Looking Back: Industry to Educators

Check out this excellent article by Doug Leduc with the Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly. The article is about the Industry to Educators Externship week that the Chamber held two weeks ago in conjunction with the Northeast Indiana Defense Industry Association. The article contains an overview of the week and why the educators, as well as the defense industry leaders, found it important. Also, it highlights a young Churubusco High School group called Destination Imagination that impressed company leaders at the student resource fair. These students are clearly on the right track with their engineering skills. Read the article.

Employers: Now is the Time to Find an Intern

Employers, are you in need of a little extra help at your business? We have an answer for you! Interns are an excellent way to bring energy, enthusiasm and skill into your organization. We've talked about our Graduate Retention Program before. Our staff in GR works to attract and maintain the best and brightest graduates to the region in order to fill high-skill, high-wage jobs for our employers. Not only does this keep buying power in our economy, it helps employers avoid costly national or international recruiting efforts.

The GR Program works to fulfill their mission by promoting internships - an inevitable win-win for the student and the the employer. College and high school students need valuable hands-on experiences to complete their education. They need to learn by doing. And employers, particularly in tough economic times, need talented help for projects. Internships can also save employers significant amounts of money if used as a recruiting tool (as we like to say - internships are the hiring wave of the future!).

So why bring this up now? Because now is the time to act! If you are an employer considering having an intern at your business, get started now. Contact our Graduate Retention staff at karnold@fwchamber.org or (260) 424-1435 and ask them how to get started. They will walk you through the process. Students are looking right now for the internships they will do in the fall semester. Don't miss out on this opportunity!

Unique Opportunity for Parents/Students to Meet Industry Leaders

Parents and students will have an outstanding opportunity to meet face-to-face with leaders in Northeast Indiana's defense industry today - Friday, July 23 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Indiana Tech. Defense companies including Raytheon, BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman, and ITT Defense & Information Solutions and more will be available for parents and students to discuss career options and ask questions. Local universities with science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs will also be present, as well as other clubs and organizations involved in STEM initiatives.

The evening will provide an exceptional opportunity for students to connect personally with industry leaders and educators and have questions answered about what Northeast Indiana has to offer in terms of high-skill, high-wage jobs. The event will take place at Indiana Tech in the Andorfer Commons and is free and open to the public. For more information about this event, click here. 

Defense Companies Host Educators for Groundbreaking Program

It's not often that a Chamber event requires security clearance. But that's exactly what is required this week, as the Chamber along with the Northeast Indiana Defense Industry Association (NIDIA) facilitate regional high school educators for what we are calling "Industry to Educators Externship."

From July 19 to 23, Raytheon, BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman, and ITT Defense & Information Solutions (members of NIDIA) will host 15 math and science educators at their facilities. The educators will be taken step-by-step through each company, learning what they do, what talent they are seeking, and how they can equip and prepare students for a career in science, technology, engineering and math-related (STEM) fields.

The ultimate goal of this collaboration is to equip teachers to provide a superior classroom experience with real-world problems, provide students with a solid education in math and science, facilitate shared experiences between a variety of local educators, provide teachers with valuable industry connections for classroom speaking and career advising, and finally, to facilitate collaboration between school administrators and local leadership.

Why, you ask?

The companies of NIDIA, along with the Chamber, and the Talent Initiative who is funding stipends for the educators, are taking a major step in preventing a foreseen talent gap for our region, ultimately saving employers costly recruiting efforts, and retaining highly educated and skilled students to the community to fill important jobs and keep their buying power in the area which benefits the economy.

If you think this sounds unique - it is. If you think this sounds groundbreaking - it is. And if you think it sounds important - it is.

The public can get involved this Friday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. at Indiana Tech, when local defense leaders are gathering to answer questions for students and their parents. For more on that opportunity,  click here.

For more pictures from yesterday's visit to Raytheon, visit our  Facebook page. And to learn more about Industry to Educators, contact Tanya Young at (260) 413-9788.

Finding Success in "Failed" Internships, Part II

By Katelyn MJ Daniel

Continued from yesterday….

“Internships are fail-proof… both the affirmation and the denial of a career choice are gifts.”

This was my career advisor’s reply to my negative conclusion about my Public Relations internship. I took that internship in response to his direction in search of the right career path for me. The journey of finding a major that would coincide with my interests and skills has taken many turns.

