Linking Employers with their Future Workforce
Rochelle, IL. – Kish Career Link! Up and running in Rochelle!
The City of Rochelle, in partnership with Rochelle Township High School, Kishwaukee College, and the Greater Rochelle Economic Development Corporation (GREDCO), held a kick-off breakfast to celebrate the recent start of Kish Career Link – a new workforce and community development program.
Area students and employers will benefit greatly from Kish Career Link (KCL), a web-based, career exploration and planning tool. KCL significantly enhances Career Cruising (currently available to over 4000 students in Ogle and Dekalb counties) by adding an “employer module” which allows students to investigate local jobs and careers, and then interact with these employers in activities such as online message-board discussions, job shadowing, company tours, internships, summer jobs and scholarship opportunities. Over 40 Rochelle employers are currently participating, and the number continues to grow.
Jamie Craven, Superintendent of Rochelle Township High School, calls this program 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 manages the Rochelle food warehouses at Ryder, Sara Lee, and Bay Valley Foods. Nearly 500 employees work at these three facilities, which include warehouse, administrative, and professional-level careers.
To get the program going, several 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. Kish Career Link is currently available to Ogle and Dekalb County students.
Anyone wishing to participate or with questions can contact the GREDCO office at 815-562-7595.