for JOBS! BOWLING

By Ryan Vasko

Employment Events Produce New Business & Employees for Smyrna Bowling Center in Tennessee

When Chris James agreed to host a job fair at Smyrna Bowling Center, he figured it was a great way to help and do something for folks and companies in his area. “Supporting Strong Community” is the motto of the beloved 52-lane institution in Smyrna, TN.

What he couldn’t have predicted, however, was how the decision would soon pay off dazzlingly. Not only was the job fair a successful networking asset, but it was also a smart, unexpected way to bring in new business and build a surplus of potential employees for his center. James, who has served as the center’s general manager since 2019, initially came into contact with the local office of the American Job Center while looking for staffers of his own. While there, he struck up a conversation with Jeff Glidden, a Career Specialist for the county, and an opportunity organically presented itself. “We got to talking, and he mentioned he needed a facility for the Smyrna area,” James recalled. “So, I said, ‘Jeff, just come to the bowling center; we’ve got plenty of room. I think it’d be grand.’ Long story short, it created a way to bring in small businesses and large factories and showcase us as an option for a company party.”

The first fair at Smyrna was held on a Wednesday morning, with two dozen companies representing manufacturing, automotive servicing, food production, local airlines, and other industries in attendance. Since each paid a fee to take part, which covered his day’s income, James could close the alley and devote the entirety of the time to the job fair. With the space available (the center is the largest in Tennessee), each vendor was given a high-top Brunswick table to conduct business at, making for a functional and memorable experience.

“It’s a fun atmosphere, and we love coming every time,” Glidden said. “It puts people at ease and makes it easier for employers and job seekers to interact. If we can host a job fair in a place where people can bring their kids, say, that makes a big difference. It also provided a lot of additional traffic from people who would come to bowl, so there was a lot of cross-marketing.”

With a positive response, Smyrna Bowling Center has since hosted three additional job fairs, and with each, they’ve