Cedar Rapids, Iowa (May 11, 2017)—Kirkwood Community College will hold the first workforce All Stars of the Creative Corridor celebration on Thursday, May 25. The event honoring young people making an impact in Eastern Iowa’s key industries, brings occupations with shortages to the forefront in an effort to grow talent pipelines.
Since 2011 the college has been part of Iowa’s sector partnership initiative, which brings together educational institutions, community partners, workforce developers and businesses within the same industry to overcome workforce challenges. Kirkwood belongs to the six partnerships from key industries in Eastern Iowa: advanced manufacturing; architects, construction and engineering (ACE); customer service, insurance and financial services; healthcare; information technology; and transportation and logistics. Representatives from more than 120 businesses participate, focusing on building awareness, career pathway development, government advocacy and training.
“We wanted to do our part to shed light on area job opportunities, with the hopes of filling positions and keeping people in Iowa,” said Senior Corporate Training Director Amy Lasack. “The All Stars project is actually threefold. The event gives recognition to promising individuals, 35 years old and younger, from each industry. We’ve also created a magazine and occupational videos featuring our honorees to promote high-demand positions to job seekers and influence high school students.”
Thirteen individuals will be honored at the Kirkwood Center on Thursday, May 25, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Award winners: Director of Virtual Design and Construction Brandon Minnick – Modern Piping, Superintendent Besnik Mucogllava – Woodruff Construction, Operator Cassie Ellis – Frontier Co-op, Operations Assistant Amber Westemeier – Raining Rose, Marketing Director Amanda Wendling – BerganKDV, Account Support Adviser Natasha Leiran – GreatAmerica Financial, Nurse April Golwitzer – Unity Point, St. Luke’s Hospital, Registered Dietitian Sara Wattnem – Virginia Gay Hospital Clinics, Senior Development Operations Programmer Matt Lapka – MediRevv, K-12 Education Coordinator Samantha Dalhby – NewBoCo, Director of Operations for After Hours Phil Reges – CRST Expedited, Human Resource Manager Makenzie Kimm – JMS Trucking and Engineering Intern Trent Brandenburg – Hall & Hall Engineering.
*****EVENT*****
What: All Stars of the Creative Corridor
When: Thursday, May 25
Where: The Kirkwood Center
Time: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Cost: $49/person or $400/table of 10
Register: 319-398-1022