DHS Ninth Graders Explore Local Careers on Downtown Business Tour

Our newsroom runs on more than coffee and craft beer — it runs on you. Support Decorah News' local reporting today. DECORAH — About 100 ninth-grade students from Decorah High School explored local career opportunities during the school's third annual downtown business tour May 5. Students traveled along Water Street in groups, with each homeroom visiting one restaurant, one bank and one retail business to learn about daily operations and career paths in different industries. Participating businesses included The Pantry, Sugar Bowl, Decorah Bank & Trust, Viking State Bank, The Get Up and Rubaiyat. The event was organized through a partnership between Decorah High School, Winneshiek County Development and Tourism, Northeast Iowa Community College and participating businesses. The tour is part of the district's career readiness efforts and aligns with Iowa's emphasis on work-based learning opportunities for high school students. "This initiative is a key part of Decorah's District Career and Academic Plan, which is designed to increase awareness of local career paths, build real-world skills and support future workforce development across Iowa," Decorah High School counselor Pat Trewin said in a statement. "The success of this event highlights the value of offering these kinds of hands-on learning opportunities. Students get to know many behind-the-scenes aspects of a business and some of what it takes to work at these places. Businesses get exposure to 100 future employees or customers." At The Get Up, owner Lisa Lantz discussed the boutique's resale model and inventory tracking system. At Rubaiyat, owners Kim Bonnet and Andy Bonnet spoke about restaurant operations, hospitality and accommodating diners with food allergies. Students visiting Sugar Bowl learned about restaurant operations and business models from owner Nathan Todd. At The Pantry, owner Julie Spilde discussed sourcing products, inventory management and customer service. Representatives from Viking State Bank talked with students about digital security and careers in banking, while Decorah Bank & Trust highlighted careers in marketing, mortgage lending and customer service, along with education requirements for those positions. Event coordinator Maddie Putnam-Keck said connecting students with local employers is important for workforce development. "These kinds of experiences help give students a clearer picture of jobs they could have here in Decorah and Winneshiek County," Putnam-Keck said. Your weekly dose of local life! Subscribe to the free newsletter and enjoy news, analysis, and stories you'll actually look forward to reading.