On Thursday afternoon, over 70 local employers, workforce leaders, and education partners gathered at Lucas Oil Stadium for Untapped, a panel and networking event designed to help local employers tackle their workforce challenges through proven work-based learning (WBL) strategies and apprenticeship-tailored solutions. Powered by EmployIndy and Ascend Indiana, the event featured panel discussions and breakout sessions designed to highlight real-world strategies tailored to the Indy region, empowering employers to confidently integrate work-based learning into their talent pipelines—and unlock the full potential of the next generation workforce. 

“We’re thrilled to help bring together our city’s workforce leaders in effort to network, learn and collaborate as we work to grow the work-based learning movement in our region,” says Marie Mackintosh, EmployIndy’s President + CEO. “We believe in the power of WBL and apprenticeships to not only help employers develop the next generation of talent but also shift their current workplace culture in new and valuable ways.” 

Talent experts from EmployIndy, Ascend Indiana, Indy Chamber, Aracamed, and the Indianapolis Airport Authority provided insights and guidance on topics like unlocking the power of WBL, launching and scaling WBL programs, preparing participants for success, integrating inclusivity, and more. 

As students face increasing challenges in preparing for meaningful and sustainable careers, and employers express concern about the lack of skilled and diverse workers who can meet their evolving demands, EmployIndy is working to connect youth with real-world work experiences that align with emerging economic trends to fill these gaps. Last year, 48,220 WBL and career-connected learning activities were facilitated or supported by EmployIndy, including 142 Modern Apprenticeship Program (MAP) youth apprentices at 12 Marion County high schools. Additionally, 599 employers delivered career exploration, engagement, and experience activities to Marion County K–12 and postsecondary students. 

What We Heard from Employers 

Throughout the event, several key themes emerged from our conversations with employers: 

• Start small, learn, try, learn again. 

• Hope is not a strategy. To stand out and fill talent gaps, you have to take initiative. 

• Intermediary partners can help growth, but internal champions and flexibility will make it stick. 

• WBL transforms teams from task managers into talent mentors. 

• Success isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing the right things with the right partners.  

What’s Next 

This conversation was just the beginning. Coming soon, we’ll host a series of small roundtable events focused on key topics such as legal considerations, student preparation, and managing WBL programs as they grow. 

And the momentum is strong—100% of employers who responded to our follow-up survey said they would recommend Untapped to others. We’re excited to continue the conversation and build on this energy at our next event. Please be on the lookout for future communications from EmployIndy about our next event. 

To get connected to WBL resources and learn how this talent strategy can take your organization to the next level, reach out to businesspartnerships@nullemployindy.org. 

EmployIndy, alongside our employer and school partners, gathered at the Dallara Experience Hub in Speedway to proudly recognized 17 modern youth apprentices who graduated from the Modern Apprenticeship Program (MAP), as well as introduced a new fifth cohort of apprentices and employers participating in the program at the 2025 Modern Apprenticeship Signing Day event.  

MAP, a three-year program, connects Marion County high school students with local employers, providing a path toward discovering passions and developing skills to help them thrive in growing and in-demand industries including healthcare, information technology, education, business operations, financial services, and more.  

During their time in the program, each graduating apprentice from the first cohort earned their high school diploma, an hourly income from their employer, college credits, industry certifications and credentials, and first-hand, relevant job experience—multiplying their options after graduation. The new fifth cohort of 16 apprentices, selected from hundreds of applicants, will begin the program in their junior year of high school, splitting their time between the classroom and the workplace.  

“We're always excited to celebrate these groups of students who are taking control of their futures with the opportunity to earn money, college credit, and professional connections while still in school,” says Marie Mackintosh, President + CEO of EmployIndy. “Our employer partners are invaluable in not only equipping these young professionals with valuable skills, mentorship, and opportunities for long-term success, but also finding a strategic solution to close the skills gap and co-develop their next generation of workers.” 

As a talent strategy and experience offered through Talent Bound, EmployIndy’s career-connected learning continuum, MAP helps employers tap into diverse talent pools—building strong talent pipelines to meet both short- and long-term staffing needs. The program creates a structure for employers and educators to be part of workforce solutions while removing barriers, so all Marion County students have equitable access to career-ready training and jobs in high-demand fields.  

The Modern Apprenticeship Signing Day event, taking place annually, marks the beginning of the apprentice-employer journey as the students sign a formal certificate of acceptance for their positions. As part of this commitment, the employer will mentor and support the student as they navigate an in-demand role within their respective organization. During the 3-year experience, EmployIndy, Marion County’s workforce development board, actively supports apprentices, employers, and general programmatic outcomes for Modern Apprenticeship.  

To learn more about Modern Apprenticeship (MAP), visit www.indymodernapprenticeship.com. 

Having experienced recent struggles in both attracting and retaining their workforce, Project Indy employer AMC Indianapolis 17 partnered with Mayor Hogsett’s youth jobs initiative to host an in-person hiring event at the theater. With Project Indy’s support in organizing and promoting the event to young people, the theater was able to conduct interviews and make offers to promising candidates like Samm Cherry, 17, a recent early graduate from George Washington High School. 

“We had just had a period where we were struggling to get applicants to come in and even the people that were coming in weren't sticking around,” said Jacob Harrison, HR Manager at AMC Indianapolis 17. “Project Indy helped us get in front of candidates like Samm, and it was clear in her interview by her confidence and interaction that she had prior experience and training in the workplace.” 

In partnering with Project Indy to hire in-school and out-of-school youth throughout Marion County, local employers provide employability skill development and job-readiness training to our future workforce. They also benefit by creating a talent pipeline for their business or industry. 

Out of nearly 20 candidates that participated in interviews at the event, 6 were offered positions and hired at the theater, including Samm. She credits a paid internship at the Marion County Commission on Youth (MCCOY) as vital in helping her begin to develop customer service skills and learn how to navigate the professional world. But after having that internship cut short due to funding issues, she jumped at the chance to participate in the AMC hiring event.  

“It was nice to apply and have the chance to interview right away, as it cut out a lot of the anticipation of applying for jobs and then having to wait,” said Cherry. “My parents have always encouraged me to be the best version of myself, so I made sure to come prepared with some questions for the interviewer.” 

With applications submitted to both Indiana University and the University of Illinois Springfield, her job at AMC has not only been important in giving her the opportunity to learn new practical skills like cashiering and cleaning but also has become a vital source of income as she saves for tuition and books. While aiming to pursue a degree in either business administration or business analytics, she’s glad to know that AMC’s transfer program will allow her to support herself in a new location if or when that time comes.   

Project Indy was launched in 2016 by Mayor Hogsett alongside EmployIndy, the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee (GIPC), and the Marion County Commission on Youth (MCCOY). Since its launch, Project Indy has empowered young adults in Marion County by providing work experiences that build their employability skills and allow them to explore new career fields. In 2024, over 1,575 young people in Indianapolis were connected to job opportunities through Project Indy. 

Youth interested in joining the Project Indy platform can get started by simply texting “ProjectIndy” to 317-659-9657 or visiting projectindy.net.