NEWS 25 WEHT Evansville, Henderson, OwensboroSkills Summit: Whirlpool Employees Weighing Out Options

Skills Summit: Whirlpool Employees Weighing Out Options

story by: Jamie Rose

EVANSVILLE - Will it be back to school for some Whirlpool employees soon facing layoffs? Local Universities and Colleges joined forces Sunday to provide these soon-to- be dislocated workers with information on the skills they might need to head into a competitive job market.

Many Whirlpool employees tell NEWS 25 they're still not quite sure what their future will hold.

Local universities and colleges are working together, hoping to help them through this time of transition.

"I'm scared to death. I don't know what I'm going to do," said Lori Ausenbaugh, 18-year Whirlpool employee.

Hundreds of employees came out for a Skill Summit at Ivy Tech Community College Sunday.

"We're looking at what skills will these workers need to make their next step into a new career and a new life," said Sandie Nelson, Director of Workforce and Economic Development for Ivy Tech.

Nelson says this Summit was designed to give dislocated or soon to be dislocated workers the chance to ask questions on what skills they'll need to move forward. People were checking out the skills they will need to enter fields like business, technology and even medical professions.

"To find out do I have an interest there," Nelson said. "Many of these workers at Whirlpool have been there most of their life, and so now it's time for a change."

For Elizabeth Williamson, who has worked at Whirlpool for just over 18 years, she says she's looking at maybe going into the medical field.

"It's a little scary, change is always scary. I think it will be a good thing," Williamson said. "It's going to be hard to adapt, but I know I can do it."

Whirlpool employee, Michael Faver says he plans to go back to school as soon as this summer.

"Education, education, education. It's vital. We can't stop learning, and there's a lot of new technologies," Faver said.

But for others the Summit was a chance to see just what's available, even in a time of uncertainty.

"I'm going to keep my options open," Ausenbaugh said.

The Summit brought many local Universities and Colleges together, not just Ivy Tech Community College. USI, University of Evansville, Vincennes University along with Harrison College and Henderson Community College were all there providing information.

"With persistence, and if workers take advantage of the support services that are available they can make it," Nelson said