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Alan Hoskins, Supervisor of Public Information Monday, December 12, 2011 College Advancement

Job seekers began lining up 2_ hours ahead of time for a Hollywood Casino Job Fair at Kansas City Kansas Community College this week. _We had more than 200 applicants with some arriving at 7:30 a.m. for a Fair that didn_t begin until 10 a.m.,_ said Marisa Gray, Business Development Liaison for Workforce Development at KCKCC. Located immediately east of the Kansas Speedway adjacent to The Legends in Village West, the Hollywood Casino is expected to open in early 2012. _The Casino was looking for cooks, bartenders and servers and found some great candidates, some of whom were offered positions. The Casino_s goal is to have 1,200 jobs filled by this Friday and the Job Fair was a big step in helping it meet the goal._ Gray said applicants came from a very diverse community and many _came prepared for the interview dressed and armed with resumes._ On-site interviews were conducted by five members of the Casino interview team. Hosted by Workforce Development represented by Gray and Jay Matlack and the KCKCC Career Center represented by Eric Kirkwood, the Job Fair is the result of an on-going relationship with the Hollywood Casino that began in September shortly after the arrival of the Casino_s management team. _Focusing on working together to meet the employment needs for Wyandotte County,_ we were able to establish the foundation for a strong relationship,_ said Gray. _As a result, the Casino has been a strong community and industry partner for the College with representatives serving on the College_s Essential Employability Skills panel and advisory boards and their willingness to work with our students and feeder programs._