This map shows the cities the Chamber traveled to in 2008 and planned cities for 2009. Recruitment trips for 2009 will focus on career expos for those leaving the military for civilian careers and cities with similar industries to Huntsville. Meetings with regional colleges and universities will also be a priority. View larger map »

“When the workforce division was established in 2006, our members said they needed help ‘selling’ the community,” said Jim Bolte, the Chamber’s vice chair for workforce from 2006 through 2008. “We responded with marketing materials aimed specifically at job seekers and with a national awareness campaign to supplement employers’ recruitment efforts.”

To better reach the workforce of tomorrow, the Chamber built relationships through campus recruiting trips to state colleges and universities such as Auburn, University of Alabama and Jacksonville State. Regional universities were also targeted such as the Big Ten schools, Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, North Carolina State, Tennessee Tech, Texas A&M, University of Georgia, University of Texas and Virginia Tech.

To reach experienced workers, the Chamber participated in career fairs in cities with engineering, information technology and advanced manufacturing industry clusters to reach workers with needed skill sets. The Chamber represented its member companies and their open jobs at recruiting events in Austin, Colorado Springs, Los Angeles, Orlando, Phoenix, San Diego, Seattle, the Silicon Valley and Washington D.C. The Chamber also sponsored two recruitment events, in Atlanta and in Austin, to allow job seekers to meet directly with regional employers. All told, the Chamber participated in 30 events aimed at attracting qualified job seekers to the community.

In 2009, the Chamber is focusing on the types of recruitment events that drew the most and the best qualified workers while strengthening relationships with regional universities whose students are most inclined to take jobs in the southeast. Working with Expo Experts – national specialists in engineering, IT and security clearance career fairs – the Chamber has committed to career fairs in Colorado Springs, Dayton, Orlando and Washington, D.C.

The Chamber will also focus on recruiting former military personnel. A year-long advertising campaign in GI Jobs in partnership with 11 local employers will reach 70,000 separating service men and women per month, and the Chamber will participate in both the Military Officers Association of America and the Service Academy Career Conference events in Washington D.C.

“Former military are a great target for our workforce needs,” said Joe Alexander, the Chamber’s vice chair for workforce in 2009. “We have a military-friendly community and a lot of jobs that need their experience, maturity and work ethic.”

The Chamber’s recruitment efforts continue to direct traffic to ASmartPlace.com. The site has had more than 100,000 visits since it was launched in September 2007. Upgrades continue to this site to ensure that it is persuasive to job seekers from across the country. For more information on partnering with the Chamber on recruiting trips or other recruitment activities, contact Mark Brown, recruitment director, at mbrown@hsvchamber.org.

Article by Mark Brown, director of workforce recruitment.