Dakota Defense Alliance holding forum over IVN Wednesday

On Wednesday, the Dakota Defense Alliance is holding a public forum to bolster support for North Dakota’s educational and employment needs. An IVN (Integrated Video Network) session will be hosted from Minot State University and will be broadcast to 10 campus locations throughout North Dakota. The IVN session will provide information on the DDA internship program, available internship opportunities, and the partnership between DDA and Operation Intern.

The IVN session will be from 11 a.m. to noon.

“As an alliance of North Dakota businesses, we want to do our part to help provide solutions to the challenge North Dakota faces when students leave the state after graduation. We are working to reverse this trend by introducing a statewide internship program developed with our member companies,” said Kristin Hedger, executive director of the Dakota Defense Alliance.

The DDA has nearly 30 member companies in the fields of high-tech manufacturing, information technology, program management, business administration and more. DDA is hosting this forum to announce an increase in the number of internships offered to North Dakota students and inform businesses about the benefits of communicating opportunities to universities. DDA members agree that it is critical for businesses to reach out and create more awareness of the opportunities students have right here in North Dakota.

“It is about reversing a trend that has often been referred to as the ‘brain drain.’ Our businesses need energetic, driven, young talent — we just need to reach out to our young people and let them know of the quality jobs available,” Hedger said. “We also want to provide them with North Dakota connected companies who may have opportunities for them to live, learn, and experience life elsewhere but maintain the quality connections to come back home with their talents.”

The public forum will be held at the following locations:

Minot: Minot State University Admin 158 (host site)

Bismarck: Bismarck State College — NECE IVN room 345

Bottineau- MiSU-B: Arntzen 2

Devils Lake: Lake Region State College, Admin 171-HD

Dickinson: Dickinson State University, Klinefelter 216

Fargo: North Dakota State University, EML 170

Grand Forks: University of North Dakota, Gamble 120

Mayville: Mayville State University, Library 114

Valley City: Valley City State University, Rhoades 107

Wahpeton: North Dakota State College of Science, Library 101

Williston: Williston State College, Main 107

For more information contact Kristin Hedger at 701-426-9584.

Tags: dakota de ense alliance, news, business, workforce, internships