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Category: Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE: 2025 Best Places to Work Survey Results in Southeast Minnesota

Posted on by Samantha

Workforce Development, Inc. (WDI), in partnership with the Workforce Development Boards of Southeast Minnesota and Winona, are thrilled to announce the unveiling of the “Best Places to Work” in Southeast Minnesota. Now in its 15th year, this respected regional initiative celebrates companies that go above and beyond in cultivating exceptional workplace cultures throughout Southeast Minnesota.

After a thorough evaluation process led by national consulting firm Personnel Dynamics, fifteen standout companies earned the distinction of being among the Best Places to Work across our region’s eleven counties — Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, and Winona. These businesses have made meaningful investments in their people, championed inclusive and engaging work environments, and continue to lead with innovation, purpose, and care. The 2025 Best Places to Work winners are:

Small Employer

(Under 50 Employees)

City of Byron

Arcadian Bank
Rushford State Bank

Southeast Service Cooperative

Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency

Mid-Size Employer

(50-150 employees)

Cooperative Response Center, Inc.

Custom Alarm

New Age Tree Service

Pace International

People’s Energy Cooperative

Large Employer

(Over 150 employees)

Benike Construction

City of Albert Lea

Gemini, Inc.

Olmsted County

Strongwell

Winners of this prestigious designation receive more than just recognition — they earn the right to proudly display the “Best Places to Work” logo in their marketing materials, receive a custom event banner to showcase at their workplace, and gain year-long bragging rights across their communities and industries. The award also signals to job seekers that these employers are committed to putting people first.

The 2025 winners were celebrated at the annual Workforce Development Forum held April 3rd at the Rochester International Event Center. Attendees were moved by a series of powerful, heartfelt videos that gave an inside look at what makes these workplaces truly exceptional. Workforce Development, Inc. extends its sincere gratitude to all participating organizations. Your ongoing commitment to creating workplaces where people thrive is helping to shape a more resilient, innovative, and people-focused economy across Southeast Minnesota.

More photos from the event can be viewed by clicking here! 

Workforce Development, Inc. (WDI) is an independent, non-profit agency with a long history of serving the needs of career seekers and employers in Southeast Minnesota. Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities provided, upon request, by calling 507.292.5152 or by using your preferred relay service. Workforce Development, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Program Provider and a proud partner of the American Job Center Network.

PRESS RELEASE: 2025 Best Places to Work Program – Now Accepting Applications!

Posted on by Samantha

The Best Places to Work Survey is back for 2025!

The 2025 Best Places to Work Survey is officially LIVE for 2025 in Southeast Minnesota!

About the Program:

The Best Places to Work is a national program that recognizes outstanding employers in local communities. Workforce Development, Inc. has sponsored the program in Southeast Minnesota for 15 years and will again survey companies across Freeborn, Mower, Rice, Steele, Goodhue, Olmsted, Houston, Dodge, Fillmore, Wabasha, and Winona counties to identify the ‘cream of the crop’ employers in Southeast Minnesota. Winners are recognized in three categories: small, mid-size, and large businesses.

Designed for organizations striving to position themselves as leaders in workforce solutions, this survey is an easy-to-implement tool that not only supports a thriving community but also demonstrates a commitment to employee retention and well-being. Celebrate your organization’s culture, people, and success while gaining valuable tools to grow and attract top talent.

The free survey consists of 40 questions covering 37 key measurements, broken down as follows:
• 50%: Turnover, Growth, Training, Promotion
• 15%: Benefits
• 15%: Written Response to Questions
• 10%: Profit Sharing, Bonus, and Pay
• 5%: Working Environment
• 5%: Retirement Programs

The winners will be recognized at our annual Workforce Development Forum taking place on April 3rd, 2025. At the event, participants will also have the chance to listen to our keynote presentation, share insights and learn best practices from leading employers in Southeast Minnesota. Winners will also be given access to marketing resources to showcase their achievements, such as banners to display at their business and optional branded items like t-shirts for employees.

 

Apply now and take the first step toward recognition.

The survey deadline is February 7, 2025!


