2023 Business Partners of the Year
Educators, business represenatives, and community leaders networking at our 2024 Education After Hours event.
Bridging the gap between education and employment is all about business partners connecting with and working with educators and students. Each year, we recognize businesses who go above and beyond to bridge the gap. This month, we recognized eight businesses for the unique and impactful ways they worked with us and our schools in 2023.
Caroline Perruci is the owner of Little Muskingum Kettle Farm, our Internship Business Partner of the Year. Caroline is a Washington County native with an entrepreneurial spirit who is always willing to engage with and host students. She provides valuable opportunities for students to grow personally and professionally while also strengthening bonds within our community.
Keri Seevers is the owner of our Job Shadowing Business Partner of the Year, MoniKeri Imaging. Keri supports aspiring photographers in our community by offering job shadowing opportunities at her studio. She shares her wealth of knowledge and expertise in photography through mentorship and practical guidance. She helps students develop essential skills, refine their techniques, and gain a deeper understanding of both the art and business of photography.
Memorial Health System is our Career Mentor Business Partner of the Year. They have been a BB2C partner from the beginning. Their support and involvement span numerous years and numerous programs. Not only did they sponsor this year’s Education After Hours, they’ve been our Career Mentor program sponsor for many years. They don’t just sponsor the program though- their employees are the largest group of mentor volunteers, working directly with our middle school students, and they host a mentor training at the hospital every year.
Dough Boyz Pizza is our Family Career Awareness Day Business Partner of the Year. Owner Sam Skinner helped make this year’s event a success by feeding over 300 students, parents, businesses representatives, and educators. One of the highlights of this family-friendly event that engages 7th – 12th grade students in career exploration is that dinner is provided to all participants for free. This was the first year that we had one pizza place step up and offer all the pizza, which made the event run even smoother for all.
Marietta Noon Rotary President, Jarrett Stull, accepts the Career Speaker award from BB2C Executive Director Tasha Werry.
The Marietta Noon Rotary is the first recipient of our Career Speaker Business Partner of the Year award, highlighting all the businesses represented in the civic organization. Our new Career Speaker series came on-line when both our educators and the Marietta Noon Rotary approached BB2C about ways to bring more professionals into to the classroom to highlight different fields, industries, and careers. This Washington County-wide program has been a success, in large part because of the Rotary members who volunteer their time to talk with students and educators.
Washington Sate College of Ohio is our Discover Days Business Partner of the Year. Not only are they amazing partners to BB2C in general, always helping plan and implement programs and events, they never say no to hosting our Discover Days, which highlight different careers, fields, and industries. In fact, they would host every event that we offered, if needed. They provide great space, good parking, and fantastic connections.
Microbac Laboratories is our Real World Problem Scenario Business Partner of the Year. Although this was the first year that they partnered with BB2C for the Real World Problem Scenario program, they went above and beyond! Anthony Canter, of Microbac, carefully crafted resources lists, presentations, and materials to provide to environmental science students at Warren High School. He was able to engage them in a real problem and give them a chance to use what they’ve been learning in the classroom to brainstorm and present solutions.
Westlake Dimex is our Makerspace Business Partner of the Year. They provided funding and support that allowed us to completely renovate and expand our Tech Space. We were able to develop a space that not only provides amazing tools, including our 3D printing software, 3D printers, and resin printers, but also encourages creativity and innovation. The bigger, updated space allows us to host bigger student groups and community classes and is an integral part of our summer STEAM Camps for middle and high school students.
Our 2023 Network Business Partner of the Year will be unveiled at our 2024 Community & Career Connected Learning Summit on Friday, September 20, 2024 at Washington State College of Ohio. This will be our fifth annual Summit and will highlight educators, businesses, and community leaders from Southeastern Ohio who are working together to implement programs, events, and projects to bridge the gap between education and employment. Save the date!