In every community, there are two icebergs. One represents the people, and the other represents the marketplace, employers, and community entities. For the people iceberg, those above the surface have been well-served by traditional education, economic development, and workforce models. Below the surface are the rest of us who have not been well-served and are still waiting to reach our full potential. Similarly, for the community iceberg, those above the surface are the employers, marketplace, and community entities that have benefitted from traditional models. Below the surface lie the unmet needs of these entities.

The Applied Entrepreneurial Mindset Program aims to serve the people and entities below the surface by instilling an entrepreneurial mindset in everyone, building a variety of skills, and enhancing problem-solving abilities to meet the needs of their careers and the community. The letter below is being distributed among businesses in our area to gather information about which entities are interested in following the progress of participants in the program.

To: Area Employers Look for the "right person" to train for the work you do.

We believe one or more participants in our Applied Entrepreneurial Mindset (AEM) program might just be the right persons for you. One of the primary objectives of AEM is to put participants in charge of their future. That may mean business ownership or going to work for a company that recognizes the need for entrepreneurial problem solvers in their company, i.e., the “right people for you.” People in our program will have an entrepreneurial mindset to be better problem solvers. Because they will have completed eight projects in a variety of disciplines and technologies, they will be eager and unafraid to learn the new skills needed to work for you.

Here is a graphic depiction of the path through our program:

As people move through the program, we track whether they are open to being “recruited” by a “Will Train the Right Person” company. As a member company, you would have access to review at your leisure, the following information on a participant’s page:

• Their reflective statements about each of the eight life’s lessons in entrepreneurship; how each lesson changed their thinking.
• Summary descriptions, photos, and videos of each project, with the participant describing what they had to learn to complete each project.
• A conventional resume.

This comprehensive profile allows you to see the candidate's thought process, skills, and growth, ensuring they are the right fit for your company's needs.

If you’re interested in learning more or want to discuss how this could work for your business, please reach out. We believe this program has the potential to bridge the gap between traditional hiring methods and the need for adaptable, entrepreneurial-minded employees.

More information? Contact Laura Schaid, 620-205-9288, lauras@ibrcenter.org or Jim Correll, 620-252.5349 or jimc@ibrcenter.org.