Live Chats with Local Experts
Throughout the day you will be able to participate in live open chats with experts from the Grand Rapids area. Ask any questions you have during this time and see other questions and responses as well.
10:00am - 10:45am Resume and Interview Best Practices
How long should my resume be? How do I prepare for an interview? Ask questions on resume best practices & standing out in an interview.
Featuring: Kimberly Gleason - Kimberly is a nationally recognized expert and former newspaper columnist of over 80 articles on career and leadership issues and is a certified coach and corporate trainer. See more about her on her website.
11:00am - 11:45am Dress for Success
Wondering what to wear to your next interview? What does business casual really mean? Bring any and all questions about personal image and appearance in the workplace.
Featuring: Meribeth Ver Hulst - Meribeth is a Professional Image Consultant with expertise in the area of motivational speaking, professional presentation, and personal shopping. You may recognize her from her monthly appearances as a "style expert" on WZZM 13's Take 5 & Co.
12:00pm - 12:45pm How to Succeed at a New Job
How do I fit in at a new company? Should I do anything to prepare for a new job? Ask questions on how to bring your best self to work in the first 90 days of a new job.
Featuring: Lorraine Medici - Lorraine is the Director of Training and Development at Express Employment Professionals. She is an Associate Certified Coach and has extensive experience as a personal development coach and workshop facilitator working in the fields of management, sales, education, finance, & human resources.
1:00pm - 1:45pm Advance Your Manufacturing Career
What is the next step in my career? How do I get that promotion? Ask questions on taking your manufacturing, maintenance, or skilled trades job to the next level.
Featuring: Rodney Gyger - Rodney is currently the Maintenance Manager at Roskam Baking Company. He oversees 100 maintenance employees across 5 different manufacturing plants. Rodney started his career off working on a production line, after several years he was able to move into an industrial maintenance position. Rodney has worked in industrial maintenance for over 20 years and has gradually moved his way up in management to the place where he is now.
3:00pm - 3:45pm Employment & Hiring Trends in West Michigan
Do you want to know what skills and jobs are in high demand? Are you an HR professional looking for insights into the hiring market? Ask your questions about the local employment market.
Featuring: Ryan Gimarc - Ryan is the Research Manager at Talent 2025. Everyday Ryan works on researching and uncovering the current trends in the job marketing. He just recently completed a series of business sector focus groups of West Michigan employers to compile the 2015 Talent Demand Report for Talent 2025.
4:00pm - 4:45pm Job Search Techniques
How can networking help me find a job? Are online job boards really the best way to find a new job? Ask questions on techniques to search for a new job and learn what works and what doesn't.
Featuring: Kimberly Gleason - Kimberly is a nationally recognized expert and former newspaper columnist of over 80 articles on career and leadership issues and is a certified coach and corporate trainer. See more about her on her website.
5:00pm - 5:45pm Core Skills for Advanced Manufacturing
What are the core manufacturing skills I need to advance my career? What skills will make me more competitive in today's market? Ask your questions about the core manufacturing skills your need.
Featuring: Lary Shoemaker - Lary is a true expert in advanced manufacturing. Lary worked for over 20 years as a Machinist, Machine Builder, and Plant Manager in various manufacturing environments. For the last 15 years he has dedicated himself to training and developing the next generation of advanced manufacturing talent. He currently leads the Industrial Education Department at Byron Center High School, teaching classes on CAM & CNC, Machine Tool Technology, Technical Drafting, and Manufacturing Engineering.