Students ‘kick start’ career search at symposium

 Kenny Fouse greeted people with a smile and firm handshake on Tuesday, April 23, as he visited one business representative after another. The Davenport West High School student was one of about 160 students from eight area schools to attend the first Student Success Symposium event at the RiverCenter in downtown Davenport. Mr. Fouse seemed […]

 Kenny Fouse greeted people with a smile and firm handshake on Tuesday, April 23, as he visited one business representative after another. The Davenport West High School student was one of about 160 students from eight area schools to attend the first Student Success Symposium event at the RiverCenter in downtown Davenport.

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Mr. Fouse seemed to be on a mission to get a start on a possible career. “I’m interested in being a first responder or another job in the health field. I’m just looking for information,” the student said right after he talked with a UnityPoint Health official about jobs in the health care field. The symposium offered young people the chance to visit with around 30 business and agency leaders and talk about careers, attend workshops and listen to a motivational speaker who encouraged them to work hard, study hard and get ready for fulfilling careers. “I hope they see there is opportunity right here in our region. … This is an event to kickstart the career exploration,” said James Porter, vice president of talent and inclusion for the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce. The symposium was presented by the chamber, with help from sponsors, including the Moline Regional Community Foundation, United Way Quad Cities and the RiverCenter. Many of the business reps at the Tuesday event said they enjoyed visiting the students, and hoped they provided some valuable information to help the young people down a career path. One of those helping students was Holly Katko, an author and CEO of U-Connect, Inc., which offers business consulting, training, business coaching and more. In addition to telling students about her business, Ms. Katko gave away copies of her book “Entrepreneur You,” which gives tips to start and run a company. Instead of working for a company, Ms. Katko was telling students to follow their dreams and perhaps start up their own companies. “I want them to realize they can start their own business,” Ms. Katko added. “They can follow their passions.” Near Ms. Katko’s table, students also got lessons on becoming a plumber, electrical work and financial institutions One of those financial institutions – DuTrac Community Credit Union – brought the company’s new mobile branch banking vehicle to show students. The  29-foot-long small RV type vehicle offers banking services. It has been in service in the region since March and has received an overwhelmingly positive response from the public, DuTrac workers said.  Kris Walter, a human resources leader with DuTrac, said she hoped students on Tuesday would get a chance to look over the new mobile banking vehicle and learn about some of the opportunities available to them in the financial services world. Just a few feet away from DuTrac, Ssgt. Jacob Sperr, a recruiter with the U.S. Marines Corps, was telling students about the opportunities available in a different world – serving in the military. “I’m here to answer questions and show them what’s available,” he said. Early into the Tuesday symposium, the Marine recruiter was visited by a group of students. He tried his best to convince them of the virtues of training hard and pushing yourself to achieve great things. “All it takes is a little dedication to yourself,” he told the students. In addition to visiting possible employers, the students attended four workshops to help them to build their personal brand, create an “elevator pitch” about themselves for employers, personal finance and a college student panel. Students also listened to a powerful keynote presentation made by motivational speaker Andre Norman. Mr. Norman told the students about his tough journey from crime, chaos and violence to a successful life. He talked about going from illiteracy to gang activity to eventually being sentenced to more than 100 years in prison.  He eventually transformed his life. He taught himself to read, to understand the law. And after winning his appeal, he walked out of prison in 1999 after serving 14 years and eventually went to Harvard University. Since that time, he has become known as the “ambassador of hope” as he shares stories from his journey. On Tuesday, Mr. Norman gave tips to the students on how to start their own business and find success in the world. “You matter. You can be a success,” he told the students. Event organizers, such as Mr. Porter, said they hope many of the students at Tuesday’s event find success in the Quad Cities with local jobs. One of the presenters showing students some of those jobs was Jessi Weaver, a recruiter with UnityPoint Health. During the early hours of the symposium, she had just got done talking to a group of Davenport West High School students, that included Kenny Fouse, when more students headed for her table to ask her about jobs. “I want students to know there’s a lot more to health care than just bedside (jobs). …. It’s good to show them they can get their foot in the door here,” she added.