By Wayne Gates
Job seekers and employers will have a rare opportunity to get together in Brown County this week.
Southern Hills Career and Technical Center in Mt. Orab is hosting a hiring event on May 9 at the adult education building at SR 32 and Eastwood Road.
The event is being held during “In-Demand Jobs Week” and features over 25 companies from the supply chain, manufacturing, construction and health care industries.
All adults seeking employment are asked to come between two and four p.m. A morning session will be open to high school students from Batavia, Goshen and Williamsburg.
Greg Hudson from the employment advocacy group Supply Chain OKI is one of the organizers of the event.
“This is an opportunity in a very informal setting to meet with 25 employers who are looking for strong candidates. If you think you have skills to offer, bring your resume and explore the opportunities.”
Hudson estimates that there are over 14 thousand jobs open in the area in the supply chain industry alone.
“Supply chain is moving things from point A to point B. Anything you buy off the shelf has to get there some way. It goes all the way from raw material at one end to the customer at the other. Each step in the process involves the supply chain,” Hudson said.
“It’s a growing area and there is a tremendous need for workers in the supply chain field.”
Hudson said that Supply Chain OKI was formed about three years ago with the intent of bringing workers and employers together. It’s made up of employers and public advocacy groups like the United Way and the Urban League.
Southern Hills Adult Education Director Vicki Carrington said that SHCTC is in a unique place to help both job seekers and employers.
“We also have training opportunities to help train people for jobs in these areas,” she said. “We also work closely with employers to make sure that our training is in line with what they need.”
She said an event like this helps bring the two worlds together.
“I feel like this is a win-win situation for both those seeking jobs and those employers seeking workers. By putting everyone in the same place, a potential employee can visit with 25 employers about opportunities,” Carrington said.
She added that some of the training programs at SHCTC can produce a qualified worker in as little as five weeks.
“Southern Hills is pleased to be able to provide a place to bring employers and job seekers together as well as continuing our mission of providing quality job training,” Carrington said.
The employers who are scheduled to participate in the May 9 event include Kroger, Castellini, UPS, DHL, Amazon, Reliable Transportation Solutions, Martin Brower, Design Within Reach, Cintas, TQL, Milacron, Mazak Corp., Rolled Alloys, Monti Inc., Deer Park Roofing, Terracon, Messer, Jurgensen, Valley Interior Design, Duke Energy, Health Ohio, Clermont OMJ, Express Pros and the Great Oaks, Grant and Southern Hills Career and Technical Centers.