The mission of the Ottawa County Business Advisory Council is to engage the business and education communities to understand and support the educational and employment needs within Ottawa County.

The Ottawa County Business Advisory Council (BAC) was established in the summer of 2014 as a means for business leaders and K-12 educational leaders to partner together to understand and support employment needs within Ottawa County. In addition, the BAC has a goal to engage our youth in better understanding the career opportunities available in their community. Members of the BAC consist of representatives from education (superintendents and principals), business leaders for Ottawa County’s leading industry sectors and local community partners like the Ottawa County Improvement Corporation (OCIC) and United Way in Ottawa County (United Way).

The BAC was established based on the efforts of the OCIC and United Way to build a stronger relationship between education and business in an effort to develop a pipeline for our future workforce. Through OCIC Retention & Expansion program, businesses in the industrial, manufacturing and professional sectors continuously express their growing concerns for meeting current and future employment needs. Regular business outreach through the OCIC’s R&E program has proven that more needs to be done to promote skilled trades and professional careers within Ottawa County.

It is the goal of the BAC to support implementation of every initiative on the Career Development Roadmap. We believe that 100% of Ottawa County students should graduate from high school with a plan for their future. While Ottawa County school graduation rates are above the state average, the BAC believes that every student should graduate from high school with a solid foundation and plan for future career, college, military and/or vocational employment. The BAC aims to educate and expose Ottawa County students to the skills and continuing education needed to fill in-demand jobs in Ohio, with an emphasis on Ottawa County.

The BAC would not be where it is today without the support of the Ottawa County Community Foundation.

CEO Program

CEO Internship Program

High School Junior and Senior students have an opportunity to earn high school credits for participating in our Career Engagement Opportunies (CEO) Internship Program. The CEO Internship program will provide students with a pathway between school and work. Students develop entry level skills in a specific occupation, practice career management, and prepare for employment all while earning high school credit.

The CEO Internship has several benefits:

Students can earn 1 credit for every 60 hours of internship time
The internship is flexible and presents a wide-range of possibilities for hours/schedules (i.e. – can be done afterschool, during school, weekends, etc)
The internship gives the students an opportunity to “test the waters” of a desired occupation.

STUDENT SECTION

If you are a student interested in participating in the CEO Internship Program, download the CEO Student Packet.

CEO STUDENT PACKET

Please fill out, sign and return the Student Application and the Student Agreement to cernsberger@ocic.biz. These need to be completed before the student begins his/her internship.
The Student Internship Questionnaire will be completed at the end of the internship.
The Weekly Log will be completed throughout the internship by the student. The student and the employer will need to sign and date.

Students/Parents & School Counselors

For questions, contact Chrissy Ernsberger:

cernsberger@ocic.biz | 419-707-8605

EMPLOYER SECTION

If you are a business interested in participating in the CEO Internship Program, download the CEO Employer Packet.

CEO EMPLOYER PACKET

Please fill out, sign and return the Business Information Form and the Training Agreement to crodenhauser@ocic.biz These need to be completed before the student begins his/her internship.
The Employer Evaluation of the Intern will be completed at the end of the internship.
The Weekly Log will be completed throughout the internship by the student. The student and the employer will need to sign and date.

Businesses

For questions, contact Carolyn Rodenhauser:

crodenhauser@ocic.biz | 419-898-6242

CEO Internship Testimonials

Jeffrey Winterfield
2017 School Year
Interned at the Port Clinton Police Department and Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office

Logan Martinez
2017 School Year
Interned at the Ottawa County Common Pleas Court

Ryan Gwin
2018 School Year
Interned at The Watering Hole

Cole Woody
2018 School Year
Interned at Port Clinton High School – Custodial Department

Ana Stahl
2018 School Year
Interned at Port Clinton City School District – Special Education and Early Childhood

Aaron Lee
2018 School Year
Interned at Oak Harbor Middle School – Band Department

Amaya Henderson
2018 School Year
Interned at Bataan Elementary School

Tim Paradiso
2018 School Year
Interned at The Ashley Group

Career Showcase

Ottawa County Career Showcase

The Ottawa County Career Showcase is collaborative effort between private sector and K-12 education, and is hosted by the Ottawa County Business Advisory Council. This event has set the stage for students to engage with local companies and learn about career opportunities that exist in the same communities where they live, play and learn.

