Job fair aims to help vets find employment

Company representatives met with veterans who were aiming to find jobs at the Veterans Reverse Job Fair.

Representatives from companies such as Lubrizol, Swagelok and Component Repair Technologies met with veterans who were aiming to find jobs at the Veterans Reverse Job Fair.

The job fair, held April 26 at the Willoughby Senior Center, was designed to give veterans seeking employment a chance to present and market themselves to a variety of potential employers.

American Legion Post 214 of Willoughby partnered with Ohio Means Jobs to host the job fair.

This event differed from more traditional job fairs in which job seekers come in to talk with employers who set up booths or tables. At the reverse job fair, the veterans who are the job seekers set up display booths, and representatives of companies seeking employees walk around talking to the job seekers.

Prior to the event, the veterans were able to meet with Michelle Stowe-Caya, veteran outreach program specialist with Ohio Means Jobs — Lake County, and polish their resumes, work on interview skills and create the boards that displayed their skills and accomplishments.

Sue Fratino, president of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 214, came up with the idea for the reverse job fair when she realized there was a disconnect with soldiers upon returning to civilian life, or returning home from deployment.

Veterans like Luther Sawicki cite their age as being one of the barriers they face.

“Part of the problem is that I’m 50,” Sawicki said.

Sawicki, who served in the Navy for 21 years and currently holds the position of commander for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Ohio, 7th District, is looking for work in the environmental safety field.

He said contracts are few and far between in Ashtabula, where he resides, so he has to come to Lake and Cuyahoga counties to look for work.

Veteran Paul Criss of Painesville, who served four years in the Marines, attended the job fair because he is tired of sitting around and needs to find work. Criss, who served as a machinery repairman, stated he was laid off over a year ago and his unemployment has run out. He has had no luck finding working work as a machinist.

Criss noted that prospects looked good at the job fair.

LaVonna Bell, a licensed practical nurse, participated in the job fair for a chance to better herself and explore her options.

“Being a nurse could open lots of doors for me for employment opportunities,” Bell said. “I am meeting lots of interesting people.” Bell who served in the Army as a military police officer in Germany, said there are two possibilities found at the job fair that she will be looking into.

Joe Rinella, a Vietnam era veteran and 38-year employee at Lubrizol, attending the event looking to fill some openings at the specialty chemical company that’s based in Wickliffe. Lubrizol, with the Mili-vets organization, tries to hire veterans as a first priority.

“I’m very impressed with the very fluent individuals we have talked to so far and we have a few more to talk to,” Rinella said. “Hopefully we find something for these candidates.”

Jeremy Tomsic of Component Repair Technologies in Mentor came to the job fair hoping to fill a variety of openings at the company.

The company, which refurbishes gas turbines, requires employees with a very specific set of skills and training. Tomsic states that 15 percent of the company’s current employees are veterans.

“Prospects look good here,” Tomsic said. “They are trainable and aggressive for employment.”

Cassandra McClelland of Swagelok, which is based in Solon, said there were three veterans selected to be brought into to the company for an on-site interview.

There were 12 veterans who exhibited to 17 potential employers during the reverse job fair, which included a lunch for each of the participants donated by Mr. Chicken.

Although not confirmed yet, organizers Bob and Sue Fratino would like to see the Veterans Reverse Job Fair become an annual event.

“They sacrificed so much for us,” Bob Fratino said. “The least we can do is help them find a job.”

KRISTI GARABRANT — THE NEWS-HERALD Paul Criss, left, a former Marine, talks with Jeremy Tomsic of Component Repair Technologies in Mentor, during the Veterans’ Reverse Job Fair.

KRISTI GARABRANT — THE NEWS-HERALD LaVonna Bell, right, an Army veteran, talks with Judy Zamlen-Spotts, outreach coordinator of Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, during the Veterans’ Reverse Job Fair, at the the Willoughby Senior Center.

KRISTI GARABRANT — THE NEWS-HERALD Representatives of area businesses with positions to fill talk with veterans who have set up displays to showcase their skills during the Veterans Reverse Job Fair.