Looking at opportunities to work in the hospitality fields?

Pennsylvania CareerLink of Carbon County wants to help you jumpSTART your career with a new training program.Through a regional grant from the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration, Northampton Community College is bringing the Skills, Tasks and Results Training program, developed by the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute to Carbon, Monroe, Wayne, Pike, Schuylkill and Luzerne counties.Garry Wentz, administrator of CareerLink of Carbon County, said on Tuesday during the Carbon County Interagency and Family Collaborative Board meeting, that the START program provides free hospitality and resort training to anyone in the six counties."It covers a variety of areas, including food service, front desk, facility maintenance and more," he said. "It is for career exploration, but also certification."The training program will take place Monday through Thursday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. from March 27 to May 19 at Blue Mountain Resort, Palmerton; and academic support from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays.The training will provide promoting professionalism, confidence and positive work ethics; job placement assistance and 55-hour job shadow at a hotel, resort or restaurant; and portable certification in SafeServ, RAMP and guest service professional.Those who successfully complete the START program will take a final exam to receive the START certification plus an additional certification in either front desk representative, guest room attendant, maintenance/engineering or restaurant server.An information session about the program has been scheduled for 4 p.m. on March 14 at Blue Mountain Resort, 1600 Blue Mountain Drive, Palmerton, Summit Lodge executive board room.Orientation will take place at 4 p.m. on March 21 at the Blue Mountain Resort Summit Lodge executive board room.For more information or to register for the information session, contact Gregg Marzano, program coordinator, at 570-369-1947 or email

gmarzano@northampton.edu.