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Contact: David West
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466
5/15/98
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATCHITOCHES -A one-day seminar for area businesses, "Growing Jobs for Your Community: Business and Work Force Opportunities,'' will be held Thursday, May 21 at Northwestern State University. The seminar will begin at 9 a.m. in the Friedman Student Union on the NSU campus. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. There is no charge to attend the seminar.
Speakers at the seminar include NSU Dean of Business Dr. Barry Smiley who will discuss the area's economic development trends and forecast. David Dodd of Morrison & Dodd Associates will make a presentation, "Building Your Business Base."
A group of speakers will cover the topic, "Practical Applications for Addressing the Need for Skilled Labor and High School Dropout Programs." Dr. Alvin Brossette, director of continuing education at NSU, and Natchitoches civic leader Ed Ward will discuss the ongoing program at the Ben Johnson Educational Center in Natchitoches. Jeff Risinger, human resource development manager at Alliance Compressor in Natchitoches, will discuss his company's effort to create job opportunities in the area. Randy Rogers of the Louisiana Department of Economic Development will make a presentation on workforce development. Gerald Saucier of the Louisiana Department of Education will close out the session with a talk on the Quickstart Program.
The topic of workforce development will be expanded during a luncheon address by Garey Forster, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Labor. Kevin P. Reilly, Sr., secretary of the Louisiana Department of Economic Development, will update the participants on the 1998 Legislative session and provide the latest information on economic development in Louisiana.
The seminar is co-sponsored by Cajun Electric, Cleco, Entergy, SWEPCO, the Kisatchie-Delta Planning District, Louisiana Department of Economic Development, Natchitoches Area Chamber of Commerce and the Northwestern State University Small Development Center. For more information, call (318) 357-5611.