How does it work?
  • Participants complete a 40-question online survey, conducted by Personnel Dynamics Consulting Group, covering metrics like turnover, training, benefits, and work environment.
  • Survey results are then analyzed to identify the best practices in each category and determine the winners.
  • Categories include Small, Medium, and Large Businesses, so organizations of all sizes have an equal chance to shine.
  • There’s no cost to participate, and you’ll walk away with powerful data to inform your strategies for talent attraction and retention.
What’s in it for you?
  • Gain Recognition: Businesses emerging in the Small, Medium, and Large Business categories as the “cream-of-the-crop” in SE Minnesota can use the official logo in their marketing and recruitment efforts and will receive other promotional tools to highlight this honor to employees and applicants.
  • Invaluable Insights: Every participating business receives a FREE, personalized, and confidential report with key data on benefits, training, growth, and other workplace practices. Identify your strengths, uncover areas for improvement, and see just how well your business compares to others in the region.
  • Celebrate Success: Winning businesses will be honored at the 2025 Workforce Development Forum in April! This energizing event features a keynote speaker, employer panel, and of course – the Best Places to Work celebration! Winning businesses have the opportunity to showcase their workplace culture at the event through a short, creative video for a fun way to highlight what makes your team special and engage employees in the process!

 

Apply now: Southeast Minnesota Best Places to Work Survey 2025

PRESS RELEASE: 2024 Best Places to Work WINNERS!

Posted on by Samantha

Workforce Development, Inc. (WDI) is thrilled to announce the unveiling of the “Best Places to Work” in Southeast Minnesota for the year 2024, and our 14th year bringing the survey to the area. As the region’s leading advocate for workforce development and engagement, WDI takes pride in spotlighting organizations that prioritize employee satisfaction, well-being, and professional growth.

After a rigorous evaluation process, seventeen outstanding companies have emerged as the cream-of-the-crop, representing the counties of Winona, Freeborn, Mower, Rice, Steele, Goodhue, Olmsted, Houston, Dodge, Fillmore, and Wabasha. These companies have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to fostering positive work environments, nurturing talent, and driving innovation. The 2024 Best Places to Work Winners include:

Small Employer
(Under 50 Employees)
Southeast Service Cooperative
Peterson, Kolker, Haedt & Benda, Ltd.
IBI Data
Southern MN Municipal Power Agency
Arcadian Bank		 Mid-Size Employer
(50-150 employees)
Albert Lea Seed House
People’s Energy Cooperative
Custom Alarm
K&G Manufacturing
Cooperative Response Center, Inc.		 Large Employer
(Over 150 employees)
Gemini, Inc.
Knutson Construction
Olmsted County
Riverland Community College
Benike Construction

To celebrate their achievements and the collective dedication to workforce development in Southeast Minnesota, Workforce Development Inc. invites the community to join us at the 2024 Workforce Development Forum celebration scheduled for Thursday, April 25th at the Rochester International Event Center. This event promises to be an inspiring gathering of industry leaders, stakeholders, and professionals committed to shaping the future of the region’s workforce and sharing their best practices.

Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate excellence and be part of the conversation that drives innovation, growth, and prosperity in Southeast Minnesota. For questions about the 2024 Workforce Development Forum, contact Samantha Draisey at sdraisey@wdimn.org or register through this link!

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR 2024 FORUM SPONSORS:

Workforce Development, Inc. (WDI) is an independent, non-profit agency with a long history of serving the needs of career seekers and employers in Southeast Minnesota. Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities provided, upon request, by calling 507.292.5152 or by using your preferred relay service. Workforce Development, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Program Provider and a proud partner of the American Job Center Network.

PRESS RELEASE: Bridges to Healthcare receives Employment and Training Funds for the Southeast Region

Posted on by Samantha

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Workforce Development, Inc., an independent, non-profit agency serving the needs of job seekers and employers in Southeast Minnesota, was recently awarded a direct appropriation for the Bridges to Healthcare program in the total amount of $1.5 million for state fiscal years 2024-2025.

