By Hamilton Richardson
Elmore/Autauga News
Top Photo: Hunter Hills Regional Hiring Event (Buffalo Rock)
They say, “Teamwork makes the Dream Work,” but that isn’t just a saying anymore and that was proven on Monday, March 21 as no less than four local chambers of commerce came together to host a large hiring event at Hunter Hills Church in Prattville. Hundreds of jobseekers attended looking for that next big opportunity.
Central Alabama Works, whose mission is to recruit, train, and empower a highly skilled workforce, partnered with the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Millbrook Chamber of Commerce, the Chilton County Chamber of Commerce and the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce to bring many local employers together at the church and hopefully help residents who have been unemployed, get back to work.
This regional hiring event attracted employers from all industries and areas to bring their open positions and place them before people who really need them.
The Millbrook Chamber highlighted open positions such as a Police Officer, Mosquito Sprayer, Steel Laborer and Animal Control Officer.
“We want to grow the community,” said Millbrook City Clerk Lori Davis about the opportunities with the city.
Ann Harper, Millbrook’s Economic Development Director, said she was happy to be able to collaborate with the other chambers.
Prattville Chamber President Patty VanderWal said, “We are proud to partner with our neighboring Chambers and Central Alabama Works. This joint effort to work together to increase the opportunities for our residents and businesses ensures that we together can strengthen the overall workforce and the economy within our counties.”
Allison Powell, the Prattville chamber’s Marketing and Communications Director added, “It is important for us as a Chamber to respond to the needs of our businesses. With many businesses in our area eager to grow their teams, having a regional hiring event connects them directly with motivated job seekers.”
Kimberly Woodruff with Wetumpka Health and Rehab brought with her several open positions and said that her company also is willing to train those who may not have all the experience necessary but are enthusiastic and willing to learn.
Bianca Brickhouse, Office Manager for Eleven86 Water, and Latoya Hall, the company’s Brand Manager, were excited to be able to be at the event diligently searching for members of their second crew, which will start this Summer.
“Business is great,” said Brickhouse. “We never shut down during Covid and now we’re adding a second shift.”
Michelle Myers, Prattville’s Human Resource Analyst and intern Arianna James were welcoming residents to their table to discuss the many city jobs open.
“We have great benefits,” she touted.
The value of hiring events like the one at Hunter Hills hasn’t escaped the watchful eye of Autauga County Economic Development folks either.
According to Autauga County’s Director of Economic and Community Development Kristi Pieper, “Workforce development is the number one issue right now where economic development is concerned. We know that in order to fill the gap between employees and employers, job fairs are a top priority. We know that people need to sometimes be ‘skilled up’ to positions. By opening up these job fairs to the public, we’re also hoping to fill the gap between education and employment.”
The following is a list of employers that were represented at the Regional Hiring Event:
Adient
Adoration Hospice
Air Now
Alabama Department of Revenue
Army National Guard
Ascension/St. Vincent’s
Autauga County Schools
Autauga Elmore Developmental Services
Baptist Hospital (Prattville)
Bass Pro
Buffalo Rock
C&S Canopy
Central Alabama Electric Cooperative
City of Millbrook
City of Prattville
Courtyard by Marriott Prattville
Cutter’s Electrical Services, LLC
Eleven 86
Food Outlet
Grays Tire Center
Hickory Hill Harbor
Home Helpers Homecare
Hyundai Power Transformers USA
iFoam
Imperial Mailbox Systems
Insight Construction LLC
International Paper
Ivy Creek Healthcare
James Hardie
Kinedyne
Larry Pucket
Montgomery Marriott Prattville Hotel & Conference Center at Capitol Hill
Max Credit Union
Ram Hotels
River Bank & Trust
ServPro
Onin Staffing
StateFarm
Walmart
Westfraser
Windcreek (Wetumpka)
Windcreek (Montgomery location)
Window World
