Fall 2018 Manufacture Your Career Events
This fall the Southwest Virginia Alliance for Manufacturing organized three Manufacture Your Career events. These events focused around a panel discussion highlighting the manufacturing sector and the career paths it offers. Panelists discussed multiple topics including pay and benefits, facility safety, common misconceptions, employer desired soft skills, and different job opportunities. Students took the opportunity to ask the panel members interesting and insightful questions about manufacturing. Students networked with the panelists at the end of the event, discussing job opportunities, internships and asking further questions. The events were a terrific opportunity for local manufacturers to interact with possible future employees. The 145 students in attendance of the events represented a variety of college majors.
The first event took place at UVa-Wise on September 10th. Assistant Director, Professional and Career Development, Neva Bryan promoted and hosted the event. The panelists included: Jessica Savage, Marketing Manager at West Rivery Conveyors and Machinery Company; Te-Kai Shu, Social Media and Business Development Manager at Strongwell; and Regan Keller, Manufacturing Manager at Komatsu.
The second event took place at Southwest Virginia Community College on September 25th. Tara White, Educational Support Specialist II, promoted the event and recruited students to attend. The panelists for this event included: Jim Coe, Engineering Manager at Somic America; Mark Hill, Design Engineer at Samuel Pressure Vessel Group; Christa Glassburn, C.O.O. at The PBE Group; Mary Myers, Manager of Operations at The PBE Group; and Sean Blackwell, Assembly/EHS Supervisor at Tadano Mantis.
The third panel discussion was held at King University on October 15th. Finley Green, Director Career Services, promoted the event. The panelists for this event included: Eric Miller, President and Owner of Wolf Hills Fabricators, LLC; Dedra Helbert, General Manager of Human Resources & General Affairs at Tadano Mantis Corporation; Melinda Roberts, Human Resources Manager at Scholle IPN Packaging; Mark Hill, Design Engineer at Samuel Pressure Vessel Group; and Shannon Sizemore from Komatsu.
SVAM would like to thank the volunteer panelists, and Neva Bryan, UVa-Wise; Tara White, SWCC; Finley Green, and King University for hosting the events.
We will be organizing similar events throughout the region for the spring of 2019. If you are interested in hosting or participating in an event please email [email protected] for more information.
