First ACDC career fair blows away expectations

The Lind/Ritzville/Sprague/Washtucna Career Showcase made its debut last week at the Gilson Gym in Ritzville and organizers say it was more successful than they had even hoped. Almost 400 area students visited with 35 local exhibitors.

The showcase was presented by the Adams County Development Council. While the ACDC has put on two of these showcases before in Othello, this is its first time bringing the idea to eastern Adams County.

ACDC Business Development & Marketing Coordinator Janis Rountree said the goal of the showcase is to show local students that they don't have to leave the area to find good jobs.

"It's important that the youth here know their options before they leave high school," Rountree said. "We have so many great local companies that offer benefits, full-time wages and extended education, but the kids don't know about that."

In September, Adams County Economic Development Director Stephen McFadden told The Journal that he hoped somewhere between 15 and 20 local businesses and organizations would present at the showcase. This week, he was happy to say those projections were low.

"The honest truth is this is a small rural community, so if we got 12, we'd be happy. If we got 20, that would be perfect," McFadden said. "We had 33 this morning and we had two walk in and ask if there was any room. So we're at 35. So I think we kind of hit it out of the park. The community hit it out of the park."

McFadden and Rountree went door-to-door at local businesses to recruit for the event. Rountree said businesses were very receptive to the idea.

"Everyone thought it was a great idea and something that is really needed in this area," Rountree said. "Everyone in this area is really hurting for employees, and they said, 'This is the best free advertising for us to get the word out.'"

McFadden says early feedback from exhibitors indicate the showcase was a success in their eyes.

"Businesses that are here on the floor have already said, 'You better do this again next year,'" McFadden said.

Amy Galbreath, owner of the Best Western Bronco Inn, said the event was helpful because it helped her recruit for jobs that she will be looking to fill soon.

"We're hoping to pick up some kids that would apply for jobs during the summer," Galbreath said. "We're always short staffed, especially during the summer ... The exposure this showcase offers is great. I have a lot of job applications that I am going to hand out."

The Medical Simulation Department of Big Bend Community College was one of the other exhibitors. Dana Borschowa, the simulation technology coordinator for BBCC, showcased a medical simulation manikin.

The manikin breaths, bleeds and sweats like an actual patient would. It also talks and cries to simulate an actual medical experience.

"These simulators are the future of health-care training," Borschowa said. "You can do almost any medical procedure on one of these simulators as you can on a real person. Our program teaches the behind-the-scenes. How to run one of these simulators, how to run a scenario, how to do maintenance on them."

Borschowa said the manikin she was showing costs $68,000.

The BBCC program offers a Medical Simulation Associate in Applied Science degree.

Lind-Ritzville Schools Superintendent Don Vanderholm said he likes what the event offers to students.

"I think it's awesome," Vanderholm said. "To have this many local employers come out to talk to our kids is great ... I'm just happy to see how the kids are responding. I hope they get a sense of the connection of what they are doing now and how it connects to what they are going to do later on."

Now that the career fair is over, McFadden and Rountree are moving on to their next project: a career fair in Othello on Oct. 17.