Cynthia Goss
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Feb 21, 2012, 6:09 PM
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IYRS Marine Industry Career Day on March 3
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For Immediate Release
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Cynthia Goss (203-453-2731)
Susan Daly (401-848-5777, ext. 220)
IYRS Marine Industry Career Day Takes Place on March 3
Event comes to Rhode Island as uptick in hiring detected in the boating industry
Newport (R.I.) February 14, 2012 — IYRS will hold its annual Marine Industry Career Day on Saturday, March 3. The event will draw employers from throughout the region coming to the school with one goal in mind: to connect with individuals interested in marine industry careers.
Career Day, which is free to the public, takes place at the IYRS Newport campus (449 Thames Street) from 10 AM to 1 PM. In addition to meeting and talking with employers, attendees can attend informative presentations by experts on careers, training and the marine industry.
“Career Day is an invaluable opportunity for those already working in the industry as well as individuals considering a career change,” said Wendy Mackie, CEO of the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association (RIMTA) and a featured speaker at the event. “Attendees will get an overview of career tracks and training opportunities and a rare chance to talk with world-renown business owners and industry leaders. The entire day is focused on giving individuals a chance to network, to learn, and to see how they can fit into this important Rhode Island industry.”
Career Day comes to IYRS as the industry is detecting an uptick in hiring. The tide of downsizing experienced during the latest recession is turning, according to recent surveys and business insiders. A survey of RIMTA members revealed that 42% of the respondents plan to hire full-time, part-time and seasonal employees within the next six months.
Neal Harrell, founder of Newport-based Brooks Marine Group, a recruiting firm that specializes in the marine industry, sees this same uptick on a national scale. This January, his firm announced the addition of two new staff members to help manage the rise in recruitment. The sector Harrell sees most growth in is the demand for skilled tradespeople.
“The demand for skilled tradespeople we are seeing right now is due to two things,” says Harrell. “Companies are reloading their workforce after the cutbacks of recent years; we also have a graying workforce, and new talents are needed to take the place of individuals aging out of our industry’s labor pool.”
Career Day features informative presentations by experts according to the following schedule:
10:30 AM: "The America’s Cup: How Maritime Events Benefit Rhode Island and its Marine Trades"
Keith Stokes, executive director of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC), will take a look at the America’s Cup World Series, which comes to Rhode Island this June, and the economic impact this famed international regatta will have on the state and its marine-trades industry.
11:30 AM: "Funding Your Education: A Guide to Financial Aid"
Debra Huntington, IYRS manager of student affairs, will overview funding options for those planning to enroll in training programs at accredited institutions like IYRS. Her talk will focus on federal and state grant and loan programs, alternative loans, new scholarship opportunities at IYRS, as well as educational benefits for eligible veterans.
12:30 PM: "Career Paths & Opportunities in the Marine Industry"
Wendy Mackie, CEO of RIMTA, will overview career pathways in the marine industry—both for new workers looking for training and an entrée into the field, and for seasoned workers hoping to revitalize their careers. Mackie will also look at the current state of the workforce and what opportunities are prevalent now.
For more information on Career Day on March 3, including a list of companies attending the event, visit www.iyrs.org or contact Clark Poston (clark@iyrs.org / 401-848-5777, ext. 210).
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About IYRS
IYRS offers technical training for individuals interested in working in the marine industry and related fields, with three full-time programs and continuing education courses. The school maintains two campuses in Rhode Island, in Newport and Bristol. Each locale is uniquely suited to the programs offered there. The waterfront campus in Newport is home to the Boatbuilding & Restoration program and includes two historic buildings from 1831 and 1903 and the restoration of the rare 1885 schooner yacht Coronet. The Bristol teaching facility is home to the Marine Systems and Composites Technology programs and is located at the Franklin Street Marine Corridor, a recently developed industrial/educational complex where students mix with marine-industry companies.
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