Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
PORCUPINE MOUNTAINS State Park supervisor Mike Knack, right, talks with student Dan Adrian, of Ironwood, at the Wednesday job fair at Gogebic Community College. At left are park manager Jeff Gaertner and accounting assistant Gina Penegor.
By RALPH ANSAMI
Ironwood - Gogebic County and Hurley School District 11th graders quizzed area business and governmental agency representatives about possible employment opportunities at a job fair at Gogebic Community College Wednesday.
While half of the students toured the GCC campus, others strolled through the gymnasium in the Lindquist Center to talk with company representatives and read pamphlets on job openings.
Dan Adrian, of Ironwood, stopped at the Porcupine Mountains table to talk with Porkies manager Jeff Gaertner, accounting assistant Gina Penegor and Mike Knack, park supervisor.
GCC operates a downhill skiing operation at the Porkies park and Gaertner said the collaboration between the college and the Department of Natural Resources is working well. It's been a good winter for downhill skiing, snowmobiling and cross country skiing at the park, with ample snowfall. He said the volunteer trail groomers have been busy keeping the surfaces smooth for visitors.
Mike Foley, representing Coleman Engineering of Ironwood, said he had talked to some students who showed interest in pursuing careers in engineering,
Ethan Roehm and Jacob Joki sought information from Margot Anderson at the Northern Hardwoods Longyear Company's table. The company operates out of South Range.
Among the many other visitors at the fair were several officers of the Michigan State Police posts and Department of Natural Resources employees. The DNR has yearly opening for conservation officers.
Students were given GCC shoulder sacks to fill with pamphlets and tokens from the participating businesses and agencies.
In introducing the students to the job fair, Mark Wendt mentioned a drone pilot program at GCC is a unique offering. "There are a lot of good things going on and it can all start right here," he told the students.
In addition to showing students what the college has to offer, the job fair demonstrates there are employment possibilities close to home.
Ironwood Area Chamber of Commerce Director Michael Meyer said the job fair was open to eighth and 11th graders last year, but it was changed to only 11th grade students this year.
"All of the 11th graders in the county are represented," Meyer said, except Watersmeet, which canceled on Wednesday.
