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Exuding a sense of genuine enthusiasm delivered with a sincere smile, newly appointed Vice President of Human Resources, Benedict Lastimado explains the logistics of Human Resources with meaningful simplicity.

“An organization only becomes what people want it to become. As a result, the quality of an organization can never exceed the quality of the minds of it’s people,” he said.

“Essentially,” Lastimado continued, “my department is responsible for systems that impact peoples’ employment.”

A published author, former military officer, part-time teacher, and consultant for Fortune 500 companies, Lastimado is well-versed in the field of Human Resources.

After retiring from the military in 1990, Lastimado worked as a Chief Human Resources Officer in two community colleges in Washington then worked as the district vice chancellor in the Grossmont-Cuyamaca community college district in San Diego and most recently, the assistant vice chancellor for Human Resource Labor Relations for UC Merced.

The goals of the Human Resources Department under Lastimado will consist of four distinct, but equally important objectives, he said:  to make sure the HR system contributes to the educational master plan; to make sure it contributes to the quality of work life of all employees; to streamline all HR processes and systems to enhance employee satisfaction and cost-effectiveness; and to have the systems contribute to creating the organizational culture that will help PCC to become a total, global, Community College.

 Lastimado makes sure to clarify the department’s goals as being a continued, and flexible endeavor which he succinctly describes as “a mission that never ends.”

Lastimado was quick to assert the mutually beneficial relationship gained with his joining PCC.

“Here at PCC,” Lastimado explained, “I’ll be part of an educational master plan that will enable me to continue my passion in organizational development and Human Resources.”

Lastimado also said, working in Pasadena will now allow him to be closer to his family—a luxury he did not have while in Merced.

A firm believer in the importance of family, Lastimado explained how the familial bonds created through the culture of his Filipino/Chinese/Hawaiian ancestry help him gain a deeper understanding of the human interactions in his department.

“At the end of the day,” Lastimado said, “the best part of my job is knowing I’ve contributed to a person’s professional and personal growth.”

PCC’s new Vice President of Human Resources Benedict Lastimado discusses the finer points of his job and how he ended up in his current position. (Max Perez/Courier)

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