RiverWorks Discovery To Hold Who Works The Rivers Event At 2020 Inland Marine Expo

For the first time, RiverWorks Discovery plans to hold its popular Who Works the Rivers career discovery events at the 2020 Inland Marine Expo (IMX), scheduled for September 29–October 1 in St. Louis. The IMX Who Works the Rivers will be open to the public and high school students from the St. Louis area.

Errin Howard, program director for RiverWorks Discovery, said the event, scheduled for September 30, is an exciting opportunity for the companies that make up the maritime industry and students considering their career options to get to know one another. In some cases, introductions at the IMX Who Works the Rivers could translate to real internship or job possibilities.

“Our Who Works the Rivers events that we hold all over the country are a hallmark of RiverWorks Discovery,” Howard said. “One of our main missions is to educate and garner interest in our amazing industry. To see the looks on the young students’ faces learning about the river is so rewarding. And some do choose a river career as a result of attending the event. We are excited about more of these events in the future.”

The career discovery event is expected to draw around 150 students from area high schools. Once on site at The Dome at America’s Center in downtown St. Louis, students will participate in an interactive group introduction to the maritime industry, led by local industry personnel. Students will also have the chance to visit interactive stations, with topics including commodities, the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE), line throwing and the basics of making tow. Students will also take part in a guided tour of the show floor, where they will stop at sponsor booths to dive a little deeper into the operations of specific companies.

Lunch will be provided on site, and students will also get to test their skills against the Maritime Throwdown line-handling course. Maritime Throwdown, an organization that promotes mariner safety, physical fitness and excellence through competition, will host its annual competition at IMX this year.

The student-focused event will begin in the morning. That afternoon, the event will open to the general public, with career fair exhibitors and the industry introductory presentation.

Now in its 10th year, Who Works the Rivers has been held in more than 15 cities. Many cities host a Who Works the Rivers annually, with exciting results. Howard said it’s about more than just a one-time introduction to the maritime industry.

“Who Works the Rivers is a one-day event, but our goal is to build relationships between the schools and industry that last all year long,” Howard said. “To see the faces of the students who attend and watch them soak up knowledge about our industry is so rewarding. These one-day events can really be the start of their journey to a long career in the maritime industry, where they can earn good money with great benefits, while also serving as an important part of the nation’s critical infrastructure.”

More details, including ways companies can sponsor or participate in Who Works the Rivers, are forthcoming.