Keeping Talent in Our Region: The enFocus Model at Work
enFocus, a nonprofit founded in 2012, believes the key to regional economic development lies in attracting and retaining talent. Our unique model attracts recent graduates to our Fellowship program, then matches them to business and technology projects with partners ranging from school systems and city government, to manufacturing and healthcare.
Through the program, Fellows cultivate business skills, advance their leadership abilities, and develop a personal connection to the region. These professional and personal experiences often unlock career opportunities that keep them in the region as future business professionals and community leaders.
enFocus helps Fellows cultivate their skills in an innovative and supportive environment. Sheng Ang, recent enFocus Alum shared, "my enFocus project provided me with the opportunity to develop diverse skills in data analysis, project management, and strategic planning, all of which have been invaluable in my current position with my former Sponsor.” Since his Fellowship, Sheng has joined the Northern Indiana Hispanic Health Coalition as a Data Analyst. enFocus alumna Kristen Smole, Assistant Director of Economic Development at the City of Elkhart, echoed this sentiment and noted, "the culture at enFocus is dynamic and supportive all at the same time. This culture of creativity and innovation with support from leadership is one I am working to replicate with my current team."
Similarly, enFocus provides Fellows with leadership opportunities. Two former Fellows, Madi Rogers and Prabodh Sonalkar, continue to leverage leadership experiences provided at enFocus in their current roles. Rogers, Director of Civic Innovation at the City of South Bend, shared, “presented with opportunities very early on to manage a team of interns and Fellows, enFocus equipped me with skills that now help me set a vision and lead my team at the City of South Bend.” Likewise, Prabodh Sonalkar, a former Industry Innovation Fellow, added, “my projects involved direct interaction with CEOs and upper-level management. This helped develop my workplace communication, management and leadership skills, all of which I use in my new position leading a team of production operators.”
Fellows often develop personal connections to the South Bend-Elkhart region created by participating in events, gatherings, and activities in the community. Jody Suryatna, recently promoted to enFocus Project Manager, shared how the vibrant South Bend-Elkhart community provides ample opportunity for young professionals to create a bond with the region. Suryatna said, “one event that comes to mind is Art Beat, an annual event. I enjoyed exploring the food options and the various talented artisans cultivated by the region.”
As more companies in our region look to secure exceptional talent in a competitive job market, a partnership with enFocus is definitely worth exploring. enFocus alumnus, Connor Keaveney, Quality Engineer at Howmet Aerospace, shared, “when working with an enFocus Fellow, partners receive a dynamic, data-driven, problem solver who keeps the end goal in mind by defining solutions, and implementing them strategically.” As Keaveney shared, community partners have the opportunity to work alongside enFocus to not only solve their business and technical challenges, but help create future leaders that may choose to stay with their organization, if not, in the region.
With this innovative approach, the enFocus model has proven effective as enFocus has established itself as a successful engine for “brain gain” with more than 70% of Fellows remaining in the region after their Fellowship.
