Where will the next generation of top professionals come from? By 2014 there will be approximately 55 million job openings in America.

The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that 60 percent of these career opportunities will be the direct result of employers having to replace retiring employees and those transferring to different careers. Georgiana High School students are already preparing themselves for future success.

Students from Georgiana High School, Sha’kayla Mixon, Melissa Betts, Shameka Rodgers, Tylissha Rich, and Thelsea Scott, along with their advisor, Mark McClaney, traveled to Montgomery for two days of rigorous leadership study at the 2008 Joint Leadership Development Conference (JLDC), September 29-30.

These students participated in more than 20 different skill-building workshops and interactive activities. Some of these workshops were College Admissions, Grants and Scholarships, Business Networking, Workforce Needs, Employment, Credit Score, and Banking and Social Networking.

JLDC, which began nine years ago, is focused on preparing students for leadership opportunities.

During this annual event, Alabama’s eight different Career and Technical Education Student Organizations (CTSOs) team joined up to sponsor one united event, which concentrates on teaching students about upcoming career opportunities, financial literacy, and leadership development.

This year, more that 3,000 students attended this conference.