JobFest Organizers Celebrate Huge Success

JobFest Frenzy - Hundreds of job seekers from all over the state had the chance to interact with over 30 businesses represented at the 2008 JobFest held May 1 in Jack Kilby Square.

JobFest'08 attracted hundreds of job-seekers to downtown Great Bend on May 1. More than 30 businesses reserved booth space for the afternoon/evening event held in Jack Kilby Square.

Organizers prepared and served hamburgers and hotdogs to the first 500 JobFest participants, and gave away large prizes. One of the prizes, a brand new laptop computer donated by CPI Qualified Plan Consultants was given away at the close of the job fair to Great Bend resident, Carol Clifford.

The 38-foot KANSASWORKS Mobile Center was on site, providing 11 computer stations, each with Internet access with links to the state's Public Workforce System. The computers were equipped with software for resume building and other job services to assist job seekers and employers with their job or employee searches. Interpreters were also on hand to assist Spanish-speaking job-seekers.

Clifford's Computer - Great Bend resident Carol Clifford proudly accepts a brand new laptop computer during JobFest '08. CPI Qualified Plan Consultants donated the laptop computer given away on May 1, 2008.

Businesses in attendance included: Doonan Specialized Trailer LLC; Venture Corporation; KMW Ltd.; Dillons Food Stores (sponsor); Central Kansas Medical Center; Rosewood Services (sponsor); City of Great Bend (sponsor); Superior Essex (sponsor); CPI Qualified Plan Consultants Inc. (sponsor); Board of Commissioners for Barton County (sponsor); Ellinwood District Hospital; Team Employment LLC;  Great Bend Packing (sponsor); Sunflower Diversified Services; Innovative Livestock; My Town LLC; Larned Police Department; Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility; Great Bend Industries; Sunrise Staffing Services LLC; Fuller Brush Company; Living Independently in Northwest Kansas (LINK) Inc.; Nex-Tech Wireless; Benefit Management Inc.; Great Bend Recreation Commission; Department of Homeland Security-Border Patrol; Cox Communications; Avon; Great Bend USD 428; Enterprise Rental Car; Barton County Community College.

For more information, call Erin Powers at KANSASWORKS Center, 620-793-5445, or Jennifer Ankerholz at Barton County Community College, 620-792-9349.

May 5 , 2008: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Story by Michael Dawes, mdawes@greatbend.org