Job fair aims at students, parents, educators

44 employers lined up for Thursday event

COLUMBIA BASIN - Columbia Basin students and their parents get to find out just what regional growth might mean for them.

The Operations Task Force's "The Future Is Here" job and career fair takes place Thursday in the Moses Lake High School Commons from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Task force marketing subcommittee members Dustan Knauss, Business Services WorkSource Central Basin Employment Security Department representative, and Dave Cooper, human resources manager of Basic American Foods, are coordinating the event, which includes two sessions of an employer panel, at 12:25 p.m. to 1:10 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.

"As a parent, I know it would be hard to really understand the breadth of opportunities in the Columbia Basin if I was not a human resources manager," Cooper said. "We want to inform students there are many different career paths for individuals who do not have a four-year degree. For example, you can get an apprenticeship at the Grant County Public Utilities District, be a mechanic at Basic American Foods, be an operator at REC Silicon or a welder at Genie Industries and have a successful career and a comfortable lifestyle."

Knauss said 44 businesses are participating, with the possibility of one or two more.

"The object of this was to reach students," he said. "Today's graduating class, two-thirds of the graduating class does not have a commitment to formal education and therefore the employers in the community want to address that two-thirds, want them to go to work for their companies and want to prepare (the students) in high school to be able to go to work for these companies out of high school."

The local employer community is working with school districts in growing the talent necessary to fill positions, Knauss added.

He and Cooper recommend the event for students, parents, teachers and coaches to help identify students' opportunities right in their own community.

"Anybody can have an influence on directing students and helping them reach their full potential," Cooper said. "We want students to understand that people are moving into the area to work at places like Yahoo! Inc., Intuit, Ask.com, Microsoft, etc. Our students don't have to move far away to obtain exciting jobs, the jobs are here."

Statistics say 30 percent of the current freshman class at Moses Lake High School will not graduate, Cooper added.

"These statistics are tragic and unacceptable in a community that offers so many opportunities," he said. "Students will need basic math and verbal skills to participate in high demand, high wage opportunities."

During the panel sessions, 15 people comprised of human resource managers and recent high school graduates will gather in the high school theater before 500 students. Columbia Basin Herald Publisher Harlan Beagley is facilitator of the panel.

"Students will be able to ask questions of the different HR managers or recent graduates," Knauss said. "Students aren't necessarily aware of what all these companies are doing in the area, what the wages are, what the benefits are, what the career pathway growth opportunity is. We want them to be able to understand their options and opportunities."

While some students already have a plan for their future, Cooper said the task force's goal is to reach students unsure of what they want to do after graduation.

Cooper wants relationships to begin between students and companies, with students possessing a better idea of the opportunities available.

"For students, parents and teachers to understand in more detail, when we say we're growing, what that really means," he said. "If students or the general public is educated, they can make better decisions about their future. Education is the key, and this is a start."

For more information, call Knauss at 509-766-2559 or Cooper at 509-766-3246.

At a Glance

"The Future Is Here" Job and Career Fair takes place at the Moses Lake High School Commons Thursday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Two sessions of an employer panel take place in the high school theater from 12:25 p.m. to 1:10 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.