History of the Job Forum

The Job Forum began in September 1952. This community service has continued uninterrupted every Wednesday evening (except holidays) since then.

Robert Ronald

In 1952 Robert Ronald, a new member of the San Francisco Junior Chamber of Commerce, created a Job Finding Forum sponsored by the “Speakers Bureau”. He invited local business leaders, hiring, and personnel managers to meet with prospective job seekers. The emphasis was a focus upon effective job search strategies and tactics. With this innovative first meeting, Mr. Ronald started the Job Forum organization and established our guiding principles that are still used today (see details and the first Job Finding Forum brochure below).

Bill Cobaugh

For 41 years, the guiding light of the Job Forum was Bill Cobaugh (a personnel executive of Fireman's Fund Co. Insurance). Bill managed and led the Job Forum by personally counseling and advising literally thousands of Bay Area job seekers. He expanded the basic Job Forum process that we still use.

Conley Baker

At the time of Bill's death in 1992, Conley Baker (a longtime volunteer on the Job Forum Panel and Executive with The Employers Group) took over the Chairmanship and leadership of the Job Forum. Conley was associated with the Job Forum for more than 25 years.

Janet Beach

In 1997, Janet Beach became Chairman and Executive Director of the Job Forum. Janet is a longtime supporter of the Job Forum. She has volunteered with effective job counseling service and non-profit organizational leadership for the Job Forum since 1982. Throughout the years, she has regularly promoted the Job Forum through her book How to Get a Job in the San Francisco Bay Area, in radio interviews, in networking with other job search organizations, through her active recruitment of volunteers, and her overall management of the Job Forum. Janet has been helped through the tireless dedication of many long-term panel participants especially JoAnne Auerbach who has assisted in a wide variety of leadership roles.

Long Term Panel Participation

The Job Forum could not have continued as successfully as it has without the commitment and "staying power" of its’ panel members. Many volunteers have 8 or more years of volunteer experience. These dedicated panelists continue volunteering with the Job Forum even during their own career or family transitions. As a group of advisors, they are unique in dedication, knowledge, and enthusiasm for the opportunity to guide and encourage others.

How the job forum came about

After emigrating from Germany, first to France and then to Cuba, I (Robert Ronald) finally arrived in San Francisco in July of 1946 at age 22.

As a young man without much formal education or any business connections, it was difficult for me to get a job. This experience stayed with me for a long time and it made me aware of the need to help people in similar situations.

After a few odd jobs, I was able to obtain a good permanent position as manager of a flag, banner and advertising company. One of my customers, Arthur Conover, a fine gentleman, the owner of a regalia company took a paternalistic attitude toward me. He suggested I should join the San Francisco Junior Chamber of Commerce. I took his advice and became a member of the SF Jaycees where young businessmen under age 35 could meet and develop business and personal friendships. At that time, the SF Jaycees was comprised of various committees. One committee that interested me was the speakers committee, which helped us to improve our speaking abilities, which benefited me.

While on a business trip in New York City in 1952, I attended a meeting of the New York City Advertising Club. There, I heard about a New York Job Forum that had been successful for a few years. I was intrigued with the idea and met the president of the club who had written a book, “How to get and Hold the Job You Want”.I realized the need for such a forum would be universal and thought that it would be a good idea to have a similar jobs forum in San Francisco.

Each committee of the SF Jaycees sponsored various projects every year. I thought the Speakers Committee, to which I belonged, could sponsor such a program. After the Chairman of the committee approved the idea, I decided to move ahead and sponsor the job finding forum in San Francisco on a trial basis for a month or two. I proceeded to contact various personnel managers of major corporations with the idea and received strong encouragement from each of them. They all agreed to serve on the first panel, which was on July 24, 1952. I opened this first session on a trial basis with about 30 people attending. It has been meeting ever since, for 58 years. After chairing the forum during the early years, I was drafted into the U.S. Army. My understanding is that Bill Cobaugh, Vice President of Personnel of Firemans’s Fund Insurance, continued and expanded the forum under the auspices of the San Francisco Senior Chamber of Commerce.

The need for such a forum so many years ago, is greater today than it ever was. While the pattern is the same as it was 58 years ago, it has improved by taking advantage of the Internet and by the expert and dedicated chairmanship of Janet Beach.

Robert Ronald
April 1, 2010