1. The intention of “Career Days”
at schools is to
motivate and interest
students in a wide
range of job
opportunities
and the
education
and training
required for each. This
would start students on an early
path to their future.
However, schools
currently individually
present “Career
Days”. Participation
from employers is not
the same at all
schools, and
representation of
diverse careers also is
not equal.
Hold the event at the
County Fairgrounds.
Give it a “trade show”
feel with local
businesses and their
representatives to
discuss career
opportunities
Have “breakout
sessions” screening
Stanford
Entrepreneurial and
TED.com
podcasts. Offer free
tools & seminars for
resume writing, and
free workshops for
mock interviews, as
well as workshops for
communication
presentation and
collaboration skills.
Provide lunch and
keynote speakers.
Have some fun with a skit
illustrating the Dos and
Don’ts of interviewing,
which could also be taken
on the road and presented
at schools.
Lisa LaMere: Prototype 8/16/13 #1: REGIONAL CAREER DAY CONFERENCE
Hold Career Day in
one location. Bring
the students to a
regional, day-long
Career Day.
PROBLEM
STATEMENT:
How to work with
Employers to hire
better-prepared
and more
marketable
workforce for
“Demand”
occupations.
NEXT STEPS:
Stakeholder buy-in
Form Committee
Refine Prototype Event
Fundraising
And more...

2. What worked
 Regional aspect—encompasses all school districts
 “One-stop” for career information
 Seminars and workshops geared to skills building
 Elevates Career Day to Conference status
 Stanford podcasts and Ted.com screenings a terrific idea
What could be improved
 The buildings available at the County Fair grounds may not be
large enough for all high school students
 Perhaps separate events/tracks for junior (middle school) and
senior high school students
 “Trade show” needs to incorporate parent career role models as
well as local businesses and their representatives
Ideas
 Hold the event more than once a year.
 Twice a year?
 Invite participation from local colleges, universities and vocational
schools.
 Junior HS students in the a.m. for breakfast with a keynote
speaker and Senior HS students in the afternoon with a different
keynote speaker at lunch
 Look into using local sports stadium for the event venue
Questions
 Are there other venues available to accommodate the
attendance planned for all high schools and junior high schools?
 Can this also be adapted for elementary school students?
 How many volunteers are needed to implement this program?
 When can we set up a meeting of regional stakeholders?
#1: REGIONAL CAREER DAY CONFERENCE

3. Regional collaborative partnership
purchase a business to use for
Community College training and
more.
The small, 15-room
motel would be
operated by students
taking hospitality
courses.
Business
students
would
operate a
new Route
66 Museum
and gift shop.
Students enrolled
in the culinary
program would
work in the
restaurant.
The gas station
could have a
car repair
component run
by students as
well.
PROBLEM STATEMENT:
How to work with Employers to hire better-prepared and more marketable workforce for “Demand” occupations.
Lisa LaMere: Prototype 8/16/13
NEXT STEPS:
Stakeholder buy-in
Form Committee
Refine Prototype Event
Fundraising
And more...
#2: COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT-OPERATED BUSINESSES
Buy and operate a
small motel and
ancillary tourist-related
businesses.
Students will help
operate business
and receive work
experience and
education in
hospitality,
culinary and
business
courses.
Proposed
Business Site

4. What worked
 Great concept for culinary, hospitality and business students for
instruction and work experience.
 This is a very innovative idea.
 This project could generate a lot of regional interest.
What could be improved
 Except for the restaurant, the vacant buildings haven’t been in
operation for years. Is this site really feasible? Consider
searching for an alternative.
 More than Culinary, Hospitality and Business students could be
involved with operating this business. Students enrolled in
courses for marketing, film-making, engineering, construction,
computer-aided design
Ideas
 Form a non-profit umbrella for the businesses
 Offer internships, as well as community college students
 Invite participation from guest lecturers and mentors from like-
businesses
 Set up volunteer network to assist with the operations & skills
gaps.
Questions
 How much funding would be needed to purchase, operate and
fund teaching staff?
 Are there other businesses for which this model could be
replicated?
 What about building new instead of buying old facility.
#2: COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT-OPERATED BUSINESSES

5. REFLECTION
a. By testing my prototypes I saw that there is much is to be gained by presenting them for feedback from
lots other perspectives. Upon receiving an evaluation of my Ideation assignment from fellow Design
Thinking student, Claire Mongeau, I incorporated one of her ideas into my prototype. I added “Classes on
communication, presentation, collaboration” to my breakout sessions for my prototype of a Regional Career
Day Conference (Thank you Claire Mongeau)!
b. As part of each prototype, I included what I would do next if I were to continue working on these projects. This might not be typical
of prototyping, but I automatically began thinking about what would need to be accomplished in order take these ideas to the next level
and ultimately to implement these projects.
For the most part, these steps would be the same, at least as initial steps, for both prototypes. I would need to get Stakeholder buy-in,
form some committee, refine the event based on testing and feedback, as well as input from Stakeholders and Committee members.
There would have to be fundraising, perhaps in the form of corporate sponsorships or crowd-funding. We would need to bring in an
attorney to assist with the Non-Profit component - preferably on a pro-bono basis.
Naturally, the prototype, and successive prototypes would refine this germ of an idea with additional input from Stakeholders and
Committee members.
Lisa LaMere: Prototype 8/16/13