Families and members of the school community watched the students, who have successfully secured the first step to their future by committing to employment, sign letters of intent. These students have chosen to maximize their high school experience with career training and industry recognized certifications.
Director of CTE Jared Davis said that one of the reasons WSWHE BOCES holds the event is that when he comes into contact with employers and graduates of CTE programs, and they share their experiences with him and other WSWHE BOCES staff, he learned how much CTE programs have added to the local economy and that many local businesses depend on graduates of the BOCES.
“WSWHE BOCES recognizes the increasing demand for a skilled workforce in our region. Signing day is our way of recognizing and thanking our students who are stepping in to meet that need and our business partners that support our students and our programs.”
John Ehntholt, shop manager at Rozell Industries who spoke at the event, told families and students, with 3 million job vacancies in the trades expected in the US by 2028, students should take pride in their work. He told them that they are professionals just like lawyers and teachers.
“Take care of your company and your company will take care of you. Think of your employer as a friend that you are helping out five out of seven days a week. In the workforce we take care of each other,” said Ehntholt.
Thirty seven high school CTE students and seven adult students were recognized. They will be entering employment with the following companies:
Adirondack Studios
ADK Flooring
Alltech Energy Systems
Bast Hatfield Construction, LLC
BDP Industries
Bobcat of Saratoga
Bonacio Construction
DK Machine
Equinox Terrace
Fort Miller Group
Funky Solutions LLC
Glens Falls Pediatrics
Goulds Lawn & Landscape
Haney’s Auto Shop
Hudson Headwaters Health Network
Matt McPadden Builders
Melanie Smith
Miller Mechanical
Monahan Metals
NHKelmans Recycling
OnCall Plumbing and Heating
Pompa Brothers
RM Dalrymple
Rozell Industries
Sara Moore and Charlie Dupuis
Saratoga Honda
Saratoga Medical Associates Community Care Physicians PLLC
Teta's Auto repair
Tiashoke Farm
Town of Greenfield
Tymetal Corp.
Warren Center Rehab
Whitbeck Construction
Employers brought the students tools, t-shirts, hats, and more to show their enthusiasm at having the employees. Doug Ford, vice president of public relations and purchasing at Curtis Lumber presented the students from construction related programs with tool bags compliments of the Northeast Construction Trades Workforce Coalition and Black and Decker.
CTE is thankful to the businesses who have opened their doors to our students and recognize their potential.
According to a workforce study commissioned by the Saratoga Economic Development Corporation, over the next ten years, the regional economy is projected to add another 12,500 jobs, growing by 14% in 2024. An additional 24,900 jobs will have to be filled due to replacement demand, bringing the total number of jobs that need to be filled over the next 10 years to 37,400 or about 3700 jobs a year.
