Ernesto Paredes, the Executive Director of Easy Lift Transportation, is a proud alum of SBCC. Ernesto attended the college on the Mesa from 1984-86 before transferring to USC, where he earned his degree in Gerontology. After graduating, he moved back to Santa Barbara and took his first nonprofit job at the Santa Barbara YMCA and a year later, he accepted a job with Easy Lift, where he has worked for the past 22 years.
In addition to his work with Easy Lift, Ernesto is active in several other community organizations serving on the Board of Hillside House, the Special Olympics, and Santa BarbaraVillage. He is the Co-Chair of the Partnership for Excellence Conference and is on the committees for the Center for Performing Arts Outreach and the Heart Association “Heartwalk,” in addition to serving on the CASA Leadership Council.
Ernesto has been married to his wife Jennifer for 23 years and they have two children: a son, Peyton (20), and a daughter, Reyna (15). Peyton has continued the family tradition and is a current SBCC student.
“SBCC has world-class professors,” Ernesto said. “I was so prepared for USC following my exciting and challenging courses at SBCC.”
