Students Participate in Five-County Transition Expo

 

The Five-County Transition Expo, hosted by OOD, the Southern State Community College, local OhioMeansJobs centers, and the Ohio Department of Education Region 14 Transition Council, was held at the Southern State Community College in Hillsboro on Friday, March 3, 2023. This annual event included 269 students from 15 different school districts from Adams, Brown, Highland, Clinton, and Fayette counties.

 

“Thank you to all of the partners involved, including local county boards of developmental disabilities and schools, for providing this excellent opportunity for students with disabilities to prepare for employment after high school,” said Kevin Miller, Director of OOD. “The sessions not only energized the students but also helped prepare them with valuable information they can begin to use now to be ready for their future careers.”

 

Students took part in sessions including “Elevator Speeches,” “Don’t Meet your Honey Where you Make Your Money,” “Don’t Be a Boo at Your Interview,” “Project Runway or Project Run Away,” and exhibitor visits.

 

Employer partners, area businesses, and educational and community organizations present at the expo included Great Wolf Lodge-Mason, University of Cincinnati Clermont College, Shawnee State University, Nestle Purina, Alta Fiber, The Reserves Network, OOD, Southern Hills Career and Technical Center - Project Life, Elite Welding Academy, Southern State Community College, Kings Island, Cox Paving, Great Oaks Career Campuses - Project SEARCH, Laurel Oaks Career Campus - Career X Program, Amazon, Lowe's of Hillsboro, GE Aerospace, Rural King of Hillsboro, OhioMeansJobs (Adams, Brown, and Highland Counties), Paint Creek Joint EMS/Fire District, Highland County Community Action Organization, Inc. - Workforce Special Services, and the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

 

“It’s a way for students to participate in a job fair experience, getting to talk to employers from their community, as well as being actively involved in the learning sessions,” said Amy Bradford, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. “Students were able to explore opportunities in fields of interest, as well as ask questions about possible job opportunities.”

 

“The students gained a better idea of services that OOD is able to offer them, asked really good questions, and were receptive to the idea of help with employment skills,” explained Vicki Grozier, Sr. Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor.

 

Special thanks to the following OOD staff who contributed to the success of this event: Kim Colyer, Cynthia Crews, Amy Bradford, Paetra Flaspohler, Michelle Dool, Angie Hodges, Ben Alexander, Jim Minutilli, Darren Glass, Lauren Saleba, Abbie Wallace, Lori Case, Tami Fultz, Vicki Grozier, Kayleigh Jones, Jennifer St. Clair, Kerri Stickney, Anne Marie Filo, Ruth Sestito, Kyna Johnson, Crystal Pearson, Sonya Hill, Jennifer Pitman, Casey Jones, Katie McMahan, Vanessa Elliott, Amanda Smith, Kristie Wilson, Kya Achtermann, Jennifer Roeder, Tovara Gray, Natalie Smith, Wendy Taylor, Jerica Kruse, Jacob Karnes, Michelle Rinehart, Kristen Ballinger, and OOD Director Kevin Miller.