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 The Future Ready Expo returned to the Walters State Expo Center Wednesday to educate eighth grade students in the Lakeway Area on careers in business, IT, retail services, healthcare, trade and industry. The expo was created to give students a hands on opportunity to explore careers in its four sectors. Students are able to see how a job is performed, interact with the representative, and even operate some equipment and simulators that the exhibitors bring. “The Future Ready Expo is just a great opportunity for our middle schoolers to learn about what careers are available in Hamblen County and throughout the region,” Hamblen County Mayor Bill Brittain said. “It an opportunity for students to learn what things are made in the county.” The career clusters are broken down into the following sectors, advanced manufacturing, public safety and emergency services, business, it, retail services, and healthcare and trade and industry. “We have everything from retail to health to emergency services, you name it and we go it,” Director of Morristown-Hamblen Emergency Management Agency Chris Bell said. “We are trying to help eight graders get hands on experience and educate them on businesses in the area.” The expo gives business the chance to interact with students, showcase their business, network with other exhibitors, and create potential paths for these students to become interns, apprentices, or employees. “We see this as a vitally important thing for students to be able to see what types of jobs and skills they need for those jobs that are right here in Hamblen County,” HC*EXCELL Executive Director and Hamblen County Commissioner Stan Harville said. “It’s an opportunity for business to get out in front of those kids and show them the kids what skills are needed to be successful in the work force.” Students met with several different agencies including HOLA Lakeway, The Hamblen County Sheriff’s Department and Rich Products. “Rich Products is here to show students exactly what is available for them and the type of manufacturing and production that we do at our facility,” Rich’s HR Generalist Crys King said. Students were also able to explore high school and post-secondary opportunities as the Morristown-Hamblen Airforce JROTC and TCAT Morristown were present to discuss its organizations. With more than 50 businesses participating in the expo and students from Hamblen, Jefferson and Hancock Counties participating the event, the goal is to continue to grow the event to educate students on job opportunities all throughout the entire region. “Our goal of the event is to continue to grow this regionally because Hamblen County’s workforce comes from an eight county region. More than 55% of our workforce comes from outside the community so it is important for us to educate students in the region about these jobs that are available.”