As the 2023-2024 academic year ends, so does the busy season for career fairs. Over the past few months, Oregon Hospitality Foundation (OHF) has been keeping tabs on the many career events that have been happening across Oregon. After kicking off the season with the statewide NW Youth Careers Expo, OHF also represented the hospitality industry at a few more localized events. 

Coastal Career Fair: Florence, OR
On April 25, the Oregon Hospitality Foundation landed on the Oregon Coast to participate in the Florence Coastal Career Fair. There, we educated community members about the hospitality industry. However, OHF was not the only major player representing hospitality at this event. In addition to tabling alongside a few other hospitality businesses, we had the unique opportunity to sit in a room with these coastal restaurant and hotel operators to discuss their current workforce challenges. Among the topics we discussed was the affordable cost of living for employees, especially given the seasonal nature of the work in this region. Additionally, there was mention of a relatively new struggle to inspire younger generations to work. Many of us remember hospitality being our first introduction to the workforce, whether it be at an after-school or summer job. Anecdotally, the businesses we spoke to mentioned that young people in their communities don't have as much interest in the entry-level opportunities they have to offer. All these challenges are the current focuses of the many projects on the Foundation's docket. If any of these topics strike a chord, please use the contact information at the bottom of this post to get involved. 

Career Exploration Day and Job Fair: Tillamook, OR
At the previous event in Florence, we discussed the importance of inspiring youth to work in hospitality. A key part of addressing this call to action is getting involved in educational settings and student-directed career events. On May 15, OHF attended one of these events hosted by Tillamook Works. Businesses were asked to show students what a job in their field was like to an audience of grades 6-12 students. Among the students who approached the Foundation's booth with questions, many expressed their aspirations to work a summer hospitality job. For future events, this may present an opportunity for hospitality businesses looking to hire to attend a local event alongside OHF. 

Career Exploration Day: Seven Oak Middle School, Lebanon, OR
On May 31, Seven Oak Middle School invited businesses to bring career instruction directly to the classroom. As the Workforce Development Coordinator for ORLA, I got the opportunity to speak to students about my career in hospitality and use it as a tool to advocate for the essential job skills that one can learn by working in this field. Speaking at Seven Oak Middle School is one of my highlights from this career fair season. The students were interested and engaged, and it showed in the dialogues that we shared. 

Career Highlight Night- PK Park, Eugene, OR
Just because the career fair season is ending does not mean that community engagement opportunities are as well. This summer on Sunday, August 18, Lane Workforce Partnership, Collaborative EDO, and Workforce Oregon are partnering with the Eugene Emeralds to host an event that brings career education to the public. At PK Park, just before a baseball game, local employers will gather to increase their visibility and gain valuable connections. Learn more.

Want to learn more about how to get involved with our workforce development initiatives? Consider volunteering for guest speaking opportunities and job shadows, participate in job/career fairs, or offer experiential field trips. Contact Ella Sturdevant.

​On March 19, 2024, the Portland Convention Center was full of bright young students looking to learn from the many career exhibitors that lined the space. The NW Youth Careers Expo drew over 6,000 high school students and educators from around Oregon to connect with their local job market. Representing the Hospitality Sector at this event was the Oregon Hospitality Foundation in partnership with Chemeketa Community College Hospitality & Tourism Management program.

Hospitality is the backbone of all the fun and memorable experiences that touch our lives. Choosing a hospitality career not only means becoming a piece of that experience, it also means taking a career path that teaches professional skills, provides growth trajectories, and offers diverse opportunities. The industry is also very accessible with low barriers to entry, and it welcomes people irrespective of their choice to pursue higher education. This is the very picture of hospitality that we are trying to paint for students, and it is these messages that we were echoing to the expo attendees. 

The reactions from the students at the event were very positive. Many showed interest in a hospitality career and were engaged in learning about the industry. Of those students, there was an encouraging amount who, with conviction, stated that this industry was their passion. From the voices of event planning staff to attendees, the sentiment has remained the same: Hospitality voices are wanted and needed at these events. As I looked around at the other exhibitors I saw big trucks, synchronized dance teams, and animated displays drawing students in by the dozens. Seeing this made me think of the potential impact that our industry could make at events like these. Hospitality is full of exciting stories, colorful visuals, and tactile experiences. 

In the future, I hope to rally many more owners and operators to bring their hospitality industry knowledge and opportunities to our growing workforce. 

