Survey Launched to Discover Northeast Indiana’s Talent Development Perceptions

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Olin B. and Desta Schwab Foundation invested more than $2 million to launch a new collaborative initiative that helps Northeast Indiana students identify their strengths and talents and develop them into careers. Over the past year, the Schwab Foundation partnered with Ivy Tech Fort Wayne and Warsaw, Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana, Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership and Region 8 Education Service Center to align resources that guide students in grades 6-14 through the discovery and process of creating and executing a career plan.
The Regional Partnership is now working with Britton Marketing and Design Group to develop a marketing and communication strategy for talent development and career exploration in the Northeast Indiana region which furthers the work of Vision 2030. The development of this talent brand began weeks ago with seven focus groups including Northeast Indiana stakeholders, business leaders, educators, parents and students to understand the various perceptions around education, training and future career opportunities available for students.
As the next phase of the project, employers, parents and students are encouraged to fill out the survey to share perceptions about talent development and careers for students in Northeast Indiana.
Vice President of Talent Initiatives at the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership Ryan Twiss leads this initiative. He said, “It’s important for us to hear from employers, parents and students to ensure that our region is empowering its students, middle school to postsecondary, to identify the path that’s right for them and to successfully navigate that path. This input will help us build the region’s overall message, value proposition and communication strategy."
The survey takes less than 10 minutes and is grouped into six categories listed below. Individuals that fit into multiple categories are encouraged to fill out more than one survey.
Surveys for Students:
Surveys for Professionals:
Sue Ehinger, chair of the Schwab Foundation board of directors, said, "This collaborative effort is all about fulfilling the vision of Mr. Schwab: To help Northeast Indiana’s students engage in experiences, develop skills and realize opportunities that allow them to discover what they are good at and how they can get paid for it.”
The deadline for the survey is Friday, Oct. 30.
For more information about the event, please visit www.neindiana.com/survey.
About the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership
The Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership’s mission is to build, market and sell Northeast Indiana to increase business investment. Founded in 2006, the public-private partnership strives to build a globally competitive region. The Partnership’s Vision 2030 framework supports collaborative regional efforts to increase per capita income, population growth and educational attainment by focusing on business attraction, talent attraction and talent development. The Partnership represents 11 member counties: Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells and Whitley. For more information, visit www.neindiana.com.
About the Olin B. and Desta Schwab Foundation
The Dream of Olin B. Schwab was that no person be deprived of an opportunity to recognize and realize his/her talents and potential career opportunities. During his lifetime, Mr. Schwab pointed out that people who like their work would probably be truly successful in that career. In 1989, he created the Olin B. and Desta Schwab Foundation with the mission to identify and support non-profit organizations that provide programs that promote and prepare young people to make informed educational and career decisions. The Foundation leadership is dedicated to keeping Mr. Schwab vision alive. Learn more about the talent initiative at www.schwabpartnership.com.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Kate Virag
Vice President of Marketing & Strategic Communications
Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership
260.414.2431
kate@NEIndiana.com