by Isabella Carwile | Sep 6, 2024 | Community, Events, Jobs, Workforce
Paulding County Economic Development Press Release Sept. 3, 2024
Paulding – The Van Wert County Economic Development office will be hosting a “Build your Future” event on September 18th, 2024 at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds. All Paulding County schools are invited to attend this year’s event. This event will be divided into two sessions – a morning session + afternoon session.
Here’s a recap of the event.
Vantage students in Carpentry, Construction, Electricity, Industrial Mechanics, & Welding, along with local business partners & sponsors, provide local freshman & sophomores hands on activities related to the Industrial field. The students work their way through multiple booths featuring different activities where they can weld, frame a wall, use a skid loader, etc.
The event will bring freshman & sophomore students from all three Paulding County high schools to learn about, meet and discuss future opportunities with area businesses.
“This event is an opportunity for students to become familiarized with local business and what they do, gain awareness of various careers, get leads on summer employment and much more. We understand that each student is in a different place with job and future education decisions. Our hope with this event is to meet students where they are in that decision process and help provide them with numerous options to consider for their future.” stated Economic Development, Administer Assistant, Jessica Stechschulte.
The event will run 1st session; 9 am – 11 am. 2nd session; 12 pm- 2 pm. Each school will then bus their students to the event on the hour for forty-five minutes.
Students will be provided with all safety PPE materials needed upon arrival.
by Isabella Carwile | Aug 14, 2024 | Community, Jobs, Paulding County Business Weekly Radio Broadcast, Workforce
This week on Paulding County Business Weekly we have Greg Johnson, President & CEO, and Jeff Starner, CFO of the Herbert E. Orr company. Listen in to hear how the business began, where it’s been, and where it’s headed as it continues to be a viable employment option in Paulding County that continues to support #pauldingcountystrong efforts.
Thanks to OhioMeansJobs, you can tune in on Tuesdays & Thursdays at 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., or Click Here to Listen Online! Paulding County Business Weekly is also available on many podcast platforms including Apple, Google & Spotify. #pauldingcountystrong
by Isabella Carwile | Jul 2, 2024 | Business Expansion, Community, Funding, Jobs, Membership, Paulding County Business Weekly Radio Broadcast, Workforce
Hear from Tiffany Rockhold, workforce supervisor at OhioMeansJobs, to learn all about the partnership, collaboration, and new programming and services that they offer from both the Paulding and Defiance County offices.
Huge thank you to OhioMeansJobs for sponsoring this program and for being this week’s guest!
You can tune in on Tuesdays & Thursdays at 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., or listen online at https://lnkd.in/d-gMvXxP. Paulding County Business Weekly is also available in podcast form through Apple, Google & Spotify. hashtag#pauldingcountystrong
by Office Manager | May 1, 2024 | Community, Jobs, PCED Office, Workforce
Paulding, OH – Paulding High School proudly announces the successful completion of its after-school certification program in welding. The program, in its 3rd year of completion, is in collaboration with Northwest State Community College (NSCC) and allows students to gain skills and certifications including Welding, OHSA-10, LEAN Six Sigma, and Blueprint Reading.
Leading this initiative were Staci Miller, Paulding High School’s FFA Advisor, and Thomas Zuber, owner and operator of Zuber Welding and Fabrication. Their dedication and expertise were instrumental in guiding students through the class, preparing them for promising careers in welding or other hands-on skilled trades they would pursue.
“I have truly enjoyed co teaching with Thomas Zuber as we taught these students the basics of welding and blueprint reading and helping them to prepare for their futures by assisting with their resume and interviewing skills. This group of students have amazing potential and any employer would be lucky to have them. It shows true dedication for these students to want to stay after school to learn a skill like welding. We are so proud of each of them.” shared Miller.
Over the course of 13 weeks, students engaged in a mix of hands-on training, book work, interview skills and business tours at North American Stamping and Mansfield Welding. Under the guidance of Miller and Zuber, alongside partners Tiffany Rockhold with OhioMeansJobs and Tim Copsey and Kristen Schilt with Paulding County Economic Development, students gained experience and knowledge, totaling 50 hours of instruction outside of their regular school day and extracurriculars.
Reflecting on the experience, one student shared, “This welding class provided me with the basic skills to weld and read blueprints that could provide me with future employment while doing it in a fun and hands-on setting with our instructors. I gained many new skills and welding techniques as well as different welding methods. I would recommend the class to others in the future.”
The program graduates and their families celebrated their dedication and accomplishments last Thursday. Program graduates were Drake Ankney, Matthew Bail, Jesus Estrada, Giovanni Linares, Jonathan Lipps, and Samuel Reinhard.
Paulding High School remains committed to innovation and excellence in education, empowering students with the skills and certifications necessary to thrive in today’s workforce environment.
For more information about future workforce initiatives, Paulding High School’s welding program, or other opportunities here or around the county, please contact Paulding County Economic Development at 419-399-8282.
by Office Manager | Apr 29, 2024 | Community, Jobs, Membership, Workforce
Fremont, OH – The Paulding County Business Advisory Council (BAC) proudly announces its recent recognition for excellence, attaining a 2-star rating during a ceremony held on Friday at Terra State by Ohio College TechPrep.
