By RACHEL BRANT

Staff writer

Dress to impress Thursday and head out to the Kitsap County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Bremerton.

The sixth Northwest Job Expo, put on by The Icon Group of Silverdale, will be from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, March 27 at the Pavilion. The one-day job expo typically draws thous-ands of job seekers to the county fairgrounds.

“We usually get 1,200 to 1,800 people,” said Phil Slaton, co-owner and spokesman for The Icon Group.

Phil and his wife, Joanne Slaton, own The Icon Group and have been in the event planning business for 13 years. They have hosted job fairs all over the world including Asia, Ireland and Great Britain as well as in numerous states west of the Mississippi River.

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Olympic College host job fairs, but the Slatons started the Northwest Job Expo six years ago because they felt there was a need for it in the area.

“We saw a need and we filled it,” Phil said. “Now our events are very well accepted and attended.”

The Northwest Job Expo will feature 60-65 exhibitors ranging from Lockheed Martin to local businesses such as Legend Harley-Davidson of Silverdale.

“What’s nice about this is these companies actually come to hire,” Joanne said.

Joanne said people should come to the job expo with resumes in hand. They also should be prepared for interviews on the spot at the Northwest Job Expo. She added that she enjoys watching people nervously enter the job expo and walk out a short time later with a new career.

“It’s an amazing thing to watch people’s lives change like that,” Joanne said.

Phil said The Icon Group originally started the job expo to help military personnel find jobs and transition into civilian life. Now the Northwest Job Expo is helpful for military personnel, civilians and even high school students looking for temporary or summer employment.

“One-fourth of our attendees, maybe one-third, are military, the rest are civilian,” Phil said.

Phil said those attending the Northwest Job Expo should plan on spending a good chunk of time at the event. He added that people should come well dressed and prepared to possibly walk away with the career of their dreams.

“Basically just bring a resume or two and a happy face and plan to spend some time there,” Phil said.

Northwest Job Expo

Thursday, March 27

12:30 — 4:30 p.m.

Kitsap County Fairgrounds Pavilion

Bremerton

For more information, call The Icon Group at (360) 697-7880 or visit the Web site at www.northwestjobexpo.org.