St. Petersburg College’s Workforce Institute is a proud sponsor of Encore Connect: Your Roadmap to What’s Next, an event to explore the ways people 50+ can redefine retirement, find new purpose and do meaningful work in a second career.

Many Tampa Bay workers, as they enter mid-life, are struggling to land a job.  Some of the challenges may be:

•  Finding the right resources for retooling their career
•  Looking at starting a business
• Deciding between a full-time versus part-time work
• Figuring out the best way to connect to non-profits for volunteerism or paid jobs

According to AARP, 70 percent of adults over 50 have decided to work beyond the age of 65 in some capacity.  In fact, the fastest growing age group of entrepreneurs is age 55 and 65, with over 45 percent of all entrepreneurs between the ages of 45 and 65.

Encore Connect is set for Wednesday, March 16, 4-7 p.m. at University of South Florida St. Petersburg.   It will provide baby boomers with an opportunity to learn from national leaders and connect to local resources for education, entrepreneurship, volunteering, job searches and transitioning to their individualized “encore.” This event will allow attendees to experience:

• Gain information on all of the second-career certification programs that SPC’s Workforce Institute has to offer
• Learn from nationally recognized career expert Kerry Hannon
• Receive a copy of Kerry Hannon’s book, Getting the Job You Want After 50 for Dummies
• Connect with local experts and resources
• Experience “skill blitzes” and “mentor moments”
• Network with like-minded individuals

To learn more about Encore Tampa Bay and to register for Encore Connect, visit EncoreTampaBay.com.  Registration is $40 ($50 after Feb. 26).

For more information regarding second-career certification programs available through St. Petersburg College’s Workforce Institute, please visit us online at spcollege.edu/workforce.