The Careers in Motion career exploration and job fair event took place Saturday (Sept. 9, 2023) at the Lenawee Intermediate School District (LISD) TECH Center. This event was inspired by the LISD and supported by the Align Center for Workforce Development and Michigan Works! Southeast. Specifically, the day focused on occupations that involve driving, equipment operations, and other motion-related vocations.
“What’s great about this event is that the vehicles represent a wide variety of jobs,” said Sheila Blair, Director of Align Center for Workforce Development. “We had multiple police cars, which represent not only police officers, but also crime scene investigators, dispatchers, corrections officers and all sorts of other related positions.”
Careers in Motion hosted over 30 vehicles from a wide variety of industries among Lenawee businesses, providing a unique way to connect Lenawee residents. Children were able to climb into the vehicles, as well as ask questions of company representatives about available jobs, educational and training requirements and other factors.
“The goal of the event was to engage community members of all ages, allowing students to gain basic information about potential careers, through exploration of the vehicles and equipment provided,” said Jenny Health, Director of Career and Technical Education at the LISD. “Older students and adults were able to meet with employers, ask questions, and discover the next steps for job application.”
Some of the more unique vehicles included an electric semi from Meijer; a Cadillac hearse from Anderson-Marry Funeral Home; a large, tactical vehicle from the National Guard; a dump truck from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources; a combine from Redline Equipment; a welding truck from Local 190 Plumbers and Pipefitters; a crane from Phillip’s Crane Service; a mobile training bus from Michigan Works! Southeast; and more.
Other vendors were from Cone Ag Services, Couture’s Property Maintenance, LISD, Stevens Disposal & Recycling, Michigan Works! Southeast, Lenawee County Sheriff’s Department, Michigan State Police, Adrian Towing, Clift Buick GMC, Michigan Department of Transportation, Midwest Energy & Communication (MEC) and the City of Adrian.
“The City of Adrian really showed up with four DPW vehicles and two emergency vehicles,” said Ashley Vandenbusche, the Service Center Manager for Michigan Works! Southeast’s Lenawee Office. “We’re so appreciative of all the employers and food vendors who turned up for this event.”
Organizers of the event secured the participation of a variety of food trucks to provide participants with a lot of options. Mrs. C’s Grilled Cheese, Musgrove Coffee, Monahan’s Meat Shack, Funky Dawg’s and Hannah’s Hawaiian Shaved Ice.
Over the course of the day, Careers in Motion had over 200 participants, ranging from babies to grandparents.