Southwestern Oregon Community College Partners with Bay Area Chamber of Commerce to Create Junior Chamber, Nov. 6

Southwestern Oregon Community College’s Business and Marketing Instructor, Jessica Engelke, has joined with the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC) to create a Junior Chamber of Commerce for Coos Bay, North Bend and Charleston. “This takes classroom learning out into the business world, where SWOCC students can network and develop business leadership skills,” Engelke said. “It’s important, because these students are our next generation of entrepreneurial innovators.” The program will link Junior Chamber club members with local businesses, giving them an opportunity to see business in action. They’ll also gain exposure to motivated and talented individuals. “This is an incredible joint-venture opportunity as we work to bridge the gap between business and education. While helping young people achieve their dreams and future, the Chamber gets new ideas and approaches from a different perspective. It’s a win, win for all involved,” said Chamber President Pam Plummer. The Junior Chamber is organized around a 4-point mission, to: • Create an exclusive portal for opportunities, connections and access to the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, while providing a multi-tiered platform for professional enrichment and readiness. • Develop leaders through volunteer work and community services. • Build a bridge between generations and bring the community together by combining education with business development. • Influence the future of Southwestern Oregon Community College students through civic and community involvement. SWOCC’s students will network with BACC members through monthly meetings and host a Spotlight Speaker Series with rotating monthly guest speakers. Junior Chamber members also will volunteer at various BACC activities and organize several campus events. The first Junior Chamber Spotlight Speaker is scheduled from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 6, at SWOCC’S Eden Hall, 1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay. The guest speaker will be Gail Krumenauer, the senior analyst in the Oregon Employment Department’s Research Division who will discuss recent employment trends and projected future job growth for Oregon and the South Coast. Krumenauer has been with the agency for five years, and has helped develop the state’s long-term employment projections, job vacancy surveys, and workforce-related special reports. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from DePauw University in Indiana, and a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. For more information about the Junior Chamber and upcoming Spotlight programs, please contact jessica.engelke@socc.edu.