Local business and industry professionals are connecting with eighth-grade students in their Pathways career class. Professionals have the opportunity to talk about their personal career path, industry trends and educational requirements for their job in Lucas Novad’s class at Albert Lea High School.

Organizers thank the following companies and their employees, who took the time to come speak this quarter: Albert Lea fire/EMT and police departments, Freeborn County sheriff, Matt Levorson Video Production, Mayo Clinic (lab, radiology, administration, surgical tech, chef, nursing administration), Albert Lea Select Foods (office manager, maintenance tech and plant manager), Hy-Vee (produce and management), Poet Biodiesel, Midwest Ag Advisors, Agri Guardian, Freeborn County Extension, Freeborn Lumber (interior design and carpentry), Jim & Dudes Plumbing, Oak Park Place, Red Door Construction, Good Steward Consulting, Commodity Marketing, Arrow Printing, Granicrete MN and Thorne Crest Senior Living Community.

Sixty-six seniors in Deb Munson’s economics class had the opportunity to shadow area business professionals in their chosen field of interest. Professionals give students an hour or up to a whole day at their business. Students are required to make the appointment, dress appropriately for the job situation, shake hands, have questions prepared and write a personal thank you letter to the person they interviewed and shadowed. For some of the students, this is the first time they have experienced meeting with a business professional or being on a job site. From the experience they learn if the career is a good fit or not, what kind of education is required and the industry trends in this field. Organizers thank the job shadow sites this semester: U.S. National Guard, Mortarr, ISC Financial Services, Oak Park Place, Albert Lea Convention and Visitors Bureau, Farmland Electric, Leach Law, Leutholds, Albert Lea Tribune, Motor Inn, Eaton Sport & Spine, Bonnerup Funeral Services, Expressions Salon, Thorne Crest Senior Living Community, Riverland Community College, Floor Tech, Pro Trucking, CFS Farms, Red Door Construction, Freeborn County (IT and administration), Freeborn Lumber, Kibble Equipment, Albert Lea Police Department, Advanced Family Dental, District 241, Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea, Snap Fitness, intellicents, Innovance, Earth Soil, St. Theodore Catholic School and  Barb Pulley (flight attendant).

This is the second full year of the partnership under the direction of the Albert Lea Greater Education Project, funded by the Albert Lea Education Foundation.

If you or your company would like an opportunity to speak with students, contact Albert Lea Greater Education Project Director Jean Eaton, who recruits the businesses, at 507-383-7880. Speakers will be scheduled for each quarter of the school year. Organizers are also looking for job sites to allow seniors the opportunity to shadow business professionals each semester.