The Employment & Training Center

1905 E. Main Street, Quincy, CA  95971

(530) 283-1606

www.aworkforce.org

"The mission of the Employment & Training Center is to provide a comprehensive array of quality employment services, job-related education, and training opportunities to job seekers, business, and the community.

 

Quarterly Community Coordination Report

January - March 2002

 

Submitted by:

Janis R. Trueblood

Manager, One Stop Operations & Employer Services

Plumas Community Coordinator

 

JOB FAIR HUGE SUCCESS!

 

Carol Franchetti, Owner of Carol's Cafe offers sound advice to seminar participant's at the 2002 Job Fair!  (WIB Chair Judi Madden listens intently)

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The atmosphere was electric with anticipation at the Seasonal Job Fairs last week in Graeagle and Chester .  Approximately 200 job seekers packed the Graeagle Fire Hall and the Chester Memorial Hall eager to interview for seasonal and permanent jobs including waitresses, cooks, housekeepers, landscapers, daycare workers, clerks, park aides and many more.

 Michelle Tucker was excited and felt very optimistic about finding work.  “I found out about the job fair from a flyer I received, so I pre-registered with CalJobs, and here I am!  I’m not looking for anything specific, but I really want a full time job.”

Jason Morrison felt the same way.  “I have a part-time job, but I’m looking for something full time, and hopefully, permanent.  This is my second Job Fair, – I think it’s a good way to meet many employers and cover a lot of ground in one day.  There are about seven employers I want to interview with.”  

The 60-plus employers who participated were seeking qualified applicants for over 150 combined positions.   

Mike Kraus, Park Ranger with Plumas Eureka State Park had three seasonal openings.  “I’m looking for good job candidates.  This is my first job fair, and I thought it would give me a chance to hire locally, because that is a lot easier than trying to find people to relocate.”  

Long time job fair attendee, Rob Adams, is Superintendent at Graeagle Meadows Homeowners Association.  “I have been to every Job Fair, and have hired some good workers in the past.  I have several of those who are returning to work this year, but I still need another 6-10 laborers.”     Adams likes the fact that the Job Fair draws a large number of potential employees.  “It saves me time when I can interview lots of applicants in a few hours.”  

At the end of the two-day event, dozens of candidates like Morrison felt the time was well spent.  “I got a job offer that I’m seriously considering, and I may still get one or two more.”  

Tucker felt the Job Fair was worthwhile too.  “I had employers asking me to stick around and interview with them - I’m sure I’ll get a job!”  

Most employers were in agreement, pleased with the number of applications they received.  Mike Kraus had a stack of applications to sort through for his positions, and Rob Adams left with 12 resumes and a good feeling about 3 or 4 applicants who he felt were strong potential employees.  

High on the list with employers was also the chance to network with others, as well as the mornings’ seminars.   At 10:00 am Janis Trueblood with the Alliance for Workforce Development, Inc., kicked off the day with “Recruiting, Hiring, and Retaining Employees”.  She was followed by the owner of Carol’s Camp Prattville , Carol Franchetti, who discussed Employee Orientations.  John McBride, Deputy Labor Commissioner, gave a short talk on Labor Laws before opening up the floor to a flood of questions. 

Kevin and Gloria LaPlant of Clio’s Rivers Edge RV Park felt the information on employee handbooks, orientations and job descriptions was valuable.  “Several things we heard today will help us formalize our hiring and retention process.  We are very interested in learning more about the Ultimate Employer.  It sounds like a good starting place, and a real time-saver.”  

The Ultimate Employer is the name of new business software now available for use at the Employment & Training Center ’s Business Resource Center .  With it, employers can manage personnel tasks, customize employment policies and employee handbooks, write effective employee reviews and job descriptions, and much more.  

Annie Hill, owner of Annie’s Landscape Management also felt the seminars were a strong part of the day.  “I heard some great things about job descriptions, and labor laws, and I learned some new things that will benefit my business, and my employees.”  

Something new to the Job Fairs this year was a short, light-hearted skit that emphasized how good Customer Service is the Simplest Way to Increase Your Bottom Line.  Coordinated by Mary Kolonay, Information Specialist for the Plumas County Visitors Bureau, the skit was performed by local students and volunteers.  After the laughter subsided, Mary had everyone’s attention and presented an idea for a new workshop to the employers.  