I attempted and crossed off Graphic Design, Chemistry, Public Relations and Sales Manager in the first 3 semesters of college. During my sophomore spring/summer semesters, I completed two internships simultaneously – a Grant Writing Internship at the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce and an Accounting internship at a local manufacturing company.  One more career choice was crossed off my list: (#5)Accounting.

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­My Grant Writing internship led me to realize that I have a gift and passion for technical writing. While attending Chamber events – one of the great perks of my internship –I discovered that I also have a passion for business development.  After speaking with some of our Chamber members, I found that some of our local, prominent business leaders have law degrees - but they did not practice law.

During this time, I was doing exceptionally well in my Philosophy courses – which require similar skills/abilities as law school. After several conversations with local attorneys and former law students, I realized that I had found my career match. I went to visit my career advisor one last time. He and my parents were very relieved when I told them that I had finally found my major: PHILOSOPHY with a BUSINESS MINOR and my calling: LAW SCHOOL.

In the last two years, I became an intern-to-hire, as the full-time Administrative Assistant for the Graduate Retention Program at the Chamber. I graduated on May 1, 2010, and I am headed to law school this fall. I was able to build a strong resume because I completed multiple internships which added value on law school applications.

My internships also benefited me because now, I understand the basics of multiple departments within a company, which I believe will make me a more marketable employee, attorney, and/or business executive someday.  Also, I have established a network of business professionals in Northeast Indiana which will be priceless if the job market is less than ideal when I graduate from law school.

I highly recommend that students consider internships – especially during middle or high school – if possible. Many of my classmates didn’t complete internships until their junior and senior years of college. Some discovered they had chosen the wrong field, had taken entire semesters of unnecessary classes, and are now paying for additional semesters of school.  Both my classmates’ and my personal experiences have led me to realize, a student is NEVER too young to think about completing an internship, job shadow, etc.

If you are a student who might benefit from completing an internship, I recommend doing two things: 1) talk to your campus career advisor, and 2) register on the Indiana INTERNnet – www.indianaintern.net – a statewide Web site for locating high school/college internships. 

Also, if you are a business executive who could utilize an intern in your company, please contact Kelly Arnold, Administrative Assistant for the Graduate Retention Program, at (260) 424-1435 x.241 or at karnold@fwchamber.org. 

Finding Success in "Failed" Internships, Part I

By Katelyn MJ Daniel

4 college internships, in the first 4 semesters of college, leading to 4 college major changes.

…My work history gives a whole new meaning to experiential learning.

During my senior year of high school, I filled out numerous scholarship applications, all with the same  daunting question – What is your chosen college major?

Rather than writing ‘Undecided,’ I flipped through a few college course catalogs and picked a major that looked fun, yet serious  (#1) Graphic Design.

By the end of my first day of college, I walked into the Registrar’s office to change my major.  Having no idea what major to ‘pick,’ I chose my strongest high school subject  (#2) Chemistry. Although I did very well in my Chemistry classes, by the end of the semester I knew I needed to visit the Registrar again.

Luckily, if one tries to change your major twice in one year, you are required to meet with a career advisor. Aptitude tests revealed strengths in the area of Business/Communications for me, so I decided to change my major to  (#3) Public Relations.

However, I received some valuable advice from my career advisor before I left his office that day. He suggested if I wasn’t sure what career was right for me, perhaps I should “try out” a career field by completing an internship.

Within a few weeks I began an unpaid Public Relations (PR) internship with a local sports team. Although I enjoyed working in a Business field, by the end of the internship, I knew that I wasn’t meant to work in PR. I grabbed a “Change-of-Major” form and headed to my career advisor’s office.

I was so embarrassed, as I told him, “PR is not my calling. I’m so sorry, but my internship was a failure.”  He replied without hesitation, “Internships are fail-proof…both the affirmation  and the denial of a career choice are gifts.”

He pulled up a list of new internships and recommended that I try different business field. So, as a brand new  (#4) Business major, I began my sophomore year with a paid internship in Inside Sales. However, by the end of the semester, I was able to cross Sales Manager off of my list of desired careers.

...To Be Continued.  

Parents and Students - Don't Miss this Opportunity!

Part I of Katelyn's story reminds me of a great event coming up for parents and students - this is something you are not going to want to miss!! 

