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AN INTERVIEW WITH
CLIFF MEEKS

  The Georgia Employer Committee would like to share with its viewers the EMR's who are vital to the success of the Local Committees throughout the State. This month we meet and talk with EMR CLIFF MEEKS of the LaGrange Career Center.

 

Tell us your name, your Career Center and how long you’ve been an EMR?

CM: -Cliff Meeks, LaGrange Career Center, the West Georgia-LaGrange Employer Committee .

 

Do you have any special talents, hobbies, or interest you’d like to share? ?

CM: - Public Speaking is a special talent that I enjoy and love to do. Hobbies are Photography, Reading and listening to traditional Gospel, Blues and Jazz music. I do mentoring in the community with the organizations I am a member of because of my interest in giving back and wanting to make my community better. .

 

What led you to your position as an EMR, and why?

CM: - The previous EMR was retiring and we were friends. The suggestion was made that I apply for the job with my background in Community involvement, the Military and previous work in the Business and Corporate world.

 

What do you feel is unique about the area in which you work?

CM: - The uniqueness of this area is not so evident at first. The Community is one that pulls together to achieve or accomplish the objective and complete the mission. For instance, when it was learned that The KIA Manufacturing facility was interested in coming to this area – the community stepped up and began to become united in helping to make it a reality. It’s all about people and people working together. .

 

How active is your Employer Committee? What do you feel are its best features, and biggest challenges?

CM: - The West Georgia-LaGrange Employer Committee is very active in various projects and services to the community and the local Career Center. They do a quarterly Birthday Celebration for Career Center Staff. Connections with the Chamber and the Local SHRM Chapter have provided avenues to co-sponsor and bring to the area highly effective workshops, seminars and new employers and businesses. Participation in various schools with job shadowing and Career Days as well as co-sponsoring an Annual Career Expo for Middle and High School students. This has proved to be very successful as many students have been able to find out what industries and businesses are located here locally that can enhance their future careers. As the economy brings several challenges for all of us, one of the greatest challenges of the Employer Committee has been and is finding ways and means to help not only themselves, but the local employment and business base to survive through these times and progress to stil provide viable opportunities for the area. .

 

Have you, or your Employer Committee, received any awards, or special recognition?

CM: - I received the 2007 EMR High Achievement Award for District 6 and the Employer Committee has received The Employer Committee of the Year Award. .

 

What community activities do you participate in as an EMR?

CM: - I am on the Board of Directors for The LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce, Communities in Schools of Troup County, Troup County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). .

 

What do you enjoy most about your job?

CM: - I enjoy the involvement of being active in the community and doing my small part to help our community, state and nation be better by trying to avail those who are looking and receptive to all the opportunities that we have to offer. Bringing Employers together and helping them to become more community based is very rewarding and beneficial. .

 

In the future what would you most like to accomplish as an EMR?

CM: - I would really like to, with necessary assistance, put together and coordinate if not the biggest, one of the biggest job fairs, career expos and employment workshop ever experienced in the state. There are so many people who have lost jobs, and others are losing them as this piece is being written – even though we serve them and employers on a daily basis, sometimes an event such as a job fair can be the most effective tool or method to accomplish what daily activity has not. .

 

What future trends do you see in employment needs for your area?

CM: - Employment needs in the future, as well as now will not be as prominent in the manufacturing arena – the trend will be more in the service area. However, in our area, we are experiencing quite and influx of manufacturing jobs due to the KIA Project, which will have a positive affect for our area in the future. . .

 

La Grange Staff