous staging guide continues to stay with me. What I gained most from the course was the importance of organization and the power of education for myself and my clients. I was further inspired by Joyce to continue my education by taking the Certified Meeting Planning Program and becoming a Certified Meeting Planner as well."

Ten years of sharing experiences. The Program Director, Joyce Scardina Becker, CMP conceived and developed the curriculum for The Wedding Planner Certificate Program. A published author, Joyce shares some of her insight into the wedding industry with all brides in her book Countdown To Your Perfect Wedding. As a nationally recognized authority on weddings, Ms. Scardina Becker is the Wedding Expert for Catering Magazine, and Leading Caterers.com and previous expert for theknot.com, iVillage, and ABC7news.com. In addition to Ms. Scardina Becker's knowledgeable instruction, students of 2006 received valuable insights into the wedding industry from several guest speakers, including, Leighsa Smyser AIFD, Owner and Florist of Branch Out Floral Design; Mark Shepherd, Videographer, Shepherd Video Productions; photographer Wendy Maclaurin Richardson; and former students Brooke Baglietto, CWP, Associate Event Manager, Events of Distinction, Carolyn Garcia, CWP, Catering Sales Director, and Angela Stratton, Banquet Sales Coordinator, both with Wedgewood Wedding & Banquet Center in San Ramon.

The graduating class of 2006 includes: Helen Lau (Kensington), Mandy Ho-Man Law (Hayward), Melissa Lok (San Lorenzo), Amy Monroe (Rohnert Park), Amanda Oborne (Portland, Oregon), Kathryn Pascua (San Jose), Noreen Pohwala (Sacramento) and Melodie Shimomura (Hillsborough). Prior graduates have gone on and obtained positions with many well known and respected companies including: The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay, Calistoga Ranch, Ralston Hall Belmont, The Doubletree Hotel, The Lodge at Torrey Pines, All Seasons Catering, Alex's Catering, and Il Fornaio.

Taught in a professional and interactive manner, the Wedding Planner Certification Program will be offered during the Spring semester 2007, at California State University East Bay's Oakland Professional Development and Conference Center located at 1000 Broadway, Oakland. Classes will meet January 27th, February 10th, March 3rd, March 31st, April 21st, and May 12th 2007 from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. Course fees: $2,200.00. For more information about the program call Celeste Agana-Carlos, Program Coordinator at 510-885-4921, or visit the California State University East Bay, Division of Continuing and International Education web site.

Press Release Contact Information:

Brooke Baglietto
Events of Distinction
Director of Public Relations
Voice: 415-751-0211
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