Parents and students will have a truly unique opportunity to meet face-to-face with leaders in Northeast Indiana's defense industry on Friday, July 23 from 5 to 7 p.m. Defense companies including Raytheon, BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman, and ITT Defense & Information Solutions and more will be available for parents and students to discuss career options and ask questions. Local universities with science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs will also be present, as well as other clubs and organizations involved in STEM initiatives.

The evening will provide an exceptional opportunity for students to connect personally with industry leaders and educators and have questions answered about what Northeast Indiana has to offer in terms of high-skill, high-wage jobs. The event will take place at Indiana Tech in the Andorfer Commons and is free and open to the public. For more information contact Tanya Young at (260) 413-9788 or visit industry2educators.com.

P.S. You might ask where this opportunity comes from? It's the final "hurrah" of an amazing initiative taking place this July called Industry to Educators Externship. The entire purpose is to further develop the workforce of Northeast Indiana by supporting the region's strong defense industry and encouraging the area's young students into careers involving science, technology, engineering and math. I encourage you to read more about it. 

Parents, Students Invited to Meet Local Defense Industry Leaders

Last week we announced a groundbreaking and exciting collaboration that will ultimately strengthen our talent pool and workforce. The Industry to Educators Externship Program will enable educators from throughout the region to spend a week in July interacting with local defense companies in order to better equip high school students for careers in high-tech industries.

In an effort to further develop the workforce of Northeast Indiana by supporting the region’s strong defense industry and encourage the area’s youth into careers involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), students and parents will also be given the opportunity to directly interact with community leaders in regards to education and potential careers. 

Students and their parents will have a unique opportunity to connect with high-tech company leaders in the Northeast Indiana defense industry on Friday, July 23 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Indiana Tech. The event will be the final capstone of the week-long collaborative event between the Northeast Indiana Defense Association, the Chamber, and local educators.

Defense companies including Raytheon, BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman, and ITT Defense & Information Solutions and more will be available for parents and students to discuss career options and ask questions. Local universities with science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs will also be present, as well as other clubs and organizations involved in STEM initiatives. The resource fair is entitled Engineers to Educators.

The evening will provide an exceptional opportunity for students to connect personally with industry leaders and educators and have questions answered about what Northeast Indiana has to offer in terms of high-skill, high-wage jobs.

The event will take place at Indiana Tech in the Andorfer Commons and is free and open to the public. For more information contact Tanya Young at (260) 413- 8788 or visit industry2educators.com. 

FWCS Programs Honored

Chamber member Fort Wayne Community Schools has reason to be proud. Two of their Programs of Study - New Tech High at Wayne High School and Project Lead the Way-Engineering at Northrop High School - have been honored by the organizations that established each program.

New Tech has been named a New Tech Network demonstration site after just its first year in operation. Being named a demonstration site means others interested in starting a New Tech school can model their program after FWCS' New Tech. 

The school's six teachers were also recognized by the New Tech Network by being named NTN Exemplary Teachers. Teachers Kathleen Cagle, Melissa Cox, David Flesch, Ginger Giessler, Riley Johnson and Marci Oberlin will have the opportunity to become New Tech trainers, if interested, for earning this status. 

New Tech at Wayne will grow in the fall with the addition of 100 more students in a new freshman class. Members of the first New Tech class will be sophomores in the fall. 

Also, in the fall, New Tech at Wayne will begin offering Project Lead the Way-Engineering classes with the help of a grant from the American Electric Power Foundation. 

PLTW is a hands-on, project-based program designed to show students how what they learn in math and science class applies to real-world problems. The courses emphasize critical thinking, creativity and innovation, skills that are critical to today's workforce. 

Project Lead the Way-Engineering is already offered at Northrop, and PLTW's biomedical component is offered at Snider High School. 

Northrop's program, which began in 2008, recently received national certification, which means the program has successfully demonstrated a commitment to the quality national standards of the Pathway To Engineering program. More importantly, it means students taking PLTW classes can qualify for college credit. 

Tips, Quips and Tallies: The Ultimate Recruiting Tool - A Post-graduate Internship

By Tanya Young, Graduate Retention Field Representative

Many of us are aware of the benefits student interns can bring to your organization (such as new ideas and increased productivity), but have you considered hiring a post-graduate intern? Before you answer that question, consider the following:

-Do you need an entry-level position filled but are afraid of the recruiting costs?
-Do you fear that your new hire ultimately may not be a good fit for your organization?

