The NFL season is finally upon us and what a great start!

It’s amazing to see so many veterans are already paving the way for the next generation of young talent who will take the field when their time comes.

Rookies are learning and following in the footsteps of long-time stars and showing they understand how to prepare themselves as true professionals.

It’s what I see in Genesee County and our surrounding region ahead of GLOW With Your Hands. This event, coming on September 29^th at the Genesee County fairgrounds, will feature over 1,000 GLOW region students who are eager and ready to learn from the professionals and organizations that will lead them into their own professional development.

Since 2019, the dedicated team of volunteers and organizers from Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties have led an event providing thousands of students with the opportunity to interact with employers and career pathway organizations, experience hands-on career demonstrations, and learn more about the career opportunities available right in their own backyard.

We see how these “rookies” at GLOW With Your Hands can grow into contributors from day one on the job, thanks to the long hours they dedicate in the classroom and the co-op opportunities from the relationships built throughout their K-12 journey.

Similar to coaches and scouts, employers are constantly observing. At GLOW With Your Hands, students engage with professionals eager to hire local talent. Sometimes, just one station or activity is enough to spark a student's interest and inspire them to ask, "How can I turn this passion into a career?"

Here locally at Edwards Vacuum’s new facility in Genesee County, we have already seen what the workforce development journey can transform into when a student is ready to put in the work and see where skill development meets a lifelong, family sustaining career.

Orleans-Niagara BOCES graduate Anthony Cercone epitomizes the pathway for local students. Cercone has been hired as a manufacturing engineer specializing in tooling manufacturing process at Edwards Vacuum. His K-12 experience included BOCES instruction, pre-apprenticeship opportunities, and interacting with decision-makers that led him to a rewarding career in the semiconductor industry.

Anthony's journey demonstrates that high school and technical school graduates can pursue successful career opportunities here in our region. Employers at GLOW With Your Hands are looking for their next Anthony!

As Anthony recently said, “my workforce journey allowed me to know what I wanted to do for my life, and to get already set up in my life before I even turned 18.”

Now over 1,000 students will have their next opportunity to turn their passions and strengths into a career that will set them up for life on September 29^th.

In addition to GLOW With Your Hands, Genesee County’s ACT Work Ready Communities initiative continues to connect college and high school graduates and incumbent workers to in-demand careers at local employers such as Oxbo, Graham Corporation and others.

After an individual completes their ACT WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) to measure essential skills such as math, graphic literacy, and workplace documents, they will be graded in each category and see what careers can fit their skillset at one of our local companies.

With more than 100 employers participating in the program, prospective employees will have the opportunity to align their NCRC strengths with careers at these organizations.

To learn more about GLOW With Your Hands, or to sign up to complete the NCRC or become a company supporting the ACT WorkKeys, contact me at [email protected] or visit www.gcedc.com/careerchecklist - I’ll get right back to you unless its Sunday at 1 p.m.

Go Bills!

- Coach SwazZ