WORLD WIND ENERGY NET

Thousands of people crowded into an exhibit hall at The Ranch on Wednesday vying for 400 jobs being created by wind turbine blade company Vestas when it opens a new Windsor plant next year. Some came hoping to find employment for the first time in a few years; some for the lucrative benefits package, and others came hoping to improve their job situations.

Thomas McMillan of Loveland said he wants to be part of a growing industry. McMillan, a process technician at Avago - formerly Agilent Technologies - said he was encouraged by Vestas' presentation "simply because the industry is growing and a growing industry tends to supply jobs and have an energy associated with it that makes it a good company to be associated with."

McMillan, who has seen the ebb and flow of the high-tech industry over the past 15 years, said he would like to be part of something that is improving people's lives.

Vestas, which has 14,000 employees worldwide, chose Windsor for its first North American plan after a national search. The $60 million, 200,000 square foot facility in the Great Western Industrial Park in Windsor will manufacture wood carbon wind turbine blades measuring 120 feet long.

Kevin Cory, Vestas' people and culture manager, explained the culture, the mission and the jobs to what amounted to more than 1,000 people during three sessions at The Ranch. Vestas is filling a variety of jobs including what it calls professional blue collar jobs, such as electricians, as well as managers, engineers, shipping and warehouse personnel, IT support, buyers and janitors.

When the plant is in full swing, it will operate four lines running 24/7 with each line producing one blade a day, Cory said. Chris Rodriguez, 33, drove from Kersey to see about a job. "I'm looking for the benefits and a better chance at an opportunity to advance," he said.

Cory said Vestas pays 100 percent of health care benefits for its workers and dependents. That was attractive to Joe Pesina of Greeley, who works with Rodriguez at a local printer. "A lot of us from that company are here," he said. "We have benefits but nothing close to these guys."

Oley Grubb of Loveland, who works at Carestream, formerly Kodak Colorado in Windsor, also liked the four weeks vacation promised by Vestas. "The benefits at Carestream aren't bad, but they don't pay 100 percent." Cory said in previous interviews Vestas likes to hire good people and treat them well.

"We are the leader in this industry because of the people and because the people are constantly working toward our mission," to put wind power on par with oil and gas-generated power, Cory said Wednesday.

Gwen Pendergrass, who moved to Loveland three years ago, hopes to land a job for the first time since she arrived in the region.

The 49-year-old machinist who's worked on space shuttles and bombers said she is looking for a team-leader position, considering her manufacturing background. SOSStaffing, which is handling the initial hiring for Vestas, plans to begin interviewing applicants in October.

If you want to apply for a job at Vestas, e-mail your resume to vestasjobs@sosstaffing.com or stop by an SOS Staffing office at 1414 E. Harmony Road, Fort Collins or 3510B W. 10th St., in Greeley. For other SOS offices see their Web site at http://www.sosstaffing.com/.