Cheryl Harvey of Bloomington was recently hired to the new grant-funded position of regional healthcare workforce associate at the Economic Development Council of the Bloomington-Normal Area (EDC).

In this position, she is responsible for investigating and coordinating regional programs that positively impact healthcare workforce development. Her duties include promoting group facilitation and regional collaboration, communicating with regional partners and organizations and recommending activities to address regionally-identified needs.

This position was created and is fully-funded through a grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The grant was awarded to the EDC to promote a collaborative project within Central Illinois. The long-range goal of the project is the creation of a regional collaborative structure with the primary purpose of enhancing workforce development initiatives within Central Illinois. The initial focus is on healthcare workforce initiatives. To learn more about the grant, click here.

Harvey previously served as program director and case manager for a mental health outreach coalition. She also has experience as an adjunct professor at Gavilan Community College, Gilroy, Calif. teaching a variety of courses focusing on mental health issues. She has also served as a counselor in an adult residential mental health facility, where she taught educational courses and facilitated small group sessions. Harvey earned a dual bachelor’s degree in psychology/counseling and theology from William Jessup University in San Jose, Calif.

The EDC is a private not-for-profit organization that helps businesses and communities in McLean County prosper. It is a leadership organization, investing the community’s assets to grow and improve its prosperity and quality of life.

We have recently begun advertising for a project assistant internship position for this spring/summer. Unfortunately, we do not have the funds this year to offer this as a paid position. However, we are willing to work with the student if he/she desires to obtain college credit for this experience – and, let me tell you, it will be quite an experience.

Many students turn up their noses at unpaid internships, thinking “why work for free?” and only want to work for the cream-of-the-crop corporate companies. What they don’t understand is that, many times, smaller organizations such as ours depend very heavily on their interns and are willing  to offer them a wide array of experiences and responsibilities that they most likely would not have elsewhere. The most important line in our internship description below is “Other duties/projects as needed.” At the EDC, we tend to craft our internships around each individual intern – What are his/her strengths? What does he/she have experience in? What does he/she WANT to have experience in?

For example, our last intern was a public relations major. While we had her do a variety of general office assistance, we also played up to her strengths by having her lead our social media awareness campaign. She created our “Social Media for Business” presentation and also presented it alongside our CEO at three seminars where local business owners, corporate vice presidents and others were in attendance. Previous interns have also built the foundation for our current programs and databases, including our research databases and site location assistance program.

So, while you may not be getting paid monetarily, you WILL get paid with resumé-building work experience, portfolio-enhancing projects, networking opportunities with influential businesspeople and the chance to grow and develop your personal work ethic and character.

Here is what our current Project and Data Analyst Ken Springer, who finished his master’s degree while interning at the EDC,  had to say about his internship:

“Interning at the EDC was an adventure.  Often, I’d find myself thrust into situations and projects with which I had no prior experience.  This terrified me at first, but I quickly realized that what I was really getting was an opportunity to develop new skills and test my ingenuity.  The EDC staff was great at letting me work  on the outside edge of my comfort zone, but was still there to give guidance when necessary.  Interning at the EDC requires you to think quickly and critically.  Your boldness is rewarded with a wealth of experience.”

Jonah Ralston, who is currently working on his doctorate degree at  Michigan State University, also talked about his experience:

“The benefits of internships cannot be overstated; they provide valuable practical experience, and they allow you to make a number of professional contacts. They offer an opportunity to differentiate yourself in a highly competitive job market or in an application to increasingly selective graduate programs. My time at the Economic Development Council of the Bloomington-Normal Area afforded me many interesting opportunities, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time interning there during my senior year at Illinois State University.”

Grace Leopold, our most recent intern, now holds a marketing position in Chicago. She is thankful for all the knowledge she gained during her experience:

“Knowing essentially nothing about economic development when I first heard of the EDC, I anticipated learning a great deal during my time spent there. Not only did I learn a great deal about the vast array of hard work that goes into developing and retaining business in a community, I also learned politics, finance, community outreach, work ethic, dedication and what passion for a job really means. My internship was the most memorable and educational experience of my college career by far.”

Project Assistant (Internship)

The Economic Development Council of the Bloomington-Normal Area (EDC) is a private, not-for-profit organization that helps businesses in McLean County grow and attracts new businesses to our community. We are a leadership organization, investing our community’s assets to grow and improve our prosperity and quality of life. We provide a number of services for businesses, including: small business/entrepreneurship services, financial assistance, research/demographic information, real estate services, workforce development and government advocacy. For more information about the EDC, visit our Web site at www.bnbiz.org or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bnbiz.

We are currently seeking an intern for the spring and summer who would like to develop his/her professional skills.

Intern Responsibilities:

• Adding to and maintaining the EDC’s various databases of available commercial/industrial properties, as well as further building relationships with local realtors and brokers, including those in rural municipalities
• Processing basic requests for community/demographic information
• Writing newsletter/blog articles on various economic development/business topics
• Scheduling and preparing for meetings
• Assisting staff with special projects
• Answering phones
• General office duties
• Other duties/projects as needed

Requirements:

• Strong communication skills
• Good computer skills
• Access to reliable transportation
• Sense of professionalism
• Quick learner
• Organizational skills
• Ability to multi-task

Undergraduate internships are unpaid; however, the intern will have the chance to work and network with several local business executives and potential future employers. Interns will be paid mileage and pre-approved expenses if necessary for activities. Hours will be semi-flexible, approximately 10-20 hours/week according to project needs. The EDC is willing to undertake additional steps to allow students to earn college credits for this internship, if desired.

