It's not just a job fair

The Saratoga/Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce has been busy setting up the second annual job fair and first business exposition for the community. This year it is not only a job fair, and there will be a variety of different activities for all.

The main events, according to Stacy Crimmins, Executive Director of the Saratoga/Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce, are the job fair and the business expo. The job fair will be held from 12- 6:30 p.m. on March 16 and the business expo will be between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on March 17. Both of the events will be held at the Platte Valley Community Center.

March 16

On March 16, the following activities will be occurring throughout the day.

From 9-10:30 a.m. the Saratoga eighth grade class will be job-shadowing throughout local business in the community.

“What we are wanting to do is separate the students into small groups — possibly based on interest — and then with the participating businesses, they have about 20 minutes at each of the businesses that participate,” said Crimmins.

Crimmins explained why the eighth grade students were chosen for the job shadowing activity: “They’re starting to think about that so when they choose their electives or their concentration they can go off of what they’ve learned.”

At 11 a.m., businesses can start setting up for the job fair.

The job fair will be from 12-6:30 p.m., where businesses from throughout the county will be attending.

“All of the businesses will have their own table, so you can go to the businesses that you are interested in and think you are qualified for,” said Crimmins.

From 1-2:30 p.m., there will be a student interview and resumé competition that Saratoga High School students will be participating in. According to Crimmins, last year’s competition went very well and helped prepare students to apply for summer jobs and future employment.

“That was really neat last year,” said Crimmins. “There was probably about 10 or 12 students that competed and they were so good that they decided not to have first, second, third and fourth they just gave four first prizes basically, because everyone was so impressed.”

The winners will be awarded cash prizes for the contest — which will be donated by the Platte Valley Legacy Foundation.

Other students, not involved in the student interview and resumé competition, will also have an opportunity during that time to attend the job fair.

During the evening, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., a lecture will be presented by Jim Dreaver, Regional Director for the Albany and Carbon County Small Business Development Center. The title of the workshop is “Start Your Own Business.” The description of the lecture states, “re-imagine your life as a business owner and learn how to get started.”

March 17

The business exposition is a new event that Crimmins and others thought would be a good additional event for the community. “Were basically just trying to think of other ways to help our businesses in ways that we already haven’t done,” stated Crimmins.

“The businesses that participate will each have a booth,” said Crimmins. “So there can be business-to-business interaction and business-to-customer interaction — and it might work really nice for the businesses that don’t have a brick and mortar presence.”

“This is small-scale compared to business expos in other communities, but we got to start somewhere,” said Crimmins.

Businesses interested in having a stand at the expo are encouraged to provide door prizes. This will, according to Crimmins, encourage interaction between businesses and visitors.

In addition to the expo, there will be a series of workshops throughout the day. Gary Conatser, Vice President of the Bank of Commerce, will be presenting “Financing Your Business- discover how to walk your financing needs all the way through the process” at 9:30 a.m.

“It’s good for people thinking about going into business or those who are already in business and need a loan,” said Crimmins.

The keynote speaker will be held in conjunction with the leaders luncheon. Bill Gern, University of Wyoming Vice President for Research and Economic Development, will be presenting his keynote speech. This is the only event where there will be a fee of $15.00 for lunch.

Crimmins saw one of Gern’s presentations a couple of years ago and thinks he will provide an informative lecture.

“It’s interesting to see what the university is doing for the state as far as economic development,” said Crimmins.

If interested in attending or having a stand at the job fair and/or business expo, go to the Saratoga/ Platte Valley Chamber of Commerce website, or call their office at 307-326-8855.