Staff photo / R. Michael Semple Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel, left, shares a moment with Youngstown State University President Bill Johnson during the kickoff of Tressel’s WorkOhio program at Kent State University at Trumbull campus in Champion. Tressel has been traveling across the state to tout the initiative, which connects job seekers with opportunities all in one place.

CHAMPION — Job seeking is notoriously daunting, time-consuming and can be emotionally draining.

The goal of a new initiative in Ohio is to simplify and personalize the job-seeking process by providing a seamless means to find a job or career training.

Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel visited Kent State University at Trumbull on Monday morning to share information about his recently launched workforce initiative, WorkOhio.

“Ten or twelve years ago, Ohio was considered the 35th-ranked state for a company coming in and considering putting in a new company, and / or expanding a current company. Today, we are the fifth-ranked state,” Tressel said, quoting statistics given to him by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine.

DeWine also told Tressel that in his final months in office, he would like to finish strong and that every Ohioan is needed to take advantage of the opportunities offered here. Tressel said DeWine wants every Ohioan to be safe, healthy and to reach their God-given potential.

“(Gov.) DeWine asked me to go out and find what we can do to reach that goal, and to meet the needs of all the workforce opportunities that we have not had for decades,” Tressel said.

Alex Hertzer, executive director of the Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition (MVMC), the regional hub leader for WorkOhio said, “Lt. Gov. Tressel is recognizing all the community partners that are already doing great work in our community. WorkOhio is going to help us bring all that together to work more cohesively. It is designed to make it easier for Ohioans to find good jobs right here, in their own communities. It is a front door for Ohioans who want to either increase their skills or find a job directly.”

Shelley Murray, CEO Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries, said, “Goodwill is providing the backbone support to the Assembly for Workforce Solutions by adding the Social Information Exchange Network (SIEN), to our program.”

Murray listed situations in which a person who would like to work may face barriers, including lack of reliable transportation, housing issues, and / or emotional or psychological problems. SIEN is a shared referral and follow-up system that helps trusted partners, such as ones who attended Monday’s event, to stay connected in order for those seeking employment to get the help they need.

WorkOhio is a collaboration between regional, county and state entities to connect Ohio residents with a job of interest that meets their goals. Northeast Ohio is one of seven WorkOhio Regional Job Hubs that consist of trusted local organizations who understand their region’s industries, employers and workforce needs.

Mark Lamoncha, board chairman for MVMC, a member of the Ohio State Board of Education and CEO and President of Humtown Products, a family-owned manufacturing company in Columbiana, said, “The internet has become so transactional. It makes you feel like when you put in an application, you feel like you are putting it in a bottle and throwing it out in the middle of Lake Erie.”

The WorkOhio initiative serves as a resource that allows Ohioans to navigate the job tools that fit them best, all in one online location. WorkOhio.gov is the starting point for anyone looking for training programs, job opportunities and other resources able to align experience and background with appropriate training or job opportunities.

One can select their Ohio region of interest and find a community connector who will personalize their experience. There is no signing in with a username and password. After submitting a short contact form requesting one-on-one support, the job seeker will be contacted by a person in the area with the program within two business days.

WorkOhio also provides job coaching for those already working in a job, and a means to keep their job by increasing technical skills through education and training programs. The program is also a means to navigate careers by aligning interests and skills with available opportunities.

“It is not that we lack opportunity. We just need to make that human connection. We have all the right people here and the right entities to make that happen,” Lamoncha said.