The companies are able to engage students in different hands-on activities that demonstrate skill sets necessary to excel in a broad cross section of careers including CNC, culinary/hospitality, electrical, engineering, emerging healthcare, machine operation, maintenance and welding. Businesses who participate in the event include: Materion Brush, Magruder Hospital, Davis Besse, Graymont Dolime and more.

2018 Career Showcase

Ottawa Co: It's All Here

Ottawa County: It’s All Here

The “Ottawa County: It’s All Here” workforce attraction campaign is part of the Ottawa County Business Advisory Council’s initiative to remind high school students and alumni that they can build their future here in Ottawa County. The campaign officially kicked off in September 2018 with the help of area juniors and seniors who assisted in designing the website: www.ocitsallhere.com. Follow “Ottawa County: It’s All Here” on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Whether you left for college for a year and came back, or you left for 10 years and came back… in Ottawa County, it’s all here.

REACH Program

The REACH Program is designed to introduce 4th and 5th grade elementary school students to the workforce by allowing business representatives to visit the students on a monthly basis. Students will learn about the types of jobs available at these businesses. A curriculum book is utilized by each business representative (developed by the Education Department of The Ohio State University) to present a series of lessons, reinforced by hands-on activities, such as a visit to the business location. These lessons are designed to encourage students to develop life skills that will assist in preparing them to join the workforce in the future. The Ottawa County REACH Program was first introduced for the 2018-2019 school year, and is currently being used in two of the six school districts.

To learn more about the program or if you’re a business who is interested in participating, please contact Carolyn Rodenhauser at (419) 898-6242 or crodenhauser@ocic.biz.

Skilled Trades Academy

Ottawa County Skilled Trades Academy

The Ottawa County Skilled Trades Academy is a comprehensive, credit-based skilled trades program for high school seniors. High school seniors are required to apply to the program and are accepted into the program by a panel of Ottawa County school and business representatives. The Ottawa County Skilled Trades Academy has been certified by the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) and will be teaching the MSSC Certified Production Technician (MSSC CPT) curriculum. Students will complete an OSHA 10-Hour course and receive an OSHA 10-Hour card (industry credential), along with entrepreneurship and ethics components. The purpose of this academy is to educate and expose Ottawa County students to the skills and continuing education needed to fill in-demand jobs in Ohio, with an emphasis on Ottawa County.

To learn more about the academy or if your high school senior is interested in participating, please contact Carolyn Rodenhauser at (419) 898-6242 or crodenhauser@ocic.biz.

START Camp

The Skilled Trades Apprenticeship Readiness Training (START) program is a joint venture between Terra State Community College and Materion to introduce the skilled trades to local high school students. Terra State faculty and staff worked with Materion staff to develop an educational, yet fun, hands on summer camp. The high school students completed hands on activities in four areas: Automotive Services, HVAC, Machining, and Welding & Fabrication.

Workforce Signing Day

Ottawa County’s very first Workforce Signing Day(s) was held in February 2019. The events were put together to recognize high school seniors who will be starting their career path in the workplace. Danbury High School recognized three high school seniors who have made a commitment to join the workforce after graduation. Woodmore High School recognized one high school senior who would be signing a contract with a local employer following graduation. Workforce Signing Day recognizes High School Seniors choosing to enter career pathways leading to in-demand careers – not college.

This is similar to “National Signing Day” events held for high school senior athletes. In this case, seniors will be applauded as they announce their career plans, rather than their college of choice, and normally sign “letters of intent” for a job offer, apprenticeship or advanced technical training.

If your school is interested in holding a Workforce Signing Day, please contact Carolyn Rodenhauser: crodenhauser@ocic.biz