LWR juniors tour TriNet, Sun Hydraulics Students get glimpse of workplace reality

MANATEE — Juniors at Lakewood Ranch High School got a taste of what awaits them in the workplace when they toured TriNet, a human resources company, and Sun Hydraulics Tuesday.

“Ambitions realized,” is the motto of TriNet, which merged recently with Gevity and moved into the former ADT building at 9000 Town Center Parkway in Lakewood Ranch.

TriNet represented the white-collar office environment while Sun Hydraulics provided more of a manufacturing and marketing model for students to ponder.

Vito Melfi, vice president of information technology operations for TriNet, offered students good advice to consider for their future careers.

Melfi said his career evolved gradually, earning a two-year degree at a technical college, and later returning to earn his bachelor’s and start work on a master’s degree.

He encouraged students to be open-minded when they enter the workplace, to be flexible, and to focus on the work they have to do.

“Everyone likes someone who can think outside the box,” Melfi said, and see not a problem, but an opportunity.

“Be positive, don’t be a naysayer,” he said.

Melfi said he started at the local company three years ago, and that his role has expanded since the merger. He is responsible for IT not only at the Lakewood Ranch office but in San Leandro, Calif., and Reno, Nevada.

He encouraged students to make good grades, but also to get involved with community service and put it on their resumes, to travel and see another country, and be involved in student activities.

“Life experiences are important, too,” Melfi said.

Finally, he said workers should be happy in what they are doing or be prepared to make a career change.

The reason Lakewood Ranch High School packed students on buses and sent them to TriNet and Sun Hydraulics was to give them a day of seeing some of the possible jobs in the workplace, said teacher Robert Moates.

One of those students, Cameron Odon, heard that TriNet had recently changed from Oracle software to PeopleSoft, and wanted to know the reason for the change.

TriNet officials responded that it was for their clients, that the PeopleSoft software was more user-friendly.

Odon said later he’s not sure what career he wants to pursue, but has been taking a lot of business classes over the past few years.

“I think it’s a lot of fun,” he said.

Judy Bodmer, adviser to the Future Business Leaders of America at Lakewood Ranch High School, said field trips to the real world provide students with a fresh perspective on their own futures.

“I think it’s wonderful,” Bodmer said.

James A. Jones Jr., East Manatee Editor, can be contacted at 745-7021.