Hawthorne Hosts Educators in the Workplace with Opportunity Squared and Indian Hills Community College

Karla Crawford Kerr (Sr. Director of Marketing) addresses attendees.

Hawthorne participated in the Educators in the Workplace with Opportunity Squared (regional economic development partnership) and Indian Hills Community College on June 13. Hawthorne was part of the featured four days of tours, presentations and Q&A with area businesses and industry partners, concentrating on the present and evolving needs of the ever-changing workforce. The audience of approximately 35 included teachers, administrators, guidance counselors and other student-based instruction personnel.

Joshua Laraby of the Fairfield Economic Development Association said, “The program gets teachers into Fairfield companies and allows them to understand both what the local companies provide and what career opportunities are available to the young minds they are in front of every day in the classroom.”

Participants at Hawthorne were greeted by Tammy Shull (Executive Director, Administration & Human Resources) and Mandy Wagler (Media Operations Manager) and then taken on tours of the facility by Novena Cole (Director of Accounting), Karla Crawford Kerr (Sr. Director of Marketing) and Shull. Crawford Kerr provided an overview of the company and Cole then led a panel discussion of managers featuring Charles Brader (Senior Network/System Administrator), Robert Gottshall (Director of Information Services), Crawford Kerr, Shull and Wagler. The program concluded with insights for the teachers to share with their students, from Ian Gottshall (Intern) and recent college graduate and hire Jordan Appel (Revenue Accountant).

Shull said, “There was open dialogue, exchanging of information and discussions of future job shadowing opportunities. We enjoyed hosting the Educators in the Workplace and look forward to shared opportunities with Opportunity Squared, Indian Hills Community College and our area educators. Hawthorne’s commitment to our community and young people are truly top priorities for our CEO Jessica Hawthorne-Castro.”

Nate Miller, Coordinator, High School Programs for Indian Hills said, “This unique experience has a simple goal-provide educators with exposure to industrial and manufacturing jobs right here in the southeast Iowa regional so that they have a better understanding of the jobs available to their students. Even if those students don’t have college plans, there are many options for high-paying, long term careers in manufacturing and industrial sectors.”