A Birthday Party to Remember

The Fuse Birthday Bash is one of our biggest events each year – and for good reason considering all of the coordination that goes into it. If you weren’t there, you’re in luck because in about 360 days we’ll be having another! In the meantime, here’s a little of what you missed.

Last Thursday over 75 Fusers and area community leaders got together to celebrate Fuse, indulge in food and drink, and establish connections with other like-minded networkers. Grandma’s Sports Garden (as usual) presented an amazing backdrop to the celebration with their expansive space and awesome staff. Although the weather still wasn’t Spring like, the sunset views of the harbor were wonderful amid the drinks and delicious food.

Back by popular demand, our prize wall was one for the books. All the prizes sold out with some of the biggest ticket items including local hotel stays, fantastic restaurant gift cards, locally made shoulder bags, and craft beer growlers. (See full list of donors below.)

The newly reinstated Fuse Events Committee is just getting started on creating the best Fuse events ever. The committee will meet monthly to coordinate topics, speakers, venues, food and activities. And will lay the groundwork for Fuse events like the Words from the Wise luncheon series, the annual young professional’s conference, and annual Beachfront Blues, by planning, coordinating and recruiting.  

Sound interesting? We’re currently looking for volunteers for this and other Fuse committees. To hear more about what volunteering entails and the resume benefits, email Fuse Director Martha Bremer at mbremer@duluthchamber.com.

Thanks again to these volunteers, the Leadership Council members and all the sponsors for making the night a success! And now the countdown to our big 10th birthday in 2015! Click here to see more photos from the fun event.

Thank you to our sponsor, Duluth News Tribune

Creative cakes provided by:

How Sweet It Is Cakes

Exchange Deli & Bakery

Prize Wall gifts generously donated by:
Adventure Zone  AJ’s Tanning  Anytime Fitness  Bellisio’s Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar
Bent Paddle Brewing Co.  Bixby's Cafe    Black Woods  Canal Park Brewing Co.  
Cold Stone Creamery   Country Inn & Suites  Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra
Dubh Linn Irish Pub  Duluth Children’s Museum   Duluth Huskies  Duluth Pack 
Fitger’s Brewhouse  Frost Riving Trading Co     Glensheen Mansion   Grandma’s Saloon 
Grandma’s Sports Garden   Great Lakes Aquarium   Green Mill   Hanabi   Holiday Inn & Suites
Lake Avenue Café  Lake Superior Magazine   Little Angie’s Cantina   Inn on Lake Superior
Mary Kay Cosmetics  Minnesota Power     New Scenic Café  Outback Steakhouse   Perkins 
Pickwick Restaurant & Pub  Playhouse Theatre  Red Mug Coffeehouse   Renegade Theatre   
Security Jewelers   Sheraton Duluth Hotel  UMD Athletics   UMD Fine Arts  Verizon Wireles
 Zeitgeist Arts Café  

 

Brittney Hanson, Chair Fuse Duluth Events Committee

WestmorelandFlint

   

Thank you, Rachel!

Fusers, join us in thanking dedicated Leadership Council Member, Rachel Malone, for donating her time to Fuse.  Rachel enthusiastically staffed the Fuse booth for Duluth & St. Louis County at the Capitol event on Wednesday, March 12th.

Throughout the day, Duluthians and Northeastern Minnesotans met face-to-face with legislators from all over Minnesota. The same evening, legislators and their staff join the contingency at an informal reception designed to promote continual dialogue. As a result of this event, lawmakers at the Capitol hear about our region's legislative initiatives directly from voters. This was an extremely important initiative for Fuse to be involved in, and we were lucky to have such a great lady representing our mission and regional young professionals.

For a recap of the event, read on here. Otherwise, check out Facebook for plenty of cool photos.