At the Oregon Hospitality Foundation (OHF), we believe in the importance of investing in long-term workforce outcomes, and we do this in part by continuously informing and inspiring students to engage with the hospitality industry. We cannot be successful with these efforts without also being able to share the real perspectives and stories of industry professionals. 

One way industry members can connect with younger generations looking to enter the workforce is by participating in career fairs. The Northwest Youth Careers Expo will be hosting an event on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. This is an incredible opportunity for us to come together as an industry and showcase why hospitality is a great investment into these students’ careers.
 
This annual community event attracts 6,000 high school students and educators from around Oregon, as well as the region's leading employers and postsecondary partners, such as Intel, Nike, Boeing, the city of Portland, Kaiser Permanente, OHSU, and many more, hosting 200+ booths and hands-on demos. The Expo is a fun, efficient way to educate students and teachers about career paths within hospitality, as well as about ways to earn work experience through part-time or summer jobs.
 
To learn more about the Expo, sponsor and exhibitor opportunities, and participating schools, visit Portlandworkforcealliance.org/our-work/expo. You can contact the Portland Workforce Alliance at [email protected] with any questions.
 
As the new Workforce Development Coordinator for the Oregon Hospitality Foundation, my goal is to learn more about our members and the struggles they face in the workforce space. I am also searching for members who are willing to engage with schools in speaking or mentorship capacities. If you are interested in setting up a meeting, please shoot me an email at [email protected]. | Ella Sturdevant, Oregon Hospitality Foundation

Career fairs are an important part of ORLA and the Oregon Hospitality Foundation's workforce development efforts with our main goal focused on assisting producers of these events make stronger connections to hospitality industry employers. Registering for these events and having a booth presence is one of the more straightforward ways you can connect potential applicants with your job openings.

As regional workforce boards, school districts, and the Oregon Employment Department promote in-person job and career fairs, we will try to pass along that information in case your company has an interest in participating.

Here are some upcoming fairs and opportunities to consider:

Salem-Area College & Career Fair Fall | October 16, 2023, Chemeketa Community College
The event is hosted by the Salem-Keizer School District; see flyer for more information. If you want to participate as a vendor, please contact Kim Conolly at McNary High School. 

North Marion Business Fairs | October 17 (Woodburn) and October 19 (Brooks)
Participation at the North Marion Business Resource Fair provides an excellent opportunity to connect with businesses and entrepreneurs looking for resources to start or grow a business, hire employees, or those seeking capital. These are bilingual events; download the flyers in English and Spanish. Please complete the poll to confirm your participation and commitment to assist North Marion businesses and entrepreneurs. For questions, please reach out to Jamie Johnk, Economic Development Director, City of Woodburn, at 503.980.6319.

Clatsop Works Summer Internship Program | Deadline to Apply: December 15
This program partners with employers to provide local high school and college students, ages 16 and up, with professional, paid internships in Clatsop County. They are currently reaching out to businesses to encourage hiring a summer intern for 2024. Misty Bateman, Program Manager for Clatsop WORKS Internship Program has received feedback from visiting the Clatsop County High Schools and Clatsop Community College that students are interested in an internship in Hospitality or Culinary fields.

There are many benefits to hiring an intern, ie, helping close the skill gap and retain local talent. You can help a student develop important workplace skills such as professionalism, leadership, and effective communication, while developing future high school and community college graduates to contribute value-adding work to your business now and in the future. 

The application is now open, see the website for details; employers are asked to apply by December 15, 2023. For questions, reach out to Misty Bateman, Clatsop WORKS Paid Internship Program & CCC Cooperative Work Experience at 503.338.2507.

College & Career Fair Expo | March 13, 2024, Forest Grove High School
Register online or contact Vicki VanLoo at 503-359-2432 X3607.

Have questions on Oregon Hospitality Foundation's workforce activities? Contact ORLA CEO Jason Brandt or OHF ProStart Liaison/Executive Coordinator Courtney Smith.

Industry participation is a crucial steppingstone for students, providing them with opportunities to explore their interests, network with professionals, and discover potential career paths. In this blog post, we will delve into the remarkable achievements of these events, including the PWA Career Fair, Worksystems Youth Job Fair, and CTE Expo. We also highlight a dedicated workforce effort that successfully connected students with hospitality professionals participating in classroom speaking engagements.

