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Lake Geneva plans job 'pep rally'

LAKE GENEVA — Ellyn Katch Kehoe was saddened to see the number of local people without work, and she was surprised to learn that many of them had given up their job searches.

“They are so down, and the game has just started,” she said.

Kehoe wanted to do something to help people—not only to give them an emotional boost but also equip them with tools to find work.

“We really need to have a pep rally around here,” she said. “Let’s give them a pat on the back. Let’s teach them how to look for a job.”

Kehoe started talking to others in the community, and many agreed that such an event would be beneficial for local people who are combing job postings, regardless of whether they recently were laid off or are thinking about changing careers, she said.

Kehoe partnered with the Badger Community Education program at the high school to put together an employment resource fair, which will be Tuesday, July 21.

Speakers include:

-- Becky Wheeler, human resources coordinator at Grand Geneva Resort, who will offer resume and interview tips.

-- J.W. Hyndman, a Badger High School graduate and now a financial adviser at New England Financial in Brookfield, who will discuss networking techniques.

-- Theresa Schuerman of the Walworth County Job Center, who will talk about job search tools.

-- Deb Davidson, vice president of workforce and economic development at Gateway Technical College, who will discuss workforce retraining.

The fair also features hands-on computer lab activities on resume writing and online resume posting. Participants will be given a limited number of printed copies of their resumes. They are encouraged to bring USB flash drives to save their resumes.

Lunch will be provided for participants who reserve spots by Tuesday.

Kehoe believes people without work simply need to be reminded that they need to keep plugging along.

“It’s a terrible feeling (to lose a job),” she said. “I think in some ways there has been a lot of turning away from people who really need a job. But you can’t give up. And we’re here to help people learn how to find a job and get a job.”