Developing a post-graduate internship may be the best solution to address the above concerns. It is an effective way to evaluate an individual's employment potential. In addition, you can save money by transitioning an intern into a full-time employee rather than recruiting a full-time hire. Consider the costs associated with recruiting and hiring a full-time employee:

-Advertising expenses
-Internet services

-Third-party agency contract and fees

-Referral bonus costs

-Signing bonus

-Technology-based hiring management

The added benefit of hiring post-graduate interns full-time is that you do not have to wait for them to complete their studies. In addition, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers' 2009 Experiential Education Survey, nearly 40% of employers reported a higher five-year retention rate among employees they had hired from their internship programs. 

The Graduate Retention Program staff is available to assist you in creating, advertising and filling internship opportunities in Northeast Indiana. If you are interested in a presentation or informational meeting, please contact Tanya Young at tyoung@fwchamber.org or (260) 413-9788.

Funds will Establish High-Tech Center at IPFW

Yesterday an announcement was made that has great significance for member IPFW. The Talent Initiative is disbursing grant funds totaling $500,000 to IPFW's College of Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science's (ETCS) Department of Computer Science. The money will be used to establish a research and development center - the Information Analytics and Visualization Center (IAVC).

The Center will include high-speed computers that are similar to those used to make the blockbuster Avatar. These computers will be able to perform the complex calculations needed to create high-quality 3D images. There will also be a 3D projection system to create a life-sized virtual environment, and interactive devices including 3D glasses, data gloves, eye-tracking equipment, wide-screen monitors, and head-mounted displays.

One of the Center's goals will be to partner with local and regional business, industry and government for collaborative projects. The Center will also offer seminars and workshops.

All of this is meant to strengthen IPFW's engineering-related programs and develop more local engineering talent for careers in our region's defense and aerospace industry. That's a goal that is near and dear to the heart of the Chamber as well - that's what our Graduate Retention Program is all about! Read more about this story in our Press Room.

Student Summer Series Kicks Off Next Week

Each summer our Graduate Retention Program puts on a great series of events for college and graduate interns. It's called Live, Learn & Intern (LLI), and comprises a series of social events at venues all over the community including Canlan Ice Arena, Parkview Field, the River City Complex, and more! The events are free, and designed to connect students with other students in Fort Wayne, and showcase some of the great activities our community has to offer.

Next week is the first LLI event of the season - attendees will enjoy light hors d'oeuvres and a tour of the newly renovated Fort Wayne Museum of Art. Registration is required, so go online today at fwchamber.org to RSVP, and spread the word to college and graduate interns that you know! If you have any questions, call (260) 424-1435 and ask for Andy. Also, you can find a calendar of all upcoming LLI events here. 

Tips, Quips and Tallies: Internships are a Win-Win

By Tanya Young, Graduate Retention Representative/High School Initiative
 
Are you an employer interested in hearing more about utilizing interns in your workplace? The Graduate Retention Program staff of the Chamber is willing to present information and resources that will educate your company on how to establish an internship program with the goal of mutual benefit for your company and Indiana students. Some areas of discussion include:

• How to find interns

• How to identify meaningful project work
• How to manage your intern
 
The Graduate Retention Program staff is available to assist you in creating, advertising and filling internship opportunities in Northeast Indiana. If you are interested in a presentation or informational meeting, please contact me at tyoung@fwchamber.org or (260) 413-9788.

Graduate Retention's Work Keeps on Going... and Going...

We’re excited to report that our Graduate Retention Program (GRP) has received $10,000 in funding from IndianaINTERNnet (IIN) – for the third year in a row! If you don’t know, IIN is an initiative of the Indiana Chamber. This Web portal is an internship-matching program linking employers, students, high schools, colleges and universities through a Web-based search, matching and reporting system.

So what does that have to do with the Chamber? Our Graduate Retention Program’s mission is to seek and retain graduates of regional colleges and universities (as well as students obtaining degrees outside the region). We want to develop a highly qualified pool of graduates with the skills to support existing companies and attract new employers to Northeast Indiana. One of the ways we do that is by connecting students with employers for valuable internships... which ultimately may lead to full-time employment!

I’m sure you can see how this fits in with some key goals of the Chamber. (Key phrases: Support existing business. Attract new business!)

We’re grateful that the IIN has the faith in us to grant this award. The money will be used to help GRP continue its one-on-one work with employers (we help them create, advertise, and fill internships, as well as help them set up IIN profiles and create an internship program for their business!). GRP will also continue its work of helping students find internships in Northeast Indiana by using the IndianaINTERNnet.