Kolonay explained, “The Plumas County Visitor’s Bureau has a lot of interaction with people before, and after, they travel to Plumas County . The feedback we’ve seen and heard indicates there is a real need for Customer Service training for the front line staff in many businesses.  Many employers know what constitutes good customer service, and often they think their staff is providing good service – but the reality of the situation may be very different.  We think this type of training would have a strong impact on our local economy.”   

The Visitor’s Bureau is surveying employers to see if they are willing to send their employees to a training session if it were offered.  Kolonay added, “The Visitor’s Bureau is requesting employer feedback at the Job Fair seminars, plus we’ve mailed out 900 surveys to employers to gauge their level of interest for a workshop that could take place early next year. What we need to ascertain is whether on not employers are willing or able to pay for their employees to attend training like this.  We won’t go forward with the idea unless there is a strong interest.”  

The fictitious Mountain Motel showed "good customer service" above and "poor customer service" below.  The skits were very well received by the seminar participants.

 

Overall the Seasonal Job Fair and Employer Seminars were “wonderful” according to Barbara Vineyard, Employment Program Specialist with the EDD.  “It’s a great opportunity for both employers and job seekers.  The seminars bring employers to one central location for four hours so they can gather information to make their businesses more successful.  The job fair gives employers and job seekers a chance to do a lot of interviewing in one afternoon.  It’s exciting to watch jobs being offered and accepted, and knowing we’re helping to make a difference.”  

After the dust settled last week, over 60 positions had been filled on-the-spot, and many more will be filled over the next few weeks as second interviews are conducted and references are checked.  Many employers will keep applications on file for future positions as well.  

Interested job seekers can review all the positions that remain open posted on the CalJobs website:  www.caljobs.ca.gov.  

The 6th annual Seasonal Job Fair and Employer Seminars are a result of strong collaboration between the many agencies that work together through partnerships at the Employment and Training Center , and the Workforce Development Team.  

Two youth job seekers met with success at the 2002 Job Fair. Erika is starting at Feather River Inn and Erin will be working at Longboards Restaurant at Plumas Pines Resorts.

Job Seekers lined up to have the opportunity to talk to Gumba's Restaurant Owner, Chris David in the hopes of gaining employment.

 

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TEAM SURVEY

Over the last three months, the Workforce Development Team members have been conducting a survey to assist with their development of monthly training topics for Plumas County business owners.  The survey results indicated that the "four" distinct areas of Eastern Plumas (Graeagle/Portola), Quincy, Indian Valley (Greenville) and Lake Almanor woudl like presentations locally and would not attend regularly scheduled training at the Employment & Training Center.  They also indicated in all four areas that they prefer training on a quarterly basis.  For a copy of the survey results. - click here > Survey Results.

The Workforce Development will be moving forward with their training in all "four" locations over the next year as requested by local business.  The first quarterly topic will be June 6-7 starting in Portola for breakfast and ending in Chester for breakfast with stops in Quincy for lunch and Greenville for dinner on the way.  The topic will be "Motivating and Retaining Your Employees", the second highest request on the survey.

The Workforce Development Team is made up of representatives from EDD, AFWD, Plumas County Office of Education, Feather River College, Plumas Rural Services, and Plumas Corporation working together to support local business in their workforce development needs.
 

Rapid Response UPDATE
COLLINS PINE, Chester -  Staff are still providing outreach to the Lake Almanor area and are seeing great results in their assistance to those laid off at Collins Pine.  To date, 90 Collins Laid Off Workers have applied for WIA services.  

PROGRAM UPDATE - Enroll! Enroll! Enroll!! 

The Plumas Program Staff have been working diligently to enroll participants in WIA programs.  The most recent numbers for Plumas indicate:  31 Adults, 23 Youth, 87 Dislocated Workers, and 18 Caregiver Training Initiative.  Congratulations to staff for all of their hard work in making sure those in need receive services!

Notes of Interest

  • The Plumas Employment & Training Committee met on January 17th and March 21st.  Click to review the Agenda & Minutes:  Agenda 1/17/02, Minutes 1/17/02, Agenda 3/21/02

  • Janis Trueblood, Manager of Community Coordination was invited as a guest speaker to the Freshman Focus class at Quincy High School on February 6th.

  • Northern California Employment Network Community Coordinators have been meeting regularly to share ideas, receive valuable training, and coordinate projects in the Upstate California area.  Thanks to Jeff Lucas for pulling these meetings together and providing the agendas.