Millenial Matchmaking in the Fox Cities Region
- 1. 20 Chamber Executive Fall 2016 F ox Cities, an area com- prised of 20 communi- ties along the Fox River in east central Wisconsin, is home to roughly 400,000 residents; and a little over half of those residents make up the Fox Cities labor pool. As the regions technology and manufacturing industries have grown so has the demand for a young, educated workforce. According to Shannon Full, president & CEO of the Fox Cities Chamber, creating and nourishing a millennial labor pool was key to meeting these demands. In order to recruit young tal- ent to the region, the chamber had to create an environment conducive to the millennial mindset: one where livability comes first and job placement comes second, and the desire to make a difference exceeds all else. We redirected our programs toward connectivity and net- work building by linking millennials to the community, to career opportunities, and to each other, said Full. We essentially took on the role of concierge and matchmaker. Talent Upload, a university familiarization program, and a re- built young professionals group, Pulse, have been successful tools to recruit and retain this crucial demographic. Talent Upload Talent Upload is an all-expense paid event designed to proac- tively engage with and recruit university talent. It specifically targets students to fill positions in IT, computer science and en- gineering. The goal of Talent Upload is to give students an opportuni- ty to explore life as a young professional in the Fox Cities region and it provides employers with a chance to engage them before they enter this ultra-competitive market, says Beth Pritzl, di- rector of research and technology for the Fox Cities Regional Partnership.We want these students, with coveted skills, to not only accept a job here but also to embrace the community thats the key to retention. Through interviews with the areas primary employers, the chamber learned that the gap for skilled tech workers was so great that in a few years their top companies may be forced to relocate to find talent. Using the framework for their site selector familiarization tours, the chamber pitched the idea of Talent Upload to their employers.It was amazing to see them put their full weight be- hind the program and agree that a rising tide raises all ships, said Pritzl. They knew they needed to be proactive and fortu- nately, corporate leadership agreed Talent Upload spans three days, during which students at- tend a relaxed career fair, onsite company tours, and network- ing events with area employers. They also participate in a team group scavenger hunt to explore the community. Exposing the students to the community is key! The scaven- ger hunt leads them to nightlife, recreation, entertainment and housing. We feel that we devote a day to work, and we need to balance that by devoting a day to livingthat includes all of the innovative projects Pulse is working on, said Pritzl. Millennial Matchmaking in the Fox Cities By Michelle Vegliante a rising tide raises all ships Beth Pritzl
- 2. Chamber Executive Fall 2016 21 Employers pay to participate, which funds the programs hard costs of hotel, food and transportation. The cost of partici- pation is tiered, and is based on the level of time and exposure the employer wants with students. So far, the chamber has hosted three Talent Upload events. The first was held in spring 2015, followed by fall 2015 and 2016. I like to think that we open a lot of eyes for these students, said Pritzl. Before they attend Talent Upload, most have no perception whatsoever of our area. Over a short three days, we show them what life here is like and engage them with employ- ers that are willing to pay top dollar for their talent. PULSE Talent attraction is only half of the equation. After re- cruiting millennials to call Fox Cities their home, the chamber needed to ensure that they make the choice to stay long term. Thats why the chambers young pro- fessionals group, Pulse, un- derwent a robust, 18-month reconstruction. Pulse has been around for 12 years, and had been conven- tionally run as a professional development network. Accord- ing to Adrienne Palm, director of Pulse, that traditional model was no longer adding value to its members. There was a shift in mindset that the cultivation of young talent went hand-in-hand with professional development. Rather, its the opportunities provided from a civic perspective that most significantly influ- ences young professionals. Enhancing our talent pool will always be Pulses primary goal, but we realized we were focusing on the wrong tactic, says Palm.Young professionals are moving to cities and staying be- cause of the cultural amenities and assets the community of- fers. The new emphasis on creating a sense of community now serves as the chief motivator for Pulse. This allows for the net- Outcomes (as of 2015): 145 student participants 26 employer participants 62% job and internship placement Won 2015 IEDC Best in Show Award Director Adrienne Palm enjoys the fruits of a new partnership with the City of Menasha at their annual farm-to-table dinner which Pulse cohosted. Start-Up 101 gave local entrepreneurs a chance to share their experiences, both good & bad with those who may someday wish to start a company of their own. The event was held in a vacant storefront in downtown Neenah to highlight the many beautiful spaces the community has to offer. Pulse's first attempt at a local urban market drew a large and diverse crowd of young makers, artists and culture junkies. work to have a break-the-mold approach to program design. We nixed many of the traditional programs that just werent working for our millennial population, such as staid lunch & learns and unimaginative networking receptions, said Palm. These were replaced with programs that allow our members to feel like they have a role to play in the community, which helps them dig deeper roots.
- 3. Chamber Executive Fall 2016 23 One such event, Bazaar After Dark, is a night market devel- oped on Wisconsin Avenue, a major thoroughfare lined with many minority-owned businesses and unfortunately, also many vacancies. Pulse closed the highway and brought in lights, live music, small businesses, pop-up vendors, nonprofits and food trucks. The event attracted more than 3,800 residents to this often neglected part of town. Another event hosted by the network was titled Politics and Religion, two words normally never seen together at a cham- ber program. The dinner challenged members to speak openly about their personal views and beliefs, which fostered a much deeper understanding and connection among peers. In conjunction with Pulse, the chamber is now in the explor- atory phase of a full-day Fox Cities immersion event for new and existing hires from Talent Upload companies and the com- munity at large. Michelle Vegliante is community advancement manager at ACCE. Michelle can be contacted at mvegliante@acce.org. The Division BMX crew out of Milwaukee, Wis. performed an exciting demo at Appletons new skate park as part of Pulses 2016 YP Week Social architecture firm, NEWaukee cohosted their statewide Bubbler Awards (a celebration of the companies that embrace YP values) in the Fox Cities as an official kickoff to YP Week