Iola’s Riverside Park recreation building was abuzz with possibility Thursday afternoon as a countywide job fair, spearheaded by Thrive Allen County and KansasWorks, brought in over 100 area job seekers.
The event was planned in response to pending layoffs at Gates Corporation’s Iola facility, which were announced last month. Over 80 employees, about a third of the plant’s workforce, are slated to lose their jobs at the end of the year.
Melanie Estrada of Chanute is one of those affected. She’s worked at Gates for about four years and wants to stay in the area. Carmen Cruz, who has been at Gates for two years, is in the same boat. Both were particularly interested in open positions at Peerless Products and Precision International of Iola, but they have yet to find their next job.
Chad Reed of Iola has been at Gates for 14 years and will also be released next month. He’s found a job at Precision International, where he’ll join the company in operations management. Reed took advantage of the fair to chat with future coworkers and learn more about the company.
Officials from KansasWorks said 113 adults attended the job fair. Over 50 area high school seniors arrived as well, conversing with 32 area employers.
“It’s been a huge success,” said Thrive Allen County’s Dakota McNett, who was one of the chief organizers of the fair. “I’ve been blown away by the turnout, and employers here have told me they’ve also really appreciated the opportunity to network and build connections.”
Giles Salazar, a current Gates employee not affected by the company’s layoffs, was on hand to help translate for his coworkers. Karen Contreras, a human resources assistant for Peerless Products, touted her company’s bilingual competence as a major plus for potential applicants.
B&W Trailer Hitches, one of the county’s biggest employers, fielded steady interest as human resources manager Juliana Stevenson and Michael Young, production supervisor, talked with visitors.
Three tables were left unoccupied for attendees to complete job applications, and volunteers were on hand offering professional clothes, resume help, and professional headshots. A side room was made available for interviews.
The overall mood was one of optimism. With dozens of employment opportunities available in a wide variety of career fields, many area businesses seemed eager to invest in the workforce of the future.
Such spirit is a necessity for growth, in both good times and bad.
