LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--International architectural and interior designer Fernando deMoraes, who has inspired new visions for the world’s most prominent luxury hotel chains, created lavish homes for royal families and shares this expertise as an instructor at UCLA Extension, will be the featured speaker and special honoree at Extension’s annual certificate graduation ceremony on Friday, June 27, at Royce Hall.
The ceremony highlights strong enrollments in certificate programs (online and classroom) at UCLA Extension as working professionals realize the extra tools required to propel their careers, remain current in today’s “new economy” or to transition to new employment paths.
“Today’s economy requires individuals to be creative thinkers with the latest knowledge and insights to advance their company’s objectives and their own career goals,” said Wayne Smutz, Dean of UCLA Extension and Continuing Education. “In many ways, Fernando deMoraes represents the spirit of innovation and transformation we empower.”
For the past 20 years deMoraes has been president of Creative Resource Associates (CRA), an interior design firm based in Woodland Hills specializing in high-end hospitality and residential assignments, with satellite offices in the United Arab Emirates and Brazil.
Today, deMoraes is responsible for the design and management of several flagship properties for the Marriott, Hyatt, Westin, and The Ritz Carlton hotel chains. His work has taken him all over the world, including building projects in the Middle East, Asia, and South America. Besides designing luxury hotels, deMoraes has created lavish homes for celebrities in his native Brazil and designed projects for several members of the royal family in the Middle East.
In addition to his teaching position at UCLA Extension, deMoraes is an active member of the UCLA Architectural and Interior Design Guidance Committee and is responsible for the culminating thesis class in the combined master's degree program offered jointly by UCLA Extension and Cal Poly Pomona. Twice deMoraes has been awarded Extension’s “outstanding instructor” designation.
He is a certificate holder from the UCLA Extension Architecture and Interior Design program and a graduate of the Southern California Institute of Architecture with a bachelor’s degree in architecture.
Continuing Education a Critical Choice
Mr. deMoraes’ speech before Extension certificate graduates will arrive at a time when professionals in California, the United States and around the globe continue to realize lingering impacts from the “new economy” created out of the last recession. As recent studies and news reports have shown, white-collar jobs continue to shift toward health care, business and professional services, and IT.
“Companies are expanding and hiring, and they are looking for well-qualified candidates,” Smutz said. “UCLA Extension provides the most up-to-date instruction from world-class instructors, who are industry experts. Our students develop smart skills and knowledge through their certificate studies and remain competitive, as a result.”
This year’s certificate graduation ceremony also spotlights the upcoming centennial for UCLA (1919-2019) and UCLA Extension (1917-2017).
Follow the graduation ceremony via Twitter #UCLAxGrad2014, with livestreaming on YouTube.
About UCLA Extension
UCLA Extension is the continuing education division of the University of California at Los Angeles. UCLA Extension offers evening, weekend, and online courses and certificates for professionals in business, management, engineering, information systems, entertainment studies, public policy, public health, the humanities and many other fields. Find out more at uclaextension.edu.
Follow UCLA Extension on Twitter @UCLAExtension, on Facebook and other social media channels.
