Warren County Employment & Training Administration has partnered with local hospitality industry leaders and educators to develop a free training program that the organizations hope will help address an anticipated worker shortage in the hospitality industry this summer.
The program, Pathways Up for Success in Hospitality (PUSH), will help recruit, train and place new workers into the retail, food & beverage, and lodging sectors of the hospitality field, in an effort to fill the thousands of job openings anticipated for the summer tourism season. Many hospitality businesses dealt with a significant shortage of workers last summer.
The new program includes 16 hours of free online courses through the Metrix platform in the categories of professionalism, customer service, communication, problem solving, teamwork and time management. Participants can register for the program and take the courses on their own schedule.
The second component of the program includes participation in a three-hour local tourism class called Lake George Visitor Journey -- “Arrival 2 Departure (A2D)” through the Lake George Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau. This class is also currently virtual but plans to resume in-person classes in the future.
The final component includes site visits to local hospitality businesses so that participants can learn more about the variety of employment opportunities and the myriad environments in which to work. Participants who complete the estimated 25 hours of full training will receive a certificate of completion and will be preferred candidates when referred to local businesses with open positions. The participants will also have access to interview preparation, resume updating and application assistance through the Warren County Career Center’s services to ensure they are fully prepared for a successful transition into employment.
The training and mentorship will prepare workers for a variety of types of employment that can lead to lucrative and fulfilling careers.
“We are excited about this new training opportunity because not only does it help businesses fill open positions with qualified candidates, but it also provides exposure to all of the wonderful career possibilities within the field of hospitality,” said Kathryn Flacke Muncil, CEO of The Fort William Henry Corporation.
Warren County hospitality businesses who become PUSH Partners will be provided with referrals from the PUSH training program so they can quickly interview and hire individuals who completed the program. The PUSH Partners will also be provided with a PUSH Partner logo to utilize in their job postings, etc.
“Utilizing PUSH trained employees will facilitate a more consistent, knowledgeable, and customer service-focused hospitality workforce and will therefore benefit local businesses and tourists alike,” said Liza Ochsendorf, Warren County Director of Employment & Training.
The PUSH training program is open to anyone interested in learning more about the hospitality field, those in between careers who may have transferable skills, and the youth workforce who can benefit tremendously from gaining additional job readiness skills and becoming more connected with the local business community. Participants will also learn about the many opportunities for advancement within the field, the leadership roles that are available and what it requires to excel in the field.
To enroll as a free PUSH training participant, please contact Andrea Kinderman, Employment & Training Coordinator, at kindermana@warrencountyny.gov or by calling 518-824-8870. If you are a business who wishes to become a PUSH Partner or want to learn more about the PUSH Program, please contact Warren County Director of Employment & Training, Liza Ochsendorf, at ochsendorfl@warrencountyny.gov or 518-824-8865.
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