January 2011
The power of networking
Tech Valley Connect
By Danielle Pitanello
A great example of the power of networking is a newer non-profit in the area – Tech Valley Connect (TVC). TVC’s sole focus is to connect professional families moving to this area with employment, social, cultural and most any other type of need they may encounter. Many, many families are relocating here for employment opportunities with the growth of the region’s technology and research segments – and this will continue.
I sat down with Angela McNerney, executive director of Tech Valley Connect to talk about the program and the impact on this area.
Angela – tell the readers in a nutshell what TVC is all about.
We started as a pilot program on the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute campus, funded by the Elsevier Foundation and supported by the National Science Foundation’s Advance Program to be the conduit for relocating professionals and their trailing spouse/partner to the community, which is critical for employee retention. Linda Hillman at the Rensselaer County Chamber of Commerce was instrumental in gathering supporting businesses to align with TVC and help the program become a reality. In many situations, without an organization addressing spousal employment or family assimilation, many relocating professionals don’t invest themselves into the community and without work for the spouse they can become unhappy quickly, and they leave the area. This creates a significant dent to that organization’s budget. It can cost an employer two-and-a-half to fives times the salary of a new hire to lose them within the first two years.
In January of 2010, TVC became its own independent non-profit. The program networks the employee and their family to the community and employment opportunities before they move here and after they’ve arrived. Many think it is just about finding jobs for the trailing spouse, but it isn’t – the second reason a hire would leave a position is that the family hadn’t assimilated into the community. TVC does a thorough intake of the family, finding out what is important to them and what services they will need specific to their unique needs. We connect them with everything from doctors to mechanics, as well as provide volunteer opportunities which help gets them invested in their new community. If they network, both professionally and personally, more than likely they will stay and prosper in the area, which will keep highly-talented professionals living and working in the Capital Region.
How is this done?
Through our dedicated coordinator, Julie Hansen, who focuses on understanding the needs of the family or individual through an extensive intake. Then the networking process begins – often through many of our sponsors, partners and resources. As an enhancement to their recruitment efforts and added value to bolstering of retention rates, the services TVC offers is second to none. Trailing spouses are set up in informational interviews with decision makers of employers, giving them an edge in a very tough job market.
And the outcomes?
In some cases, it is a valuable networking contact on a senior level in a company that leads to an opportunity (many have found jobs). In other cases, it is helping an individual, couple or family find services that will help them feel comfortable in the region, and that is critical. Others have purchased real estate; still more have been introduced to new social networks. We determine the needs – and are innovative in our approach. The bottom line is we work to network every facet of their lives to get them to call the Capital Region ‘home’.
Is this a new concept?
Currently, Tech Valley Connect is the only organization in the country modeling this concept – to address each family and their individual needs. Our program reaches out to the broader community; both to businesses and human services. We did this by building a consortium of employers in the Capital Region who all commit to high-level informational interviews for the trailing spouse of a hire within the consortium. The Capital Region was and continues to be an excellent market for this type of program with our high growth in technology, numerous universities and our many healthcare organizations requiring specialized talent.
Is there a secret to success for TVC?
Most certainly, and that is making people find a strong sense of ‘home’. When we can focus on families and their needs, we create retention in the workforce of the Capital Region. This is critical to the successful hiring of top talent in the Capital Region. We are very thankful to our sponsors as well – SEFCU, Realty USA and others – who have supported our initiative from the beginning helping to make us a viable, sustainable program.
So for the doubters who don’t believe that we are the Tech Valley – what do you have to say?
It is here. It is real. And it’s getting bigger. Our area is going to change, grow and prosper in the next decade and we will be seeing more impact to both businesses and residents, and it is exciting. If you could just talk to one of the families coming here and listen to their trepidation turn to enthusiasm and excitement…well, you would be a believer too!
