Region 10 Technical High School hosted a job fair for its students Friday, featuring more than 30 employers from the Army, Cianbro and General Dynamics to local businesses such as Crooker Construction and Wally J. Staples.

Cooperative Education instructor Jason Darling said the school really tried to tie it into the programs that they teach.

“We’ve also included a lot of places that are hosting students of ours as employees now,” Darling said.

He said they have many seniors looking to jump right into the workforce as well as sophomores and juniors who are looking for summer employment to hone the skills they’ve been learning at Region 10.

At the job fair, students passed through the halls in waves, talking to prospective employers, picking up free pens, water bottles and key lanyards. The Army kept a large crowd entertained with a lot of giveaways as well as banter about how physical recruits can expect basic training to be.

“Every employer out here is great, really prepared and really entertaining, so we’ve seen a big group at every table so far. We’re very lucky to have a motivating group of employers like this,” Darling said.

Through their many programs, Darling said the school has built a good relationship with local industry — something he said is pretty evident considering their willingness to turn out in such numbers to seek out employees.

Local builder Wally J. Staples has been in residential and light commercial construction since 1993. They also do renovations, additions, decks and basement finishing.

“We’ve talked to several of the instructors as well as the kids and I think there’s certainly some kids that have some opportunities here — a good combination of what we have to offer and what they’re learning. It’s really a win, win,” Staples said.

Staples should know. He attended Region 10, graduating from Brunswick High back in 1986 and building his first house at age 18.

Staples said they are currently looking for experienced carpenters but have positions in design, project management and estimating as well.

Staples said that they’ve learned that they have to grow their own skilled workforce. He said many experienced carpenters are getting older now and there has been a generational lapse in teaching building trades and skilled workers.

“I actually have one of my younger carpenters who has been with me for nearly 10 years — went right through the building trades here at Region 10,” Staples said.

Staples said he has the work available to keep his employees busy all year. Offering competitive pay, profit sharing, a 401k with company match and employer health care contributions, Staples said he wants happy workers who don’t feel the need to work a side job to make ends meet.

“We work for some of the greatest people in the state of Maine right here in the Midcoast,” Staples said.

Bob Mosley of Crooker Construction said kids who have come up through Region 10 are very important to them in finding skilled workers.

With no lack in projects, Crooker is actively working throughout the state from the train layover facility in Brunswick to projects in Thomaston, Yarmouth and Westbrook as well as many state projects.

dmcintire@timesrecord.com