This appropriation will continue to support our existing programming in Olmsted, Freeborn, Mower, and Steele counties. This will also support expansion efforts into Rice County and potential expansion plans to Goodhue and Winona Counties, following the same successful model that has been in place in Rochester since 2013.

The Bridges to Careers model has changed policies, curricula, support systems and institutional relationships. The Bridges model has been identified as a promising practice focused on career pathway programming with employer engagement by the US Department of Education and has been honored by both the Humphrey Institute and Harvard University.

The strong public/private partnerships between Workforce Development, Inc. (WDI), Adult Basic Education Centers (Rochester, Austin, Albert Lea, Owatonna, Faribault, and Red Wing), South Central College, Minnesota State College Southeast, Northfield Hospital and Mayo Clinic have built the foundation for another Bridges to Healthcare program in Southeast Minnesota to include other area long-term care employers. These partners have collaborated on program design, implementation, expansion, and financial/navigational support. They have teamed to recruit, prepare, and support diverse, well-trained, certified, and compassionate students and transition them to employment for Southeast Minnesota healthcare providers through the below process.

On an annual basis, Workforce Development, Inc. serves thousands of people through career planning and pre-vocational skill training. One area of focus of Workforce Development, Inc. is working with populations dealing with multiple barriers to achieving meaningful employment. Our mission is to develop and advance the workforce of Southeast Minnesota. Our vision is to develop and advance the workforce of Southeast Minnesota 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, and the agency accountable to the individuals, businesses and communities we serve, providing measurable change. We are a customer-focused, action-oriented team of professionals, dedicated to the principles of Respect, Integrity, Innovation, Education and Community.

Workforce Development, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Service Provider Program and a proud partner of the American Job Center network. Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities can be provided, upon request, by calling 507.292.5152 (voice) or by using your preferred relay service.

PRESS RELEASE: People of Color and Women are Encouraged to Enroll in New Trades Readiness Training program

Posted on by Samantha

Media Contacts
Emily Wessing                                                                Julie Brock
Executive Assistant/Marketing Coordinator                   Project Manager
507-252-6524 | ewessing@wdimn.org                           507-421-6487 | jbrock@wdimn.org .  

TAGS: @BloombergDotOrg and #MayorsChallenge, #rochmn

People of Color and Women are Encouraged to Enroll in
New Trades Readiness Training Program

August 10, 2023 – ROCHESTER, MINN. – A new Trades Readiness Certificate program through Workforce Development, Inc. begins on Tuesday, August 29, 2023. The Trades Readiness Training Program provides high quality, apprentice-level training to people interested in construction industry careers. People of color and women are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be 18 years or older, have a valid Minnesota driver’s license and meet minimum math and English assessments. Training will be offered for free to eligible applicants. To apply for the Trades Readiness Training Program contact Stacy Brumfield with Workforce Development, Inc. at 507-252-5159 or sbrumfield@wdimn.org.

In January 2022, Bloomberg Philanthropies selected the City of Rochester as a 2021-2022 Global Mayors Challenge winner of a $1 million grant and technical assistance to create career pathways for BIPOC women in the built environment. The new Trades Readiness Training Program is part of the implementation of the Equity in the Built Environment (EBE) program.

“This training is now the basis for the Equity in the Built Environment program. It can be entered at the top of fall, spring, or summer semester. Classes are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, so participants can work during the day,” shares Julie Brock, Project Manager with Workforce Development, Inc. and City of Rochester for the EBE program. “We finally have a stable training that is offered consistently that will get people started on their (construction trades) career journey no matter the time of year.”

The City of Rochester and Destination Medical Center (DMC) funded construction projects have workforce participation goals for people of color (15%) and women (7%). Workforce participation performance for women on tracked City of Rochester and DMC projects from April 2017 through June 2023 has been 3.6%, about half of the goal. The number of BIPOC women participating in construction workforce on City and DMC projects has been less than 1%.

Workforce Development, Inc. in partnership with City of Rochester, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Minnesota Clean Cities and Rochester Community and Technical College announce the new Trades Readiness Training Program. All Workforce Development, Inc. services are free. They services include assessment, career planning, skills training, job search guidance and resources and preparation for further training and education. They also offer scholarships and connections to many programs in Southeast Minnesota.

