Mar. 19-(Roanoke, Va.)—“JobQuest� shared a dose of good news and optimism with Blue Ridge PBS viewers on March 17, as the popular employment advice and information program returned for its third monthly primetime episode.

For Immediate Release March 19, 2009 Contact: Stephen Grieco, Foundation and Marketing Director sgrieco@blueridgepbs.org 540.344.0991 ext 1781 888.332.7788 “JobQuest� broadcasts good news, optimism (Roanoke, Va.)—“JobQuest� shared a dose of good news and optimism with Blue Ridge PBS viewers on March 17, as the popular employment advice and information program returned for its third monthly primetime episode. Duncan Adams, a Roanoke Times reporter who covers economic development and manufacturing, helped start the show with news about area businesses like Vaughan-Bassett Furniture Co., which recently announced an expansion of its plant in Galax. Adams said Robatel, a French company, is establishing a U.S. subsidiary in Roanoke where it will create up to two dozen engineering and project management positions. Additionally, Adams said both Verizon and Wachovia have been hiring call center workers. Sixty new jobs openings were also highlighted during the show including a church pianist in Roanoke, fork lift operator in Abingdon, chef in Lynchburg, cake decorator in Floyd, chiropractic assistant in the New River Valley, customer service coordinator in Covington, and a warehouse supervisor in Danville. “We’ve made an extra effort to find open positions in communities across the Blue Ridge PBS region,� said James Baum, station President and CEO. “It’s amazing what a variety of jobs are available and we’re encouraged to know that ‘JobQuest’ is helping connect job hunters with potential employers.� According to Tabatha Rosen, General Manager of Bright Services, the company has had a lot of applicants who heard about job openings while watching “JobQuest.� Some have already been placed in full-time positions. "As a professional, full service staffing company, we encourage our job seekers to take advantage of information available through programs like ‘JobQuest,’� Rosen added. “When applicants are more informed and better prepared, it's much easier to place them in a new job. ‘JobQuest’ is a great resource for job hunters and employers in our region." So far “JobQuest� has alerted viewers to 170 job vacancies in the Blue Ridge region and provided valuable suggestions to help shorten the job search. Once again, toll-free phone lines were open and the “JobQuest� chat room was busy—all staffed by volunteers from the Roanoke Valley Society for Human Resource Management. Hundreds of people have called in during the first three episodes. Most asked questions about jobs that have been featured on the program. Others just wanted someone to talk with about their unemployment hardships. Roanoke-based CBS affiliate WDBJ7, a “JobQuest� partner, provided Brent Watts and Hollani Davis as hosts of the show. Serving as guest job readers during the program were Sam Lionberger, CEO Lionberger Construction Company; Richard Flora, Craig County Administrator; Eric Earnhart, Media & Community Relations Director for Carilion Health System; Shai Cullop, Project Coordinator for Return to Roots; Leah Coffman, Administrative Officer for Workforce Development and Career Services at Virginia Western Community College; and Ray Smoot University Treasurer and Chief Operating Officer/Secretary Treasurer for the Virginia Tech Foundation. “JobQuest� continues April 14 at 7 p.m. with another live, information-packed broadcast. Visit www.blueridgepbs.org for help contacting the “JobQuest� team, a calendar of events, resume tips, links, and job listings highlighted during the show. About “JobQuest� “JobQuest� is a monthly Blue Ridge PBS production that showcases job openings from The Roanoke Times’ online employment bank—jobs.roanoke.com—the Virginia Employment Commission, and other sources. The show covers a variety of topics, including helpful information about filing for unemployment insurance, hiring trends, job hunting on the Internet, and job training. In addition to The Roanoke Times-roanoke.com, “JobQuest� community partners include CBS affiliate WDBJ7, Virginia Western & New River Community Colleges, Roanoke’s Economic Development Office, Roanoke Regional Office of the Virginia Employment Commission, The Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce; Roanoke Valley Society for Human Resource Management; and Virginia Economic Bridge, Inc. About Blue Ridge PBS Blue Ridge PBS, founded in 1967, is the sole public multimedia enterprise serving 4 million individuals in portions of five states. The station’s 26,000 square-mile coverage area includes southwestern Virginia and bordering counties in Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, and North Carolina. As the region’s storyteller, Blue Ridge PBS offers outstanding informational, educational and cultural programming, along with an award-winning local production team devoted to regional issues and interests. Further, over 200,000 schoolchildren and their teachers benefit from the station’s education services that provide a safe, trusted environment for innovative on-air and online learning. Blue Ridge PBS is comprised of WBRA-TV/DT in Roanoke, WSBN-TV/DT in Norton, and WMSY-TV/DT in Marion, Va. www.blueridgepbs.org Photo Caption JobQuest_WDBJ7.jpg WDBJ7’s Brent Watts and Hollani Davis hosted the most recent “JobQuest� episode—demonstrating how the region's strongest media organizations are collaborating to help people during this tough economic time. # # #