The Northeastern Workforce Development Board (NWDB) presented three posters to Dare County Schools in February as part of its #worklocal initiative. The #worklocal Initiative was created by the NWDB to encourage local high school students to seek employment within growing career fields located in Northeastern NC. Emily Nicholson, Assistant Director of the NWDB states: “High retirement risks and very slow population growth continues to leave serious gaps in our employers’ labor pools. This initiative is one of the many methods we can use to help fill these gaps to ensure sustainable and strong local economies for today and tomorrow.”
The NWDB identifies local graduates from each high school within its regional domain who have succeeded in their field and are a source of inspiration to the next workforce generation. Photographer Kip Shaw of Edenton photographs the chosen graduates and they are then featured on large metal posters with the intent of being hung on the walls of the high schools from which they graduated.
The graduates featured on the #worklocal initiative posters representing Dare County are Matthew Burrus Nuckles, QMED Oiler with the NC DOT Ferry Division; Lisa Sabatic, LPN at the Outer Banks Hospital Urgent Care Center & Family Medicine; and Kirsten Turonis Bissell, Internet Sales Manager & Wind Art/Kite Buyer of Kitty Hawk Kites, Inc. Having succeeded in their field, each of these graduates embody the tenets of the #worklocal initiative and represent examples of job opportunities available to students in Dare County.
Present at the event were Dr. John Donlan, Director of Career and Technology Education for Dare County Schools; Beth Rooks, Principal of Cape Hatteras Secondary School; the Career Development Coordinators of Dare County Schools, Tara Wheeler of Manteo High School, Suzanne Jeanette of Cape Hatteras Secondary School, and Duke Wallin of First Flight High School. Also present were local community leaders, Kenny Kee of the Dare County NCWorks Career Center; David Whitmer, Director of the Northeastern Workforce Development Board; Emily Nicholson, Assistant Director of the Northeastern Workforce Development Board; members of the Dare County School Board and the Board of Commissioners.
To learn more about the #worklocal initiative go to www.nwdbworks.com.
