The Carbon County chapter of the Pennsylvania CareerLink commemorated its 10th year of service June 24 with a small event attended by its staff.

Administrator Garry Wentz personally organized the informal luncheon in appreciation of his staff's dedication."I saw this as an opportunity to make note of the staff's efforts all these years," Wentz said. "A lot of CareerLinks haven't lasted as long as this one, and we've managed to thrive during some of the state's worst growing pains."Officially opening in May 2000, the Carbon CareerLink has strived to provide services for area job seekers and businesses alike. The center collaborates with a plethora of other institutions, including the Carbon County Commissioners, the Pocono Counties WIB and the PA Department of Labor, to create a comprehensive network of broad-based aid."We're not just focused on employers looking for new employees," Wentz said. "Our responsibility is to provide information for businesses at any stage, not just during hiring periods."The CareerLink regularly holds seminars and conferences on a wide range of subjects, such as proper job searching methods and using listing websites such as Monster.com. Wentz and his 21-person staff also operate the center's own website, an online resource that allows concerned parties to access the latest information at their convenience."Losing your job is a big disruption," Wentz said. "We provide a variety of services to help people get back on their feet."During the decade that its been operating, the center's biggest challenge has been the rapid pace of change in Carbon County's employment. When the CareerLink first opened its doors, the county was experiencing one of its lowest unemployment rates, a stark contrast from today's 11.1 percent.Despite this major fluctuation, Wentz and his staff have found continued success, something he attributes to both the cooperation of the CareerLink's partner services and the industrious attitude of the center's employees."The staff has really bought into using our core services," Wentz said. "They have worked hard to modify our plans for each customer's needs."We're a small office, and our size allows us to point our clients in the right direction quickly."In the future, the center plans on expanding its staff further, broadening the range of programs and services it offers to Carbon County's workforce during these difficult economic times."Even though there's still not as many jobs out there as we would like, people still need to be engaged," Wentz said. "Our customers need to be patient and persistent, and I encourage all job seekers to come in and utilize our services."