Millennials are the Future of the Workforce

Researching millennials will result in a plethora of negativity. The perception of generation Y in the workforce is dismal and discouraging. “Millennials are lazy”, “millennials feel entitled”, “millennials are a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately generation.” The overall opinion is that our parents’ success has led to our “failure” and because we had all the essential things we needed growing up, our ambition has been tarnished.  I am baffled by the pre-determined description of the up-and-coming talented, hardworking, ambitious professionals that I work with daily. I believe the stereotype couldn’t be further from the truth.

Generation Y has not had an easy transition into the workforce. Millennials typically start their careers with crippling student loan debt. The average college debt in Minnesota is a whopping $29,800 as reported in a June 2013 Star Tribune  article.  Millennials are accepting entry level jobs with salaries that barely cover their monthly loan payments. We are also faced with soaring housing costs, making dual earning relationships work, and rapid technology changes. Too often, young adults are judged for adapting to these negative conditions—which causes many to miss the hopes, ideals, and positive qualities that arise in the face of these challenges.

My experience as a millennial and working with millennials has taught me this about our generation: Millennials are tech savvy, diverse, connected, and are activists for personal rights. Even despite a poor economy, millennials strive to give back to society. 81 percent have donated money, goods or services, a study by Walden University and Harriss Interactive reported. We strive to support causes that align with our personal values.  

I encourage you to dismiss the negative stereotypes surrounding this generation.  Millennials are having a positive impact on our culture, workplace and government and should be recognized for their efforts. Support them so they are able to help revive the economy and build a better place to live and work.

Millennials are the future of the workforce; mentor them, encourage them, hire them and most importantly respect them.

Martha Bremer, Director of Fuse Duluth

mbremer@duluthchamber.com  |  (218) 740-3754


   

Reaching for the Stars - Setting Goals for Fuse Duluth

Dear Fusers,

I am excited about the future of Duluth! My first three weeks as Director of Fuse have been very informative and inspiring. I have met dozens of new people and the commonality amongst them is a passion for our amazing city. Duluth's millennials are driven, motivated and care about the economic development of our community. I am honored to work with these professionals to organize and grow the Fuse program.  

My initial goals include:  

1. Structuring the Leadership Council with terms and expectations. This will allow a regular rotation of talented insight and professionals consistently involved with the development of Fuse.  
2. Reinstating committees with specific focus on different vital areas of the Fuse program including Social Media, College Connection, Volunteer Opportunities and Events. Committees will allow select Leadership Council members to work with volunteer teams to produce measurable growth and awareness of this incredibly important program.  
3. Continuing to offer fun educational events that result in life long connections and opportunities for young professionals in our area. 

Please email me if you are interested in getting involved. Fuse is a great way to build your career and strengthen Duluth! 
   

Martha Bremer, Director of Fuse Duluth

mbremer@duluthchamber.com  |  (218) 740-3754


   

TED Talks: Your body language shapes who you are

"Body language affects how others see us, but it may also change how we see ourselves. Social psychologist Amy Cuddy shows how "power posing" -- standing in a posture of confidence, even when we don't feel confident -- can affect testosterone and cortisol levels in the brain, and might even have an impact on our chances for success."

Watch the inspiring TED talks here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks-_Mh1QhMc

Invest in Your Future

The first stage of one’s career is a highly formative time for every young professional.  It’s a chance to learn, grow, develop and determine one’s individual path to success and happiness.  Are you taking advantage of every opportunity to put yourself ahead?  Because if you’re not, someone else is.

A focus on ongoing professional training is critical for a young employee’s development.  The need to strengthen your repertoire in any way possible is exacerbated in our current climate.  While the official unemployment rate for people in their late teens and post-college years is around 16%, when you add in those who've quit the search or are “underemployed”, The Wall Street Journal estimates the true number to exceed 25%.

Underemployment has forced graduates to take non-professional jobs until they are able to find one related to the career for which they’ve been preparing.  A study by Millennial Branding found that over 63% of Gen Y workers have a bachelor’s degree, but the most commonly reported jobs for Gen Y don’t necessarily require a college degree.  So if you’re lucky enough to have landed yourself that first real professional job and don’t consider yourself underemployed, you’re going to want to do everything you can to make yourself an invaluable employee. 

