The Business Advisory Committee

             Business Advisory Council

                                                                                             Mission:  

         The Council will offer insight and guidance, advocating and networking

                               for interns employment and educating community and business

                                 leaders in the values of employing individuals with disabilities.

    2025/2026 Business Advisory Council Members

Karen Helton, Supervisor, Blount County Schools Nutrition Department

Fred Weekley, Manager, Cooper Restaurants-Hilton-Retired

Pam Nichols, Medical Supervisor, Arconic

Rachael Anderson-Supervisor, ESS

Sheree O'Connor, Community Representative

Hamilton Martinez, General Manager, Hilton Knoxville Airport

Dr. David Tutor, Occupational Medicine          

Expectations: The council will:

• Provide connections to their own employers

• Serve as ambassadors to other companies

• Represent Project SEARCH to other employers in the industry

• Help understand the local business opportunities, trends and challenges Identify obstacles that preclude students from employment

• Provide new ideas and professional expertise in specific areas of employment

Composition:

• One Business Advisory member per intern

• Local area advisory member

• Knowledgeable about jobs, skills and industries

• Value the mission of intern employment

• Position to recommend for hiring of employees

2025/2026 Program Partners

• Project SEARCH

• Blount County Schools

• Hilton Hotels

• Blount Memorial Hospital

• Metz Culinary Management

• Tennessee Vocational Rehabilitation Services

• The Access Academy

• Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

                                                                          Schedule of Meetings

The Blount County Schools Project SEARCH Team acknowledges that the Business Advisory Council members serve in a variety of positions and appreciate the time devoted to Project SEARCH. The meetings are scheduled for one hour, four times per year. Additional meetings may be scheduled with individual BAC members as needed.

                                                                         Objectives of Meeting

September

Introduction to interns; meet & greet

Develop personal connections-email buddies

Discuss with intern and team members goals of intern and Project SEARCH

Updates from BAC members

  December

Student job inventory

Discuss jobs in community

Identify skills to develop

Interns present oral resumes

 February

Mock interviews with the interns

Review of intern student inventory to match to job sites

Meet with interns to review interviews

Potential recommendations for intern employment

  April

Celebration of intern placements

Discuss improvements for next year internships

Invitation to serve on next year Business Advisory Committee