To apply, send your resume and cover letter by March 1st via email to Brooke Weishaupt at brooke@bnbiz.org.

This has been a big year for the EDC. We have moved forward with several initiatives to build our local economy. We received grant funding to develop the Central Illinois Regional Collaborative Effort, which is working to address needs with our healthcare workforce. The New Leadership Board created its first whitepaper with a wide range of recommendations for our employers, municipalities and the EDC to take into consideration as we plan for the future. We’re getting closer and closer to opening the McLean County Business Incubator.  We’re assisting businesses with financing opportunities through our Community Development Corporation. And the list goes on and on…. We’ve accomplished a lot, but we’re always looking ahead to see what we can do next.

The EDC looks forward to the upcoming year. We are staying focused on our core mission of helping local businesses to grow and expand, and we plan to work even harder to increase awareness of programs we have to help carry out this mission. For more information on how we can help your business, please contact us at (309) 452-8437.

We hope you have a safe and happy holiday season!

Your friends at the EDC:

Marty, Brooke, Cathy, Ken and Kelli

My career and interest in local government started with an internship with the McLean County administrator’s office many years ago. Today, I see many successful college students launch careers because of internships they have had. Former interns of the EDC include an aide for New Orleans Mayor Nagin, a doctoral candidate at Michigan State University and a current employee. Having an internship provides valuable experience for the intern and great productivity for the organization. Here is information about an available internship:

ISU Capitol Hill Sponsorship — Illinois State University is offering a scholarship for students that will allow them to spend a summer or semester in Washington, D.C. The program provides a student with an opportunity to observe government at work by working in a Congressional or Senate office, a federal agency or a business. Up to four students will be chosen across disciplines for each term. Students are not paid, but each will receive a $4,000 scholarship to help defray the cost of living in Washington, D.C. For more information about the scholarship, interested students can contact Marissa McCord, Associate Director of Research and Sponsored Programs, at (309) 438-8595 or at mbmccor@ilstu.edu.

The EDC welcomes inquiries by students interested in internships.  Here is what our current Project Analyst Ken Springer, who finished his master’s degree while interning at the EDC,  had to say about his internship:

“Interning at the EDC was an adventure.  Often, I’d find myself thrust into situations and projects with which I had no prior experience.  This terrified me at first, but I quickly realized that what I was really getting was an opportunity to develop new skills and test my ingenuity.  The EDC staff was great at letting me work  on the outside edge of my comfort zone, but was still there to give guidance when necessary.  Interning at the EDC requires you to think quickly and critically.  Your boldness is rewarded with a wealth of experience.”

Jonah Ralston, who is currently working on his doctorate degree at  Michigan State University, also talked about his experience:

“The benefits of internships cannot be overstated; they provide valuable practical experience, and they allow you to make a number of professional contacts. They offer an opportunity to differentiate yourself in a highly competitive job market or in an application to increasingly selective graduate programs. My time at the Economic Development Council of the Bloomington-Normal Area afforded me many interesting opportunities, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time interning there during my senior year at Illinois State University.”

Grace Leopold, our most recent intern, now holds a marketing position in Chicago. She is thankful for all the knowledge she gained during her experience:

“Knowing essentially nothing about economic development when I first heard of the EDC, I anticipated learning a great deal during my time spent there. Not only did I learn a great deal about the vast array of hard work that goes into developing and retaining business in a community, I also learned politics, finance, community outreach, work ethic, dedication and what passion for a job really means. My internship was the most memorable and educational experience of my college career by far.”

 

Often, the internships are unpaid, but the opportunities and experience and friendships can last a lifetime. Contact me to find out more at (309) 452-8437 or mvanags@bnbiz.org.

Kelli Hill of Bloomington was recently promoted to the new position of vice president of the Economic Development Council of the Bloomington-Normal Area (EDC).

As vice president, she is responsible for internal operations of the EDC. She will also continue to focus on workforce development and regional collaboration efforts in Central Illinois

“The EDC has developed vital partnerships and programs for the McLean County business community,” said Hill. “I am excited to help advance these efforts.”

In her new position, Hill will be representing the EDC and speaking at two upcoming events. At the end of September, she will serve as a panelist for a session called “Engaging New Partners” at the Robert Wood Johnson/Northwest Health Foundation Annual Partners in Nursing Conference in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. In October, she will speak about regional collaboration at the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Illinois Workforce Conference in Springfield.

Hill previously served as special projects manager at the EDC. Prior to joining the EDC in September 2008, she was director of Partners in Nursing of Central Illinois and coordinated the accelerated nursing program at Illinois State University, Normal. Hill earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics education from ISU and a master’s degree in educational administration from Northern Illinois University, DeKalb. She was employed 12 years in public school administration and education before moving to the workforce and economic development industry in 2004.