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West Michigan Employers Seek Top Talent At Pure Michigan Opportunity Lakeshore

LANSING -- On Friday, Oct. 28, the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and Holland-based Lakeshore Advantage will team up to host Pure Michigan Opportunity Lakeshore -- an event designed to bring together young professionals, college students, and recent college graduates with Lakeshore area employers with more than 300 jobs to fill.

In addition to the career networking opportunity, participants will tour high-tech facilities, area global corporations, trendsetting restaurants and nightspots, and exciting places to live and play.

"With explosive growth in new-energy and high-tech manufacturing along the Lakeshore and a steadily expanding economy in the entire region, west Michigan is one of the hottest job markets in the Midwest," said Mike Finney, president and CEO of MEDC. "At the same time, Michigan's universities are among the best in the world, producing top-notch talent. We just need to connect that talent with opportunity."

Pure Michigan Opportunity Lakeshore kicks off Oct. 28 with a 10 a.m. welcome breakfast at the Baker Lofts, 171 East 24th St. in Holland, where attendees will hear from area business and community leaders.  At 11 a.m., participants will tour local hot spots along the lakeshore, followed by an insiders' tour of Gentex Corp., and enjoy lunch at the award-winning, LEED certified world headquarters of Haworth Corp. After lunch, NewNorth Center for Design will lead business leaders and participants in finding creative solutions to specific business problems – a unique way for participants to get to know the lakeshore's innovative and emerging companies. The tour returns to Baker Lofts at 3 p.m. for a two-hour networking opportunity with many of the area's high-growth employers.

"There is a wide range of career, co-op and internship opportunities available in our community," noted Randy Thelen, President of Lakeshore Advantage. "Companies are seeking talent in engineering, computer science, nursing, sales, accounting and a host of disciplines. Unlike traditional job fairs, this event offers participants the chance to spend a day with employers to find the right opportunity."

Pure Michigan Opportunity Lakeshore is one event in a regional push to connect companies, jobs and talented job seekers including college students, seasoned pros and young professionals with Michigan ties. Other MEDC efforts to attract and retain talent include:
* MichAgain: Targeting engineering and IT professionals with a Michigan connection, MichAgain is hosting career networking events in cities around the country, with Michigan employers on hand looking to hire talent for in-demand jobs. The next event takes place on Nov. 15 in San Jose, Calif.
* Michigan Shifting Gears: MEDC partners with Sensei Change to offer an intensive, low-cost course designed to transition business professionals into new careers with Michigan start-ups and small businesses.
* LiveWorkDetroit: On Oct. 21, Nov. 18 and additional dates in 2012, recent and current college students and young professionals can learn the best (and often little known) reasons to live, work and play in Michigan's largest city. The one day immersion includes important networking opportunities with business leaders who have jobs to fill now.

"Businesses on Michigan's lakeshore region are creating good jobs," said Amy Cell, MEDC senior vice president for talent enhancement, who oversees the state's workforce development efforts. "Pure Michigan Opportunity Lakeshore is our effort to make sure they have a supply of top talent to fill them."

The Michigan Economic Development Corp., a public-private partnership serving as the state's marketing arm and lead agency for business, talent and jobs, focuses on helping grow Michigan's economy. For more on the MEDC and its initiatives, visit: www.MichiganAdvantage.org.

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