RINCON — Effingham College & Career Academy was gushing with employment opportunities May 8 during an Effingham County Chamber of Commerce-sponsored Job Fair.
The annual event featured nearly two dozen employers and more than 100 job seekers, about twice as many as who attended last year.
“Right now, we are looking for chemical plant operators,” DRT America Human Resources Integration Manager Maria Whitfield said. “In the future, we will be looking for some unloaders. We are looking for an (information technology) person right now.
“We are growing like crazy.”
DRT America’s Rincon facility, which processes turpentine for use in a variety or products, has grown from four employees to 32 in just over a year.
“We have had great success with our local employees,” Whitfield said. “Our turnover is minimum.”
DRT America is searching for employees, including mechanics, for Pinova, a Brunswick facility that it recently purchased.
“Between (the plants in Rincon and Brunswick), we have 260 employees,” Whitfield said.
DRT America offers “Be There Bucks,” a $100 monthly reward for production employees who show up on time and avoiding missed days.
“We pay it once a month,” Whitfield said. “We’ve been doing it since day one. I would say an average of about eighty percent of our folks get it because life happens.
“You’ve got to your kids’ programs, you’ve got to go to a meeting and lots of things.”
Connie Boyd had plenty of career opportunities to share. She is the branch manager of ProLogistix in Pooler.
“We specialize warehousing,” she said. “Our process is all about logistics, all about safety.”
ProLogistix needs forklift operators, clamp operators, shipping clerks and scanners.
“Our jobs run the gamut,” Boyd said. “We work with like 18 different clients in the area so we have lots of jobs available. We are always looking for good talent.”
Rincon Chevrolet is in the market for talented technicians and sales consultants.
“I’m looking for at least four more guys,” said Jimmy Brown, Rincon Chevrolet service manager. “We just built that new shop that has two new bays in it.”
One of Brown’s most productive technicians will be out for awhile because of an injured finger. His absence is causing a backlog of service work.
Rincon Chevrolet Sales Manager Tony Littles needs help, too. He said the car market is “very busy” and he also has four open spots.
“We are looking to teach someone how to build a career,” Littles said. “It’s a very lucrative business and has great potential for making a good life for you and your family.”
Paige Sealor didn’t have any jobs to offer. Instead, she touted Troy University’s online educational opportunities.
“We have over a hundred online programs right now, ranging from associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate,” she said.
Sealor recently moved to Richmond Hill. Over the last decade. She has worked for Troy University in Albany, Pensacola, Fla., and Dothan, Ala.
“I travel, talk to people and do stuff like this all the time,” Sealor said.
