YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Military and naval veterans will be interviewed Thursday, Feb. 23 at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Vienna Township, for jobs in the oil and gas industry in northeastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania.
The interviews set to run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., are part of the inaugural Veterans Hiring Event and Life Enhancement Fair sponsored the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, ShaleDirectories.com and the Tip of the Arrow Foundation.
Eight companies, including V&M Star, KS Drilling/Keane Frac, Chesapeake Energy, Dynamic Structures Inc. and North American Field Services, will be on hand looking to hire more than 100 positions. Some are open and the balance will be open in the near future.
“Very rarely does the opportunity to combine economic development, neighborhood redevelopment, and assistance to our nations’ veterans take place at once," said Eric Planey, vice president for international business development at the chamber. "The oil and gas industry loves to hire veterans because of their strong work ethic, decision-making skills and leadership. And we are very happy to welcome our veterans to the Valley as a thank you to their service to us.”
ShaleDirectories.com, an expansion of PAGasDirectory.com, provides information about the natural gas industry in the Marcellus and Utica shale plays in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and New York. The information centers on jobs, permits and well maps.
ShaleDirectories.com put on a similar event last October in Williamsport, Pa., at the request of Tip of the Arrow, said Joe Barone, president of ShaleDirectories.com. Tip of the Arrow is a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding career opportunities for veterans.
“This is not our core business. We do this as something to help veterans get jobs in the industry,” Barone said.
Oil and gas companies like to hire military veterans because they tend to work well in teams, are used to working long hours, have leadership skills and for the most part enjoy working outdoors. "Their various military experiences match up with the needs of the oil and gas industry," he remarked.
In addition to the oil and gas companies looking to hire, Youngstown State University, Eastern Gateway Community College and the Weekend College at Hiram College will there to show veterans opportunities for to continue their education.
Also, Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. will provide the specifics of what it describes as an innovative financial assistance program for those interested in buying a house in the city of Youngstown. The program is available to veterans.
Access to the Veterans Hiring Event is restricted to those who register beforehand. To register, contact Vera Barone at 570 337 7149 or email her at [email protected].
Copyright 2012 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.