Illinois Tollway to Host Career Opportunities Expo

Submitted by the Illinois Tollway.

Downers Grove, IL - The Illinois Tollway is hosting a free Career Opportunities Expo on Feb. 26 in Chicago to provide information and assistance to people interested in working for the Tollway and the State of Illinois as well as other companies doing business with the state.

The Expo will help connect prospective workers with public and private-sector employers and jobs and is being held as part of the Tollway’s ongoing focus on diversity issues and initiatives, including fostering access to sustainable jobs for African Americans, Asians, Hispanics, Native Americans and women, as well as veterans.

“We are committed to ensuring everyone has an opportunity to take part in the vital work we are doing to rebuild, expand and improve the Illinois Tollway system,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Greg Bedalov. “Partnering with other local and state agencies we can educate job seekers about hiring opportunities and also allow them to participate in workshops that will help improve the skills they need to land a job.”

The Career Opportunities Expo will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 26 at New Beginnings Church, 6620 S. King Drive, Chicago. To register, visit the Illinois Tollway’s website at illinoistollway.com. Pre-registration closes at noon on Wednesday, Feb. 24, and onsite registration will be available beginning at 9 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 26.

The Expo will offer the opportunity to meet one-on-one with more than 50 businesses, state agencies, construction trades and organizations and that will provide information about employment readiness and job opportunities. In addition, the event will also include breakout sessions that highlight information on construction career opportunities and training programs, as well as training in resume building and interviewing skills.

“This event offers an opportunity for us to put resources and assistance into the hands of anyone who wants to find a job, particularly residents from Chicago’s South Side and south suburbs,” said Tollway Board Director Corey Brooks. “Not only is the Illinois Tollway committed to diversifying its own workforce, but we are also encouraging the contractors and firms we do business with to include minorities, women, veterans and underemployed workers in their hiring and training programs.”

The Career Opportunities Expo will feature information about programs to help workers get prepared including from Chicago City Colleges including Dawson Technical College, Prairie State College and South Suburban College; and community organizations including the Chicago Urban League. In addition, the Illinois Department of Employment Security will offer workshops on resume writing and using the JobLink website, which helps prospective employees obtain information about private sector jobs.

The event will offer workshops on skills needed to qualify for membership in various professional services, building and construction trades featuring CISCO, the Construction Industry Service Corporation, and Chicago Women in Trades. Training partners participating in the event will also include the Chicago Laborers Training and Apprentice Fund.

Expo participants also will have the opportunity to explore current career opportunities at state and regional agencies including the Department of Central Management Services, the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois Department of Veteran Services, Illinois Department of Corrections, Metra and Pace.

All registrants attending the Career Opportunities Expo will receive an event resource guide, which includes contact information for all exhibitors and workshop presenters.

About the Illinois Tollway

The Illinois Tollway is a user-fee system that receives no state or federal funds for maintenance and operations. The agency maintains and operates 286 miles of interstate tollways in 12 counties in Northern Illinois, including the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355), the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) and the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80).