Businesses are invited to participate in an upcoming event aimed at educating local students and their parents about the diverse paths to a successful career. The Chamber’s Foundation is partnering with PA CareerLink and Central Pennsylvania Workforce Development Corporation to host the 2020 Future Careers Expo and Parent Pathways Awareness Night. This is a wonderful opportunity for employers to meet with students (and parents) and share information about the types of work that is done, and the jobs that are available. This is not intended to be a “job fair”, but an opportunity to inspire students to explore a career path that might lead to your company. 

The event will be held Tuesday, March 3^rd from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Columbia Montour Area Vocational Technical School. Participating businesses can begin setting up at 4:45. There is no cost to participate.

Middle and high school students and their parents from at least eight area districts (Benton, Berwick, Bloomsburg, Central Columbia, Columbia Montour Vo-Tech, Danville, Millville, Southern Columbia) will be invited to attend. The goal of this event is to educate students about the many great career opportunities in our area, including the types of industries available here, the skills and education needed for specific careers, future job openings, etc.

Participating employers are encouraged to provide the following information:

• An overview of your business/industry
• The types of jobs or careers available and the education, or skills, needed for those jobs
• The future of your business and how that will affect future careers
• Information on internships, job shadowing, etc.
• Any type of informational or marketing materials that can be handed out
• Photos/display boards/examples of products or services
• Hands on activities that demonstrate your business
• Your contact information in case students have more questions following the Expo
• Door prizes that students may win through random drawings

Tables (6′ long) will be provided and electricity, internet access, and a limited number of extension cords will be available.  Businesses should provide their own table cloths and skirting. A light meal will be provided for the representatives working the Expo. 

Register for the event at https://tinyurl.com/futurepathexpo no later than Friday, February 21. For questions or additional information, contact Jeff Emanuel at the Foundation at foundation@columbiamontourchamber.com or 570-784-2522.

• Have you made a deliberate effort to ensure succession planning in your business? NEPIRC and NEPA SHRM will present a Talent Succession Planning workshop on Tuesday, March 10 from 8:30-10 a.m. at the Holiday Inn in Wilkes Barre. The workshop will discuss how to ensure leadership continuity in key positions, retain and develop intellectual capital for the future and encourage individual advancement. Benefits of the succession planning include: disaster-proofing your business, identifying qualified future leaders, and long-term business planning. For more info and to register, visit their website.
  
  
• The Town of Bloomsburg is reaching out to Bloomsburg homeowners who need home repairs such as roofing, electrical upgrades, furnace repair and window replacement. The Town is building a waitlist of qualified candidates that meet grant specifications. These grants could cover 100% of the costs if the Town would successfully be awarded.  Please contact Stacy Anderson at SEDA-COG at 1-800-326-9310.

• Early Bird Sports Expo this weekend: The 32^nd annual Early Bird Sports Expo is this Thursday through Sunday (January 23-26^th) at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds. Show hours and a list of participating vendors are available at earlybirdexpo.net. The Broadt family, organizers of the event for the last 13 years, have announced that this will be the last year for the Expo. The Early Bird Sports Expo was started in 1988 by Tom and Mary Lou Austin.

• The Montour Area Recreation Commission recently recognized a number of organizations and individuals who helped support MARC’s efforts to preserve and enhance public spaces in Montour County, including Hess Fields and the Montour Preserve. Among those recognized was USG as Corporate Supporter of the Year. Dr. Frank Maffei, Chair of Pediatrics for the Geisinger Women and Children’s Institute (right), was recognized as MARC’s Community Health & Wellness Advocate of the Year.

  Bob Stoudt, MARC Director, also talked about a brighter future for MARC and the Preserve thanks to new revenue being generated, in-part, by an increase in the Montour County room tax. The rate was increased from 3% to 5% as of January 1, with the new revenue supporting MARC programming. Stoudt thanked the Montour County Commissioners and Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau for working to create this new revenue stream. Geisinger has also made a five-year commitment to the organization of $25,000 annually.

  

  Dr. Frank Maffei, Chair of Pediatrics for the Geisinger Women and Children’s Institute (right) was recognized as MARC’s Community Health & Wellness Advocate of the Year. Presenting the recognition was Bob Stoudt (left), MARC Director.