I can personally testify to the good work of the Graduate Retention Program – they helped me find the year-long internship I had in college! Read more about this news here.

So, back to the title. Graduate Retention’s work keeps on going… and going. I say that with confidence because I know the work that Graduate Retention does continues benefiting students, employers, and ultimately the community, even after our part of the process is done! 

Major Partnership Will Provide Student Loan Forgiveness, Strengthen Talented Workforce

A major announcement was made today by the Questa Foundation, Northeast Indiana Fund and the Talent Initiative at the Steel Dynamics Inc. Keith Busse Technology Center on the campus of Ivy Tech Community College Northeast.

Questa Foundation for Education will be investing over a half million dollars from its Questa Scholars 1/2 Back Loan program over the next five years to aid area college students who pursue careers in advanced manufacturing and engineering. The investment includes a new collaboration with the Talent Initiative, a program of the Northeast Indiana Fund and Community Partnerships, Inc., designed to accelerate the training and retention of future advanced manufacturing and defense/aerospace employees in northeast Indiana.

Questa’s aim is to bolster the Talent Initiative’s efforts to develop a talent pipeline of workers well prepared to assume new high tech jobs in industries critical to northeast Indiana’s economic development.

The Questa Scholars 1/2 Back Loan Program – the nation’s only college debt forgiveness program of its kind – offers qualified Allen County students forgiveness of up to 50 percent of their Questa Scholars loan if they graduate from college with a 2.75 GPA and choose to reside and work in northeast Indiana for at least five years after graduation. Questa Scholars may borrow $20,000 over four years for college.

The primary goal of the Talent Initiative, established by a $20 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., is to increase the base of highly skilled workers to meet the needs of the defense/aerospace and advanced manufacturing industries, while reversing the current decline in regional per capita income.

Questa will earmark six Questa Scholar loan awards in 2010 for qualified applicants who pursue an advanced manufacturing degree at Ivy Tech Community College Northeast thanks to generous funding provided by Steel Dynamics Foundation. Over the next five years, Questa will invest considerable additional resources to help students pursue advanced manufacturing degrees at Ivy Tech Northeast. Qualified applicants who wish to study advanced manufacturing at Ivy Tech Northeast are welcome from any of the eleven counties of northeast Indiana. Over the next five years Questa will also earmark 10% of its annual Questa Scholar loan awards for qualified applicants who choose to study engineering at IPFW, Indiana Tech and Trine University.

The Ivy Tech Questa Scholars Pay Back Partnership agreement commits Ivy Tech to pay back an additional 25% of the loan balance for any Questa Scholar who completes his or her degree in advanced manufacturing at Ivy Tech Community College Northeast, which allows Questa Scholars to qualify for up to 75% of loan forgiveness or repayment. Similarly, IPFW announced its commitment to pay back an additional 25% of the loan balance for any Questa Scholar who completes his or her engineering degree at the university through a new IPFW Questa Scholars Pay Back Partnership agreement.

Please read more about this important news here. 

Tips, Quips and Tallies: Connecting with Education

by Tanya Young, Graduate Retention Field Representative

Are you an employer who wants to connect to education in Northeast Indiana? The Northeast Indiana Speaker's Bureau is being compiled and shared with educators by the Graduate Retention Program staff at the Chamber.

It allows employers to serve as a resource for experiential learning for college and high school students across the region. The focus of the Graduate Retention Program is to support economic strength in our region by retaining our best and brightest graduates.

The Speaker’s Bureau was created based on conversations with educators interested in connecting with business leaders to ensure informed career choices and also to assist in providing experiential learning opportunities for students. The staff at the Graduate Retention Program hopes to see this list grow and be a useful tool for educators and business people in 2010.

If you are interested in learning how to get connected to education for job shadows, internships, career presentations, educator externships, or to impact curriculum, please contact Kelly Arnold at karnold@fwchamber.org for a sign-up sheet to become a part of the Northeast Indiana Speaker's Bureau!

Indiana Tech Unveils New Leadership Program

I'm excited to announce a new program that Indiana Tech is unveiling. It's a living, learning community focused on leadership and career development. It's called the "Honors Community," and will be arriving this fall for the Fort Wayne campus.

