Carina Aulicino
BLOOMINGDALE — Carina Aulicino’s position as the new career workforce specialist at the Jefferson County Joint Vocational School is helping students chart their future.
Aulicino, which began operations Aug. 1, is building relationships with community partners to pave the way for internships, apprenticeships and post-graduate work opportunities at the school, which has about 385 students. She said the experience they gain at the JVS gives them a distinct advantage when it comes to finding a job.
“It is very beneficial for our students to do tasks that they can also do at work, from maintaining vehicles to operating heavy machinery. If they do that here, the repetition will help the students in their professional lives,” She said. “I try to align jobs with what they’re working with in their programs.”
Several students have already gained experience by working up to 600 hours in the summer and Aulicino has received positive feedback on their achievements.
“I’ve only heard good things about them, that they are reliable and hard workers who know their duties.” she commented.
Aulicino is also active by attending career fairs, joining organizations like the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, and networking with local businesses to share how the JVS could help them provide workforces from its 16 programs, including Auto Accident and Auto Service Engineering , carpentry, computer networking, cosmetics, criminal justice, culinary arts, early childhood education, electrical trades, health technologies, multimedia and design, mechanical engineering, small animal science, transition to work, welding and the newly launched Heavy Machine Operator and Construction Engineering course.
She has gained experience working with students and companies over the past several years, but until 2018 she spent nearly two decades as a radiology technologist at East Ohio Regional Hospital. Aulicino then worked as a clinical instructor and taught radiology courses at Eastern Gateway Community College. From there, she was inspired by Annamarie Welshans, her mentor at EGCC, to pursue her bachelor’s degree in leadership and administration at West Liberty University and will earn her master’s degree in educational leadership at WLU this spring. She became clinical coordinator at Belmont College in 2020 and also became a substitute teacher, where she found joy working in the junior high and high school. She soon found out about the career specialist position at JVS and said she jumped at the chance.
“I was lucky enough to be selected” She added, saying that her previous experience interacting with students and the community makes the position a great choice.
Aulicino said she has had a warm welcome at JVS and is eager to do her part to help students achieve their career goals.
“It was great and everyone was so helpful. It’s just a great culture and environment.” she continued. “I want to build partnerships and create opportunities for students here at Jefferson County JVS.”
Superintendent Todd Phillipson said Aulicino will provide valuable assistance to the school.
“Carina got off to a great start as a career development specialist. She brings enthusiasm for the position and willingness to learn,” Phillipson said. “A lot is expected of her when working with employers, employees and students. We are called upon to bring the students into the world of work.”
