Join Us for the 4th Annual VenangoREADY Educator Expo!
The Venango Chamber invites educators and businesses to connect on Thursday, April 10, from 4–6 p.m. at the Oil Region Venango Campus!
• Educators: Explore career paths to share with students.
• Businesses: Showcase opportunities and connect with schools.
• Get involved! Contact Kat at kthompson@venangochamber.org or (814) 676-8521.
Let’s bridge education and industry—register now & spread the word!
Engaging with Youth: A Workforce Development Priority
By Kat Thompson, VenangoREADY Program Manager
Over the past month, I’ve had the privilege of speaking to several high school classes about career readiness and interviewing nearly 40 students. Many of these young individuals are juggling part-time jobs, school activities, and community service. Their drive and commitment are remarkable, but to be truly successful in their chosen career paths, they need continued guidance in developing essential workplace skills. These students are eager to learn, and it’s our responsibility to provide them with the tools and support they need to succeed in their future careers.
The six VenangoREADY attributes—Work Ethic, Tactfulness & Manners, Communication, Teamwork, Critical Thinking & Problem Solving, and Understanding Supervision & the World of Work—are the foundation of career success. As business leaders, educators, and community members, we must model and reinforce these qualities. Are we consistently demonstrating them in our own workplaces? Young employees learn by observing, and it’s up to us to create environments that promote professional growth and development.
Workforce development is not a solitary effort—it’s a shared responsibility. By mentoring students and connecting them with meaningful career opportunities in Venango County, we can build a stronger, more resilient workforce. Businesses play a vital role in this process. You can support these efforts by contributing to our mid-month educational email, which targets teachers, or our quarterly VenangoREADY alumni newsletter, which reaches recent graduates. These resources help students and educators stay informed about career paths, workplace expectations, and the skills needed to thrive in today’s job market.
When we work together, we prepare the next generation for long-term career success while strengthening the foundation of our local workforce. Let’s take this opportunity to build a brighter future—together.
Career Events Calendar: Connect with the future workforce!
4/10/25 | VenangoREADY Educator Expo
Contact: Kat Thompson, kthompson@venangochamber.org
5/9/25 | Valley Grove Elementary: Career Day Event
Contact: Carrie Beightol, cbeightol@staff.vgsd.org
5/14/25 | VTC: Student Employment Event
Contact: Sarah Campbell, scampbell@vtc1.org
5/22/25 | Sandycreek Elementary: Career Day
Contact: Carly Sevin, sevinc@fasd.k12.pa.us
5/23/25 | East Forest: Forest Area Career Day
Contact: Brittany Pasinski, bpasinski@forestareaschools.org
Click here to learn more about VenangoREADY!
This article was published in the Venango Chamber’s April 2025 VenangoWorks! Newsletter.