A hand-picked group of 24 incoming freshman will be the first to experience this unique new program. The idea is leadership development, and those chosen will have demonstrated an aptitude for leadership and a great potential. These young students will:

• Enroll in courses focused on leadership and career development and designed for high-achieving freshmen
• Live with other members of The Honors Community in apartment-style campus housing typically reserved for upperclassmen
• Assess their personal leadership styles while learning from campus and community leaders about the importance of leadership in their professions
• Participate in activities such as:
• Breakfast with Dr. Arthur Snyder, president of Indiana Tech
• Business ethics luncheons with area executives
• Trips to local cultural events
• Community volunteer projects
• Plan and organize activities for other students on campus
• Serve as career peer mentors for area middle school students

It's exciting to see educators take a unique approach to developing Millennials into our next generation of leaders. “Our degree programs are already very focused on providing the knowledge and skills needed for career success, but The Honors Community will emphasize the leadership skills that are vital for today’s job market,” said Cindy Verduce, director of Indiana Tech’s Career Planning and Development Center. “These students will have opportunities to distinguish themselves as campus and community leaders.”

Members of The Honors Community will be selected based on high school GPA, SAT or ACT scores, leadership experience, recommendations, and an essay on why they would like to participate in The Honors Community. Interested incoming freshman can learn more about applying here, or contact Cindy Verduce at cpverduce@indianatech.edu or 800.937.2448 ext. 2200. The application deadline is Saturday, May 15, 2010.

Fort Financial Offering Scholarships to Local Students

Spread the word to local high school and college students - Chamber member Fort Financial Credit Union is currently accepting applications for higher education scholarships. Those eligible include high school seniors who will be graduating and going on to college or university this year (student must be in the upper 25% of their graduating class), and students who are currently attending or accepted to an accredited college or university full-time.

Fort Financial began this scholarship program in 1997. Each year, they divide up $5,000 to those applicants who best meet the criteria of character, involvement in the community and at school, and financial need. To learn more and find an application, visit www.fortfinancialcu.org. Completed applications must be submitted by June 30, 2010. 

Four Local Students Competing in National Free Enterprise Contest

Every once in a while something really unusual and exciting comes across my desk that I can't wait to share with you all. This is one of those things. One of our member universities, Indiana Tech (also a University Partner for the Chamber's Graduate Retention Program), has four students, who are siblings, competing in the United States Chamber of Commerce "I Am Free Enterprise" contest. Here are the four students: 

• Sean Dugan, age 23, a senior at Indiana Tech University majoring in Software Engineering
• Jared Dugan, age 22, a senior at Indiana Tech University majoring in Software Engineering
• Alyssa Dugan, age 20, a junior at Indiana Tech University majoring in Elementary Education
• Tristan Dugan, age 18, a junior at Indiana Tech University majoring in Elementary Education

Sean, Jared, Alyssa and Tristan are launching an educational software company called Honor Education, and their first project is called Forge - an interactive computer simulation program for kids and teens, to be used in schools and in homes. 

What does all of this have to do with you? Well, they have entered Forge into the U.S. Chamber's Free Enterprise contest, and they need us to view a short video about their business project in order to move on to the next phase of the contest. The 25 videos with the most views by this Friday, April 16, 2010, will continue on, and ultimately three top prizes will be awarded in the amounts of $20,000, $30,000, and $50,000! 

I urge you to take a look at this video. Their ideas are truly innovative and cutting-edge, and I think you will agree, are an excellent catalyst for educational growth in industries that directly apply to Northeast Indiana! 

Please view their video, and pass it on to as many others as you can. Let's support these local students and entrepreneurs, and watch as they do great things in our community! 

Get Fully-Funded Interns for Your Business!

This is an amazing opportunity you should learn more about. For a limited time only, the Chamber's Graduate Retention Program is partnering with WorkOne of Northeast Indiana to provide a special program designed to aid in the development of internships for qualified individuals ages 18-21. What it means for you, the business, is an opportunity to take advantage of fully-funded internships! Here's the guidelines:

• There are only 50 spots available. 
• WorkOne provides all payment of wages and taxes to the intern!
• Qualified intern candidates are 18-21 years of age.
• Internships are part-time, and are 150 total hours in length.
• Most candidates will have their GED or higher.

June 30, 2010 is the current internship end date, so act now! For more information, contact Kelly Arnold with the Graduate Retention Program at karnold@fwchamber.org or (260) 424-1435, ext. 241.