Students, adults and businesses made connections at Wednesday’s Skilled Trades Fair hosted by Dutchess BOCES and Dutchess County Government.
The event, held at BOCES’ Career and Technical Institute (CTI) was a chance for businesses to fill open slots, provide information to students on how best to pursue their career choices, and give adults looking to change careers the information on how to do so.
More than 60 businesses and educational institutions, including BOCES CTI and Adult Learning Institute, set up displays or tables in the school’s hallways as visitors were guided by students from CTI’s Security and Law program.
Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino opened the event, welcoming everyone and praising the work BOCES does in the community.
“Dutchess BOCES is a great community resource - both its Career and Technical Institute and the Adult Learning Institute - for young people and adults to spark their interest and gain the skills they need to join the trades, change careers, or find the most meaningful path for their professional life,” she said, adding that she is grateful to the businesses and organizations who attended.
Jaylen Hamlin is a junior in BOCES’ Trade Electric program. He and his mother attended the event.
“I’m looking for a summer apprenticeship or work to do so I don’t get rusty over the summer,” he said. When he stopped at the Dutchess Community College table, he learned he could take college courses over the summer and that the credits would transfer to a college in the city.
Hamlin also visited tables from MPI, T Webber and more. 
Attendee Shelisha Melton is a certified nursing assistant who “just wants to better myself.”
She stopped at the Primerica table because “she wanted to expand her options.”
Investment adviser Michelle Rawl shared with Melton that Primerica work can be done in addition to her regular job and that the company is looking for advisers.
“It was definitely worth it,” Melton said.
Alex Neal is also in the workforce and is looking for a new career.
“I want something within design, manufacturing, architecture or 3D modeling,” Neal said, adding that he holds a certificate in computer-assisted design and earned an associate degree in business administration from Dutchess Community College.
He spent time speaking with representatives from MPI and Dorsey Metrology.
“This was definitely worth it. The sky’s the limit,” he said.
Many of the businesses and organizations agreed with Neal and Melton’s assessment.
Alycia Parquet, who works at Rini’s Hair Suite, completed her GED program here and was excited to return. She said Rini’s is looking for help and being at the fair allowed her to speak with students interested in cosmetology. “We don’t just let them watch, we let them get hands-on.”
Craig Tompkins, an environmental conservation police officer representing the state Department of Environmental Conservation, said events like this are always valuable.
“Even if it is just to introduce ourselves to someone who hasn’t heard about us makes it worthwhile,” he said.
That is exactly what happened with Noah Flandreau, a welding student at CTI. He and his mother were there to look for information to help him plan his future. They started in the area where welding and construction operations were and worked their way down when his mom spotted an alligator head on Tompkins’ table.
“My mom saw the alligator head and got interested,” Flandreau said.
As Tompkins shared what his job was and some of the benefits, “I got interested as it is all the things I like to do (fish, be outside, ride ATVs, boating). It opened another path and interest and now I know I have a backup.”
For Daniel Salvatore, a project superintendent at PC Construction, being at the fair was a chance to return to the school that laid the foundation for his career.
He completed the Building Specialties program at Dutchess BOCES in 1976, started to work in the field immediately and “hasn’t looked back.”
He had a good flow of students and adults speak with him.
“Some of the students are aware of what they want and came to talk about work, some are still figuring it out. I spoke with some adults who were looking for work, too,” he said.
CTI Principal Nick Millas said he was pleased by the turnout.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the County Executive’s office to put this event on. It shows the shared vision of workforce development for Dutchess County and the recognition of the importance in the investment of our young professionals.”
