Harmony On SE MN Workforce Development Board
Workforce Development, Inc. (WDI) is a private, nonprofit agency dedicated to developing and advancing the workforce of Southeast Minnesota through career pathways and more. With ten area offices throughout the region, WDI assists thousands of individuals each year with career planning, skills and job training, and many other FREE services. WDI works with every population in the region from youth to adult to dislocated workers and employers. Particular focus is dedicated to working with communities and individuals who face multiple barriers to meaningful and living-wage employment.
The WDI Board of Directors serves as an oversight committee and has a vision to develop and advance the workforce of Southeast MN by acting as:
- A champion for workers
- A convening agent bringing partners together to solve workforce problems
- A change agent to promote and facilitate innovation and creative solutions
- The agency accountable to the individuals, businesses, and communities we serve, providing measurable change
Harmony Enterprises, Inc. is proud to have been asked to serve on the Workforce Development Board as the private business representative from Fillmore County for the next three years.
Harmony’s Interaction With WDI & Similar Programs
Prior to having a seat on the Workforce Development Board, Harmony has had a rich history of involvement with WDI and its vast array of programs.
We have been involved with numerous virtual and in-person career fairs and mock interviews, teaming up with WDI, Bluff Country Collaborative, and Bluff Country Career Navigators.
Harmony has helped in the creation of soft skills curriculum for potential workers entering the manufacturing workforce.
We have hired many employees with the help of WDI, who for a variety of reasons, had barriers to meaningful full-time employment.
President, Steve Cremer, leads a tour with high school students interested in vocational and technical careers.
We have hosted several annual plant tours and outreach programs, partnering with local high schools, as well as DEED during Minnesota Manufacturing Week.
We have also participated in statewide webinars talking about manufacturing jobs, child care, and more!
We have had our own internship programs, hiring on high school and college students with interests in departmental fields at our facility. Some have even been hired on as adult workers following their internship experience!
Most recently, Harmony partnered with WDI in their Youth/Experience program in which a student trained with us while taking coursework in welding at Minnesota State College Southeast in Winona, MN. That person now has a welding career at Harmony Enterprises!
Benefits of Service
Being on the Workforce Development Board allows us to share our knowledge trends in small business manufacturing, as well as the challenges we face. Our networking with others on the board may help lead to meaningful workforce related solutions through the implementation of best practices as modeled by other partner organizations.
There are mutual benefits gained through Harmony’s participation on the WDI Board of Directors.
There are many additional benefits to Harmony through this shared experience, including:
- Increased economic growth of Southeast Minnesota through developing training opportunities
- Building our own workforce while developing experiential learning activities for our business
- Partnership building opportunities that lead to innovative workforce pipeline programs, helping everyone fill high-demand job positions
- Access to talent pools that increase our ability to diversity and increase equity in our talent pipeline
- Leveraging of resources to increase future opportunities to better prepare our workforce
Representing Harmony Enterprises on the WDI Board of Directors is New Business Development Manager, Lane Powell. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Powell served for for years on the Minnesota State High School League Board of Directors, the Minnesota Music Educators Association Board of Directors, and is currently a member of the Harmony Area Community Foundation Board of Directors.
WDI & Harmony Are Here To Help
Perhaps one of the best kept secrets in Southeast MN is Workforce Development. Their free programs can be a catalyst for many small businesses to overcome their challenges with worker shortages and more. If you would like to contact them, please call the WDI office at (507) 292-5152.
If you would like to learn more about Harmony Enterprises, watch this video, or Contact Us today about our wide range of baler, compactor, and liquid extraction solutions. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
