Beginning in March 2016, the Midlakes Graduates of Distinction Committee have chosen alumni of Midlakes High school who have “achieved distinction through outstanding accomplishments or lifetime achievements and sharing these with the collective community” (Graduates of Distinction, www.midlakes.org, 2019) to receive this accolade.  Mr. John Mueller, co-owner of Willow Bend Farms and past Chair of the Finger Lakes Workforce Investment Board, Inc., has been named as a 2019 recipient.

Along with his leadership role in the FLWIB, Mr. Mueller has served on Dairy Promotion boards, as the past president of Ontario County Farm Bureau and currently serves as Chair of Trustees for the United Methodist Church of Clifton Springs.  Mr. Mueller is also a member of the Farm Credit Customer Service Council and Cornell University Agriculture Advisory Board, all while growing Willow Bend Farms, which has been owned and operated by the Mueller family since 1960.

The Finger Lakes Workforce Investment Board would like to thank Mr. Mueller for his guidance as past chair, past vice chair and member of the Executive and Performance and Evaluation committees – along with his invaluable donations of time and milk to the advanced manufacturing and skilled trades career exploration event, “Finger Lakes Works…with their hands!”.  Congratulations, Mr. Mueller!

“SERVING COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE IN THE FINGER LAKES”:

The eighth annual career exploration program coordinated by the Healthcare Alliance of the Finger Lakes and the Finger Lakes Workforce Investment Board was held March 19th at Finger Lakes Community College’s Canandaigua Campus and saw 200 high school students from 16 local school districts.

“This event enables students to learn firsthand about well paying, middle–skilled jobs that are right in our back-yard” says Recruiter/Generalist for Thompson Health Sue Kirkwood. “We are trying to educate students, teachers and parents now so that there is a ‘pipe-line’ of talented workers in the future” says Kirkwood. According to the New York State Department of Labor the fastest growing jobs in the region include jobs from healthcare and social services. These jobs often require certificates, licensing or two year degrees and offer good salaries and benefits.

Students attending were able to participate in activities and presentations from area employers and training providers while learning about educational qualifications, salaries and specific job duties. Employer representatives from Finger Lakes Health, Thompson Health, Littlejohn Orthodontics, and the YMCA presented information on everything from what it is like to be a Physical Therapist to requirements for working in the field of orthodontics. Instructors from Finger Lakes Community College, Rochester Educational Opportunity Center and Rochester Institute of Technology, provided hands on activities related to careers in Massage Therapy, Nursing, Exercise Science, “Participation from members of the industry really highlights the need for a skilled workforce in the future,” says Kirkwood. “We are hopeful that some of the students attending this year may become the healthcare professionals participating in following years.”