listen to this story
Loading audio file. Please wait.
speed
1.00 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00 1.25 1.50 1.75 2.00 Students visiting Grand Design during the spring We+You student immersion experience (Photo courtesy of South Bend-Elkhart Regional Partnership)
Experiencing what it’s like to live and work in the region is at the heart of the South Bend-Elkhart Regional Partnership’s We+You Student Immersion Experience this week.
This twice-yearly experience introduces undergraduate and graduate students to businesses in the area, exposes them to quality locations and quality living experiences, and helps them envision life in the South Bend-Elkhart area after graduation. Helpful.
The immersion, which exposes students to regional internship opportunities, is part of a regional partnership effort that positions the region as a leader in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and development.
“We recruit from area colleges and universities,” said Lauren Thomas, director of South Bend-Elkhart Regional Partnership Talent Initiatives. “We’ve seen a lot of international students apply to this program, and we’re seeing quite a bit of diversity through this program. That’s a really exciting element.”
Mr. Thomas talks about the purpose of the We+You Student Immersion Experience.
Your browser does not support the audio element.
The program aims to reverse the trend of outward migration among Indiana students who believe they must leave their region or state upon graduation to advance their careers.
“Broadly speaking, it’s about changing the mindset of students who are already in higher education: that they can succeed here in their careers, and that they can build for themselves a life that is meaningful, purposeful, and rewarding.” “We can do that,” Thomas added. “We want them to take advantage of what they already have.”
The regional partnership recently received the 2024 Excellence in Economic Development Silver Award from the International Economic Development Council for its efforts in developing and retaining talent.
Costs average about $500 per student, and sponsorships from local businesses help make the event possible. But beyond financial support, companies also participate in marketing the area to prospective employees.
“It’s really great to have a partner who not only contributes financially to the event, but also actively participates and engages the students,” Thomas said. “We held a local business tour with Grand Designs RV in the spring and it was great. This fall we will be doing a tour of Valletta Boats.”
Bristol-based Barletta Boat Co. is one of eight area companies to sponsor the show this fall. The company, which is only seven years old, sees this opportunity as an ideal way to grow its early career talent pool.
“In start-up mode, every position, every dollar counts. But we are starting to reach a point of growth and there are some things there that are very important to us,” Valletta Boat’s said Chad Herzl, vice president of human resources. “One is understanding what the sources and methodologies are for building a talent pipeline and what the methods are for building an employer brand.”
Hartzell said Barletta not only does a great job building boats, but also invests in increasing brand awareness, attracting local talent and contributing to the local economy.
“We want the region to know that we are an organization that is radically focused on culture, people and experience. It’s great to do that internally, but we want the region to know that we are an organization that is radically focused on culture, people and experience. It’s even better to help people understand who we are, what we do, and what we stand for,” Hartzell said. “Bringing entry-level student talent into these internship experiences helps build our brand and creates opportunities that continue to evolve our unique talent pipeline.”
Although the company has hosted high school interns in the past, the We+You program will give Valletta her first opportunity to participate in a formal internship program. Barletta’s parent company, Winnebago Industries, occasionally hosts virtual events for interns across its subsidiaries.
Hartzell said Valletta will tailor the internship experience to students’ skills and interests. The company can offer opportunities in human resources, marketing, finance, supply chain, engineering, and more. However, due to the size of the company, roles usually overlap, so it’s a great opportunity to gain experience in different aspects of the business.
“We’re going to start small, maybe just one person, maybe two or three people, and some of that is for a specific reason. We want to provide a great experience,” Hartzell said. “In terms of positions, it’s going to be pretty open depending on who we attract. We have to consider the balance between our own needs and the interests of our students.”
Beacon Health System Workforce Development Program Manager Pam Morrison said exposing the range of career paths available in the healthcare industry was one of the reasons the company decided to participate in the student immersion experience. He said there is.
“Having Beacon representatives here really allows us to showcase the variety of career opportunities in healthcare and really show that healthcare is more than just patient care opportunities. “We can do that,” Morrison said. “There are opportunities for professionals in a wide range of employment types, from information systems and technology, facilities management, engineering, communications and marketing to other more medically based professions.”
Mr. Morrison sees internship opportunities as a fundamental route to a company’s succession planning as the baby boomer generation ages and leaves the workforce.
“We work creatively to find opportunities for those interested in pursuing career opportunities within Beacon,” she said. “Our goal is to align the experience with what students are looking for and what our organization offers from a professional perspective.”
As the generational dynamics of the workforce change, Beacon is evolving by providing lifestyle benefits and development opportunities for its employees, Morrison said.
“They may be looking for additional opportunities to gain flexibility within their role, receive continued development, or the ability to move across multiple positions,” she added. . “As such, Beacon is committed to developing more career paths, planning opportunities and putting more resources into workforce development so that we can remain relevant to this new workforce that will see us through a generational transition.” We are working very hard on this.”
Giving students the opportunity to experience what great leadership looks like is part of Valletta’s unique selling point, Hartzell said. Because today’s workforce is multi-generational, the company prioritizes commonalities over differences.
“Today’s workforce has more generations working together than at any time in the history of the workforce, and we need to recognize that. Regardless of generational differences, one thing we have in common is that “It’s about people’s desire to have a purpose,” Hartzell added. “Finding commonalities between groups, rather than emphasizing differences, allows for a more integrated and seamless approach to how you engage with your employees.”
A regional business showcase concludes the experience with sponsoring companies introducing their companies, culture, and opportunities to students. Participants can then network with the presenters.
Fall semester students will also have the opportunity to experience dinner at Lerner Theater, coffee break at Embassy Coffee, lunch at Jesus Latin Grill, and tour Four Winds Field. Panelists from Connect 574, the South Bend Regional Chamber of Commerce and enFocus will also share how they are working to make the region a better place to live and work.
Overall, Thomas said the team received 90% positive feedback from the first spring group, who recounted stories of growing excitement about seeing the area in a new light.
While companies are not committing to hiring a specific number of interns, Thomas said his team is working to ensure participating companies are actively hiring for summer 2025 internships or full-time positions in the near future. He said he was there.
This fall, the regional partnership received 45 applications and invited 25 to immersion. The first round, launched earlier this year, received 80 applications and 45 students participated in the experience.
Fall recruitment begins in August and closes in early October. Spring recruitment begins in January and closes in early March. Selection is based on students’ responses to questions that gauge their level of interest in staying in the area.
“We want to learn about the general existing interest in the area. We are looking for students who will support key industries in the area,” Thomas said. “Due to the urgent need to participate in summer internships, more students are participating in the spring.”
The next We+You Student Immersion Experience is scheduled for next spring. Interested students can apply online and Regional Partnerships is pleased to have more businesses on board, Thomas said.
“For a company like Beacon, which employs so many different types of professionals across the market, we encourage any company that can be a part of this experience to do so,” Morrison said. “Early exposure to these college students is really how we develop the workforce of the future.”
Story continues below
