The Sevier County Economic Development Council, the city of Sevierville, Sevier County and the Dan River Plant in Sevierville hosted a job fair for 415 displaced workers of the Dan River plant, at the Sevierville Civic Center on Wednesday, February 18, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Damien Dobbs, an employee of the Dan River plant who worked in the weave room, wasn’t necessarily looking for another job in the textile industry. “Right now I’m interested in any job that’s open,” he said at the fair. “I’m trying to find a field that suits me and start a new career.”
Among the companies attending were Cintas, the worlds largest uniform company, employing more than 27,000 people throughout North America; Blaylock Companies, a local powerhouse in the paving, construction, lumber, and concrete businesses; Advanced Rotational Molding, a cutting-edge fabrication enterprise; Sea-Ray Boats, Fort Sanders Sevier Medical Center; and the Sevier County Bank.
“We worked with Johnny Smith and Debbie Connaster, in the Human Resources Department at Dan River Plant,” said Allen Newton of the Council, “to try to determine the level of pay and benefits that these employees are used to.”
“This allowed us to screen our companies [attending] so that those represented at the fair would be offering comparable pay and benefits,” Newton added. “We couldn’t be more pleased with the results.”
The employees available through the job fair work all three shifts, and have a host of different skills, ranging from mechanics, electricians, carpenters, and welders, to forklift operators. Many of the employees have served with the Dan River company for five years or more, and some for thirty years.
“These are good people who deserve to be treated well,” said Janice King, Human Resources Coordinator for the Fort Sanders Sevier Medical Center. “Many of them have outstanding work histories.”
The work history of the displaced workers was a key item for many companies represented at the fair.
“When we first heard of this job fair opportunity, we jumped on it right away,” said Virginia Hardwick, Branch Sales Manager for Staffing Solutions in Maryville, TN. “We’re always looking for individuals with a good work history.”
This job fair was specially dedicated to those employees of the Dan River Plant, which announced its impending closure in January. A separate job fair for the general public will be held by the Council in late March or early April.

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