• Local and Southwest Wyoming employers feature careers and jobs!

The High-Altitude Trade Expo included Star Valley on the list of springtime educational based presentations.

The trades job fair was the combined work of the Southwest Wyoming Manufacturing Partnership (SWMP) and Lincoln County School District No. 2.

Jason Horsely, LCSD No. 2 Director of Education and Star Valley High School Counselor Ben Hale hosted the Tuesday, April 23 event along with Elizabeth Acosta-McCune, Silver Star Communications Vice President of Growth and Advocacy.

Working with SWMP, Acosta-McCune strategically coordinated both large industry and small business for a presentation and individual conversations with students and parents.

For school administration, the event was an opportunity to showcase all that Star Valley and southwest Wyoming has to offer. “We want students to know of the careers and jobs that are available in this area,” Hale said as students stopped at the various business stations displayed in the SVHS rotunda.

He explained, “We’ve had parents saying, ‘this is what we want kids to have and the skills they need to come into the workforce.’ We are excited to have a partnership.”

Acosta-McCune credited SWMP for their efforts to create working partnerships with schools in Wyoming.

“Essentially with the manufacturing partnership, they collaborate with businesses and schools and let them know of the opportunities within the trades; electrical, plumbing architectural and HVAC,” she said. “Simplot is here, genesisalkali, Silver Star. There are a lot of industries and demand for the trades.”

The opportunities are often close to home, as Acosta-McCune pointed to the companies who came to SVHS last Tuesday night to meet directly with students and parents. “We have opportunities right here in our own back yard, especially in Wyoming.”

“Our goal is to educate these students and let them know of the opportunities and keep them close to home and feed the trade economy within the state,” she said. “That’s the goal of why we are here today. We get businesses and students involved. They can look at what opportunities serve their needs and interests.”

Students started meeting with businesses after school and continued into the early evening.

“I love how people are excited about helping our students. They are excited about their future,” Acosta-McCune concluded. “Opportunities and events like this are needed in every community; that is my goal.”

Ron Wild, Regional Business Manager for Rocky Mountain Power and a representative for SWMP said the conversations with students and parents centered on preparing for trade careers as they progress through high school. “With freshman, we continue to work on improving [in the high school years] and with seniors its getting their credentials.”

Wild said SWMP will often help students plan further education if needed and, if they choose, that can be coordinated with Western Wyoming Community College.

U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis sent her Chief of Staff Kirsten Walker to the event in Star Valley where she joined the Senator’s field representative Sarah Hale. Both visited with students and parents at the event.

“Sen. Lummis has made it a priority to recruit interns from across Wyoming,” explained Walker. “We Would welcome interns from Star Valley.”

She recalled how her own professional career developed as a Jackson Hole High School graduate, first working for Wyoming State Representative Clarine Law in Cheyenne and later U.S. Rep. Barbara Cubin in Wyoming and Washington, D.C. “That’s how I got my start.”

She encouraged graduating students to consider an internship with the Senator’s office, noting the possibilities of scholarships with work in the Senator’s office.

Walker now shuttles between Wyoming and Washington D.C. as she fulfills her responsibilities for U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis.