Alex Fundersol, a senior at Edison High School, learned about elements of a resume from Elyzabeth Grimm, community employment specialist for the Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disaiblities, Thursday during the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce’s Career and Education Fair at the St Florian Event Center. -- Warren Scott

WINTERSVILLE — About 800 students from nine area high schools learned about many careers and educational and training opportunities available to them at the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce’s Education and Career Fair Thursday at the St. Florian Event Center.

Chamber President Emily Byers said about 60 exhibitors from 30 colleges and universities, 25 businesses and many professional, military and government organizations were recruited to share information with the teens.

Among them were members of the Jefferson County Young Professionals who invited students to sit down with them at a table and share their career goals in exchange for advice on how to attain them.

Newer faces at the annual event included Leigh Ann Smith, a representative of the Grit Project, a grant-funded program that helps individuals set career goals for themselves while receiving one-to-one counseling from a career coach.

Smith said in addition to high school students, the program is available to underemployed adults and individuals with challenges, including a criminal record and past drug addiction, to future employment, in 32 Ohio counties.

Students from nine area high schools had an opportunity to speak to representatives of many colleges and universities, employers and professional organizations, military branches and agencies working to connect people with jobs and training at the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce’s Career and Education Fair Thursday at the St. Florian Event Center. -- Warren Scott

She said staff with the program also have worked with schools to arrange field trips and job shadowing experiences to introduce students to various careers they may pursue.

Smith said online resources are provided to participants so they may determine the demand for a particular job in their state or county, the average salary and education or training required for it.

“Our overriding goal is to keep our young Ohioans in Ohio through a decent wage job,” she said.

Also on hand were Cookie West and Elyzabeth Grimm of the Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disabilities, who conducted exercises aimed at teaching attendees the elements of a resume, types of work skills and other information pertinent to a job search.

They and others with the agency have worked with others, including the Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities program, to find work opportunities allowing them to live up to their fullest potential.

LEARNING MORE — Khloe Mader, a sophomore at Harrison Hills City School District, learned about job skills classified as hard or soft through an exercise conducted by Cookie West, community and public relations specialist for the Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disabilities Thursday during the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce’s Career and Education Fair at the St. Florian Event Center. -- Warren Scott

The job fair also was attended by representatives of the state program, which has helped Ohioans from age 14 to retirement age to overcome physical, intellectual or mental health issues to obtain employment through assistance ranging from job counseling to financial aid for college and training.

Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities also includes a program that helps the deaf and hard of hearing, including newly disabled in that area, to obtain hearing aids and other assistive devices needed for work.

Rich Cesta, training director for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 246, was among several trade organizations represented there.

Cesta said there’s a major shortage of electricians, with about 70,000 new electricians needed to enter the field in each of the next 10 years to meet the expected demand for the next 30 years.

He said the IBEW has recruited many students from high school vocational programs in several Ohio and West Virginia counties for its four-year apprenticeship program, with 12 to 20 enrolling in each year.

But Cesta said prior training isn’t required, with an aptitude test used to determine potential compatibility, and displaced workers from other fields also have been among those selected.

He said depending on past training or experience, participants in the training program sometimes have been able to skip to the second year.

Cesta said hourly wages can range from $16 to start to $44 to $50, based on negotiated contracts.

He said while the IBEW has supplied electrical workers for many local industries, electricians are needed in a variety of workplaces and the union offers training certifications in several areas.

Byers expressed gratitude for the cooperation of the many schools and of the event’s major sponsors: Belmont College, Trinity Health System, Marietta College and Franciscan University of Steubenville.

She said the job and career fair can have a major impact on the students’ lives.

“It puts a lot of opportunities right in front of them, especially for those who are undecided,” she said.