Careers Made in Marion Expo Highlights Options For High School Seniors

Dozens of exhibitors stand and smile in a group. Various pieces of equipment are around the coliseum, including a fire truck, highway patrol vehicle and more. — The exhibitors smile after talking to hundreds of students. (Photo credit: Chris Heaney, Marion Technical College.)

Hundreds of area high school seniors have the clock ticking to decide what to do after graduation. At the recent Careers Made in Marion Expo, a record 31 employers and educators showcased a variety of options right here in the community, including higher education, the trades, the military and the workforce.

“Marion is growing and thriving. It is fantastic to show so many options available right here in our vibrant community,” said Gus Comstock, executive director of Marion CANDO!, which helps attract businesses to Marion and help those here expand.

Local Schools Supported the Careers Expo

A firefighter helps a student try on the uniform while another student looks on. — A student tries on the firefighter uniform at the Expo.

Seniors came from Elgin, Harding, Pleasant, Ridgedale, River Valley, Tri-Rivers Career Center, TRECA and Buckeye Community School. Exhibitors showed options in finance, manufacturing, logistics, education, public service, the automotive industry, construction, the armed forces and health care.

A student looks on while an adult gesture over a large plastic machine with many gears and moving parts. — A Sakamura representative shows a student a 3-D printed machine.

“It was very useful and interesting,” said one senior from Tri-Rivers.

Representatives from each company or option could speak to small groups and answer individual questions. Tracy Shilling with The Ohio State University at Marion highlighted how engaged the students were with the exhibitors.

“Awesome experience! It helped a lot,” said a senior from River Valley.

“It was laid out great and put together very nicely. It wasn’t packed and had a bunch of useful information,” said a student from Ridgedale.

Thousands of Students Reached Over 5 years

A woman talks behind a table to a group of teenage girls. — A Wyandot Snacks employee explains career options at this 85-year-old local manufacturing plant.

The Made in Marion Expo started in 2019 to highlight all of the manufacturing options available in Marion. In 2023, it evolved to include more fields. Over five years, more than 2,000 local students have had a chance to learn about Marion County’s businesses and industry.

The expo was the brainchild of Tami Galloway, the program manager for America’s Workforce Development Capital, which highlights the many local training options to meet the needs of local businesses and employees.

“The Careers Made in Marion was truly a dream in 2019. This event has evolved into what it is today, a way to connect the immediate future workforce of high school seniors to local employers and demonstrate that should they chose to attend secondary education or enter the workforce after graduation, it is possible to have a lifelong career here in Marion,” Galloway said.

Community Came Together to Host the Careers Expo

A committee from a variety of schools, colleges and agencies made the expo happen. Ohio Means Jobs- Marion County generously rented the Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Marion County Fairgrounds for the space.

A student tries to insert tubes down a dummy's throat while an employee holds the dummy and provides instructions. — A student learns how to open an airway on a dummy.

While many local employers are known for one field, such as manufacturing or health care, the event was an opportunity to highlight the variety of positions at each company, such accounting, engineering, human resources, IT, and marketing.

“The event was an exceptional showcase of the local talent, businesses, innovations, and educational institutions that make the Marion community unique. It was inspiring to see so many local entrepreneurs and industry leaders come together to highlight the products and services that are ‘Made in Marion,’” Shilling said.

Community Benefits Beyond Finding Workers

Exhibitors could not only meet potential workers but they also could learn about the greater business community.

“The organization of the event was impressive as always, with a great variety of exhibitors and informative sessions that provided valuable insights into local industries and educational opportunities for potential students. It was an excellent opportunity for networking and learning about the significant impact businesses in Marion have on the local economy and beyond,” Shilling said.

The Marion County Commissioners passed a resolution in support of the expo.

A group stands in the County Commissioners office and smiles. One holds a proclamation. — Front Row: Commissioner Mark Davis; Tami Galloway, AWDC; Commissioner Kerr Murray, Shelly Dason, Pleasant Schools and MAWAC; Cathy Gerber, The Ohio State University at Marion; Sgt. Avery Sylvester, Ohio Army National Guard
Second Row: Annette Walton, OhioMeansJobs – Marion County; Gus Comstock, Marion CanDo!; Mike Augenstein, Marion Technical College; Tracy Schilling, The Ohio State University at Marion; Steve Ringer, Pleasant Schools and MAWAC; Ron Meade, OhioMeansJobs – Marion County; Todd Martin, North Central Education Service Center (NCOESC); Commissioner Andy Appelfeller.

Full List of Exhibitors

Thank you for supporting these students!

-1St Citizens Bank
-Advantage Early Learning Academy
-ArcelorMittal
–Graphic Packaging
-Marion County Sheriff
-Marion Fire Department
-Marion Logistics
-Marion Technical College
-Mathews Ford
-MEP at Columbus State
-Mid-Ohio Energy
-North Central Ohio Education Service Center (NCOESC)
-Ohio State Highway Patrol
-OhioHealth
-OhioMeansJobs of Marion County
-Park Enterprise and Construction
-Piston Automotive
–POET Biorefining
-Sakamura USA
-Sika
-Silver Line/Cornerstone Windows
-Simcote
–The Forge hosted by the Marion Area Chamber of Commerce
–The Meadows of Marion
–The Ohio State University at Marion
-Tri-Rivers Career Center Adult Education
-Union Tank UTLX
-US Army
-US Army National Guard
–Whirlpool
–Wyandot Inc.

For more info:

Made in Marion Expo Website: Home

America’s Workforce Development Capital | Marion, Ohio

2023: Careers Made in Marion Expo to Highlight Local Job Opportunities | MarionMade

Hundreds of High School Seniors Find Opportunity Close to Home | MarionMade

Empowered by Diversity Expo Encourages Local Students to Chart a Course for a Career | MarionMade

MAWAC | MarionMade

MarionMade! is a program of Marion Technical College.

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