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On Monday we held our fourth job
fair in Independence. It was a great
opportunity for job ready candidates to meet with local employers who are
hiring. It featured nearly 300 job seekers and over 50 employers.
The employers represented a wide
range of industries: health care, manufacturing, sales, banking, education, and
entertainment. Participating companies
included well known NE Ohio firms such as the Cleveland Cavaliers, The
Cleveland Clinic, Timken Steel, Case Western Reserve University, Columbia Gas, Goodyear,
Huntington National Bank, Key Bank and many more.
The job seekers on hand were excited
about connecting with these great employers.
Matricia Armstead, for example shared the following:
“I really enjoyed the job fair because there
are all kinds of employers here that really strike my interest. I was able to pull lots of information from
them so I can start my career.”
Similarly, Mellissa O’Connell
appreciated the opportunity to interact with the employers:
“It has been really good! There are so many people here. Everyone has
been really nice and they make you feel welcome. They give you information about where to go
on their website to apply. They even ask you questions or interview you on the
spot. I really enjoyed it.”
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 As noted last week, we continue to receive positive feedback from both job seekers and employers about the job fairs.
The four job fairs combined involved over 160 employers connecting with over 880 job ready candidates. They each also featured an educational workshop for employers relevant to recruiting a diverse workforce. What a great way to highlight and celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)!
Thanks again to our staff and partners for all of the hard work that went into making these job fairs so successful. Also, OOD is so appreciative of each and every partnership that we have with employers who make a difference every day!
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The opportunity to connect with
employers and start on a path to employment can have a huge impact on the individuals
and families we serve. An example from
the Columbus job fair highlights this positive impact.
An individual who is deaf and
migrated from another country was facing the challenge of finding a job while having
a disability and speaking a foreign language.
Working with a counselor, he began learning American Sign Language (ASL)
and was able to find part-time employment.
When his employer closed,
however, he returned to OOD assuming he could only work part time. The communication challenges, and a son with
Cerebral Palsy, seemed too much to handle for full-time work.
Attending the Columbus job fair,
however, opened up the possibilities. It
provided this individual the opportunity to be exposed to others like him, and
in search of the same thing as him. To
see so many employers in the room, who were friendly and inviting and willing
to engage with him, inspired him to think that working full-time is a possibility. Seeing the services available and the
opportunities they provide has also given the family hope that their son too
can find future success. Everyone’s
attitudes are different thanks to the positive interaction with OOD staff,
providers, and employers.
It is stories like this one that
remind us what our work is all about. It
is about more than just helping people find a job, as important as that is, it
really is about changing lives.
Achieving employment and increased independence opens up new
possibilities and brings hope to families and communities.
The SE Area held their quarterly
meeting in Newark on Wednesday and State Senator Troy Balderson (R Zanesville) helped
kick off the event.
Senator Balderson spoke about the
importance of giving individuals with disabilities the opportunity to achieve
employment and the independence and pride that goes along with it. He recognized the challenges that exist, but
encouraged staff to understand the positive impact they can make on people’s
lives. The Senator also shared some examples of individuals with disabilities
in his community who are thriving because they are employed and are proud of
their accomplishments.
SE Area Manager Bob Nicholson
presented Senator Balderson with a certificate [See photo] in recognition for his work in
the SE Area and for his support of the work of OOD.
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Agency Directors Bob Blair (DAS), Cynthia Dungey (ODJFS), Kevin Miller and Gary Mohr (DRC)
The Ohio Certified Public
Manager® Society Annual Conference, entitled “A Blueprint for Resiliency,” was
held yesterday in Dublin, Ohio. The
mission of the Ohio CPM Society is to further promote the interests of
Certified Public Managers and Ohio CPM Program students. The Ohio CPM Society
strives to make a difference by improving communication, cooperation and
coordination among all government agencies on all levels.
With Lee Thatcher, Ohio CPM
Society Immediate Past President, facilitating, I was able to participate in a
roundtable session with my fellow agency directors Bob Blair (DAS), Cynthia
Dungey (ODJFS) and Gary Mohr (DRC).
 Therese Dyer, OOD Chief Finacial Officer, Janet Cool, and Director Miller
OOD’s own Janet Cool, manager of
the Monitoring and Compliance Unit, served as the conference chair. Janet, along with Matthew Dyer from the
Office of Budget and Management (OBM), presented a session on Talent
Management. Additionally, Janet was
awarded the 2015 Ohio Certified Public Manager® of the Year award for her work
with the Society this year.
OOD currently has nine (9)
graduates of the OCPM program which includes less than 700 public service
managers and leaders statewide.
Individuals in Job Ready Status*
Statewide: 3,787
(For larger map and county
details please visit our website)
*Job Ready Status: Have received
Vocational Rehabilitation services and are ready and seeking employment.
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