I haven't had much time in the office today because I had to attend my first WIB meeting.


The Workforce Investment Board is a committee of business people from both Cumberland and Salem Counties. It is comprised of somewhere between 31 to 51 individuals - some from large employers and some from small employers. For some reason, the Salem County Freeholders decided they wanted a Realtor on the board.

Since I don't seem to be able to say, "No" these days to requests for volunteering, here I am learning about WIB.

Today's meeting focused on some new programs at the Salem Community College. http://www.salemcc.edu/ SCC has some new, exciting programs for students like: Sustainable Energy Technology and Nuclear Energy Technology. It sounds to me like there will be a good number of GOOD jobs in the very near future. I believe SCC is one of only 6 institutions offering these degrees right now.

Another part of the meeting today highlighted Salem & Cumberland's 'One Stop Career Centers'. Boy are these offices in demand right now. The career centers help high school students, young adults who are out of school, returning adult students and even displaced adults. I'm pretty sure that most folks in my area don't even know about these services.
www.salemcc.edu/salem/one-stop.html

So, please do me a favor and spread the word. If you know anyone in this area who is struggling in a dead-end job and wants to change professions, has recently been laid off or is disabled.........there is help out there for them. Please have them call SCC @ 856-299-2100 - ask for the One Stop Career Center. Or feel free to call me, Chris Hooks @ 856-628-2710. Email works to: askchris@coldwellbanker.com

Now that I'm a WIB Board member, I should know where to point them. Best Wishes