The Career Program is a comprehensive initiative to maintain a viable future workforce. The program seeks to educate students, teachers, counselors and workforce development allies about the careers available in Winchester-Frederick County and the necessary education, skills, and curriculum pathway needed to support the community’s existing businesses.
CAREER AWARENESS TOURS
The Career Awareness Tours is the longest running initiative within the comprehensive Career Awareness Program. The initiative features tours of area businesses for middle and high school students, teachers, and counselors. The program has been held annually for more than ten years, a span that has seen participation numbers double.
More than twenty companies open their doors each year, including companies like Kraft Foods, New World Pasta, Quad/Graphics, SpecialMade Goods & Services, SusQtech, Southeastern Container, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Winchester Metals.
Students attending in 2000: 125
Students attending in 2011: 477
Teachers/Counselors attending in 2000: 55
Teachers/Counselors attending in 2011: 183
VIP BUSINESS TOURS
The VIP Business Tours have been held annually for eight years and feature two selected businesses along with a keynote luncheon addressing a current workforce development topic. The event allows local, regional, and state politicians, workforce development allies, and education decision makers with an inside look at the area’s businesses so that they can see how education curriculum directly reflects skills and education utilized in the workplace.
Keynote luncheons have featured speakers from the corporate level of Kraft, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Valley Health Systems, American Woodmark, O’Sullivan Films, and Yount, Hyde & Barbour, among others.
Decision makers attending in 2003: 44
Decision makers attending in 2011: 87
VIP TOUR SURVEY RESULTS (2011)
| Survey Question | Yes 2011 | Very Satisfied 2010 |
| Did the event meet your expectations? | 100% | 85% |
| Tours provide a clear understanding of careers/education/skills? | 92% | 70% |
| Luncheon panel provided a clear understanding of careers/education/skills? | 89% | 70% |
| Recommend participation in the event to a colleague? | 100% | 84% |
BUSINESS SHOWCASE
The Business Showcase is a display case that includes samples of area products, company job descriptions, wage ranges, and educational requirements. The case rotates among the area’s high schools where students complete surveys about the companies displayed in the case. More than 200 students each year participate in the Business Showcase initiative.
Companies featured in the case include: Executive Protection Systems, Fabritek, O’Sullivan Films, Quad/Graphics, Shockey Companies, Southeastern Container, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Valley Health Systems, and Yount, Hyde & Barbour, among others.
Students participating since the inception of the program: 400+
BUSINESS SHOWCASE SURVEY RESULTS (2011)
I learned new information about area companies by viewing the case: 90%
FUTURE FORCE
Future Force, is an extension of the Career Awareness Program. The video features interviews with eight area business executives and addresses the skills and education backgrounds businesses are seeking from its workforce.
