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!

When Melissa “Mars” Anderson-Wust, a recent graduate of Avon High School, applied to a competitive position at a Central Indiana nature park, she was hopeful that the opportunity would be her first step towards building a career as a wildlife educator or naturalist, something she’d been interested in from a young age. But when they opted to move forward with another candidate, she was left wondering how she might start building her career without prior professional experience in parks and recreation.

“When I learned about the Indy Parks Corps Training with YES Indy, I was so excited and applied immediately,” Mars said. “I was hopeful that this would be a way to gain certifications and experience to help me stand out when applying for jobs at parks in Indy.” Mars was accepted into the program, an EmployIndy led 13-week paid cohort-style training that included phases focused on job readiness, earning industry certifications, work experience (WEX) internships, and job placement assistance. As a part of EmployIndy’s Coaching + Training efforts, YES Indy provides the personalized guidance and support that is essential to helping individuals choose the right education or training paths and persist through to completion.

After completing the initial training phases of the program, Mars was paired with Indianapolis Animal Care Services (IACS) for her month-long WEX internship, where her love for animals and work ethic helped her excel as she learned how IACS protects and promotes the health, safety, and welfare of pets and livestock in Marion County.

After completing the full program, Mars described herself as “ready.” And IACS agreed. Having had Mars as an intern, they moved quickly to hire her full time into an Adoptions Counselor role, where she monitors and evaluates animal behavior as well as assists clients who are looking to adopt.

“Working with animals can be a difficult job, making it difficult to hire people here,” said Colleen Walker, Public Information Officer at IACS. “But having candidates with experience, like Mars, is incredibly valuable. Experienced candidates often integrate quickly and previously having her here as an intern made the decision to hire her an easy one.”

In 2024, 10,923 individuals in Marion County enrolled in coaching and training through EmployIndy programs—gaining the skills and support needed to find employment and succeed in the workplace. Additionally, EmployIndy and our YES Indy network of community-based organizations (CBO) helped 275 young people, who were disconnected from education and employment, earn certifications in advanced trainings.

To learn more about job readiness and training opportunities with YES Indy, visit yesindy317.org. Interested in connecting with job ready candidates? Reach out to businesspartnerships@nullemployindy.org to get connected.