On Wednesday, August 20, EmployIndy and Indy Achieves hosted the 2025 Indy Achieves Leadership Summit, welcoming 50 postsecondary students from IU Indianapolis and Ivy Tech Community College. Attendees engaged with local professionals, received resume and interview support, explored local internship opportunities, and attended workshops focused on personal finance, mental health, pursuing a graduate degree, and building a career within the healthcare industry. 

A highlight of the event was a visit from Mayor Joe Hogsett, who spoke about Indianapolis’s growing job market and the city’s commitment to expanding career opportunities and earning potential for young professionals. 

Indy Achieves, launched by Mayor Hogsett in 2018 and housed at EmployIndy, aims to close the city’s skills gap by increasing the number of residents with high-quality credentials to 65% by 2027. The initiative also works to eliminate attainment gaps for minority students by promoting access to financial aid, offering Promise Scholarships and Completion Grants, and providing wraparound support services for Marion County students. 

“Indy Achieves exists because we know that talent is everywhere—but opportunity isn’t,” said Marie Mackintosh, president and CEO of EmployIndy. “That’s why we’re committed to removing barriers, investing in student success, and making sure every Indianapolis resident has the chance to earn a credential, complete a degree, and pursue a career that leads to economic prosperity.” 

In 2024, 2,224 Indy Achieves Scholars received coaching and support, with an estimated annual economic impact of $11.8 million upon successful postsecondary completion. A feature of the initiative, the student success coaching model has boosted postsecondary retention by up to 13% compared to peers. 

To learn more or get involved, visit www.indyachieves.org. 

With a competitive local job market in Central Indiana, particularly in sectors requiring specialized skills, both job seekers and businesses often face challenges in finding the right match. EmployIndy’s Talent Connection bridges that gap by matching qualified candidates with roles that align with their skills and career goals, while helping businesses fill critical positions with job-ready talent.  We’re excited to share that we’ve surpassed the milestone of 1,000 candidates connected to good and promising jobs. With an average salary of $63,781, these placements align with EmployIndy’s goal of supporting businesses as they invest in job quality and wage equity practices to provide high-quality experiences for their workers to prosper. 

For job seekers like Bryan T., our Talent Connection team’s tenacious, consistent communication and follow-ups were key in helping him get connected. A military veteran with a highly skilled and specialized background, Bryan lacked connections and an established network in Central Indiana, making his employment search a challenge. “I was working with several job search assistance programs with no luck before being referred to EmployIndy,” said Bryan. “I was more than a piece of paper or number and I’m sincerely thankful for their support and guidance.” Through EmployIndy Talent Connection, Bryan was connected to Knowledge Services where he’s now a Senior Information Systems Security Officer. Bryan’s journey is one of many that demonstrate how personalized support and employer partnerships can transform lives—and strengthen our local workforce. 

While job seekers benefit from personalized support, EmployIndy Talent Connection also delivers measurable value to employers. In the past year alone, 1,233 unique businesses partnered with EmployIndy to strengthen their workforce strategies—from talent attraction and retention to leveraging labor market insights. 

“EmployIndy has helped ensure that our programming remains aligned with broader workforce strategies and that it provides meaningful opportunities in healthcare for young talent in Marion County,” said Claudia W. Montes Salinas, Senior Project Manager at IU Health. “With their help, we’re inspiring the next generation of professionals.” Through IU Health’s Mosaic Center, they have had a strong and consistent partnership with EmployIndy, resulting in better outcomes for their clients and our city’s residents. 

Job Seekers: Ready to find a job that fits your skills and goals? Learn more and get started today at www.employindy.org/talent-connection.   

Employers: Interested in connecting with qualified local talent? Reach out to our team at businesspartnerships@nullemployindy.org. 

EmployIndy partner Dallara established its first U.S. location in Speedway, IN in 2012, with an initial focus on motorsports. Since then, the company has broadened its scope to include defense, aerospace, and e-sports, resulting in rebranding as the Dallara Experience Hub.  Over time, they have successfully leveraged EmployIndy resources to develop their talent pipeline and take their organization to the next level.

Dallara has long demonstrated a commitment to youth development, offering work-based learning opportunities and employing motorsports engineering interns from IUPUI.  Dallarra and EmployIndy’s partnership began with the Talent Bound program, welcoming high school students for facility tours and career exploration and hosting TIE IN Events.  They also recently joined the Modern Apprenticeship Program, hiring a student from Purdue Polytechnic High School for a three-year apprenticeship as well as recently hosting the Modern Apprenticeship Signing Day 2025, further demonstrating its dedication to workforce development and community engagement.

Additionally, the company leveraged the Next Level Jobs Training Grant to upskill employees in composite technology, quality control, and CATIA V5 software.  Terri Talbert Hatch, Administrative Consultant at Dallara, shared that “the Next Level Job Training Grants forced us to be more organized in our training. In the racing business, things move fast and can quickly pivot. But with the grants, we have to think, prepare, organize, and set aside specific time for training. This benefits everyone within the organization.”

Continuing its educational mission, Dallara recently celebrated the grand opening of the Purdue University Indianapolis Motorsports Engineering Program within its facility. This collaboration allows students to engage in both classroom instruction and hands-on technical work on race cars, helping to cultivate a highly skilled workforce for the racing industry.

Contact EmployIndy's Business Partnerships team to learn how you can develop your talent pipeline!