Submitted By: Jenny Parrish
“It’s not all about college. It’s not the only way to succeed in life.” said Marissa Brown, a 2021 graduate of Ida Baker. Brown was celebrated last year at Workforce Signing Day, an event championed by Bill Daubmann of MY Shower Door. Workforce Signing Day recognized the high school seniors of Lee County that entered the workforce post-graduation.
Now, Workforce Signing Day is entering its second year and looking forward to celebrating this year’s graduating class of seniors that are entering the workforce. Workforce Signing Day 2022 is cohosted by SWFL Inc., The Lee County School District, Lee County Economic Development Office, MY Shower Door and D3 Glass.
“Employers are having a difficult time hiring people,” Daubmann said. “This is a way to match employees with employers. The students going into the workforce are part of the community and are establishing roots in Southwest Florida.”
While some students are bypassing secondary education and going into the workforce, some who attend the singing day will be working and going to college or receiving specialized training.
“The School District of Lee County is committed to encouraging our students to follow their individual passions and career pathways. We also recognize that successful workforce development requires community collaboration. We are grateful to our business partners, sponsors and local organizations for supporting and celebrating students who have made a plan and are entering directly into the workforce after high school,” said Kelly Thawley, Career Specialist with the Lee County School District.
Rita Davis, Director of Adult and Career Education at the Lee Country School District added, “According to an April 2021 economic news release by the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, 67.2% of recent high school graduates not enrolled in college entered the workforce.
“Lee County understands the value of workforce entry post-graduation and we are proud to honor students who choose this path. We are also very grateful for the commitment of our business community to promote and support initiatives that celebrate our workforce-ready graduates.”
Workforce Signing Day will be hosted on Thursday, May 12, 2022, at the School District of Lee County’s Board Room. Check-in begins at 6:00 p.m. and the event will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Supporters can RSVP for the limited capacity event by visiting SWFLInc.com/events/workforce-signing-day.
Various sponsorship opportunities are available for local businesses and individuals looking to support the incoming workforce or celebrate seniors they’ve already hired. For more information, contact Charles Stance at Charles@SWFLInc.com.
ABOUT SWFL INC.
SWFL Inc. is a regional chamber of commerce serving the Southwest Florida business community. It connects businesses to a regional network of customers, offers educational resources to help them grow in a modern economy, and actively works to solve regional issues that impact the business community. At SWFL Inc., membership is free and open to all businesses to create (inc)lusive opportunities for all.
Ranked among the top one percent of chambers nationwide, SWFL Inc. produces exceptional business resources and programs to serve the business community, promote a region where business can grow and prosper and enhance the quality of life in Southwest Florida.
