Lincoln Academy students and local business representatives filled the LA gym during the second annual Peter J. Benner ‘92 Job Fair on April 5.
On Wednesday, April 5 Lincoln Academy hosted the second annual Peter J. Benner ‘92 Job Fair in Nelson Bailey Gym.
Representatives from 28 local businesses set up tables and spoke with LA students about immediate job openings and long-term career paths in their fields. Each organization offered entry level jobs for those that want to move right into trades employment after graduation as well as multiple career pathways for students that include areas like business, math, engineering, design, computer science, marketing and logistics to name a few. Many participating businesses have openings for weekend and summer employment as well.
Participating businesses were: Back Cove Yachts, Bangor Savings, Bath Savings, Bristol Parks and Rec, Camden National Bank, CLC Ambulance, Coastal Counties Workforce Solutions, Colby & Gale, Comfort Keepers, Darling Marine Center, First Federal Savings, First National, Hagar, Hannaford – Boothbay, Kieve/Wavus Education, Lincoln County 911, Lincoln Health, Maine Kayak, Masters Machine, Mid-Coast Energy Systems, Mobius, NC Hunt Lumber, Padebco, Renys, Rising Tide Co-op, Two Bridges Regional Jail, Washburn Doughty, and the CLC YMCA
Many participating businesses are owned, managed by, or employ LA graduates, and they were happy to be invited to meet current students and discuss opportunities in their field. The fair was named for Peter Benner, who graduated from LA in 1992. He passed away in February of 2022, and his Lincoln Academy classmates donated in his honor to make this event possible.
LA senior Cohen Giberson attended the job fair and said “it had a lot of good options, and a lot of people had competitive rates and benefits.” He used the fair to compare the different work environments from one boatyard to the next, noting that the size of the shop depends on how specialized you become in each aspect of boat building and maintenance. The businesses that particularly caught his attention were Padebco Boatyard in Round Pond and Washburn Doughty in East Boothbay, because they both offer interesting work and competitive pay. “I have some options,” he said.
“It’s been great!” said Jason Constantine, President and COO of Back Cove Yachts in Rockland. “I’ve been doing career fairs in high schools for years. The students are coming to these better prepared: they ask better questions, and seem to understand what these events are all about.”
Heather Abello teaches computer science at LA and she brought her classes to the fair. She said, “from a computer science perspective, we found lots of local opportunities, from optimizing robotic equipment at Masters Machine to design and engineering at the shipyards to operations at the banks. I encouraged my students to ask about a day in the life, what kinds of jobs are available, and what kind of degree is needed.”
Some businesses were hiring on the spot for weekend and summer opportunities. Others are building towards the future. “I’m in it for the long game,” said Jason Constantine. “My goal is helping young people understand what the [boat building] industry is like. Sometimes we will not get a high school student, but their uncle or sibling will apply, and say they heard about the opportunity from a relative at the job fair. This industry has needs for different skill sets. If you like numbers and accounting you don’t have to work at a bank, you can work on the business side of a local company. If you like building, you can think beyond being a house carpenter. We hire engineers and people interested in composites. No matter what you want to do, there is probably a place for you in our business.”
Madelyn Ward ‘24 attended the job fair for the second year in a row. “There were a lot more businesses this year and a lot of variety. I talked with people I wasn’t expecting to.”
Lincoln Academy students and local business representatives filled the LA gym during the second annual Peter J. Benner ‘92 Job Fair on April 5.
