Submitted by Kelley Poindexter

Modoc Employment Center
221 North Main Street, Alturas, CA 96101
(530) 233-4161
www.aworkforce.org

Alliance for Workforce Development Shines!

April 8, 2003 AFWD's own Janis Trueblood and Lassen Community Coordinator Traci Holt traveled to Modoc to show their stuff in a fantastic "no fee" business seminar. Janis presented "Recruitment, Hiring and Retaining Employees." For those of you not familar with Janis, she multi tasks quite well for AFWD. She is the current Personnel Manager, Manager of Employer Services, as well as community coordinator for ETC in Quincy. Local business owner Deborah Holub stated how hard it is to leave the area and travel for business trainings, she was delighted with the information provided by Janis and Traci, and appreciated the fact that they came here, to Alturas.

Janis sharing her expertise.

Traci Holt riveted employers with her demonstration of "Ultimate Employer". Her information was very interesting and pertinent to Modoc Businesses. The job description portion was very informative, and Traci made it look so easy! You go girl!

Traci doing her thing!

We would like to thank Janis and Traci for their expertise and for traveling out here to the Modoc Wilderness!

CWA Conference in San Diego!

MEC Program Staff members experienced a real getaway at the CWA Conference. We were told the amenities were fantastic and the conference sessions were exceptional. CWA always does a great job!

Second Annual Job Expo - Smashing Success

Twelve employers and over 110 job seekers filled Modoc Employment Center with excitement on Saturday, April 26. All employers were actively hiring and very happy with the face to face opportunities the Expo provides. This year, job seekers were better prepared for the whole interview process. The availability of the lab and the assistance of MEC Lab Coordinator Wendy Luna proved to be a valuable resource to participants.

WIB Board Member and Modoc County Board of Supervisor Patricia Cantrall joining in.

The overall event was extremely successful. Several employers would like to see the event twice a year. EDD has some great resources for printing posters and post cards for both business and job seeker. They did a great job, and so did AFWD's Laurie Wann with her publicity skills. EDD's Laura Yeier was instrumental in the success of this event. Thanks everyone!!

MEC's Computer lab in full swing

Rural Workforce Conference 2003- Reno

AFWD staff members Stacy Hays and Kelley Poindexter attended the conference on April 27. As in the past it provided many opportunities to learn more about the world of workforce development. The updates on the WIA process were very interesting.

"Doing Business with the Government"

What a great presentation. This is a first for Modoc and we had a packed house!! Lots of really great information, questions and the presenters were really prepared, and very knowledgeable.

Jim O'Neil has some awesome people skills and really engaged the participants. After lunch, Leona Parker and Mylie Southerland shared BLM and Forest Service tips. The packet of info handed out was very thorough and informative. We want to thank the presenters and our SBDC's Mary Wooleson for her help in making the event a complete success.

Casual lunch provides a great forum for more questions!

Jim O'Neil

AFWD All Staff at Magical Greenhorn Creek Guest Ranch

Wow, what a fantastic experience. Sometimes our agency seems so spread out over our three counties. It's really great to put a face with a telephone voice, or catch up with colleagues you don't see very often. Nancy Gregg and Janis Trueblood really out did themselves this time. Brainstorming challenges, program updates, financial planning, customer service, hanging out and KAREOKE were the activities we all shared. Congratulations to the "GESSTURES" Champs, this is the second year in a row for this undefeated team! I know the staff at MEC appreciated this experience. Thanks Gary, for getting us all together!

Nancy Gregg shows the winning GESSTURES style!

Our fearless leader-Gary Corderman trying to beat the time machine!

Thanks AFWD, for this really wonderful retreat, your the best!!

Modoc Employment Center's Success Story of the Quarter!

Jayson West

Jayson has been working at Antonio's Restaurant since July of 2002. WIA helped him achieve his goal of reaching full time employment. Antonio's Proprietor Stan Yagi is very pleased with Jayson and all he has achieved. Jayson even acts as store manager when Stan is conducting business at his other locations.

EXCELLENT JOB, JAYSON!!!!!

Well, that's about it for Modoc County. Living in a small community sure has it's advantages. We all know and support one another. We have suffered a couple closures, and some layoffs. The effects of today's economy has reached out and touched us way out here. We have lost a dental clinic, a doctor's office, a cable communications office, and a bakery. Not much by some standards but felt deep in our community. The Tulelake water issues are still looming overhead. (www.klamathbasincrisis.org) The threat to turn off the irrigation waters from Klamath Lake rests on one single inch of water, when the level drops below the present inch, the flow of water will stop. It is the peak season for our farmer friends, and we are all hoping for the best. We are here to help if need be.

WIA services are critical to the Northstate where folks are spread thin. The challenge to provide participant and business education/training and assistance is a real challenge. Modoc County population for 2001 comes out to 2.4 persons per square mile. With numbers like these, we tend to be forgotten, overlooked, and unheard. Our jobs are so important, personally I feel really good when we can provide services that are so needed to folks that really appreciate it. Good job Nortec, AFWD and all of you, we really are making a difference!!

To end with a positive note, Niki Poindexter, (daughter of MEC's CC Kelley Poindexter) has been crowned "Miss Modoc County 2003". Here she is with her horse Sonny, standing in front of our beloved Modoc Employment Center.