Brooklyn's Progress
April/May 2006

BY LETICIA THEODORE

Did you know Brooklyn is home to 16 colleges and universities? That makes the borough a bona fide college town and that fact isn’t lost on the students and employers who will flock to the New Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge for the inaugural Brooklyn’s College to Career Expo on May 3.

The expo, a joint effort of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, New York City Department of Small Business Services, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and KeySpan Corporation, will ensure the best and brightest from the borough’s colleges and universities meet top recruiters from business & finance, insurance, real estate, retail, information technology, health care, hospitality & tourism, the public sector and utilities. The expo is free to all participants.

The event was kicked off with a breakfast at the Brooklyn Marriott on Feb. 22.

“As the first of its kind event, the Brooklyn College to Career Expo is exactly the type of entrepreneurial endeavor Mayor Bloomberg urged us to take on when he charged the Department of Small Business Services with overhauling the city’s job hiring and training programs two years ago,” said Rob Walsh, Commissioner, Small Business Services, who also teaches at Long Island University’s Brooklyn campus.  “With over 100,000 students at its great colleges and universities, Brooklyn is a bona fide ‘college town.’  By bringing these institutions together and linking their best and brightest to career opportunities, we can ensure we’ll keep talented individuals right here in New York City.  I want to thank the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and the Brooklyn Borough President for their leadership on this effort.”

“This partnership was a no-brainer for us. Brooklyn’s students help to make the borough a vibrant place,” said Kenneth Adams, President Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. “Our students represent an investment in Brooklyn’s economy and its future.”

“The College to Career Expo will spread the word that Brooklyn is not only America’s fourth largest city, it’s also a growing college town, and more local businesses are benefiting from the influx of new students,” said Marty Markowitz, Brooklyn Borough President. “Employers from across New York City will have the opportunity to meet the best and brightest graduates we have to offer, who will lend their skills and experience to their businesses, as well as that intangible workforce quality available exclusively from our borough: the Brooklyn attitude.”

There are an estimated 60,000 people pursuing undergraduate degrees in Brooklyn; if those taking part-time and individual courses were included the number jumps to more than 100,000.

At the daylong event, over 2,000 pre-selected students from 14 of the borough’s higher education institutions will have access to career seminars and on-site job interviews. Schools participating are ASA Institute, Boricua College, Brooklyn College, Institute for Design and Construction, Kingsborough Community College, Long Island University, Medgar Evers College, New York City Technical College, Polytechnic University, Pratt Institute, St. Francis College, St. Joseph’s College, SUNY-BEOC and Tuoro College. Among the 75 to 100 recruiters are Atlantis Health Plan, Carnival Cruises, Citibank, Commerce Bank, Con Ed, Health Plus, KeySpan Corporation, Macy’s, Mt. Sinai Medical Center, Marriott Corporation, Penda Aiken, Inc. and SUNY Downstate.

“When you have a graduating class you want to be able to see them get jobs,” said Emma Rodriguez who attended the kick-off breakfast on behalf of Boricua College. “This event will have maximum impact and give those walking in individual attention. To give someone time when you offer a service is the key because then you’re helping the individual.”

Brooklyn’s College to Career Expo will be held at the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge located at 333 Adams Street, Downtown Brooklyn on May 3 from 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Employers interested in participating at this free event should contact Martha Bear Dallis at 718-279-3093, or at martha@beardallis.com. Interested students and higher education institutions should contact Keith Carr at 718-875-1000 ext. 109, or at kcarr@brooklynchamber.com. You may also visit the expo Web Site at http://www.brooklyncareerexpo.com/.