The second-ever Manteca Adult School Job Fair on Wednesday attracted hundreds of people in pursuit of a possible career.

Included were soon-to-be graduating high school seniors and adults of all ages.

“I found out about it from a friend, who sent me a text,” said Michael, who is part of the latter category in search of work” (he respectfully withheld his last name).

He lives near the Manteca Unified district office complex, where 28 representatives from various local businesses provided information on employment opportunities, from entry-level positions to full-time and part-time jobs.

“We met with plenty of young talent,” said Eunice Godinez of Coastal Pacific Food Distribution. “We already scheduled to interview four tomorrow [Thursday] and a few more next week.”

Her colleague Gabe Leon liked the job fair because it was an opportunity to meet face-to-face with those looking at employment opportunities.

Ryan Ledezma of Mountain Valley Express and Sally Loftus of Performance Trucking Academy were among those who mentioned the big demand for drivers.

Mountain Valley Express, according to Ledezma, currently has entry level positions on the loading dock. As for those who might be interested in becoming a driver?

“We’ll send them to the Manteca Adult School,’ he said.

Joe Oberg, who is a trucker with 30 years of experience, teaches the course at the Manteca Adult School in Commercial Driving Fundamentals – an introductory classroom training for those looking to prepare for a career driving a commercial vehicle that requires a Class A license.

He’s also been successful in helping those pass the exam necessary to be a driver with his hands-on teaching technique, and will soon incorporate on how to put together a resume for those in his classroom.

“We’re here to help them find a career,” Oberg added.

Ryan Costa, under the direction of Principal Diane Medeiros, spearheaded the job fair, which, he estimates, brought an estimated 300.

“It was steady (with job searchers) through most of the day,” he said.

In the fall, the Manteca Adult School tried a similar-type event on a Saturday. “We had far less of a turnout,” said Costa, who serves as the Career Technical Education transition specialist for the adult school.

Meanwhile, John Wood, Melissa Graham and Evan Proctor of Delicato Family Vineyards enjoyed meeting with numerous job seekers throughout the morning.

“It takes a lot to look for a job after high school,” said Graham. “We’re here to provide the information.”

Among the positions available at Delicato were that of harvesting, production work, distribution, maintenance and Information Technology, to name a few.

Tess Cormier is the human resource manager at Pratt Industries, which is located near the MUSD district office not to mention one of the largest corrugated packaging companies in the U.S.

“We have job openings in general productions,” she said of the facility that currently employs 115.

Pratt Industries opened in the area in April 2018.

Job-seeker Michael, for one, received enough information including starting pay in his short meeting with Cormier.

He’s hoping it leads to a job.

To contact reporter Vince Rembulat, e-mail vrembulat@mantecabulletin.com.