Rogue Disposal Engages Local Students at "Careers In Gear" Event

The Jackson County Expo was filled with energy and curiosity on April 23, 2026, as thousands of high school students gathered for the annual Careers in Gear event—Southern Oregon’s premier hands-on career exploration opportunity. Among the more than 120 local employers participating was Rogue Disposal, proudly joining the effort to connect students with real-world career pathways right here in the Rogue Valley.

Hosted by the Rogue Workforce Partnership and Southern Oregon YouthWorks, Careers in Gear welcomed students from 46 schools across the region, offering them the chance to explore careers through interactive exhibits, equipment demonstrations, and direct conversations with industry professionals. The event is designed to help students envision their futures by experiencing what different jobs actually look like, rather than simply hearing about them in a classroom.

Rogue Disposal’s team set up an engaging booth inside the Expo that invited students to learn more about the wide range of career opportunities within the waste and recycling industry. Company representatives discussed roles spanning operations, maintenance, administration, and logistics, while also emphasizing long-term growth, training opportunities, and the importance of public service. By meeting students face-to-face, Rogue Disposal aimed to show that careers in waste management are both essential and rewarding.

According to organizers, exposing students to local employers plays a critical role in workforce development. “When students are exposed to really great jobs, they’re more likely to want to go into that career,” said Mary Lockwood, Executive Director of Rogue Workforce Partnership. “Anything that you can think of, there’s thousands of jobs here in the Rogue Valley, and we have them here for students to interact with and see what they love to do,” she added.

For Rogue Disposal, participating in Careers in Gear aligns with the company’s ongoing commitment to community engagement and workforce development. By investing time and resources into events like this, the company helps build relationships with the next generation of workers while reinforcing that strong careers can be found close to home.

As students circulated through the Expo—climbing into equipment, asking questions, and discovering new career possibilities—events like Careers in Gear continues to prove its value in bridging the gap between education and employment. With companies like Rogue Disposal taking an active role, Southern Oregon’s future workforce is given a clearer picture of the opportunities waiting for them just beyond graduation.