Task force finds job fair response 'rewarding'

Businesses, schools encouraged to participate Jan. 31

COLUMBIA BASIN - The people involved in recruiting employees to area businesses received an update on a job fair aimed at area high school students and their parents last week.

During the meeting the morning of Jan. 11 in the Big Bend Community College ATEC Building, the operations task force received updates on a job fair scheduled for Jan. 31 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Moses Lake High School Commons.

Marketing subcommittee member Dave Cooper said the job fair is designed to provide clear information to high school students and their parents.

"The community knows we're growing, but the high school job fair will educate about specific opportunities now and in the future," he said.

Warden School District Superintendent Sandra Sheldon said there is a great deal of interest on the part of superintendents around the region.

"We all know there's opportunities here for our students, and the school districts really want to be part of these kinds of activities so our students and parents are aware of those opportunities," Sheldon said. "Sometimes what happens is they think, 'Well, I've got to go some place else to get a good job,' and with this growth here, it's amazing. So we just need to get on board so we make sure to get it out to our constituents."

Sheldon said the Warden district goal is to bring two busloads of students and parents to the Moses Lake event Jan. 31.

"Many of our parents have difficulty driving, or don't have vehicles or gas money is (short)," Sheldon said. "We really want to make this a family event so not only can the kids find opportunities, but so can their parents."

Cooper believes preparations for the event are going well.

"I feel it couldn't be better, honestly," Cooper said. "I think we've made a lot of progress."

"It's pretty exciting, pretty rewarding," agreed Dustan Knauss, Business Services Worksource Central Basin Employment Security Department representative and a coordinator of the job fair with Cooper. "Often times you have to really push to get people to do things in town to accomplish something. What's been different about this, unique about this, has been everybody's willingness to participate without any arm twisting."

"With enthusiasm," Cooper added. "The community's coming together and everybody understands that if we all work together, we're going to be able to accomplish a lot. That's the exciting part. Each function has concerns about growth and how we're going to meet it. This brings us to common ground to resolve that."

Audience members received information about the status of employers participating in the event and in an employers forum before the high school students, as well as items left to accomplish.

Basin Tech Prep Consortium Director Mary Shannon led the meeting and handed out a business leadership strategy worksheet for participants to come up with mission and vision statements for the group.

The worksheet also included spots for objectives and goals, and key activities required to accomplish them.

Shannon provided an update on a bid for an industry skills panel grant, which the task force did not receive.

It had been hoped to use the funds to pay for some of the costs associated with events, but Shannon said the force would move forward.

Shannon also provided a worksheet for a "Counseling for Career Pathways" event designed for educators and school staff members to increase their awareness of the industry opportunities for students, taking place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 27 at the ATEC Building.

The next operations task force meeting is scheduled for Feb. 15 at 8 a.m. in the ATEC Building.