plus 1, Lighting Science Group Added 465 U.S. Jobs Last Year; to Hire More at Orlando Job Fair - Yahoo Finance

Lighting Science Group Added 465 U.S. Jobs Last Year; to Hire More at Orlando Job Fair - Yahoo Finance

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Press Release Source: Lighting Science Group Corporation On Monday February 28, 2011, 9:00 am EST

SATELLITE BEACH, Fla., Feb. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Fast growing Lighting Science Group Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board:LSCG.ob - News), a leading American maker of LED lighting, is looking to hire more employees at the Orlando Sentinel job fair. The Orlando Sentinel Engineering, Technology & Security Clearance Career Expo will be held at the Crowne Plaza Airport in Orlando today (February 28, 2011) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"We have some of the most advanced and affordable LED lighting products in the world and that's made possible because of our world-class team of U.S.-based employees," said Rich Weinberg, chairman and chief executive officer of Lighting Science Group. "The Company has seen rapid sales growth over the past year, which means we are continuing to look for talented individuals to help us meet growing customer demand."

For years, high-output and low-cost LED lighting products have been just out of reach, but Lighting Science Group has revolutionized the science of light in America to produce lighting products that deliver on the promise of LED technology. From the International Space Station to the Times Square Ball to other projects in major cities across the world and now in homes, the Company's LED solutions are increasing energy independence and expected to save consumers, businesses and governments significant amounts of money.

Last year, Lighting Science Group became the first U.S. company to domestically manufacture 1 million LED bulbs in less than a year (approximately 6 months). These 1 million bulbs are expected to save Americans approximately $17 million in electricity cost or over 140,000,000 kilowatt hours over the course of a year, which equals the: annual greenhouse gas emissions from over 19,000 passenger vehicles or the CO2 emissions from the electricity use of over 12,216 homes for one year.

For more information on Lighting Science Group, please visit www.lsgc.com.

About Lighting Science

Lighting Science Group Corporation (OTCBB:LSCG.ob - News) designs, develops, manufactures and markets LED lighting solutions that are environmentally friendlier and more energy efficient than traditional lighting products. Lighting Science Group offers retrofit LED lamps in form factors that match the form factor of traditional lamps or bulbs and LED luminaires for a range of applications including public and private infrastructure for both indoor and outdoor applications. Lighting Science Group Design Works business unit designs, develops and manufactures custom LED lighting solutions for architectural and artistic projects. Lighting Science Group is headquartered in Satellite Beach, Florida; the Company's European operations are based in Goes, The Netherlands; and, the Company has a sales office in Sydney, Australia. Lighting Science Group has over 450 workers in its Satellite Beach, Florida manufacturing facility that build lighting products from domestic and imported parts. Lighting Science Group is a Pegasus Capital Advisors portfolio company. More information about Lighting Science Group is available at www.lsgc.com.

Forward Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The statements include, but are not limited to statements regarding the performance of LSG and the performance of LSG's products using terminology such as "will," "should," "would," "could," "expect," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," or "believe." Such statements reflect the current view of LSG with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the statements. In evaluating these statements, you should specifically consider various factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements. Readers should carefully review the risk factors detailed under "Risk Factors" in our most recent Form 10-K and subsequent Form 10-Qs on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Thousands attend Oshkosh Corp. job fair Sunday - Oshkosh Northwestern

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Kaukauna's Dave Gracyalny just wants a chance at one of the 650 to 750 jobs Oshkosh Corp. is filling.

Out of work since NewPage closed its Kimberly plant two years ago, Gracyalny waited an hour outside the City Center Hotel and Oshkosh Convention Center Sunday just to get inside the building. The good news was he would begin the application process — mostly comprised of hours of waiting in line — less than an hour before company officials closed off the line for the day. The bad news was there were easily 1,500 more people in front of him.

"There's not a lot out there so you have to take what you can get," Gracyalny said. "If there a chance to get a job, you have to go for it. You just have to be lucky is all."

Oshkosh Defense's job fair drew a wide range of applicants from experienced assemblers like Gracyalny to Markesan's Jose Lozoya, who sought his first welding job a few months before he graduates from Fox Valley Technical College. They arrived early—the first around 3:30 a.m.—enticed by the opportunity for a job, better pay and benefits, an opportunity to work in a union shop or to start a career as an assembler or welder.

Oshkosh Defense expects to fill the positions over the coming weeks and months as it ramps up production for the U.S. Army's Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles contract it was awarded in February 2010. Oshkosh Defense Vice President of Human Resources Rod Wedemeier said the company expects to hire gradually over coming months from the pool of more than 1,000 given contingent job offers during the job fair. He said hiring would occur in groups of 50 or 60 each week until staffing levels allow the company to meet increased FMTV production.

"By the end of the process, they will have done everything you need to do to work for our company," Wedemeier said. "Once they have their contingent offer, they need to be patient and wait for us to contact them. There's a lot of good people here."

The line of an estimated 2,000 applicants snaked from the sliding door entrance of the hotel, into conference rooms and over into the convention center. The wait ended with a human resources interview before another wait in a staging area complete with Oshkosh Corp. promotional videos playing, popcorn and water until a member of the operations management staff could conduct a second interview. The final step before a contingent job offer could be made was a background check and a drug test.

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Fond du Lac's Nick Bates and Daniel Bridgeford had a very early breakfast and arrived around 6 a.m. to find few waiting for the 10 a.m. opening.
"We expected a lot of people so we got an early breakfast and got here at 6 a.m.," Bates said. "There wasn't really a line like there is now, so we didn't have to wait outside at all."

"It's not like any job interview I've taken before," Bridgeford said.

Wedemeier said the company tried to improve the human resources review process and the experience for job seekers after previous a job fair in 2009 saw applicants waiting outside in cold weather for hours in some cases. He estimated 75 to 100 Oshkosh Defense staffers were working to manage the crowds, ensure applicants had required documentation and could conduct the interviews and testing.

"We've been planning the event for about four weeks, or as soon as we knew how many people we needed," Wedemeier said. "Keeping people inside was the goal. We've got about 600 people in the waiting areas, but people who arrived early today made it through in about an hour."

Brandon's Mark Horvath said the wait was alright with him, especially since the NASCAR Subway Fresh Fit 500 didn't start until 2 p.m.
"I knew what to expect," Horvath, who has 15 years of experience welding, said. "It's not that bad of a wait."

Wedemeier said part of the attractiveness of the jobs is the $16-$19-an-hour starting range. Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce CEO John Casper said the wages and benefits certainly help, but the overall lack of hiring as the economy has recovered also contributes to the heavy turnout.

"We need three or four of these sorts of employment blasts. They're a good-paying employer. You can support a family on those wages," Casper said. "Oshkosh Corp. is a good employer and people in underemployed positions see opportunities there."

Jeff Bollier: (920) 426-6688 or jbollier@thenorthwestern.com.