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CareerSource Suncoast Helps Local Students Discover Their Path Forward Contact Name: Curt Preisser Contact Email: cpreisser@careersourcesc.com Contact Phone Number: 941-650-2883 CareerSource Suncoast is making a virtual conference available to school systems to show students the many local choices available to them for education and career paths after high school. The State of Jobs Conference (SOJC) is the largest college and career exploration conference in the state of Florida. It sets the stage for high school students to discover and learn more about higher education, career options, and the job market. “Today’s job market offers thousands of career and educational opportunities for young adults, but with Covid restrictions, we couldn’t responsibly hold an in-person conference for thousands of people, so we decided to bring the conference to them,” said Josh Matlock, CareerSource Suncoast Senior Vice President, and Chief Operating Officer. During the media event to announce the virtual SOJC, CareerSource Suncoast leadership recognized two local high school seniors, Abigail Koester of Sarasota Military Academy and Dev Patel of Southeast High School in Bradenton. Koester and Patel volunteered their time to interview local businesses and educational leaders about career and educational opportunities and also hosted a panel discussion of subject matter experts in the Southeast High School television studios. Both students were awarded a $1,000 Career Start-Up Scholarship. Matlock complimented the students saying, “Abigail and Dev are great examples of young adults facing decisions about what path to take after high school. They were the perfect choice to host this event, and we are grateful for their dedication and enthusiasm.” Access to the 2021 State of Jobs Conference is free and available online now through March 31, 2022. CareerSource Suncoast is the leading designated workforce services provider in Manatee and Sarasota counties, with a primary focus is to help businesses grow by offering proven talent recruitment and development solutions. For more information, contact Curt Preisser, CareerSource Communications, at 941-650-2883.