Michele Klock, who coordinates the Cooperative Education program for Carbon Career & Technical Institute, along with CCTI senior Montanna Costenbader presented the Joint Operating Committee with news about the program.

The pair spoke about presentations that they, along with student Dakota Trach, a Graphic Design senior from Lehighton, made at the symposium. Trach was unable to attend the JOC meeting.

The presentation they spoke of was made at the PACTA (Pennsylvania Association of Career & Technical Administrators) Education and Workforce Development Symposium, held Feb. 9, in Hershey.

“Our topic at the symposium was to share about the panel discussions and work force development initiatives that we held here at CCTI,” Klock said.

Costenbader talked about her presentation at the symposium.

“I started my presentation on the Women in Business panel discussion that we had here at CCTI. I thought that was a great one because it showed that, as women, we can be empowered to succeed in the fields that we want. It made us think that we could really reach for the stars and pursue the careers that we want to pursue,” Costenbader said.

Costenbader also spoke about her co-op work that she does for Blue Mountain Resort in Palmerton, working in the marketing department, under Ashley Seier, marketing director.

“I really had to overcome some challenges there,” Costenbader said. “The biggest was that, in class, we worked with all kinds of designs. But there, at Blue Mountain, we had to focus on branding. We have specific colors and fonts that we have to use.”

Costenbader said the co-op program has presented her with a variety of things she was able to learn.

“I controlled part of the website, as well as social media for Blue Mountain,” she said. “I work with third-party websites with updating information. I’ve done flyers and signs for around the resort.”

She explained how Seier helps her see where things can be improved and how to fix them.

Regarding speaking at the symposium, Costenbader and f Trach, learned a lot.

“It was cool at the symposium that people wanted to connect with us on LinkedIn and wanted photos with us,” Costenbader said. “It was a chance to show how the co-op program really helps the students.”