Last Updated on November 20, 2018 by cassnetwork
KOKOMO, Ind. — Area employers in business and industry are invited to one of five upcoming events throughout north central Indiana scheduled by Ivy Tech Community College to introduce two new members of its expanded workforce development team. Jacob “Jake” Adams, recently named workforce development consultant, and Mary King, director of Career Development and Employer Engagement, are leading the College’s effort to better meet employer training and employment goals in the Kokomo Service Area.
“Ivy Tech has been an economic resource for the state of Indiana for many years,” said Ivy Tech Chancellor Dean McCurdy. “We now have a renewed focus on community engagement and workforce development and are excited to introduce Jake and Mary at these receptions. We’ll also be providing an update on current labor market trends and employment data and will discuss what this information means to our region.”
Five sessions have been scheduled to accommodate employers and business leaders from around the service area, which includes Cass, Fulton, Howard, Miami, and Tipton counties.
- Kokomo: Inventrek, 700 E. Firmin St., 8 to 9:15 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 27
- Tipton: Tipton County Foundation, 1020 W. Jefferson St., 1:30 to 2:45 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 27
- Peru: Ivy Tech Peru, 425 N. Main St., 8 to 9:15 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 29
- Logansport: Ivy Tech Logansport, 1 Ivy Tech Way, 8 to 9:15 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 4
- Rochester: Ivy Tech Rochester, 1820 Park Road, 1:30 to 2:45 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 4
Anyone planning to attend is asked to RSVP to Susan Turrill at sturrill@ivytech.edu or 765-252-5497.
Jake Adams brings a wide range of job experiences, many related to economic and business development, to his new position. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps for eight years, first as an avionics manager in San Diego, Calif., and then as a recruiter and human resources officer in Indianapolis, Adams took his skills in people and business management and promotion to the City of Delphi where he worked as director of community development. Most recently he served as director of Business Services for Indiana’s Region 4 Workforce Board in Lafayette. Since 2014, he has also owned and operated Indiana Marketing Group to support promotional efforts and market-building strategies for client businesses.
Adams completed the U.S. Marine Corps Non-Commissioned Leadership Course and the Ball State University Economic Development Course. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and is completing a Master of Business Administration degree through Western Governors University. He is active in his community, serving on the boards of directors of the Carroll County Community Foundation, the Flora Community Club, and Junior Achievement and is a member of the NIPSCO Community Action Program and the Indiana Economic Development Association.
“Serving as workforce development consultant for Ivy Tech will allow me to use the skillsets I’ve developed to connect with our area communities and assist them in meeting their workforce needs,” Adams said.
“We will take a grassroots, communal approach to developing sustainable, long-term plans to help area employers. These include ‘skilling up’ the current workforce, preparing new employees, providing continuing education required for many jobs and professions, and serving nontraditional and diverse labor pools like the long-term unemployed, the under-employed, and ex-offenders,” he continued. “Our efforts will be aimed at helping to create an environment that allows companies and corporations to invest in developing the labor force needed to support our local economies.”
Mary King recently moved into the position of director of Career Development and Employer Engagement after serving Ivy Tech for four years as a financial aid advisor and assistant director of financial aid. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from Indiana Wesleyan University and, before joining Ivy Tech, spent seven years as a learning coordinator in the human resource development department at STAR Financial Group in Marion.
King’s personal experiences as a first-generation college student and as a job coach for STAR employees shape her commitment to student success – in college and beyond. She says her goal is to help students overcome any obstacles that arise along their path to a career and to help them become competent and capable competition in the workforce.
“Ivy Tech’s motto for Career Development is ‘From Day One’ and a perfect description of what we want to do,” King said. “We want to be a staple in the student’s college experience from day one. Career Development is working to collaborate with faculty as we expand work-and-learn opportunities for our students.
“From job shadowing, internships, and externships, we want our students to have the opportunity to gain experience and truly be career-ready at graduation,” she continued. “I hope to work more closely with employers and engage them in actively participating and supporting our efforts to cultivate the future employees they are looking for.”
At the area employer events, Adams and King will share the many ways Ivy Tech can assist employers. For more information, Adams can be reached at jadams373@ivytech.edu or 765-432-4224 or 765-252-5495. King can be reached at mking218@ivytech.edu or 765-252-5478.
SOURCE: News release from Ivy Tech Community College Kokomo Region