The Greater Binghamton Education Outreach Program, SUNY Broome Community College, Broome-Tioga BOCES, Broome-Tioga Workforce, Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce and The Agency are thrilled to announce SPARK, a career exploration experience for eighth grade students in our region. Special thanks to our title sponsors IBM and Lourdes Ascension, Silver Sponsor UHS and Bronze Sponsor The Raymond Corporation.

The event will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 22, 2020, on SUNY Broome’s campus. Throughout the course of the day, students will be able to interact with SUNY Broome faculty, BOCES Career and Technical Education teachers, and employers to learn about the careers in our region and the educational and training pathways needed for success.

“SUNY Broome is truly excited to host SPARK and show the region’s youth the many career opportunities available in the Southern Tier,” said SUNY Broome President Kevin E. Drumm. “The education-to-career pipeline begins in our area school districts, and it’s never too early to begin thinking about college and where you would like your career to take you. Thank you to our partners in the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce, Broome-Tioga BOCES, Broome Tioga Workforce and The Agency for help making this inaugural event possible.”

Through the use of many of the college’s state-of-the-art facilities, including the Calice Advanced Manufacturing Center, the Decker Health Science Center, Applied Technology Building, Business Building and the Natural Science Center, students will see careers in action. Where applicable, Broome-Tioga BOCES and regional employers will join SUNY Broome faculty and will bring interactive materials to enrich the experience even further.

“SPARK not only inspires young people to plan for their future, it also plays a role in developing our region’s future workforce,” said SUNY Broome Vice President of Academic Affairs Penny Haynes. “These young students will learn about the many vibrant career opportunities right here in the Southern Tier before they even enter high school. It’s a great opportunity for students and employers alike.”

The intent of this event is to show students the many and varied career opportunities in our region, and the possibilities for their future here.

“We’re delighted to help spark the next generation of workers by exposing students to career paths available in our region. Facilitating strategic career exploration events was the vision of the Broome-Tioga Talent Taskforce from when we started in 2017.  Career exploration at the middle school level is crucial for students choosing their high school path and beyond, and our goal is that this event will spark further interest and preparation activities for our regional schools,” said Stacey Duncan, Executive Director, The Agency BCIDA/LDC and President & CEO, Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce.

There are 1,900 students registered from 17 middle schools and over 100 hands-on career related activities for them to participate in. “The Spark event is just another example of what’s right with Broome County. The sponsors and school districts working together to provide opportunities, as well as support and encouragement to our area youth, not only benefits the students but also our region. This is the definition of what it means to be a community” said Dr. David Gill, Superintendent, Chenango Valley Central School District.

Businesses attending are representative of many industries, broken into five sections: Business, Healthcare, Humanities, STEM, and Trades and Warehousing. Students will experience SUNY Broome programs, Broome-Tioga programs, and visit with the following attending companies:

Business industry:

• Enhance VR
• M&T Bank
• Tioga Downs Casino Resort
• Visions Hotels (Fairfield Inn and Tru)
• Visions Federal Credit Union

Human Services industry:

• ACHIEVE
• Broome County Bar Association
• Broome County Sheriff’s Office
• HCA
• Southern Tier 8

Healthcare industry:

• Central New York Area Health Education Center (CNYAHEC)
• EBI Career College
• Lourdes Ascension
• Orthodontics of the Southern Tier
• UHS

Construction, Skilled Trades, Transportation and Warehousing industry:

• Andrew R. Mancini Associates, Inc.
• Brick Layers (BAC#3)
• Dicks Sporting Goods Conklin Distribution Center
• IBEW Local Union 325, Electrical Workers
• International Union Of Painters and Allied Trades, District Council 4, Painters, Bridge Painters, Drywall Tapers, and Glaziers Union
• Mirabito
• New England Regional Council of Carpenters Labor Management Program
• NYS Department of Labor
• Smith Site Development
• TamCo
• Willow Run Foods

STEM industry:

• AM&T
• BAE SYSTEMS
• Binghamton Zoo at Ross Park
• Buckingham Manufacturing
• Chenango Valley Technologies
• Delta Engineers, Architects, & Land Surveyors, DPC
• Doron Precision
• ICS
• Lockheed Martin
• The Raymond Corporation
• Samscreen
• Siemens
• South Central Regional Information Center/Broome-Tioga BOCES
• Tier Energy Network