Job fair draws 400 to Perrysburg venue

50 staff agencies, employers at Career Expo 2012

Tim Martin of Delta, left, discusses what opportunities he might have at Republic Steel of Lorain, Ohio, with Republic representatives Jim Hardy, center, and Debbie Sayre. The Blade sponsored the job fair.

THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER
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Tim Martin of Delta, left, discusses what opportunities he might have at Republic Steel of Lorain, Ohio, with Republic representatives Jim Hardy, center, and Debbie Sayre. The Blade sponsored the job fair.

Recently laid off, Kim Reed isn't thrilled about what she sees in the Toledo job market, but she is not about to give up.

"I don't see it very good," the Toledo woman said Thursday. "I don't know if it's better anywhere else, but you've just got to get out there and see what there is."

She was one of about 400 people who had filed through the door halfway through the Career Expo 2012 at the Holiday Inn French Quarter in Perrysburg. Organizers were expecting to see about 1,000 job seekers for the day. The event was sponsored by The Blade.

Ms. Reed had worked seven years for her previous employer, but lost her job at the end of March when the company relocated her office to Chicago. She said she had sent out a lot of applications and was making some contacts at the expo.

In spite of her negative view of the job market, she said it was somewhat encouraging to see that there wasn't a line of job-seekers stretching out the door.

Nearly 50 staffing agencies and local employers were set up at the expo, looking to fill positions ranging from fast-food service to engineering.

Mathews Ford Oregon was looking for auto body technicians and painters to fill upcoming jobs for a planned body shop expansion expected to break ground this summer.

Cheryl Van Allen, Mathews body shop manager, said she figures to eventually hire two of each.

"It's been very successful so far," she said of the fair. "I've gotten quite a few resumes, and I'm real hopeful we'll find somebody."

Tracey Haynes of Maumee, left, questions representatives of Sunshine Inc. of Northwest Ohio about job openings with the nonprofit. Assisting her are Jim Bell, second from left, program director, Arlene Hopkins, recreation staff manager, and Theresa Ginter, Sunshine's hiring manager.

Sunshine Inc. of Northwest Ohio, a nonprofit organization that provides housing and work for people with developmental disabilities, needs to fill several open positions. Representatives from Sunshine said the job fair is a good way to recruit both employees and volunteers.

Hiring manager Theresa Ginter said she had collected about 20 applications and had interest from people ranging from recent college graduates to people who found themselves out of corporate-type jobs and looking for a change of pace.

Toledoan Kimberly Temple has been working a part-time job with Teaching and Mentoring Communities, teaching children of migrant workers, but the hours aren't enough to raise a family on. She has two children of her own, and is also raising her nephew, she said.

Ms. Temple said she graduated from Spring Arbor University in Michigan in 2010 with a bachelor's degree in family life education, and she also has an associate's degree in early childhood education.

"I'm out here hoping to find something working with families, linking them to resources," she said. "I'm pretty open. I'd like to do something with more case management, but I'm always willing to try different experiences."

Contact Tyrel Linkhorn at: tlinkhorn@theblade.com or 419-724-6134.