Local students talk with business representatives at the annual Power Lunch on March 8. The lunch was hosted by The Workforce Partnership of Shelby County on Friday, March 8.
Photo courtesy of Ali Rittenhouse
Local students talk with business representatives at the annual Power Lunch on March 8. The lunch was hosted by The Workforce Partnership of Shelby County on Friday, March 8.
Photo courtesy of Ali Rittenhouse
By Kimberly Pistone
For the Sidney Daily News
BOTKINS – Students from Shelby County schools met with local companies at the sixth annual Power Lunch on March 8. This event was hosted by The Workforce Partnership of Shelby County.
The Power Lunch is an opportunity for students from Shelby County schools to network with local employers. Students and employers are given 15 minutes to speak together, for a total of six different sessions. Companies share information about their benefits, salary, and possible job opportunities for a new high school graduate. Students were able to share their resumes and answer questions from the employers in a low-pressure interview process.
Kelly Edwards, career coach with the Workforce Partnership, welcomed more than 100 students and the 26 partner companies to the Power Lunch. She introduced a video of former student Dakota McCoy, a graduate of Sidney High School and now a Cargill employee. In the video McCoy said, “I didn’t know where I was going in my career, but nine months later I am now renting a house and have my own car. Workforce Partnership helped me with a game plan. I am more independent than I thought I would be at 19.”
Part of the video included Leslie Milligan, a site leader at Cargill, saying “McCoy is an amazing addition to our team” and “Workforce Partnership has helped Cargill find talent.”
After the video, Jim Kenton, production supervisor at Cargill, shared his tips for the students. He said, “Network, enjoy. Know what you are passionate about. Identify what makes you unique.” He also advised students to clean up their social media, as well as improve their communication skills.
Stephanie Merickel, a counselor at Houston Schools, brought 11 students. She said she brought the students hoping they would be exposed to a variety of options of what is available to them after graduation. She especially likes the students being exposed to many of the smaller family companies they may not otherwise be aware of.
Maverick Long, of Cornerstone Building Brands, said his company has a plethora of opportunities, and the Power Lunch helps him better understand what local youth are looking for when they graduate.
Novi Jones, 17, a junior at Sidney High School, had the opportunity to speak with Pennie Wical of Kirk NationaLease. Jones said “I am looking for a good welding or mechanic job I can rely on, and not a job I don’t want to go to.”
Ciera Hoffman, 18, a senior at Jackson Center, spoke with Angela Banner from Airstream. Hoffman said she liked looking around before she goes to college to pursue a career in HR.
Alana Grant, 16, a sophomore at Sidney High School, said she is looking at the nursing and medical careers available to her and plans to pursue her STNA this summer. She was learning more about what Upper Valley Career Center – Adult Division had to offer.
Miah Huelskamp, 16, a junior at Fairlawn, said she really wanted a job and when she got home she would scan the barcode from Ohio Living Dorothy Love to submit her application. She added, “I wasn’t going to come, but I am glad I did.”
At the end of the event, all participants were treated to a complimentary lunch and the students were awarded door prizes that were donated by the companies.
The Workforce Partnership of Shelby County’s mission is to align the workforce and educational systems, responding to the skills needed in business and industry. Schools and industry work together connecting 21st-century skills development programs and preparing students and employees for local jobs. Edwards said, “The purpose of the Power Lunch is to engage industry partners with local high school students with the goal of attracting and retaining them to fill Shelby County jobs.”
The company participants included: Air Handling Equipment, Airstream, Augusta Sportswear, Cargill, Continental Express, Copeland, Cornerstone Building Brands, Electro Controls, Ferguson Construction Company, Honda, Kirk NationaLease, Lacal Equipment, Lincoln Electric Automation, Lochard, Monarch Lathes, NK Parts Industries, Ohio Living Dorothy Love, Panel Control Inc., Plastipak, Shelby County Board of DD, Slagle Mechanical Contractors, Tooling Technology, Wells Brothers Inc., and Wilson Health. Edison State Community College and Upper Valley Career Center Adult Division were also present to discuss education pathways. The event sponsors were Hometown Opportunity and Ohio Tech Prep/West Region.
