A. M. Connect – A monthly insight into the Evansville Region
What is A.M. Connect and who should attend? Launched by E-REP this year, A.M. Connect is your monthly insight on news of the region: What are the big contributors to the economic vitality of our region? Who are the players and assets that we depend on for success? It’s your opportunity to know more about the greatest economic producers; the big work of our public and private partners to make our community cool, connected and attractive; and always, a look at what’s on the horizon for the Evansville Region. Join other E-REP business leaders and community connectors for breakfast the second Thursday of each month and take a deeper dive into opportunities, challenges and trends impacting the future growth of our region.
Last month Ben Weithman, Director of the Ports of Indiana – Mt. Vernon, gave us an inside look at our local port – a major economic engine for our region. It is one of three in the state of Indiana and one of the largest inland ports in the country by size and shipping volume. If you ever wondered how many barges travel through our region in a year, I’ll tell you – it was 3,700 last year.
I invite business leaders to attend A.M. Connect this month on Thursday, March 11 as we talk together about the great work underway between education institutions and businesses to prepare a workforce with necessary skills to harness the massive power of automation and integrated robotics. Panelists will include one of the region’s largest employers, Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Indiana and two of their talent development collaborators, New Tech Institute and Vincennes University.
While we’re on the topic of workforce readiness and filling the tech gap, you’ll notice an article later in this newsletter about Indiana-based, Eleven Fifty Academy and the success of 20 graduates from our region last year. As the demand for tech talent in our communities and places of employment has hit record levels, it’s programs like this that help our existing talent pursue a technology career and help regional employers upskill their talent.
Can’t attend A.M. Connect this month? Join us in April for a legislative wrap-up led by our partner and government affairs guru, Sally Rideout. Register here.