Faculty and staff from both LAC and PCC mingled over refreshments, a photo booth and musical performances by LBCC’s students held by Long Beach City College’s Superintendent President Reagan Romali.
The annual event signified Romali’s appreciation for the hard work of the faculty and staff throughout the year.
“We started it three years ago as a way to say thank you to the faculty and staff and administrators for working so hard all year. We started it my first year here and it just raised the spirits as a way to say thank you,” Romali said.
Romali originally hosted a cookie exchange where faculty and staff brought cookies for everyone to swap and bring home while socializing.
“In the past, we did the cookie exchange, but we decided to just tone it down a little bit and do a holiday open house,” explained Executive Assistant to Human Resources, Susan Salazar.
Faculty reported and favored the open house over the cookie exchange for its relaxed appeal.
“This is the first year we’ve done this,” said Human Resources Specialist Gloria Wilson.
LBCC’s Jazz Combo, Brass Quintet and Carolers performed holiday favorites and standards throughout the event.
A booth was placed by the entrance of the lobby for faculty and staff to drop off packaged goods that would be donated to the Viking Vault for students of LBCC.
Associate Director of Communications Stacey Toda shared her positive feedback on the holiday open house.
“It’s good to see everyone outside of the meeting rooms, conference rooms,” Toda said.
The event took place in LBCC’s Liberal Arts Campus T Building lobby on December 3 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m..