Northeast Metro Business 01_VHEDC_20_DE | Page 25

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 25