IGNITESpring Job Fair – Feature Video of the Event

In our own bashful (well, not really) manner – we wanted to give our readers a glimpse of the activity and excitement generated by the IGNITESpring Job Fair event in Charlotte NC. It was a very successful event, but then again, we’re somewhat biased. Take a watch and let us know what you think. Maybe, you’re in the video?

IGNITESpring Job Fair in Charlotte Draws Thousands

We were happy to host our first ever job fair in the Charlotte NC this past Tuesday. To the credit of the great employers who showed up – the fair was considered a very strong success. We received much coverage on the event – with coverage by several TV stations (see video ad below) along with radio coverage prior to the event.

http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/Thousands-attend-job-fair-at-SouthPark-Mall-92806229.html

Gov. Perdue announces small-biz package for N.C.

N.C. Gov. Bev Perdue is calling on the state’s General Assembly to approve a legislative package designed to assist small businesses in creating and maintaining jobs.

Source: Charlotte Business News – Local Charlotte News | Charlotte Business Journal

LocalJobs.com Launches Charlotte Job Fair

LocalJobs.com in partnership with the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce and the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce are hosting the IGNITESpring Job Fair 2010.

The fair will be held on May 4th from 10AM – 3PM at the SouthPark Mall (Circle Court area) in Charlotte NC.  Exhibiting companies are diverse and immediately hiring.  Companies including TJ Maxx, Premier Company, Carolinas Healthcare System, Harris Teeter, Thompson Child & Family Focus, CPCC, UNCC and many others will be looking to find candidates to fill immediately available openings.  All told these companies represent nearly 1,000 open positions.

Looking to Recruit Candidates in 2010?
Chamber members can reserve an exhibit table for two recruiters for $195.  Non-Member fee is $295, but there is an Early Bird savings special in effect until April 16th.  That rate is only $249 per table.  Included in the special recruiting offer is:

Exposure on the show handout flyer to job seekers 

Table and chairs for two recruiters

Electricity (limited availability – first come first serve)

Chic-Fil-A lunch and bottled water for two

Prime location in SouthPark Circle Center

Special bonus for early bird registrations (see below) 

Special Bonus…
By pre-registering during the Early Bird period (now through April 16th) – your company will receive a complimentary UNLIMITED Job Post Package from LocalJobs.com for 1-3 months (depending on company size)..

This package includes:

• UNLIMITED job listings

• 30 day shelf life (with another 30 days upon request if the position was not filled during the first 30 days)

• Home page logo rotation for your company

• Featured company spotlight on our e-newsletter  ‘Employment Weekly Charlotte Edition’ – reaches over 10,000 registered job seekers each week

• Auto social media postings to: Google, Indeed, Simply Hired, FaceBook, Linked-In and TweetDeck (via TwitJobSearch)

Information for both employers wishing to recruit and job seekers looking for jobs about the fair can be found at www.ignitespringjobfair.com

Kewaunee Scientific expands, adds 120 jobs

Kewaunee Scientific Corp. plans a major renovation and expansion of its Statesville manufacturing plant that will add up to 120 jobs over the next five years. (KEQU)

Source: Charlotte Business News – Local Charlotte News | Charlotte Business Journal

Charlotte Observer cutting 25 jobs

The Charlotte Observer is cutting 25 jobs, the newspaper reports on its Web site.

“Our revenue is still declining because of a difficult local economy,” says Ann Cauklins, publisher. “The revenue decline is lessening, but the change is very gradual. While we see some signs of improvement in our business, the revenue trends are still negative.”

Full Story at Charlotte Business Journal

The Best Places For Business And Careers

The economy shed 651,000 jobs in February and 4.4 million since the recession began in December 2007. Only a handful of metro areas have escaped falling employment over the past three months. Yet there are still some places out there that remain attractive to businesses.

Our 11th annual ranking of the Best Places for Business and Careers features clear winners in North Carolina and Colorado, home to a combined 10 of the 20 top metro areas.

For a Special Report on How North Carolina Continues to Outperform the Other States – watch here.

