8 minute read
Talent & Workforce
To have a vibrant and robust economy, we must be able to educate, train, attract and retain talent in every facet of our industry-diverse landscape. The Chamber will continue to convene our community’s organizations and leaders to bring innovative solutions to the table, and will play a lead role in identifying approaches and processes to allow our program-rich community to be successful.
3RD CORNERSTONE3 RD CORNERSTONE
A community influenced by young professionals is a community that attracts and retains them. This network of individuals is home to the leaders and influencers of tomorrow. Core to the Young Professionals Network’s strategic agenda is the belief that the more informed, involved, engaged and networked young professionals are, the more positive influence they will have on shaping our Fargo Moorhead West Fargo community.
The Young Professionals Network (YPN) will give you the opportunity to meet your peers in the community, build relationships, form friendships, learn about businesses in the metro, connect with established and emerging leaders, and strengthen your personal and professional skillsets - all while having a great time and sharing fun experiences with others.
Drew Sannes
Marketing Director •
Light Consulting & Coaching, CoreCounts
My main involvement with the FMWF Chamber has been through the Young Professionals Network. I am a member of the YPN Leadership Committee and chair the YPN Marketing Sub-Committee. YPN has been the perfect way to immerse myself in the FMWF professional community while also building personal connections.
Erin D. Larsgaard
Associate Attorney • Wold Johnson, P.C.
Being involved in YPN has been a great way to build both professional connections and good friends. Since I am not originally from this area, it was initially difficult to build a business network. With YPN, I was able to connect with other like-minded individuals in an atmosphere that fostered real relationships. We recently had a panel of past YPN Chairs come and speak at our Ghosts of YPN Past event. Dozens of past YPN members also attended the event to support the panelists and relive the great experiences they had together in YPN. I look forward to when I can be part of the group that is still connected all those years later and reminisce about the wonderful memories and connections made through YPN!
Jae Dewald
Director of Sales • Holiday Inn Fargo
I am proud to be a part of YPN because I believe the network is truly a resource to keep The Chamber thriving for years to come. Our activities keep bright minds stimulated while trying to grow professionally in the market. Everyone that attends outings brings curiosity and a willingness to learn, and being in an environment with those mindsets has enabled me to have great professional conversations with other attendees that have led to business opportunities. YPN also exposes young professionals to the many reasons why it’s just as pleasant to live in Fargo-Moorhead as it is to work here; YPN is a great retention resource for companies!
Talent & Workforce
A network of over 181 organizations are committed to cultivating their young leaders and employees and have team members engaged with the YPN program.
Justin Gustofson
Commercial Real Estate Agent • Property Resources Group
The Chamber has been involved in my career right from the start, and YPN has positively impacted me in many ways. I have learned that the more you are involved, the stronger the relationships you are able to build. I am looking forward to continuing the growth of YPN, and playing a role in helping to connect talented and motivated individuals throughout the metro. Tell a young professional you know to reach out and we would be happy to have them join us at our next event!
Celine Paulson
Cash Management Officer • Choice Bank
I have been involved with The Chamber’s Young Professionals Network since 2017. I choose to be a part of this network because it is filled with people who work hard, want to better the places we live, and continuously strive to grow personally and professionally. YPN provides an opportunity for young professionals to be more informed, involved, and connected in our communities.
This program offers development and networking opportunities to the range of diverse professionals in the region.
Talent & Workforce
Alexandre Cyusa
International Business Development •
Weather Modification International (WMI)
The workforce challenge we have in our community and in our region is very serious; therefore, we need to get creative in ways of attracting and retaining world class talent to our Red River Valley. We live in a very competitive global market and it is paramount to have a workforce with the cultural competence and demographics that reflect the global market we want to serve. This requires ongoing work on our DE&I acumen. This is where Professionals of Color at The Chamber is a strategic partner for the local professionals and employers, as it equips them with tools to navigate changing workforce demographics and advocate regionally for our FM area as a great place to live, play, and work!
“I am honored to be a part of the committee ensuring that professionals of color thrive in our community and develop a greater sense of belonging.” —Jered Pigeon, MSUM
MISSION STATEMENT
To impact the FMWF community by creating inclusive opportunities for Professionals of Color to develop personally and professionally through meaningful engagement and a sense of belonging.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Professionals of Color has four focus areas while highlighting the diverse employee populations in the FMWF metro:
• Networking and Connecting
• Professional Development • Education
• Service Opportunities
PROFESSIONALS OF COLOR PROFESSIONALS OF COLOR #FMWFPOC
CONNECT WITH YOUR FUTURE WORKFORCE
Ignite FMWF is our region’s newest workforce initiative designed to drive continued success for our business community. Through the combination of a regional relationship development strategy and a robust technology platform, Ignite FMWF is a communitybased approach to developing an exceptional workforce and talent infrastructure. With this fully integrated workforce system of awareness, exploration, training and development, our businesses will be able to meaningfully engage with their current and future talent pipelines.
• Post jobs and internships
• Increase your organization’s visibility
• Connect to the workforce and jobseekers in our region • Interact with students and the community through skill-based volunteerism
• At no cost to your business
Start building your profile today at ignitefmwf.com
Chris Barta
Senior Director of Operations • Marvin
Growth is important. Hiring is important. I’m excited about Ignite FMWF because of its community-based approach and how it is bringing businesses, educators and individuals together onto one platform for us to use. The technology behind the scenes makes it user friendly and allows us to collaborate and get information to students, educators and job seekers. We are a purpose-based company, and our purpose is to imagine and create better ways of living for not only our customers, but our communities. We are going to do that with our local students and people looking for jobs, and I am excited to see where Ignite FMWF takes us.
ESSENTIA HEALTH PLAZA
At the City of West Fargo, we invest in the spaces and places that make our community shine.
For a unique community experience, visit the City of West Fargo's Essentia Health Plaza at The Lights on Sheyenne. No matter the season, this 48,000 square foot space offers a one-of-a-kind experience.
IGNITE FMWF IGNITE FMWF #IGNITEFMWF
Scan to plan your next visit or book a plaza event.
Fueling Our Future (FOF) is a joint venture between The Chamber and the Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation that provides a platform for convening regional leaders to identify, understand, discuss and invest in macro-economic and community-based initiatives that will have lasting regional impacts.
Talent & Workforce
INITIATIVES
Since its inception in 2019, many initiatives have been achieved through FOF funding, support or engagement:
• Ignite FMWF
Provided funding to assist in the development of
Ignite FMWF.
• Building Inclusive and Equitable Workplaces
Sponsored a no-cost, six-part public educational series aimed at business leaders and employers.
• Campus FM
Supported this initiative aimed to grow workforce capacity by retaining college students in the metro.
• Career Workforce Academies
Provided funding to support the Cass County
Career Innovation Center, and funding to support the Moorhead bond referendum which led to the
Moorhead High School Career Academy.
• Emerging Digital Academy
Provided funding for North Dakota’s only immersive coding bootcamp.
• Certified-Ready Sites
Provided funding to lead the identification and development of certified-ready sites to recruit businesses and give existing companies a place to expand.
• Workforce Exposure Initiatives
Provided a grant to launch a development series to help organizations build internship programs.
FOF has also invested into the development of a master workforce and talent plan for our metro.
FUELING OUR FUTURE FUELING OUR FUTURE
