Al Moore, Employee Development Coordinator with Alabama Power Company's Plant Miller, talks with community members at the Career & Technical Workforce Expo about job opportunities with his company.
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Bevill State's 2009 Career & Technical Workforce Expo a Great Success
03-23-2009
Community members and Bevill State students from Walker and Jefferson counties participated in Bevill State's 2009 Career & Technical Workforce Expo to talk with businesses about their services and potential employment. The event was offered to the public as an occasion to seek job opportunities and to give the more than 20 businesses that participated a chance to speak with the public about their products, services, and employment prospects.
"We had a great day," said Dr. Kim Ennis, Assistant to the Dean of Student Services and Chair of the Workforce Development and Education Initiative of Focus Walker County. "The Expo was a result of the combined efforts of Bevill State, the Chamber of Commerce of Walker County and the Walker County Career Center and was an excellent example of how partnerships work. We had students and community members come through the expo to talk with potential employees and pick up information about the companies that attended. It was a success for our community."
In spite of the slowing economy, several organizations had jobs available and were encouraging attendees to apply. According to Ralph E. Cochran, General Manager of American General, the company came to the expo because they had 16 positions available. The company was looking for potential sales representatives with a drive to succeed.
"We offer great benefits, good pay and the opportunity to grow with the company. There are positions available in Jasper, and we need people to fill those jobs," said Cochran.
Alabama Power Company was also on hand to talk with potential employees. Charlie Vest, Employee Development Coordinator, encouraged expo participants to fill out an application even if they did not see a particular position available. He also pointed out Alabama Power's online job postings that allow individuals to apply online, complete the pre-employment testing section and be notified when a matching job is available.
"It won't be long before we have a large influx of jobs due to employees retiring," said Vest. "If individuals have their profiles on the website, they will be the first in line when a position becomes available."
In addition to talking with potential employees, he mentioned the company also attended the expo to support Bevill State. Alabama Power frequently provides scholarships to students and utilizes the College to train employees in specific skill sets.
"We have a great relationship with the College and we show our support any way we can," said Vest.
James Boyle, Assistant to the District Manager of the Mine and Safety Health Administration (MSHA), was providing employment information to individuals interested in working for the federal government as a Mine Safety inspector. Although MSHA holds job fairs, Boyle came to the expo to provide information to people who may not know about his organization.
"We need to get information out to people who are looking for jobs in this field,” said Boyle. “This expo gave us another venue for awareness and a chance to talk face-to-face with potential employees."
Several companies participated in the Workforce Expo to provide information to the community about their services. The ARC of Walker County, a non-profit organization that supports mentally and physically handicapped individuals, used the Expo to talk with people about their unique services. Joanna Brand, Human Resources Director for The ARC, said that there are always people who stop to ask questions and are surprised to find they may be able to refer a friend or neighbor who needs the ARC's services.
The Alabama Technology Network (ATN), an organization that helps companies streamline production of products and services, found themselves talking with participants about who they are and what they do. Becky Estes, ATN Office Manager, commented she was pleased with the amount of public awareness they received.
"This expo gave us a chance to talk openly with people about how our organization can help their business be more efficient," said Estes. "For any company, efficiency is the key to keeping the business successful."
Linda Lewis, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce of Walker County, was pleased with participation by both community members and local businesses. The Chamber is an active supporter of the cooperative spirit shown by many businesses in the community.
"We are very appreciative of those businesses that came to this event to provide our citizens with information about opportunities within their organizations," said Lewis. "The cooperation between all of these groups makes our communities stronger and is so important when we face tough economic times. The Expo was a great success for all involved."
For more information about the second annual Career & Technical Workforce Expo and its partners, contact Ennis at 205-387-0511, ext. 5812 or Linda Lewis, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce of Walker County, at 205-384-4571. |
