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The inside of Bluegrass Community and Technical College’s Winchester campus on Rolling Hills Lane was filled to capacity on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 7. 

However, it would not be students that made up the gathering. 

The 2024 Winchester Job Fair, which ran from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., welcomed several industries with high hopes of recruiting some of Winchester’s top talent for future opportunities. 

“We’re excited about the turnout,” said Brad Sowden, the executive director of the Winchester-Clark County Industrial Development Authority. “It takes a lot of people to pull off an event like this.” 

The event featured over 30 sponsors and was a success from the start, with over 175 individuals present before 3:00 p.m. 

Not only did such numbers break the attendance mark from one year earlier, but an online meet-and-greet, gathering interested applicants from as far as Utah, showed that Winchester was sought out across the nation. 

The employers present included Ale-8-One Bottling Company, Catalent, Clark County Public Schools Clark Regional Medical Center, Fountain Circle Care and Rehabilitation, G&J Pepsi, Members Heritage Credit Union, Pearl Interactive Network, Randstad USA, Sonoco Products Company, and many more. 

When attendees walked in, prospective employers gave out forms showcasing the approximate salary range and the expected educational level, with a wide range of answers. 

Multiple employment agencies were present, including ResourceMFG, based in Lexington. 

“We mostly look for manufacturing…welders, machine operators, forklift drivers, [and] that type of thing,” said field recruiter Kristin Hill. “For our employees, we’ve got a…program so they can get online courses for manufacturing that they can add to their skill set.” 

The event also showcased several Winchester businesses, such as Sekisui S-Lec America, LLC. 

“Sekisui is a company that provides a PVB plastic film that goes between the windshields in a vehicle,” stated human resources manager Valerie Craker, referring to the abbreviated term for polyvinyl butyral. “Its main purpose is for safety.” 

Always looking to the future, the DeShazo Crane Company also made an appearance. 

Several representatives were present for one of Winchester’s newest businesses. 

“We were looking for a building already complete…and when we came to Winchester, we found this [current] building”, said Chuck Tucker, Vice President of Manufacturing. “It was being set up with cranes in the building. That was very important to operations.” 

“We do a lot of welding, fabricating, industrial painting, [and] electrical work,” added John Hogue, General Manager.

“The community seems tight-knit, and everybody’s been welcoming,” said Tacy Keene, Director of Recruiting. “It’s something to be proud of for sure.” 

Hopes are high that opportunities abound for those who seek work in Winchester.