Odegard looks to improve employer/employee relations

After taking over as workforce director at NyE Communities Coalition last month, Tammi Odegard oversaw her first big event Friday.

A business expo, that saw booths from several local businesses, looked to add to their workforce from those in need of employment in town.

“We have several employers and volunteer opportunities for people and anybody can come in walk up to the booths and see if they can find a job, or find a way to get involved with the community,” Odegard said.

The coalition holds hiring events like this on a quarterly basis, with the next one taking place in September. Odegard said they see a fair amount of success in finding jobs for those in search of employment through events like this and with employment readiness class taught at the coalition.

“I don’t know specifically from the job fair, but if people don’t find a job from the fair, they should come over to the coalition, to the workforce connections office and they can attend the workshops and get with a case manager and take advantage of all the services that are there,” she said. “I know people who have gone through the program have been employed (because of it), so there’s a lot of resources. There is a resource room where all the jobs are posted on the job board there and there’s computers for people to use the fax machine, copy machine and stuff like that.”

With the area slowly, but surely recovering from the 2008 recession, Odegard said that events like this are vital to filling jobs that become available.

“I think it’s really important for employers to get their name out, and they can advertise their positions here,” she said. “It doesn’t cost them anything to come down here to the job fair. It’s a great opportunity for employers to hook up with potential employees.”

Now with her first big event under her belt, Odegard, an 18-year Pahrump resident who worked in the court system for 11 years prior to her coming to the coalition, can focus on her goals she has for her newly-filled position.

“For short-term I really want to meet a lot of people in the business community and just explain to them what we can offer,” Odegard said. “I hope that the coalition can become known as a place where people can come looking for employees.”

Her taking over the position made vacant from Tim Wigchers moving on to work with Spring Mountain Motor Resort, was a natural progression.

“I’ve been really involved with the coalition for the last seven years,” she said. “I was on the board of directors and when I heard about this position I just couldn’t pass it up.”

The bulk of her job will be to do similar work like she did at the job expo, looking to link up those hiring to those in need of a job.

“I’ll be organizing events like this and just working with employers to help them find employees in town,” she said. “Working with employees to match them up with employers.”

Finding people who are needing employment a job is not just her job, as she gets personal satisfaction helping them find their way in the workforce, which can help boost their self-esteem.

“It’s really exciting for me,” she said. “It’s very rewarding to watch them walk out with more confidence than what they walked in with. We can help them with the clothing closet… it’s fun just to be able to help people and give them a little hand up.”