More than 25 local business and organizations filled the Paradigm at Mentor High School this week as part of the 6th annual Career Bound: College Intern and Job Fair. The reason for the interest in attending the Dec. 18 event shown by many of the companies on hand was relatively simple, according to Mike Denk of Denk Associates Consulting. “We could always use more help,” said Denk, who was with his daughter Megan representing the firm his father founded in 1967. Tables of local businesses and organizations filled the room for the 6th annual Career Bound: College Intern and Job Fair at Mentor High’s Paradigm on Dec. 18. (William Tilton – News-Herald) The sentiment was reciprocated by several of the job or intern seekers on hand, who said they can always use more opportunities to network and gain experience. Mentor High graduates and current college students Asa Davis and Evyn Pajestka both were interested in summer internships and were pleased their alma mater offered an event such as the job fair to allow the chance to reach out to local businesses and possible future employers. “It is a great opportunity to experience building connections,” Pajestka said. “Getting an internship and gaining valuable experience can make or break some careers. To get one or two under your belt is a big difference.” Evyn Pajestka and Asa Davis speak with Mike Denk of Denk Associates Consulting during the 6th annual Career Bound: College Intern and Job Fair at Mentor High’s Paradigm on Dec. 18. (William Tilton – News-Herald) Davis, a freshman at Miami of Ohio, said obtaining a summer internship would allow for him to “get his feet wet” when it came to entering the workforce. Eastlake based-Midwest Precision had a prime spot by the entrance to the job fair and was a popular first stop even for non engineers. Human Resources Manager Stephanie Mangus said it allows the company a chance to market and reach students in several areas. “This is a good chance to get our name out there and get kids who might not be going to college and are more interested in the trade industry,” Mangus said. Midwest Precision Director of Operations Cody Cochran said they already have a success story based on a recent summer internship as a Cleveland State grad has been hired on full time by the company. For Joe Glavan, director of Wokplace Development at Mentor Schools, hosting the event is a partnership that is important for the district and the local organizations that attend to continue. “We are excited to host the 6th Annual Career Bound: College Intern and Job Fair as this event is a great opportunity to connect local talent with outstanding internship and job prospects in Northeast Ohio, Glavan said. “We’re excited to support our students and graduates in taking their first steps toward fulfilling careers while strengthening the local workforce right here in northeast Ohio.” Students were registered to attend from various colleges including Ohio State, Akron, Ohio University, West Virginia among many others. Partners included Astro Manufacturing, AWT, Buyers Product, Cardinal Credit Union, CRT, Denk Associates, Inc., Dollar Bank, Elmet Technologies, Fredon, GameDay Men’s Health Beachwood, Lubrizol, Mar-Bal, Inc., Mentor Ridge Health and Rehabilitation, Midwest Precision, Moving Ahead Services, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Process Technologies, Quality Electrodynamics (QED), Rimeco Products Inc., Safe Harbor Home Healthcare, Slabe Machine, Small Hands Big Dreams, Learning Center, The Sherwin-Williams Company, Tylok Fittings and Valves and Universal Metal Products.