Headless Horseman Stars In Biz Council Halloween Job Recruitment Drive

CROTON-ON-HUDSON, NY — With thousands of open positions in Westchester County, two community organizations, The Business Council of Westchester and Historic Hudson Valley, have joined forces to wield the mythical power of Halloween and the legendary Headless Horseman in a creative search for talent at the wildly popular Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze.

He is "the Ultimate Headhunter" after all, they said.

With unemployment levels at historic lows across the country, attracting workers to Westchester has proven quite challenging for area businesses owners, officials at The Business Council of Westchester said in a news release.

So they're using Historic Hudson Valley’s popular Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze® at Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson as a test laboratory, featuring the Horseman as a "silent spokesperson" to launch a unique concept.

"Attracting talent is a major concern for Westchester business owners, because we are competing with companies in New York City, New Jersey and Connecticut who are all vying for attention within the same talent pool,” said Dr. Marsha Gordon, CEO of The Business Council of Westchester. “When we thought internally about exploring new, powerful lead generation sources, the Blaze immediately came to mind as a unique opportunity to reach more than 125,000 visitors from within that same 150-mile radius with demographics similar to our target audience. So, we quickly seized upon the moment and went from idea to execution within 48 hours to capture the Blaze’s short event window from mid-September to late November.”

SEE: Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze: Hudson Valley 2022 Runs For 54 Nights

Eye-catching signage at the grounds encourages would-be applicants to scan a special QR code or go directly to a new web portal aptly dubbed www.westchesterwantsyou.com.

Once on the website, visitors can explore open positions with some of the area’s most prestigious companies, who agreed to help pilot this concept in what will eventually become an on-going talent attraction and cultivation initiative, WBC officials said.

For the initial launch, companies including Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Maier Markey and Justic, LLP, Cuddy & Feder, LLP and Tompkins Excavating agreed to participate in the pilot, and more companies will be added over the coming months.

"We couldn’t have moved so quickly without Historic Hudson Valley believing in the concept and the importance of what a partnership between business and non-profit leadership could yield for the betterment of the area economy," Gordon said.

“Beyond the historical, educational and entertainment value we provide to the community, we are equally an economic engine for the region, so to partner with a prominent business organization on something as important as attracting talent and utilizing the Blaze in such a unique and exciting way is truly an honor and we are thrilled to be part of this effort,” said Historic Hudson Valley President Waddell Stillman.

More information about The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze is available at pumpkinblaze.org.

About The Business Council of Westchester

The Business Council of Westchester is the county’s largest and most prestigious business membership organization representing more than 1,000 members, including multinational corporations, hospitals, universities, biotech pioneers, not-for-profits, entrepreneurs, and companies of all sizes. As the most influential economic development and advocacy organization in Westchester, The Business Council of Westchester’s members enjoy unparalleled access to today’s top thought leaders, diverse business development opportunities and lawmakers at all levels of government.

About Historic Hudson Valley

Historic Hudson Valley, Westchester County’s largest cultural organization, educates and entertains more than 325,000 visitors a year through school programs, tours of five National Historic Landmarks, and Halloween themed experiences, which have earned a national reputation as among the best in the country. Historic Hudson Valley’s largest event, The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, is in its 18th year at Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson. Since 2005, more than 2 million visitors have enjoyed this family friendly experience.