Hundreds of job seekers from around the region were at the Tommy E. Dulaney Center on Thursday for the 2018 Meridian Area Job Fair, part of the Governor’s Job Fair Network of Mississippi.

More than 50 companies and organizations were represented at the fair, and within minutes of its opening, the building was full of potential employees, and their cars filled the parking lot.

“One of the great things about coming to Meridian is we have such a strong community support, and that’s apparent here,” said Adam Todd, director of the Governor’s Job Fair Network. “We’ve already had about 400 people that have come through, and we’ve only been open an hour and 15 minutes.

“Theres a lot of activity taking place. Whenever you have businesses that are needing to hire people and this many people that are looking for work under one roof, you know some good things are going to happen.”

Kelsey Sumrall of Livingston, Alabama is currently unemployed. She said she attended the job fair to get “a good job to take care of my daughter better.”

Jamarquis Ford of Meridian was looking at career opportunities.

“I’m looking for a job that can jumpstart a career for me; something that I might be interested in, but I don’t really have a direction that I want to go in, so I’m just browsing,” Ford said.

Graphic design artist Katie Jenkins of Meridian was just looking for a job.

“I’m in graphic design, and I also have a lot of experience with stuff like office positions, so I’m looking for either one.”

Marquis Clayton of Meridian said he was career-minded and “looking for a good job opportunity.”

“Anything dealing with hand work — using my hands,” he said. “[I am] not really interested in desk work.”

Clayton’s friend, Terrance Avery, said he was interested in common labor work, but was also open to being a mechanic or possibly a truck driver.

“I’m looking to expand my job opportunities, hoping I can find a job and maybe a career.”

Some businesses and organizations at the fair included Servpro of Meridian, Liberty Fuels Company, Working Solutions, Citizens National Bank, CRW Truck Driver Training School, Burger King, Southern Pipe and Supply, US Army Recruiting Center, Pilot, Rush Foundation Hospital, Lowe’s Home Improvement, Forrest General Hospital, Manpower, Inc.  Mississippi Department of Corrections, Onin Staffing, NewSouth Ford Nissan and Koch Foods.

Stacy Walker, training coordinator for Koch Foods, said the company provides a great opportunity for those who can handle the work.

“We’re having trouble keeping employees because they get there and they don’t realize how hard work it is,” Walker said. “It’s hard labor. You stand for 10 hours a day, and they don’t realize that when they sign up.”

Jenni Broome, nurse recruiter for Forrest General Hospital, said the hospital was hiring for a number of positions, including registered nurses, laboratory techs and housekeeping.

“We’re always looking for good employees,” Broome said. “The Meridian Community College is close by, and they have an excellent nursing program, so we hope to meet with some of those students… We’re looking for any potential good employees for Forrest Hospital.”

Kasey Norton, a recruiter for Citizens National Bank, said while there are no open positions in Meridian, it’s great to have a list of potential candidates at her disposal at all times.

“In banking the world can fall apart in a matter of 30 seconds,” Norton said. “I get back to the office and say, ‘well, I need somebody.’”

Governor Job Fair events are sponsored by the Office of the Governor, the Mississippi Development Authority and the Mississippi Department of Employment Security and the Mississippi Development Authority.