Last year under the coordination of NORTHFORCE, Mentor Connection brought together established local professionals with top UMD and CSS students for six professional-development themed events held around the City of Duluth. Mentor Connection ’17 alumni have gone on to intern with top level organizations (including Facebook!) so expectations are high for year two.
With 54 students matched for the ’17-’18 cohort, NORTHFORCE is looking forward to another year of making meaningful connections between motivated students and established professionals who care about retaining talent here in the Northland.
There is particular demand for future employees in Human Resources, Business, Accounting, Technology, Healthcare, Engineering, and Marketing. It should come as no surprise, therefore, that many of this year’s enrolled students and mentors belong to these fields.
One returning mentor is Karissa Hendricks, Human Resources Specialist with Duluth Edison Charter Schools. Her mentee from the 2016-17 program year landed a media internship right out of college and was soon hired on for a full-time position.
“I was able to help my mentee find out more about the degree she was pursuing as well 
as give her the resources to make her successful in pursuing a job (and landing her dream one!) right after college,” explains Karissa. “My mentee was also able to help me grow substantially in my leadership and networking skills as well as helping me step far outside of my comfort zone.”
The first event for this program year will be held at the Great Lakes Aquarium on October 10. Following events will offer opportunities to step inside the Duluth Business Community. Held at different locations around the city, from Glensheen Mansion to the Chamber of Commerce’s Holiday Party, these themed events will cover topics ranging from personal branding to generational differences in the professional world.
If you are interested in learning more about Mentor Connection, click here.