PWA Career Fair: Empowering Over 6,000 Students
The PWA (Portland Workforce Alliance) Career Fair is an annual event that draws participation from over 75 high schools in Oregon and Southwest Washington. With an impressive attendance of approximately 6,000 students, this fair serves as a catalyst for career exploration and networking opportunities. By connecting students with professionals from a diverse range of industries, the PWA Career Fair paves the way for potential internships and job opportunities.

Worksystems Youth Job Fair: Impacting Over 2,000 Youths
Designed exclusively for young individuals in the Portland metro area, the Worksystems Youth Job Fair is a vital platform for connecting them with employment opportunities. With over 2,000 youth in attendance, this fair provides invaluable exposure to summer jobs, internships, and part-time positions. By engaging local employers, the fair not only facilitates the integration of young talent into the workforce it also connects individuals with resources to be successful.

CTE Expo at Oregon Coast Community College: Inspiring 350 Students
The CTE (Career and Technical Education) Expo celebrates the achievements of students involved in vocational training programs. This dynamic event offers a platform for 350 students to showcase their skills and projects. Through interactive exhibits and presentations, the CTE Expo highlights the multitude of career paths available through CTE programs, encouraging students to pursue their passions in technical and practical fields.

Reaching the Coast: Connecting Students with Hospitality Professions
Recognizing the potential of the Oregon Coast as a hub for hospitality professions, a focused workforce effort was undertaken to connect students with career opportunities. Through class speaking engagements, career fairs, and targeted events, this initiative successfully reached approximately 1,000 students. By providing insights into the range of hospitality professions available in coastal communities, students were encouraged to explore and consider these exciting career paths.

Oregon's career fairs and classroom speaking engagements have made a significant impact on the lives of thousands of students, opening doors to new possibilities and career exploration. The dedicated workforce effort by the Oregon Hospitality Foundation and workforce partners over the past year has resulted in Oregon’s hospitality industry reaching approximately 10,000 students, fostering connections between students and our sector. These achievements highlight the importance of industry engagement in empowering students and bridging the gap between education and industry workforce needs. By continuing to invest in these initiatives, we can shape a brighter future for the next generation, providing them with the tools they need to thrive in their chosen careers.

Posted by: Lupe Arellano, Workforce Development / Business Liaison, Oregon Hospitality Foundation

​This spring, the Oregon Hospitality Foundation participated in nine career fairs across Oregon. These events included the CTE Expo hosted at Oregon Coast Community College, Portland Workforce Alliance annual career fair, and various other career fairs at high schools on the coast, Portland metro, and the Willamette Valley. Our members, including McMenamins, Holiday Inn of Wilsonville, Adobe Resort, Pelican, Timberline Lodge, and the Hyatt Regency participated in these events and had the opportunity to connect with students as prospective employees for their businesses.

In addition to these career fairs, we organized two speaking engagements where our members shared their career journeys and experiences in the hospitality industry. Desaray Burnett from Edgewater Inn spoke to students from Winter Lake High School in Coquille, sharing how she started as a housekeeper and worked her way up to becoming a general manager. David Dreher with Northwest x Southern Hospitality representing Marriott Courtyard in Corvallis also shared his story with students, discussing the importance of customer service and how it has helped him throughout his career.

David also organized a field trip experience for four students from College Hill High School to give them a firsthand look at the hospitality industry. The students toured the hotel, spoke with staff members, and learned about the different roles within the industry.

It has been my privilege to coordinate these efforts and work with our members to create a pipeline of talented individuals interested in the hospitality industry. By showing up at these career fairs and speaking engagements and sharing their stories, our members are inspiring the next generation of hospitality professionals. It is heartening to see our members' commitment to creating a robust talent pipeline for the industry.

I’m excited to say, our workforce development efforts this spring have been successful in bringing the hospitality industry closer to high school students. With the right support and guidance, students interested in the hospitality industry can look forward to a bright future. As the Workforce Development and Business Liaison for ORLA, I am proud of our members' participation in these efforts and look forward to seeing the impact that they will have on the industry in the years to come.

Our work cannot be accomplished without our committed partners. I want to take a moment to thank Travel Oregon for serving on our Oregon Hospitality Foundation Board of Directors and financially investing in the importance of workforce development outcomes. If our bridge-building efforts intrigue you, please reach out to me. All industry members are welcome to join us in taking more intentional steps into our high school and community college classrooms. Take a step off the sidelines and join us on the field in making a meaningful difference for Oregon’s restaurant and lodging industries. You can reach me at [email protected].

