Kish Career Link Workforce Development Program Begins October 1st
The City of Rochelle, in partnership with Rochelle Township High School, Kishwaukee College, and the Greater Rochelle Economic Development Corporation (GREDCO), is pleased to announce the October 1st implementation of Kish Career Link.
Kish Career Link (KCL) is a web-based, career planning and exploration tool which connects area high school and community college students with area employers. KCL significantly enhances Career Cruising (which is currently being used by over 4000 students in Ogle and Dekalb counties and by over 1 million high school students nationwide) by adding an “employer module”. This module allows students to investigate local jobs and careers, as-well-as participate in activities such as online message-board discussions, mock interviews, internships, summer jobs and scholarship opportunities with those same companies.
According to Jamie Craven, Superintendent of Rochelle Township High School, this program is a real plus for local students. “There’s been an information gap between the schools and local industry. There are tremendous job and career opportunities right here in the Rochelle area. Kish Career Link bridges that gap. We see it as ‘Preserving our intellectual integrity. Grow our own . . . keep our own’”
Local employers are just as enthusiastic. Bonnie Boehle, HR Director for Ryder Logistics Control immediately saw the benefits. “Kish Career Link gives employers the opportunity to connect with an untapped group of future job hunters. Students can now explore job opportunities at Ryder and see what we have to offer through learning activities such as career coaching, job shadowing, internships, and company tours. We are proud to be a sponsor and look forward to working with our students.” Ryder Logistics Control (RLC) is a part of the familiar Ryder corporate name and manages the Rochelle food warehouses at Ryder, Sara Lee, and Bay Valley Foods. Nearly 500 employees work at these three facilities, which include warehouse, office, administrative, and professional-level jobs and careers.
The “employer module” enhancement is growing in popularity. The Quad Cities at the Illinois-Iowa border have recently implemented the program, and North Carolina has done the same on a statewide basis. Michelle Pease, program administrator for KCL at Kishwaukee College hopes to have Dekalb and Sycamore employers on board by the end of the year. “By partnering with Dekalb-Sycamore, we open up the employer module to students in all of Ogle and Dekalb Counties. This gives area students an even broader base of industries and companies to investigate for careers, while still maintaining the goal of local workforce development.”
As Economic Development Director for the City of Rochelle, Jason Anderson sees the program as a boost to both economic and community development. “Kish Career Link brings to Rochelle what both our students and industry are asking for, workforce development leading to great careers. This program helps the Rochelle area to invest in the Rochelle area. What more could we ask for?”
To get the program going, these Rochelle-area businesses agreed to fund the program for the first three years: City of Rochelle, FBC Industries, Fehr-Graham, Focus House, Maplehurst Farms, Nippon Sharyo, Ryder Logistics Control, RMU, Rochelle Chamber of Commerce, Rochelle Rotary Club, Roy’s Transfer, along with Mike and Sherry Pierce. Anyone wishing to participate or with questions can contact the GREDCO office at 815-562-7595.