VHEDC & UPTURNSHIPS:
A HISTORY OF PARTNERING
U
pTurnships has been partnering
to provide exceptional young
talent to VHEDC members
since 2018.
UpTurnships is a nonprofit that
prepares under-represented college
students for success in business
through training, coaching and paid
internships. UpTurnships works with
area colleges to recruit candidates and
prepare them for work experience; it
provides professional development
and mentoring throughout the
entire experience. Students receive
support from experienced business
professionals who volunteer as coaches.
Participating businesses benefit by
extending their recruiting reach and
strengthening a pipeline of untapped
diverse talent. Candidates are college
juniors or sophomores in a wide variety
of majors including business (marketing,
finance/accounting/economics, HR,
applied math/analytics, Computer
Science/IT and engineering) or liberal
arts. VHEDC businesses that have
partnered with UpTurnships include
Schwing Manufacturing, MidWestOne
Bank, Lakeshore Players and YMCA
Maplewood. Innovize has hired
Twin Cities businesses need motivated, diverse talent. College students seek inclusion and want to make an impact.
UpTurnships makes the match.
an intern in IT from UpTurnships
for the third straight summer. Ling
Becker, former VHEDC Executive
Director, says, “Finding interns and
executing internship experiences
can be challenging for companies.
Through our partnership, businesses
will be able to recruit from a broader
range of candidates and have the
confidence that the student will have
tremendous support. In addition, it is a
great opportunity for area business to
diversify their workforce with highly
motivated students.”
UpTurnships offers VHEDC members to
participate in volunteer opportunities,
like coaching or participating in mock
interviews. VHEDC Board member
Cindy O’Donovan teaches a popular
session on recruiting during summer
training. Other Board members
have participated in HR panels and
speed networking. Sign up for these
opportunities at www.UpTurnships.org.
(from left) Julie Burrows, Executive Director of UpTurnships, hosts Ling Becker, former VHEDC Executive Director, and VHEDC Board Members Becky Bjorgum, Joy Vander Heiden and VHEDC
Past President Debby Gustafson.
vhedc.com
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