From In the Field to In the Room: Educators and Employers Collaborate for Student Career Readiness
April 14, 2025
By strengthening relationships between industries and school districts, programs like MEBA’s Educator Field Study are helping align business needs and curriculum development to prepare students for careers of the future.
It’s no secret that filling job openings is difficult and requires companies to think ahead. With growing demand for skilled talent, employers are looking for unique ways to reach potential future workers, including connecting with some of their biggest influencers: educators.
Sysco Columbia operates a large warehouse distribution facility in Columbia, South Carolina. The facility houses aisles abundantly stocked with roughly 12,000 products in varied refrigerated zones, a potential respite from a warm summer day.
The items will eventually make their way to kitchens throughout the Southeast. More than 400 local employees are key to helping these goods get to their next destination. These are reliable, well-paying jobs; yet like other employers, Sysco Columbia has recruiting and retention challenges.
“Our colleagues are at the heart of what we do. When someone comes to work for Sysco, it’s about more than just filling a role. Our goal is to help them grow professionally and find long-term satisfaction in their career. We want this to be their last ‘first day’ seeking employment,” says Nick Dimov, Vice President of Operations at Sysco Columbia.
Through an introduction made by the Richland County Economic Development Office (RCEDO), Sysco was connected with the Midlands Education and Business Alliance (MEBA). MEBA is a non-profit serving the Columbia area that bridges business and education with a goal of opening career pathways for students, including an Educator Field Study. Through this program, Sysco hosted educators for an insider’s tour.
Nearly 40 career specialists, counselors, work-based learning coordinators, CTE educators, and district administrators met in Sysco’s conference and training room to learn about career opportunities for their students and experience what it is like to work for a leading food distributor. Following a safety briefing and company overview, they donned jackets and walking shoes to tour cold storage spaces and see workers in action.
“Taking educators into the workplace allows them to identify career opportunities for their students, gather a better understanding of employer expectations, and how best to prepare their students for their workforce,” explains Samantha Turner, Director, Workforce Development & Donor Relations at MEBA.
Educators use this experience to include Sysco-specific information in their teaching curriculums related to careers and workforce development. It also laid the path for Sysco and educators to collaborate on identifying, interviewing and placing talent for openings in Columbia, and to hold a student field study for culinary students.
Visit the companies’ websites to learn more about missions and opportunities with Sysco Columbia and MEBA.