In compliance with state regulation, all Ohio school districts and Educational Service Centers (ESC) are required to establish a Business Advisory Council. Ohio has over 110 councils, among which is the Paulding County Western Buckeye ESC BAC.
Members Tiffany Rockhold (OhioMeansJobs), Kim Wannemacher (Paulding County Hospital), Fahyth Griner (Haviland Drainage Company), and Kristen Schilt (Paulding County Economic Development) accepted the excellence award on behalf of the council. Their unwavering dedication has played a great role in shaping the BAC’s success.
Additionally, at the award ceremony, Paulding County Economic Development (PCED) Director Tim Copsey was honored with the 2024 Economic Development Partner of the Year Award for his exceptional collaboration contributions to the educational and business partners, the BAC and the overall community.
Established in 2021, the Paulding County BAC is committed to enhancing educational opportunities and fostering relationships between education and local businesses. Through quarterly meetings, the council facilitates collaboration between leaders in these sectors, creating learning experiences and preparing a skilled workforce. The council consists of businesses from different industries, including: manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, service sectors, as well as representatives from our three local school districts, Vantage Career Center, and regional colleges.
“Our BAC is dedicated to continually improving to benefit our students and local businesses,” shared Kristen Schilt Office Manager for PCED. “We are glad to be recognized as a ranked business advisory council this year. We know there are still workforce needs that need addressed in our community and our BAC will continue to work together to understand how collectively we can narrow those gaps.”
Partnerships between local schools and industries have resulted in initiatives such as: enhancing the annual spring career expo, teacher boot camp, Paulding HS welding program, Paulding HS construction program, Panthers for Career partnerships, Archer Advantage program, Antwerp Innovation and Aquaponics Center and the new Wayne Trace STEAM center. These initiatives not only enrich the learning experience for students but also help establish a skilled workforce tailored to the needs of the local economy.
As the Paulding County BAC looks to the future, it remains committed to fostering innovation, collaboration, and excellence in education and workforce development.
For more information about the Paulding County Business Advisory Council and its initiatives or to join an upcoming meeting, please contact Paulding County Economic Development at 419-399-8295.
BAC Members Pictured Left to Right:
Tiffany Rockhold, OhioMeansJobs Defiance/Paulding Counties, Kim Wannemacher, Paulding County Hospital, Kristen Schilt, Paulding County Economic Development, Fahyth Griner, Haviland Companies
by Office Manager | Mar 13, 2024 | Community, Events, Jobs, Workforce
ANTWERP, OH – The Paulding County Business Advisory Council (BAC) met at Antwerp Manor Assisted Living facility on Wednesday, March 6th, headed by Tim Copsey, Paulding County Economic Development Director to discuss initiatives focused on collaboration between local businesses and schools for the betterment of Paulding County. The meeting kicked off with a welcome and introduction of 22 attendees, including Lu Cooke, Northwest Regional Liaison Lt. Governor’s Office, and Mike Weible, Paulding County Commissioner.
Key agenda highlights included:
Mission Statement Update: Tom Taylor of Western Buckeye ESC and Tim Copsey, PCED Director, spearheaded efforts to refine the BAC Mission Statement for submission to the state. The goal is to ensure collaboration with the steering committee in shaping the business advisory council’s future direction.
Spring SuccessBound Event: Rhonda Hogrefe of Northwest Ohio College TechPrep invited BAC members to the upcoming Spring SuccessBound event at Terra State on April 26th. The event will facilitate discussions and strategies for education and workforce.
Paulding County Career Expo: Kristen Schilt shared details about the upcoming Paulding County Career Expo, highlighting opportunities for businesses to engage with students. Interested businesses are encouraged to reach out for participation.
Teacher Bootcamp: Lu Cooke announced Teacher Bootcamp funding was available again from the state. They recognize the importance of this program and advocated for it. Paulding County Teacher Bootcamp is scheduled for June 3-6 & 13th. The event, in collaboration with Ashland University, offers educators and businesses a way to connect and learn from each other all while earning continuing education credit.
Education Updates:
- Wayne Trace Junior/Senior High School received a $2.4 million grant from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce to enhance STEAM programs and facilities.
- Paulding High School is organizing a community clean-up day on April 29th, providing students with opportunities for community service and engagement. In addition to an update on the Panthers for Careers program.
- Antwerp High School is launching an Archer Career Advantage Program this fall to expose seniors to career exploration opportunities.
- Vantage Career Center is experiencing record-high applications. There is also a need for adult education instructors.
- Northwest State Community College shared an update on the new Van Wert campus.
The meeting also addressed topics such as Ohio TechCred sign-ups, the need for residential housing, and discussions around other career development initiatives.
The next quarterly meeting is scheduled for June 8th at Mercer Landmark Latty. For more information about the Paulding County Business Advisory Council please reach out to the economic development office at 419-399-8295 or office@pced.net.
