On Thursday morning, the gym at Napavine High School will be packed with students not only from Napavine, but from five other rural school districts in Lewis County for a career expo, according to David Rutherford, career and technical education (CTE) director for the Napavine School District.
“Over 50 tables are reserved from businesses, schools and organizations,” Rutherford said in an email to The Chronicle. “We renamed it to be a career expo because students are encouraged to bring their resumes to meet with businesses for pre interviews. I am excited to see students working with companies to find summer and/or entry level jobs — Taking the traditional career fair to the next level.”
Along with Napavine High School students, students from the Oakville, Toledo, Adna, Pe Ell and White Pass school districts will also be attending.
Businesses and organizations with tables include: Ascend Staffing; Bonneville Power Administration and U.S. Department of Energy; BNSF Railway; Braun Northwest; Cardinal Glass Industries; Cascade Hardwoods; Chehalis Skies Aviation; City of Napavine and Napavine Police Department; Coach; Custom Source Woodworking Inc.; The Chronicle; the Washington state Department of Children, Youth and Families; Evergreen Rural Water of Washington; Express Pros; Fred Meyer Distribution; Hampton Lumber; Horace Mann; I-5 Cars; KELA/KMNT Radio; Korean Women’s Association Home Care; Kugel Construction; Land Surveyors Association of Washington; Lewis County Fire District 5; the Lewis County Public Utilities District; the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office; McCallum Rock Drilling; National Frozen Foods Corp.; Sierra Pacific; Silvaseed — Mast Reforestation; Southwest Washington Esthetics Institute; Tacoma Power and the Cowlitz River Project; Tapani; Timberland Veterinary; Valley View Health Center; the Washington State Patrol; West Coast Training; and Wilcox + Flegel.
Apprenticeship representatives will also be on hand, from the Western States Carpenters Training Fund, the Laborers’ Local 252 union, the International Union of Operating Engineers and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 176 union.
Military recruiters from the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force and Washington state Army National Guard will also be available, as will recruiters from regional colleges and trade schools.
College and trade school representatives expected include ones from Centralia College, Gray’s Harbor Community College, St. Martin’s University, the New Market Skills Center in Tumwater and the Bodymechanics School of Myotherapy and Massage.
To get involved with future Napavine Career Expo events with job or apprenticeship opportunities for students, email Rutherford at drutherford@napavineschools.org.
