Cascade Engineering, School Leaders Join In Effort To Help Companies Become Career Builders For Youth

Sept. 22 Gathering Seeks To Create Network Of Firms Providing Opportunities For Students, Educators

Grand Rapids, MICHIGAN — Nearly 50 major companies are expected to be represented at a breakfast on Sept. 22, 1999, to extend the newly developing a network of companies providing career development opportunities such as mentoring, job-shadowing and internships for local high school students.

The breakfast will be conducted from 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. at the Learning Community of Cascade Engineering, which has organized the event in cooperation with the Kentwood, Caledonia and Forest Hills school districts.

Those invited include Bank One, Spectrum Health, Fox 17, Amway, Clipper, Laser Alignment, the West Michigan Whitecaps, Clear Channel Radio, Merrill Lynch, Spartan Stores and many others.

Virtually every followup call has resulted in a commitment to attend, said Kathy White, coordinator of volunteer partnerships for Forest Hills Public Schools.

“This signals a tremendous willingness on the part of business leaders to do their part in developing tomorrow’s work force,” White said. “They understand that everyone benefits from such an effort.”

White said Cascade Engineering was a natural company to lead the effort.

“Cascade has been a committed leader in this area,” White said “They can tell a wonderful story of what it’s like to work with students in this way, and can answer any question from any company about how to do this and do it right.”

Fred Keller, CEO of Cascade Engineering, said he hopes many local companies will enjoy working with students as Cascade has.

“We have taken part in programs like this because we believe businesses need to be leaders in building a sustainable community, and helping to develop the local work force is an important part of that effort,” Keller said. “I know many other business leaders feel the same way, as evidenced by the enthusiastic response to this event. We have had some wonderful experiences that we would like to share.”

White said she hopes the companies who participate in the breakfast will become missionaries to the rest of the business community, creating an ever-expanding group of companies providing learning experiences such as mentoring, job-shadowing, off-site classes at business locations, e-mail resources and internships to students and staff in all Kent County school districts.

Cascade Engineering’s Learning Community is located at 5251 36th Street S.E.

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