VenangoREADY Educator Expo • April 10
The Venango Chamber is excited to host the 4th Annual VenangoREADY Educator Expo on Thursday, April 10, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Oil Region Venango Campus.
Designed to bridge the gap between educators and employers, the VenangoREADY program helps students discover meaningful career opportunities right here in the Venango region. This open-house event invites educators from 10 local schools to connect with employers, who will be stationed at informational tables. It’s a unique opportunity for school staff to learn about the diverse career pathways available to their students.
Employers interested in participating (there are different ways!) can check out the insert and reach out to Kat at kthompson@venangochamber.org or call (814) 676-8521 for more information.
Don’t miss the chance to be part of this impactful event!
Pictured: Kelly Lander, President of Pepro gives tour to a group of teachers.
Celebrating Manufacturing and Skilled Trades: The First Komatsu Manufacturing Skills Kompetition
The Manufacturing Skills Kompetition, held on February 12, at the Venango Technology Center in Oil City was a huge success. This event brought together skilled tradespeople, local manufacturers, and the community to celebrate the importance of skilled trades and local manufacturing.
Organized by Komatsu employees, the event featured 11 participants from 4 local technical high schools competing in welding and machining. Its goal was to promote skilled trades as rewarding careers and strengthen ties between manufacturers, the community, and educators. Senior vocational students competed for scholarships, certificates, or tool packages to support their careers. The event reflected Komatsu’s dedication to its products, community, and skilled trades through a fun and inspiring initiative.
The highlight of the event was the competitions. In welding, participants demonstrated precision and skill with intricate welds, while machining participants used mill and lathe equipment to create complex, accurate parts.
The event also provided valuable networking opportunities, connecting students from four local technical schools (Venango Technology Center, Mercer County Technology Center, Crawford County Career Center, and Clarion County Career Center) with local employers and manufacturers.
The Komatsu Manufacturing Skills Kompetition showcased talent, built community connections, and promoted skilled trades. Future editions promise even greater impact! We love to see these collaborations between employers, educators, and students!
Pictured: Winners of the Welding and Manufacturing Competition
Career Events Calendar: Connect with the future workforce!
3/20/25 | OCHS: Career & College Fair
• Contact: Bill Burkett, bburkett@mail.ocasd.org
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 March 2025 VenangoWorks! Newsletter.