Institute for Workforce Excellence

Thanks to The International Center for hosting our staff for Indiana Intern Day today! They've been long-time partners, and it's a tradition to visit them for the occasion each year.

Don’t forget to fill out the Indiana Intern Day pledge form!

Our students with internships deserve to be celebrated for their commitment and hard work! We made the pledge to recognize work-based learners on Indiana Intern Day with the Institute for Workforce Excellence and the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, and you should too! Fill out the pledge here: https://bit.ly/internday26

A warm welcome to William Hall, the new assistant director of talent and training for our Institute for Workforce Excellence! Will brings a wealth of experience in workforce development, education and employer engagement. We're excited to have him on the team!

📣 We're Partnering with Aspire Johnson County to Expand Career-Relevant Learning Opportunities!

Work and Learn Indiana, an initiative of our Institute for Workforce Excellence, is proud to announce a new partnership with Aspire Johnson County, Johnson County’s economic development organization and chamber, to strengthen connections between employers and educators through expanded access to work-based learning opportunities.

This collaboration enhances Aspire’s and the Institute’s employer engagement efforts, including an accessible, interactive map that enables employers across Indiana to identify and share career-relevant activities they offer or would like to provide. These opportunities include job shadowing, classroom presentations, informational interviews, site visits and other meaningful work-based learning activities that extend well beyond traditional internships.

“Aspire Johnson County has been incredibly gracious in allowing us to partner on this project,” offers Sally Saydshoev, executive director of the Institute. “Through this collaboration, we are gaining valuable insight into how local chambers can help close gaps between employers and educators while building more equitable and systematic access to career exploration.”

The updated Work and Learn Indiana platform makes it easier for employers to participate while enabling educators, students and parents to explore opportunities and connect directly with companies across the state. Together, Work and Learn Indiana and Aspire Johnson County aim to build quality and capacity in work-based learning while supporting local economic vitality and shared prosperity.

“We are excited to collaborate with the Indiana Chamber’s Institute for Workforce Excellence,” says Amanda Rubadue, vice president of economic development for Aspire. “This work allows us to better align education and industry, expand access to opportunity and strengthen our workforce pipeline.”

Work and Learn Indiana looks forward to continuing this partnership and deepening employer engagement statewide.

As Indiana employers grapple with a rapidly changing workforce, a new partnership is pushing career readiness further upstream – into the high school classroom. The Indiana Chamber and College Board have teamed up to bring employer-informed, college level career courses to students across the state, aiming to better align education with real-world business needs.

Learn more about the partnership in our latest BizVoice®:https://www.bizvoicemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/AdvancedPlacementCareerKickstart.pdf

Are you procrastinating creating a work-based learning program? Has your existing program run out of steam? Our Institute for Workforce Excellence's virtual workshop series is for you!

Register now for upcoming April dates: https://www.indianachamber.com/learn-how-to-create-or-improve-a-high-quality-work-based-learning-program

2025 marks the 25th anniversary of our Work and Learn Indiana program, formerly known as Indiana INTERNnet!
An article in the Indiana Chamber of Commerce's latest issue of BizVoice looks back on the program's history, featuring previous executive directors Pam Norman and Janet Boston: https://www.bizvoicemagazine.com/interactive/2026/02/ =37

Today’s 20th Annual Impact Awards has begun with emcee Kayla Sullivan! Excited to recognize so many great individuals and organizations today.