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Job fair seeks to hook up employers, workers

Washington, DC, May 16, 2017 | Terre Haute Tribune Star
Job fair seeks to hook up employers, workers

Don Heck adjusted his glasses as he filled out an application form while looking at his driver’s license.

“I am applying for warehousing work or custodial work,” said the 59-year-old U.S. Army veteran. “I was clerk in the Army. I had it made...was stateside the whole time.”

Heck was applying Wednesday with Wabash Goodwill Industries Inc., one of 60 agencies and companies that took part in the Terre Haute Job Fair, hosted by U.S. Rep. Larry Bucshon in coordination with WorkOne Western Indiana, Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce and Indiana State University.

The job fair, held from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at ISU’s Hulman Center, opened one hour earlier for veterans, such as Heck, who served in the U.S. Army from 1976 to 1980.

Deann Goetz said Goodwill is hiring for sales associates, some management positions, a truck driver, loaders and warehouse workers.

“We get a wide variety of people who are looking for different things,” Goetz said of why her company attends the job fair. “For that many positions, this gives us a bigger pool.”

Employers included companies such as Bemis, Taghleef Industries, Alorica, First Financial, ResCare, Union Hospital, Sam’s Club, DLC Media and Harrison College.

Joe Goodrick said he will graduate in December from ISU with a master’s degree in fine arts. Goodrick said he had instructed at Ivy Tech Community College.

“I am looking for something again at Ivy Tech and just seeing what is out there,” he said about attending the job fair.

It was the seventh job fair hosted by Congressman Bucshon in Terre Haute and the 22nd in the Eighth Congressional District.

“Sometimes one of the most difficult things in finding a job is figuring out where jobs are available,” Bucshon said. “What this job fair does is connect employers with potential employees all in one location. We do this in all areas of the district.”

Bucshon said employment not only provides income, “but it benefits your family and everyone around you.”

“Even if we connect one person in Terre Haute with a job, it is worth it,” Bucshon said.

Reporter Howard Greninger can be reached 812-231-4204 or howard.greninger@tribstar.com.Follow on Twitter@TribStarHoward.