With careers in trades booming, Aspire Johnson County is conducting its second annual Parent and Student Career Forum next week, with the aim of connecting parents and their children with career and education opportunities.
Careers in construction, manufacturing, transportation and warehousing, retail trade and utilities have all seen double-digit percentage increases in total employment in Johnson County between 2013 and 2018, according to labor market information from the state of Indiana.
The free forum for parents and students in 8th through 12th grade will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at Endress + Hauser in Greenwood, where attendees will hear from guest speakers who have success stories from working in trades. They can also network with more than 15 industry and education professionals representing Next Level Jobs, Central Nine Adult Education, Fed Ex, Republic Airlines and Vincennes University Logistics Training and Education Center, among others, according to an Aspire Johnson County news release.
“We know that there are a large number of very good careers available right here in Johnson County that require skilled workers but not necessarily bachelor’s degree skills,” Johnson County Development Corp. Executive Director and CEO Dana Monson said. “A lot of jobs are going unfilled today. It’s harder and harder to find people with those interests. To help our businesses and residents be more successful, we have spent the past couple of years emphasizing the need for skilled trades to students and parents (so they can) understand the options students truly have.”
Jerome Stanford will discuss how he went from the business world to being the senior political lead for the Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio Regional Counsel of Carpenters, while Greenwood resident Kristen Grills will share the story of her son, who attended the Central Nine Career Center in high school and is now pursuing a career in trades.
Keynote speaker and Wilhelm Construction President Phil Kenney will provide details on the design and construction of a part of one of the Endress + Hauser buildings, going into detail about the importance of skilled trades in construction, forum committee co-chairwoman Lisa Lintner said.
About 60 parents and a handful of students attended last year’s event, she said.
“Like last year, we want to give parents and students an opportunity to learn alternative career paths out of high school,” Lintner said. “Like last year, this year’s event will feature industry success stories, individuals who have come to a path of skilled trades. Presenters will talk of the importance of having skilled trades careers. Our county has positions that are in high demand: plumbing, HVAC technicians. We have really wonderful training programs in Johnson County, as well as the Central Nine Career Center.”
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Second annual Parent and Student Career Forum
What: Forum for parents and children in the eighth to 12th grade to learn about careers and trades they may pursue.
When: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday
Where: Endress + Hauser, 2350 Endress Place in Greenwood.
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