Opportunity in Warren County: Job Fair Connected Students with Employers for Summer Jobs

Warren County is chock full of employment opportunities.

Warren County Employment & Training issued a press release this morning about a collaborative job fair that was held with Warren-Saratoga-Washington-Hamilton Essex BOCES students last Friday. Stakeholders around the region are trying a variety of new tactics such as these types of fairs to address the growing employment needs of our region, and this event showed promise, says Don Lehman, Director of Public Affairs for Warren County.

Read the press release below:

For immediate release, April 27, 2021
Contact: Liza Ochsendorf, 518-824-8865

Warren County Employment & Training Administration and Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES teamed up Friday, April 23, for a virtual job fair that brought employers and over 200 local high school students together in a much-needed effort to fill summer jobs.

The goal of the new event was to give local employers the opportunity to speak directly with local teenagers aged 14 and over who are eligible to work, to explain how they can bank some good money while also helping the local economy. Some of the participating Warren County businesses included the Fort William Henry Hotel & Resort, Twin Pine Lodge, Castaway Marina, Caffé Vero, Lake George Steamboat Company, Six Flags Great Escape, Huttopia Adirondacks, Elms Waterfront Cottages, The Lagoon, Lake George Mart & Gyro Hut, Lake George Escape Campground, and Crabby Joe’s restaurant.

Liza Ochsendorf, who serves as Warren County’s Director of Employment and Training, explained to participating students that their community needs them now more than ever, as
the local economy recovers from the pandemic and businesses are desperate for a workforce.

“I was very impressed with student participation,” Ochsendorf noted. “The students asked great questions during the fair about the positions available for their age group, the salaries, and what employers are looking for during interviews with students.”“While local teenagers can lead the way by joining the workforce now, the region needs more adults to re-enter the workforce as well,” she added. “Anyone who is able to work should be working right now so that they can do their part in helping their own community recover and thrive.”

Kim Wegner, the Lead Coordinator for Innovative Programs at WSWHE BOCES, praised the collaborative efforts between agencies.

“When the Warren County Employment & Training Administration reached out to Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES to rally together to assist our regional businesses with obtaining summer employees, we didn’t hesitate,” Wegner noted. “Together we provided students in our region the opportunity to meet with business partners to obtain summer employment. It is a win-win, we just connected the dots.”

School superintendents Michele French from North Warren, John Goralski from Warrensburg, Kyle Gannon from Queensbury, and Paul Jenkins from Glens Falls stepped up to assist as well. North Warren Central School had the most students participate, with 119 high school students engaged throughout the morning from classrooms and auditoriums, led by their Guidance
Director, Mike Therio.

When asked why this event was important for their students to participate, Therio explained, “Just like a certain elective, or community service opportunity, a summer job experience can be life changing. It opens the door to unlimited possibilities and allows students to gain an awareness and understanding of the boundless opportunities in our area. Not only will students obtain their summer job from this event but lives will be changed from the overall experience.”

North Warren Principal Caleb Martin said: “Our sincere thanks to Liza Ochsendorf and Kim Wegner, along with all the participating businesses for your hard work and effort in making this event happen, and providing this opportunity for our students!”

Chandler Atkins, owner of Elms Waterfront Cottages in Lake Luzerne, said: “I want local youth to be aware of all the employment opportunities that exist to them, and this event provided the space and time to share that information between employers and students.”

This virtual event came weeks after Lake George High School held the first in-person high school job fair in the region in March.

Those with ideas for future job fairs in Warren County can contact Liza Ochsendorf at 518-824-8865.

View job opportunities here: www.thejoblink.org