Veterans were given the opportunity to look for jobs and have questions answered at the second annual Lenoir County Veterans Fair on Thursday.
The fair, held at Vernon Park Mall, ran from 9 a.m. until noon.
Victor Kosinski, a veteran’s employment consultant with the Division of Workforce Solutions, said there were 32 vendors on hand covering a wide range of topics.
Vendors were in attendance to help with employment opportunities and representatives from LCC talked to veterans about furthering their education.
Kosinski said there were also booths set up for vets who needed help dealing with health issues which occurred both in the military and after the veteran left the service.
Overall, there were a lot of options for all in attendance.
“If a veteran comes in and has a question, they can ask them all under one roof,” Kosinski said.
Jamie Wallace, manager of the division of workforce solutions, said the fair was a good chance for veterans to find jobs.
“Veterans are always good candidates for jobs,” Wallace said. “It’s a good opportunity for them to hand out resumes and network.”
Kim Davis, staff supervisor for Resource MFG, said she sees the fair as a big positive for vets.
“It boosts up the moral of veterans and gets them back into the system,” Davis said.
Michelle Keeler, branch manager for Labor Ready in Jacksonville, said her company is always looking to help veterans find temporary jobs.
“We love veterans,” Keeler said. “They have a very good work ethic.”
While the fair was primarily set up for veterans, Kosinki said civilians were also welcomed to attend.
Frederick Hawkins, who served in the army from 1974-77, said he was at the fair looking for a part-time job.
He said he had some leads and thought the fair was a good event for veterans.
Bret Canuette is a more recent veteran, having served in the USMC from 2009-13, said he was looking for a job while he studies psychology at LCC.
“I’m looking for something that provides career opportunities while I’m in school,” Canuette said.
He said he appreciated the involvement of community members at the fair.
“Seeing that the community rallies behind its veterans is nice,” Canuette said.
Noah Clark can be reached at 252-559-1073 or Noah.Clark@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @nclark763.