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Chamber offers job seekers a 'fair' chance to find work
By Michael Gresham
Tired of making the daily commute to Dallas? Looking for a better job close to home?
Well then, the Kaufman Chamber of Commerce is putting something together that should interest you.
The Kaufman Chamber of Commerce will sponsor a job fair from 4-7 p.m. Sept. 6 at Kaufman High School.
"This is the first time we've done this, and we're hoping for a good outcome," said Anne Glasscock, president of the Kaufman Chamber of Commerce. "So far the response has been very positive."
According to Glasscock, the idea to hold a job fair first came up as a way to help ABOX, a local industry planning expansion of its facilities in the near future.
"ABOX is expanding, and we offered to help them find new employees," Glasscock said. "We felt that job fair would be a great way to assist ABOX in its search, and we thought it could help other local employers as well as Kaufman area job seekers."
According to Lee Ayres, executive director of the Kaufman Economic Development Corporation, ABOX has been in Kaufman for 30 years, but was purchased three years ago by Keith and Stephanie Thompson.
"ABOX has doubled the number of employees and tripled their gross income in three years under the new owners," Ayres said.
ABOX expansion entails the purchase of $4 million in machinery and equipment and the addition of 20 new employees. ABOX expansion is a win-win situation for Kaufman and the company, Ayres believes.
"The company has one of the highest wage rates in Kaufman, offers a good quality company paid health insurance program and an employee stock ownership program," Ayres explained. "They put no burden on [Kaufman's] water supplies or sewage system, make no significant noise and put nothing smelly or toxic in the air. They are a great community member."
In addition, Ayres pointed out that expansions like the one ABOX plans can benefit the Kaufman community as much as the opening of a new industry.
"More than 80 percent of all new manufacturing and distribution jobs are created from expansion of existing business and industry," Ayres said. "A new location like a Goodyear Tire distribution center makes more headlines, but existing industries create the bulk of capital investment and new jobs."
As far as the job fair is concerned, Glasscock said only businesses that have openings will be participating.
"So far, we have eight local businesses participating, including ABOX, Servants Book Store, the City of Kaufman, Manpower, McDonalds, Alliance Data, Kaufman Health Care and North Central Texas Workforce. We have plenty of space for additional employers if they wish to participate as well."
In addition, the North Central Texas Workforce will be available to register and assist job seekers with training and additional information.
If a local company would like to have a representative participate, a company representative may contact the chamber at 972-932-3118 or e-mail aglasscock@kaufmanchamber.com. There is no cost to employers.
"They will need to set up between 3 and 4 p.m. on Sept. 6 and provide their own table covering, banner, job descriptions, applications and handouts," Glasscock said.
As for would-be job seekers, Glasscock has some simple advice, too.
"As a job seeker, please bring your resume and be prepared to fill out applications," she said. "Dress for success."
Well then, the Kaufman Chamber of Commerce is putting something together that should interest you.
The Kaufman Chamber of Commerce will sponsor a job fair from 4-7 p.m. Sept. 6 at Kaufman High School.
"This is the first time we've done this, and we're hoping for a good outcome," said Anne Glasscock, president of the Kaufman Chamber of Commerce. "So far the response has been very positive."
According to Glasscock, the idea to hold a job fair first came up as a way to help ABOX, a local industry planning expansion of its facilities in the near future.
"ABOX is expanding, and we offered to help them find new employees," Glasscock said. "We felt that job fair would be a great way to assist ABOX in its search, and we thought it could help other local employers as well as Kaufman area job seekers."
According to Lee Ayres, executive director of the Kaufman Economic Development Corporation, ABOX has been in Kaufman for 30 years, but was purchased three years ago by Keith and Stephanie Thompson.
"ABOX has doubled the number of employees and tripled their gross income in three years under the new owners," Ayres said.
ABOX expansion entails the purchase of $4 million in machinery and equipment and the addition of 20 new employees. ABOX expansion is a win-win situation for Kaufman and the company, Ayres believes.
"The company has one of the highest wage rates in Kaufman, offers a good quality company paid health insurance program and an employee stock ownership program," Ayres explained. "They put no burden on [Kaufman's] water supplies or sewage system, make no significant noise and put nothing smelly or toxic in the air. They are a great community member."
In addition, Ayres pointed out that expansions like the one ABOX plans can benefit the Kaufman community as much as the opening of a new industry.
"More than 80 percent of all new manufacturing and distribution jobs are created from expansion of existing business and industry," Ayres said. "A new location like a Goodyear Tire distribution center makes more headlines, but existing industries create the bulk of capital investment and new jobs."
As far as the job fair is concerned, Glasscock said only businesses that have openings will be participating.
"So far, we have eight local businesses participating, including ABOX, Servants Book Store, the City of Kaufman, Manpower, McDonalds, Alliance Data, Kaufman Health Care and North Central Texas Workforce. We have plenty of space for additional employers if they wish to participate as well."
In addition, the North Central Texas Workforce will be available to register and assist job seekers with training and additional information.
If a local company would like to have a representative participate, a company representative may contact the chamber at 972-932-3118 or e-mail aglasscock@kaufmanchamber.com. There is no cost to employers.
"They will need to set up between 3 and 4 p.m. on Sept. 6 and provide their own table covering, banner, job descriptions, applications and handouts," Glasscock said.
As for would-be job seekers, Glasscock has some simple advice, too.
"As a job seeker, please bring your resume and be prepared to fill out applications," she said. "Dress for success."
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