Pepita Shelvy moved to Missouri from Rochester Hills, Michigan, seven days ago, and now she needs to find a job.
"I got bored in Michigan," she said.
Shelvy had worked as a fuel manager for Kroger Gas Stations in Michigan since 2010. Prior to that, she worked in an in-school suspension classroom in Pontiac, Michigan, from 2004-09. In the classroom, she helped mentor and tutor the students.
Now Shelvy and her 10-year-old daughter, Jamesa, reside in Jefferson City. She came to Missouri to live with and help her brother, Jason, his wife, Laura, and their children.
Shelvy was one of the employment seekers who attended the Callaway County job fair Tuesday at Callaway Electric Cooperative. She and other attendees had the opportunity to fill out multiple applications with companies who are currently hiring.
Seven employers searching for workers were on hand, including Mid-America Precast, AZZ/Central Electric Company, Dollar General Distribution Center, Danuser Machine Company, Henderson Products and Sinclair Research Center of Auxvasse.
"You're going to get a job today," Shelvy recalled her daughter telling her enthusiastically as she prepared herself for the job fair.
Shelvy saw the job fair in a flyer and decided to attend. She is searching for different job positions, including those in management, retail, restaurant and child care.
"If there's a will, there's a way; we're all going to make it through the day," Shelvy said about job hunting.
Vikki Wehmeier, client services specialist at Sinclair Research Center, said the company was seeking applicants with experience ranging from entry-level to doctoral degrees.
"We're growing rapidly," she said, adding the number of employees has increased from 60 to 200 in the past five to six years.
"There are jobs out there," said Bruce Hackmann, economic development director for the Callaway Chamber of Commerce.