A recent college graduate who grew up in Champaign County has been hired to support local economic development as administrative assistant of the Champaign Economic Partnership (CEP).
Hannah Tukesbrey Kilbride, a 2014 Triad High School graduate, will assist Marcia Bailey, director of the CEP, the designated economic development agency for Champaign County. Kilbride graduated this spring from Ohio University, where she majored in political science. She completed her degree in three years, having taken classes at Urbana University while a student at Triad.
In addition to supporting the CEP’s day-to-day operations, Kilbride hopes to use her experience to help the CEP meet local employers’ workforce needs and encourage youth and recent college graduates, like herself, to consider job opportunities in Champaign County.
“I see my new job as an opportunity to build up our community,” she said. “Many young people don’t stay here because they don’t think there’s enough for them to do. But there are a lot more jobs and opportunity here than they realize. I want to help spread the word about that.”
She’ll get her first chances to do this in two projects she’ll coordinate this summer for the CEP:
·A booth at the Champaign County Fair, in cooperation with the Champaign County Manufacturers Human Resources Council, which will promote local manufacturing career opportunities, including skilled technical positions.
·Inventors Camp at the Champaign Family YMCA, a project also supported by local manufacturers to introduce children to manufacturing.
And in October, Kilbride will help with Manufacturers Day, which enables local high school students to tour manufacturing facilities and learn about career opportunities.
“I’m excited to have Hannah on board at the CEP,” Bailey said. “It’s great to have someone from the community move back after college to make a difference. With her love of Champaign County and her education and professional skills, she’ll be a real asset in marketing Champaign County for economic development and growth.”
While in school, Kilbride was active in 4-H and athletics. She supported the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in Champaign County and at Ohio University.
