Throughout the two-afternoon event, students are able to select a total of six presenters whose careers they want to learn more about. They learn about what kind of schooling and how many years are required for the jobs, what presenters like most about their jobs, and why they chose their careers. The guest presenters all encourage students to continue working hard in school and to keep all their options for the future open.
For many of the presenters the career fair is also a date they mark on their calendars each year. “I started coming to this event in 1995,” said Dr. Jayne Courts. Every year she ignites curiosity among the students by bringing pig lungs and blowing into them through a straw to show students how they inflate. Students can see and touch the organ leading to squeals, oohs, and ahhs.
Barry County Judge Michael Schipper has been talking to students about his career in law for nearly as long. Now, his son Addison joins him for an afternoon at Page. Addison is an assistive technology professional working at Quality Home Medical Equipment and talked to students about his role in helping people with mobility issues improve their quality of life.
Cade Dammen is a superintendent with OAK construction company. As a TK alumni, Dammen has been involved in several projects at TK Schools in recent years including the construction of the Early Childhood Center.
Like Dammen, Schipper and Courts, many of the presenters are TK alumni who enjoy giving back and helping young students start thinking about all the different kinds of careers and what it takes to get into those careers. Organizers say it’s important that students understand there are a variety of options and that those options are attainable.
Presenters at the 2025 Career Fair:
Cade Dammen and Sawyer Overway - Owen, Ames, Kimball
Chief Bill Richardson - Fire Chief at Thornapple Township Emergency Services
Dr. Becca Kursch and Ms. Switzer, Madison Haywood, Becky Barnard - South Kent Veterinary Hospital
Lauren Decker - Hair stylist at Lox Salon
Dr. Sonni Pellillo and Ms. Harnish - Orthodontist at Hannapel Pellillo Orthodontics
Judge Schipper - Judge at Barry County 56-B District Court
Dr. Jayne Courts - Medical doctor at Trinity Health Medical Group
Cody Timm and Ms. McDonald - Lake Michigan Credit Union
Mark Hazle and Sierra Grogan - Revolution Farms
MaKenzi Peters - Carveth Village Administrator
Marlee Meads - Marketing Manager Bay Pointe Inn
Ms. VanDuine - Registered Dietitian with Spectrum Health
Sgt. Scott Ware- Barry County Sheriff’s Office
Brian Schneider- Pixel Perfect Video Games Store Owner
Julie Foster - Bradford White operations
Mr. Rice - Accountant
Tom Voss - Quality Control Bradford White