Source: Forbes.com

Lake Norman Chamber Presents Survive & Thrive in Today’s Economy: Funding Strategies for your Business

     The Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce in association with the Small Business & Technology Development Center at University of North Carolina at Charlotte will present the last in a series of four free workshops addressing business management in today’s economic environment.     The last program will be held Tuesday, April 28th  from 8:30 am until 10:00 am, with a session entitled “Funding Strategies in Today’s Economy: Meeting the Challenge.”  The format is comprised of a thirty-minute networking opportunity followed by a one hour panel discussion.  The panel includes Eileen Joyce, the Lead Business development Specialist with the U.S. Small Business Administration; Christopher A. Coutinho, the President and CEO of Paystar Logistics; and Lynn Batchelor, Financial Center Leader and Banking Officer for BB&T in Cornelius.
     Joyce will discuss financing options available for small businesses through the SBA.  Batchelor will present funding strategies and credit lines available through local community banks and Coutinho will discuss “Angel Investors” an option many local businesses are turning to for options meeting today’s challenges.
      Bill Russell, President and CEO of the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce states the business organization is working to give local businesses the resources they need to compete in today’s challenging economy.  “The Lake Norman Chamber is working to ensure that our businesses have the tools in their toolbox to compete in today’s market.”   While the program is intended for chamber members, Russell states that any local business seeking assistance is invited to attend.  Our previous programs have focused on creating a strong business and marketing plan; the basics of sales and networking, and most recently; human resource and fiscal management.  Our last session really deals with financing the business and making sure your business has the revenue to meet bottom line expenses.”  

Bill Russell

     The program will be held in the Chamber’s Randy Marion conference room, located on the 2nd floor at 19900 West Catawba Avenue in Cornelius.  For additional information, please call the Lake Norman Chamber at 704-892-1922.

Lake Norman Chamber Program to Examine Sweeping Labor Law Legislation and its Impact on Local Business

The Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce will hear a presentation on labor law legislation currently pending before congress, specifically Senate Bill S560 the Employee Free Choice Act, also known as the Card Check Bill.  The program will take place Friday, April 24th, from 8:00 – 9: 30 a.m. at the Lake Norman Chamber.  The Employee Free Choice Act has been introduced in both Houses of Congress.  According to information posted on the Lake Norman’s advocacy website (VoteLakeNorman.com) the bill includes provisions which would allow sweeping changes to North Carolina’s workforce: 

• Elimination of the Secret Ballot:  Trading the secret ballot process for one that invites intimidation and coercion and leads to widespread disenfranchisement of workers is not a step in the right direction.
•  Writing contracts through government imposed arbitration:  Forced arbitration would impose unreasonable and inflexible terms and cause an employer to lose control over their operations, preventing them from growing their business. 
•  Unreasonable and one-sided penalty expansion:  EFCA imposes dramatic new penalties on employers for violations of the National Labor Relations Act, but not a single new penalty on unions or labor organizers.  EFCA would have a particularly devastating impact on small employers who, as the primary source for new jobs, are counted on to reverse the current economic downturn.

The Lake Norman Chamber is opposed to both The Employee Free Choice Act and the potential unionization of public employees.  Mason G. Alexander, a partner with Fisher &Phillips, LLP Attorneys at Law will be on hand to discuss in more detail how this legislation, and other acts being introduced, will impact Labor Laws in North Carolina.  Also speaking is Davidson Mayor John Woods, who serves as First Vice President Area Executive for People’s Bank.  Mayor Woods will address how this legislation impacts both the public and private sector.

Mason G. Alexander

Bill Russell, President and CEO of the Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce stated in a message to the Chamber members, “This could be the final straw that some companies may use to move their operations offshore to countries where unions are non-existent.  As we rebuild our struggling economy, we do not need to lose more jobs to international competition.  A major competitive advantage for North Carolina has been our status as a right to work state and low union activity.  If this bill passes, there will be a renewed emphasis by the AFL-CIO to change the face of our labor force in the Carolinas.”

While this program is intended for Lake Norman Chamber members, any business or interested individual is invited to attend.  This program is sponsored by Baker Human Resources Consultation.

Lake Norman Times to cease publication

The Lake Norman Times will cease publication April 15, the newspaper reports on its Web site.

Womack Publishing Co. Inc., which founded the weekly newspaper 17 years ago, cites the recession and declining advertising revenue.

Subscribers will receive prorated refunds, as will advertisers with multi-week contracts.

Virginia-based Womack Publishing owns and operates 15 community newspapers in North Carolina and Virginia.

Source: Charlotte Business Journal