Celebrating our regions next Career & Technical All Stars!

Partners on the Adams County Works Career Guidance team are hosting the first Career Launch Signing Day on Wednesday, May 22 at 4:00 PM in the Quincy Community Theater inside the Oakley Lindsay Center – 300 Civic Center Plaza, Quincy, IL. The event celebrates students entering the workforce, and is in partnership with Great River Economic Development Foundation, John Wood Community College and Quincy Area Vocational and Technical Center.

All are welcome and encouraged to attend and celebrate these students, who chose an in demand regional career, and are now being hired by a local employer. At the Career Launch Signing Day students becoming newly hired employees, along with the companies they work for, will sign an empowering work ready pledge. Each newly hired student will also receive a special certificate from the Adams County Works (ACW) team and partners.

“The faculty and staff at John Wood take pride in watching our students succeed,” states Kristen Foster, on the ACW team and Coordinator Student Navigator of Career Services at JWCC. “It is our pleasure to recognize our student’s accomplishments and to help our local workforce leaders hire and retain a skilled workforce. Being a part of an event that highlights our Career and Technical programs, our local industry partners, and our accomplished students is a win-win-win!”

The event recognizes students entering into careers in transportation, distribution & logistics (TDL), manufacturing, health science and agriculture. Current employers participating include: Archer Daniels Midland, Blessing Hospital, Knapheide Manufacturing, and Quincy Medical Group, with others joining.

The Career Guidance Team mission is to Encourage, Educate & Connect: Encourage and foster awareness of careers; educate youth and job seekers about area career opportunities; build connections between families and local employers.

The Career Guidance Team is sponsored by the following partners:  Great River Economic Development Foundation, John Wood Community College, Quincy University, United Way of Adams County, Inc., West Central Region Ed. For Employment System #240, and Workforce Innovation Board of Western Illinois.

Recognizing teachers on National Teacher Appreciation Day!

Teacher appreciation and recognition was on Thursday, May 9 at 4:00 PM in the Oakley Lindsay Center lobby, 300 Civic Center Plaza, Quincy, IL. Workforce development partners on the Career Guidance Team hosted and award two area teachers with prizes from local businesses.

“Everyday, teachers are educating, informing, influencing and shaping our future,” states Gena Finley, co-chair of the Adams County Works Career Guidance Team and program coordinator for Quincy Area Vocational Technical Center. “They play such a vital role in the lives of children. This is just a very small way to let them know we appreciate everything they do for their students and their community. They deserve so much more!”

Additionally, teachers received a classroom party, where guest speakers will talk to students about future opportunities in our community. The Great River Economic Development Foundation hosts each party as a way to thank teachers, as well as engage students with area employers and future opportunities.

Prior to the press conference, teachers were encouraged to submit their information for a chance at the appreciation prize. 86 teachers submitted information from Adams County Public and Parochial Schools, and winners drawn at random.

Angela Caldwell, GREDF workforce development director provided an introduction about the importance of education and how it prepares students for work, and a representative on the Career Guidance Team presented the teacher appreciation prizes.

The Career Guidance Team mission is to Encourage, Educate & Connect: Encourage and foster awareness of careers; educate youth and job seekers about area career opportunities; build connections between families and local employers.

The Career Guidance Team is sponsored by the following partners:  Great River Economic Development Foundation, John Wood Community College, Quincy University, United Way of Adams County, Inc., West Central Region Ed. For Employment System #240, and Workforce Innovation Board of Western Illinois.

The inaugural Small Business ConnectionFest was hosted Wednesday, April 17 from 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM in the Kroc Center at 405 Vermont St. ConnectionFest was free, open to the public, and was a one-stop shop for small businesses and entrepreneurs to learn from industry leaders to achieve their new or next business adventure. Businesses learned more about where they are going from concepts and ideas through transition planning and retirement.

In the Vendor Hall, guess met with experts in finance, marketing, bookkeeping, legal, insurance and real estate to learn more about starting and growing a business. Speakers were scheduled throughout the day for guests to hear first hand about owning a business, what the Small Business Development Center can do for businesses, as well as tips on succession planning and what pitfalls to avoid.

Additionally, students taking the “Creativity, Innovation, and New Products Development” class at Quincy University got a chance to present their entrepreneurial ideas to business owners for advice on starting their business.

“I think it is a good opportunity to present my business plan,” explained Noam, Quincy University Student. Classmate Ella responded, “It will be good for the experts to see what new businesses college students are coming up with.” Teaching the class is Roger Leenerts who was excited for his students to be able to present. Leenerts stated, “It has been personally rewarding seeing college students excited about entrepreneurship!”

Vendor Hall included representatives from:

All Phase Property Solutions

First Mid Bank & Trust

Happel Inc., REALTORS

Hauk & Owens, LLC

HomeBank

IPI Wealth Management, Inc.

KHQA

Peoples Prosperity Bank

Poole Communications

Quincy Tri-State SCORE

Illinois Small Business Development Center at Western Illinois University

The District

Thyme Square Cafe

Speaker schedule was as follows:

8:00 | Jennifer Breeden, Assistant Professor of Business at Quincy University & small business owner

8:30 | Jim Boyd, Illinois Small Business Development Center at Western Illinois University

9:00 – 9:10 BREAK

9:10 | Charles White, Small Business Administration, U.S. Small Business Administration

9:40 | Rob Newbolt, IMEC – Succession Planning

10:10 – 10:20 BREAK

10:20 | Quincy University Students – present their business plans & Craig Hemming, Doors N More, Inc. – His story and ask/answer from QU students

11:20 | Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce – Business Plan Competition & Golden Bridges, Inc. – Business Plan Competition experience

Small Business ConnectionFest is in partnership with Great River Economic Development Foundation Adams County Works Team and the Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce.

Adams County Works Team Organizers include John Wood Community, Quincy University, West Central Region Education for Employment System #240, United Way of Adams County, and Workforce Board of Western Illinois.