SIDNEY — Sixteen-year-old Cameron Fogle of Sidney spent Thursday afternoon perusing booth displays at the Sidney-Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Business Showcase, hoping to find just the right fit for a part time job.
The soon-to-be Sidney High School junior said she was “needing a job to fit in with my band schedule.”
Fogle said she wasn’t looking for any “particular” kind of job but was at the expo “because I want a job to save up for college.”
Fogle was one of many who attended the chamber’s first-ever job fair, held in conjunction with the Business Expo this year at Sidney Middle School.
According to Jeff Raible, chamber president, feedback from the 2015 expo “has been very favorable” from chamber members, “especially the job fair component.”
Forty-three of the 92 exhibitors were displaying ‘help wanted’ signs at their booths on Thursday, along with applications available for those seeking jobs.
One of the main goals of the job fair component, Raible said, was to “help our members identify local talent across the board.”
Combining the job fair with the Business Expo brought “all demographics” to the event, Raible said, exposing more people to the county’s businesses and organizations participating this year.
Pizza Hut general manager Emily Mote said she found out about the Business Expo just a couple days ago, made a call to the chamber and they “got us a spot. Our main goal is to get the word out that we’re hiring.”
Mote said Pizza Hut was offering part time work for people looking to make some extra money. “We have flexible hours,” she said.
On the other side of the middle school gym, Kirk National Lease Co. was offering information on openings for tractor-trailer mechanics. With an office based in Sidney, Pennie Wical, human resource and safety director said her “goal was to get some recruits and do interviews.”
Bud Holiga, human resources director for Clopay, said it was the first time the building product company had participated in the Sidney-Shelby County Business Expo.
“We’ve had quite a few people come by,” the booth, Holiga said. “It’s always good to get our name out so when we do need people they know to look for us.”
Clopay is currently expanding their operation in Troy.
Educators also attended Thursday’s event. Kathy Voris from Upper Valley Career Center, said the school’s adult education division was there to “support business and industry.” For example, the center offers OSHA (Occupational, Safety and Health Administration) training as well as training in advanced manufacturing skills for the local job force.
Raible said he was very pleased with Thursday’s Expo turnout. “It’s going awesome,” he said. “I can’t remember having this many patrons (attend) in the 3-5 p.m. time spot.”
