"Vista is preparing to start work on multiple potential contracts," Johnston said. "Once we get the green light, we may need to fill hundreds of jobs, both stateside and abroad. Many jobs are anticipated to be located in the Quad-Cities. More applicants are needed, so we encourage job-seekers to visit the Employment page at
www.viops.com."
Available positions with Vista, Johnston stated, include Call Center Associate, Computer System Support Specialist, Database Administrator, LAN Administrator, System Administrator, Web Developer, Email Administrator, and Application Programmer. The Career Fair also included positions with Vista Technical Services, another BBNC subsidiary.
The Vista Career Fair was held January 31 at Western Illinois University-Quad Cities, Moline, IL. Vista International Operations is a global provider of enterprise-level information technology (IT) services, logistics management, and engineering support services to government and private industry. Vista is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bristol Bay Native Corporation (BBNC), which was formed in 1972 as part of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.
At the Vista Career Fair
Jim Patterson, Assistant Dean of the College of Business and Technology at Western Illinois University (WIU), was pleased by the turn-out of the event. "We advertised the Career Fair on the signage out front for a couple of weeks," he said. "We invite public organizations to use the building as outreach to the community. The community is the reason we're here."
Patterson added that Western Illinois University has a lot of students on the Rock Island Arsenal, where Vista's Quad-Cities operations are based. "A lot of our students want to work for the Department of Defense when they graduate," he said. "It's a good partnership. Our WIU School of Engineering is here in the Quad-Cities, and we work closely with the Arsenal."
Abbey Siefker, Administrative Assistant with Vista, noted that most people who apply will need appropriate certification, and she can help to facilitate the exams. "We have many people asking about certifications," she said. "We can help with that, and we can also help with education and schooling." Regarding positions overseas, Siefker added, "We've had military people try for these jobs who already enjoy the military lifestyle."
According to Shaun Easler, Program Manager with Vista, the event was one of the more active career fairs in which he has participated. "I saw a lot of enthusiasm in the people showing up," he said. He added that Vista is open to hiring new graduates. "It's exciting to work with a new grad and watch them flourish within the system," he said.
Career Fair attendee Rhonda Brunning, 47, was laid off by the Rock Island Arsenal last December after 24 years of employment. "I loved working there and would love to get back on there," she said. Receiving a position through the Vista Career Fair, she added, would end more than a year of unemployment.
"I'm trying for a position as an Administrative Assistant," Brunning said. "I'm also looking at Video-Conferencing Facilitator." Brunning's supervisor from her years at the Arsenal now works at Vista, and was the one who had suggested that she apply.
Another Career Fair attendee, Nathaniel Haire, 22, would like to join the Video-Conferencing Team. According to Haire, he has been unemployed for a month. "I'm looking for a position that will turn into a long-term career," he said. "Hopefully, I'll be able to get my foot in the door." If offered an overseas opportunity, Haire stated that he would take it.
Job-seeker Rhonda Simpson, 53, came to the Vista Career Fair because "Vista sounds like a good company - it's been around for a while, it's stable." She noted that the Vista representatives were very helpful and encouraging. "They filled me in on everything I needed to know," she said.
For more information on careers with Vista International Operations, call Teresa Johnston, Communications Director, at
563-823-6657, or visit
www.viops.com.
-- End --