Enter Fuse Duluth.  Our organization is committed to providing educational and professional development opportunities to our community’s young professional population.  In pursuit of this goal, we are excited to bring back our second annual young professional summit, “YPro to CEO: Thriving as a Young Professional”. 

Last year’s conference was a great success.  Ted Schick of Schick Corporate Learning kicked-off the conference with his keynote presentation titled “Positioning Yourself as a Leader”.  This year’s session topics will be selected based on survey results from Fusers.  In 2012, topics included learning to stand out in a big company; entrepreneurs and effective hiring; tactics to advance your career; and intergenerational dynamics.  The conference concludes with a delicious three-course etiquette luncheon at Greysolon Plaza.

As a young professional, you don’t need all the answers; however you must never stop asking questions.  Actively seek the knowledge and experiences that will contribute to your professional growth.  As an employer, whole-heartedly support this effort of self-improvement.  The likelihood of talented people leaving diminishes when they feel they are continually developing and improving.  On September 25, join future corporate leaders and change-makers as Fuse prepares a new generation to lead with vision and passion. Click here to RSVP.

Choose Duluth

Duluth's economy is thriving. It appears our beloved community has adroitly melded our working, industrial port heritage with a new entrepreneurial culture. It is a synergy that is creating opportunity for our community members and for future Duluthians.

Businesses, companies and corporations are making massive private investments in our community. Altec HiLine, ME Global, Enbridge, AAR, and maurices are expanding and, while doing so, bringing hundreds of new jobs to our Zenith City.
  

This investment is allowing Duluth to keep our unemployment rate lower than the state average and the national average. This is a remarkable and energizing reversal of Duluth's fortunes. We have come a long way since the 1980's when our unemployment rate was the highest in Minnesota.
  

The good news continues. Duluth is cultivating and supporting the most recent generation of entrepreneurs. They are choosing Duluth, in part, because they are striving in our authentic and adventurous city.
  

More jobs and opportunities are on Duluth's breathtaking horizon. For the first time in decades, Duluth will soon have a wave of career job openings. Baby Boomers are in the twilight of our careers. There will soon be thousands of job openings in: healthcare, education, government, utilities and business services as my generation of Boomers retire. While this evolution is not unique to Duluth, it represents a unique opportunity for Duluth.
  

In the past, it was the lack of jobs in Duluth that kept hundreds of would-be Duluthians from making the pilgrimage to our Shining City on the Hill. The jobs are now available. It is time for your family members and your friends to see Duluth for what is has become - the land of opportunity.
  

In stark contrast to our revitalization - Suburbia is dying. There is a migration back to the urban core cities and back to the cities of heritage and distinction and natural beauty. Duluth enjoys all of these distinctions. We are a community that offers world class natural assets. Mayor Ness is intent on staking our claim as one of the world's premier urban outdoor adventure cities.
   

Outdoor Magazine has discovered Duluth. The magazine ranked our city as one of the Top 10 places to live in the United States. Additionally, it recently identified Duluth as the second best outdoor adventure hub in the entire world. I am confident you will join me in forgiving Outdoor Magazine for not naming us as the best outdoor hub.
   

Duluthians have a profound connection to our hillside home. We also have a deep emotional connection to Lake Superior, the Greatest of the Great Lakes. It is this natural beauty that so beautifully complements our world-class healthcare, excellent educational opportunities, strong and safe neighborhoods, affordable housing. It is a rare community that offers all of these things.
   
In conclusion, a creative and engaged culture has been reborn in Duluth. Our deep working class roots have united with a progressive spirit to create a distinct blend of loyalty, pride and optimism. Visitors can witness it. Yet, to truly experience this compelling spirit, one must live amidst this remarkable topography. So, tell your family and friends who are not yet Duluthians to make their move. Now is the time. Tell them it is an ideal time to choose Duluth.

David Ross is the President & CEO of the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce. Connect with David to learn more about Chamber initiatives or subscribe to the president's blog.