Career and Technical Education is celebrated nationwide during the month of February. The Washington County Career Center joined in the celebration by hosting an Annual Career Fair for the county’s sophomores. In addition, the Washington County Career Center Board of Education honored outstanding contributors to career and technical education as part of the celebration.
During its February meeting, the board recognized Meagan Ellis, Mark Mondo, and Stacy parks, for their substantial contributions to the technical education programs at the Career Center – High School and Adult Technical Training.
Meagan Ellis is the Human Resource Student Coordinator for Memorial Health System. Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit health system governed by a volunteer board of community members that are committed to providing comprehensive services that meet the needs of our region. They are comprised of a network of two hospitals and outpatient service sites which works in innovative ways to meet the healthcare challenges of today, while preparing for the health needs of our communities in the future.
Ellis is a 2007 graduate from Waterford High School and a 2010 graduate of Washington State Community College where she obtained an Associate’s Degree in Medical Administrative Assistant. She has been employed with Memorial Health System since 2012. Medical Programs Coordinator, Lenora Lada, comments, “Meagan has been instrumental in helping to develop the positive relationship between Memorial Health System and the Medical Assistant program here at the Career Center.” Ellis explains, “As a Student Coordinator, I help to provide opportunities to students in and outside of our region who are exploring or have an interest in health care by providing job shadowing opportunities, clinical rotations, and internships. I also assist with the Memorial Health Systems workforce development plan by speaking with area high school and college students on the opportunities we can provide to them as students.” Ellis is an active participant with the Medical Assistant program through the Washington County Career Center – Adult Technical Training. She further comments, “Due to the great programs at the Career Center, Memorial Health System has been able to fill vacancies from there programs.”
Mark Mondo is the President/CEO for Mark Mondo Building and Excavating Inc. Mondo began working on farm silos for Marietta Concrete during summers while still in high school and then moved on to industrial silos. He then became employed for First Colony doing the same type of work and eventually became the youngest supervisor to ever run a crew. In 1981, his entrepreneurial spirit kicked in and he started his own business. To date, Mondo has three businesses: Mondo Building & Excavating, Mondo Polymer Technologies, and Mustang Aerial Services. As an added service to his customers, he works to find property that suits his customer’s needs. He has a subdivision, rental properties, and leased properties as well. The current project Mondo is working on is a beautiful inland marina in Williamstown. Beyond the marina, there will be condos and an additional community development.
The Washington County Career Center’s Heavy Equipment instructor, John Stone, comments, “Mr. Mondo has been very helpful with our technical program in giving of his advice, information, student placement, and equipment use. We currently have on loan a hydraulic truck crane, for the students’ training use, and he has agreed to do what he can to make more equipment available to us. This is a great asset to the program, as we do not have all the equipment we would like and, often, use of equipment for a short period is better than owning it.”
Stacy Parks is the Workforce Development Specialist for Memorial Health System. Parks is a 1999 graduate from Caldwell High School and a 2003 graduate from Washington State Community College. In 2015, she obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources from Western Governor’s University. In her role as Workforce Development Specialist, Parks develops the organization’s workforce needs by partnering with area middle schools, high schools, and post-secondary institutions to provide career information and exploration opportunities to students to promote careers within the healthcare fields. She also works closely with the employment team to provide career information to potential applicants and recruit candidates for job opportunities through events like Memorial Health System’s Career Day for area high school students, High School Internship Program, and participating in area career fairs. Parks is involved on many area committees such as the Appalachian New Economic Partnership, Mid-Ohio Valley Health Sector Group, Building Bridges to Careers, and various school advisory committees.
Parks is an active committee member for the Washington County Career Center – Adult Technical Training in promoting their medical programs to both high school and adult students. Medical Programs Coordinator, Lenora Lada, comments, “Stacy continues to help promote the Medical Assistant program and is wonderful to worth with. She has a passion to aid student and adults in learning more about the career opportunities that exist in healthcare and point them in the right direction for furthering their education.” Parks resides in Caldwell with her husband, Brian, and their three children, Haylee, Whyatt, and Hunter.
PHOTOS: Meagan Ellis, Mark Mondo, Stacy Parks