Dunn Richmond

January 18, 2024

SIU event will help businesses attract and retain top-notch employees

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. — A free seminar this month at Southern Illinois University Carbondale will provide tips and tools to help businesses and organizations attract and retain high-quality employees.

Employee Retention and Attraction is set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 23 at the Center for Innovation, 1745 Innovation Drive in Carbondale. While there is no cost to attend, registration is required.

Learn from experts

The event will feature presentations from experts, a panel discussion featuring local employers and resource companies, a networking lunch, handouts and online resource guides. Check-in begins at 9:30 a.m.

Lori Amerman, operations coordinator for the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center, will discuss job quality practices and resources, and Glenn Edwards, continuous improvement manager for Intertape Polymer Group, will highlight the cost of employee turnover and attraction. Emily Perks, employer services manager for Man-Tra-Con Corp., and Freddie Buckingham, Southern Region Service Manager for the Illinois Department of Employment Security, will present information about employer services and resources.

The panel discussion will offer advice from various vantage points within the industry and will feature:

  • Cassi Igert, regional manager of the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center, as moderator.
  • Brenda Malone, human resources recruiter for Intermountain Electronics, Inc.
  • Charity Franklin, human resource business partner, and Johnny Miller, Wolf Lake site manager, for Dyno Nobel.
  • Erin Kopec, vice president of sales and marketing for HireLevel.
  • Nicholas Wortman, SIU assistant vice chancellor of human resources.

Organizers say the day will provide strategies, information and steps small and medium-size businesses and organizations can take to recruit and retain top-notch, high-performing employees as featured in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Job Quality Toolkit. The event will also highlight what employer support services are available, including local grant funding options.

Sign up now

Register online for the seminar by 8 a.m. Jan. 23. For more information, call 618-536-2424.

Event sponsors include the Office of Innovation and Economic Development at SIU, the Illinois APEX Accelerator, the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center, the Illinois Small Business Development Center at SIU, Man-Tra-Con Corp., SIU, SI Now and the Greater Egypt Regional Planning and Development Commission.