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PRESS RELEASE: Best Places to Work 2022 Applications Now Open!

Posted on by Samantha

Welcome to the Best Places to Work 2022 process!

For the TWELFTH year in a row, Workforce Development, Inc. has connected with Personnel Dynamics Consulting, Inc. of Florida to bring the nationally-recognized “Best Places To Work” program to Southeast Minnesota! The attached flyer provides details about the current survey process.

The FREE “Best Places To Work” program is an exciting way to help employers identify what is required to attract and retain their best employees. This program is designed to:

  • Identify the “Best Places To Work” within our region
  • Educate employers on the best ways to recruit and retain employees
  • Collect important employment data from our region
  • Promote workforce issues
  • Market professional workforce associations
  • Energize business and community leaders

Any organization who completes the online survey will receive a free customized report detailing exactly how you compete with other employers in the community. The report reviews 37 different employment measurements and highlights Best Practices being utilized by employers in our region.

Employers can simply go to http://personneldynamics.net/survey.asp to begin the survey. The application deadline is March 5, 2022.

The recognition event will be done via Zoom again this year and is currently scheduled for Thursday, April 28, 2022. Details to follow.

For more information, contact Mike Postma at Workforce Development, Inc. 507.333.2081 or mpostma@wdimn.org.

SURVEY LINK: http://personneldynamics.net/survey.asp

Please share this information far and wide with your networks – other employers/partners, community organizations, local chambers, etc. We appreciate your collaboration.

Thank you!

PRESS RELEASE: Program that Focuses on Training Women, People of Color and Veterans for Careers in the Union Building and Construction Trades Expanding to Southeastern Minnesota

Posted on by Samantha

For Immediate Release                                                         

December 1, 2021   

Contact: Jenn Hathaway

Phone: 612.816.1710                                                                                     

Building Strong Communities, a Program that Focuses on Training Women, People of Color and Veterans for Careers in the Union and Construction Trades is Coming to Southeastern Minnesota

Rochester (December 1, 2021) – Building Strong Communities, a multi-trade, building and construction trades apprenticeship readiness program has recently expanded to become the first statewide apprenticeship readiness program designed to recruit and prepare women, people of color and veterans for a career in the building and construction industry. As part of the Building Strong Communities expansion statewide, BSC will begin programming in southeastern Minnesota in 2022.

Building Strong Communities is a program that prepares participants for a career in the construction industry by providing access to union endorsed training and an opportunity for participants to gain real experience and exposure to union building and construction trades. Training and online classes will be hosted by North Hennepin Community College.

“We are very excited to bring the Building Strong Communities program to southeastern Minnesota,” said Joe Fowler, President of the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades. “Building Strong Communities is a unique program that recruits women, people of color and veterans into building and construction trades with the goal of identifying a trade that participants can turn into a life-long career.”

“As we move into 2022 and the years ahead, the City of Rochester Public Works Department plans to build and maintain a diverse workforce,” states Director of Public Works Wendy Turri. “The expansion of the Building Strong Communities program into southeastern Minnesota is a promising step toward increasing the number of trained women, people of color and veterans for construction trades careers and positions with the City of Rochester Public Works Department.”

“Building Strong Communities is a complete introduction to the building and construction trades, it really opened my eyes to different opportunities,” said Edgar Chavira Rios, a member of the 2021 Building Strong Communities cohort. “After graduation from the BSC program, I was fully prepared for a career in the building and construction industry. I am now a member of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades and have a career as a dry wall finisher.”

Jinny Rietmann, Executive Director of Workforce Development, Inc. shared, “Workforce Development, Inc. is excited to partner with Building Strong Communities. We look forward to bringing additional trades and construction training opportunities to individuals in Southeast Minnesota as this will not only address workforce challenges but will also increase diversity in this key industry sector.”

Building Strong Communities, formerly a partnership between Minneapolis Building and Construction Trades Council and the Metropolitan Council, is now a statewide program run by the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades. BSC has been run successfully in both the Twin Cities and Duluth.

 

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