Posted by: Lupe Arellano, Workforce Development / Business Liaison, Oregon Hospitality Foundation

Oregon’s second largest private sector industry has thousands of jobs available for interested applicants and we anticipate similar workforce trends to be commonplace for our industry and many others for years to come.

The Oregon Hospitality Foundation (OHF) is laser focused on workforce development initiatives to do what we can to build bridges between hospitality industry employers and workers seeking employment opportunities. Currently the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association has two full time employees devoted to this work. This new workforce blog will be a joint effort to keep lines of communication open with all industry operators interested in connecting with future employees for their operations.

I want take a moment to thank Courtney Smith and Lupe Arellano on our professional staff for their work to highlight our ProStart Culinary and Management curriculum in high schools, job and career fairs organized by partner organizations, speaking opportunities for ORLA members in high schools, and amplifying leadership vacancies as they occur amongst Oregon’s 9 regional workforce development boards.

This is our moment as an industry to rise to the occasion and provide more leadership to showcase the vast opportunities available right now in Oregon’s hospitality industry. We hope our new workforce blog connects you with meaningful intelligence and insights that help you navigate our number one challenge in business – demand outpacing labor supply. For additional updates on the Oregon Hospitality Foundation and Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association, follow the ORLA Update Blog​.

Cheers to you and your success in Oregon’s hospitality industry.

Sincerely,
 
Jason Brandt
President & CEO, Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association

​Oregon Hospitality Foundation Workforce Blog

The Oregon Hospitality Foundation’s new workforce liaison role is focused on building relational capital between educators, workforce programs/boards, and ORLA members. We are hopeful these relationship building efforts will assist us in reducing the current workforce demands facing hospitality employers. 

So far, the newly launched position has assisted ORLA and the Hospitality Foundation in building relationships with the following stakeholders:

• 37 High Schools (13 on the Coast which is a primary area of focus in year one of the position)
• 5 School Districts (Willamette Education Service District, Portland Public Schools, Washington, Multnomah, and Clatsop)
• 4 CTE Regional Coordinators
• 9 Community Colleges (Central Oregon, Clatsop, Klamath, Blue Mountain, Southwest Oregon, Oregon Coast, Linn Benton, and Portland)
• 2 Universities (Oregon, OSU Cascades)
• 5 WorkSource Business Representatives
• 5 Workforce Boards (Northwest Oregon Works, Lane Workforce Partnership, WorkSystems, Clackamas Workforce Partnership, and Willamette Workforce Partnership)
• 5 Regional Destination Marketing Organizations (Oregon Coast Visitors Association, Travel Portland, Travel Southern Oregon, Willamette Valley Visitors Association, and Visit Central Oregon)
• 10 Workforce development programs 

Career Fairs
We had four members (The Nines, Kimpton, McMenamins, Elephants Delicatessen) participate at the Portland Youth Opportunity Fair hosted by WorkSystems. The job fair is targeted for 16 to 24 years old’s but open to all. We provided free food handler card training vouchers to youth participating in the event. In addition, we have a new partnership with the Portland Workforce Alliance, which held their 19th annual career fair recently. With over 5,000 students and 75 schools present, the event was a good connector for hospitality employers looking for prospect employees.

Speaking Engagements
In late 2022, we connected our members to four speaking engagements, three of them in high schools and one to the University of Oregon. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort went to speak at Winter Lake High School and North Bend High School. Zach Poole with Pig ‘N Pancake went to Seaside High School. Colby Phillips with Beergarden spoke with a business management class at the University of Oregon. In January there were three more speaking engagements for our members to participate in, two on the coast and one in Benton County.

Workforce Development Boards
The hospitality industry is currently a represented sector with two workforce regions (NW Oregon Works and Lane Workforce Partnership). In addition, we are working on partnerships with three other regions and their respective workforce boards (WorkSystems, Clackamas Workforce Partnership, Willamette Workforce Partnership). More to come as we work to make sure an industry voice exists at board tables for all 9 regional workforce boards.

Learn more about OHF's workforce efforts and resources available to industry members at OregonRLA.org/workforce.

Posted by: Lupe Arellano, Workforce Development / Business Liaison, Oregon Hospitality Foundation