Safety Management Group Supports JA JobSpark

At Safety Management Group (SMG), we help businesses protect their most valuable asset – their people.  Specifically, we deliver workplace safety consulting, training, staffing, program planning and implementation to companies in the manufacturing, construction, healthcare, pharmaceutical, and insurance industries, some of the largest sectors of Indy’s economy.

To help our clients succeed while providing a safe environment for employees and customers, we work closely with them and get to know their business from all angles.  So we see first-hand the challenges companies in these industries face when trying to hire the right people.  And we demand nothing but the best from our own people, as we continue to build a team that can lead SMG into the future as we approach three decades in business.

Because great companies recruit and retain great employees, SMG is committed to personal and professional advancement. Among other opportunities, we support employee participation in Leadership Indianapolis, a local organization focused on the education, inspiration, and mobilization of up-and-coming leaders to serve and strengthen Central Indiana communities.

It was through this engagement in Leadership Indianapolis that SMG was introduced to the Junior Achievement of Central Indiana (JA) Job Spark event – and an opportunity to make an even longer-term investment in Indy’s ‘human capital,’ touching future generations of potential employees of SMG and our clients across the business community.

JobSpark is a hands-on career expo for all Marion County 8th graders.  The two-day event will be held on September 25-26^th at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, to give students an up-close look at Indianapolis companies and the exciting careers that could be in their future.  JobSpark focuses on high-demand fields like advanced manufacturing, engineering and logistics; the health and life sciences; architecture and construction; technology and more.

SMG decided that participating in the event would be an excellent opportunity for civic engagement, and a smart investment in the future of our company and community.  Involvement in JobSpark provides an opportunity for SMG Associates to interact with students, many of whom live in challenged areas of our city, and help offer a path towards college and career options and productive citizenship.

Our company goal for participation directly aligns with JA’s mission: Educate young people in the areas of career exploration, employability, financial literacy and philanthropy, and to inspire them to explore and create opportunities, make good decisions and believe in their potential.

In order to bring this mission to life and spark the interest of local 8^th graders, SMG decided to conduct a safety relay race to introduce the students to Safety, Health, and Environmental occupations with a hands on opportunity for the students to understand what it means to “be safe” on the job.  We hoped to motivate them to pursue a career that will prepare them to deliver protection to people, property and our environment…and we believe we’re succeeding. The safety relay race was a big hit during the 2017 JobSpark and we look forward to continuing the fun this fall and for years to come.

SMG is proud to support JobSpark, which is a massive undertaking:  JA expects roughly 3,000 volunteers to be on hand coordinating the event and representing hundreds of employers, connecting with more than 7,000 students from approximately 50 schools across Central Indiana.  There are plenty of opportunities to get involved as employers and individual volunteers; just like “safety is everyone’s job” in the workplace, we all have a role to play in inspiring and mentoring our young people.