YEAR IN REVIEW
Feature
Key Initiatives
Educator Industry Experience at Tuohy Furniture Corporation
Now in its second year, the Chamber’s Educator Industry Experience continued to expand into more industries and additional school districts. The program provides educators with firsthand exposure to local career pathways through business tours, Q&A with industry professionals, and job shadowing opportunities. Hosts included Benike Construction, Tuohy Furniture Corporation, KTTC, Olmsted County Sheriff's Office, Mayo Civic Center, Rochester International Airport, and Great Planes Aviation.
Educator Industry Experience at Great Planes Aviation
“Both teachers and industry hosts have found this program to be an important part of developing a talent pipeline that is long term for the community,” Henneman says. The Student Job Shadow is another opportunity for high school students to experience the day-to-day activities of a
"Both teachers and industry hosts have
found this program to be an important part of developing a talent pipeline that is long term for the community"
Educator Industry Experience at Benike Construction
career they are interested in. Launched in 2025, the program placed 30 students across six local employers, where participants spent three days exploring career fields such as marketing, sales, hospitality, and engineering. During the experience, students toured offices and job sites, spent one-on-one time with industry professionals, learned about operations and emerging trends, observed daily responsibilities, and practiced essential networking skills. By offering early, hands-on career exposure, the program helps build a strong local talent pipeline while ensuring future candidates are informed, prepared, and confident as they enter the workforce. As Rochester and the surrounding communities continue to grow, the Student Job Shadow program plays an important role in the Chamber’s broader workforce initiatives. “Our members appreciated the opportunity to showcase what their industries entail, while also getting the chance to engage directly with the future workforce,” Henneman says. “We are opening doors for businesses to connect directly with talent in our career pathway programming, and we are excited to see that grow in the future.” In addition to workforce development efforts, the Chamber remained actively engaged in advocacy on issues impacting local employers, including Paid Family Medical Leave. Since the policy was passed during the 2023 legislative session, the Chamber has collected member feedback and concerns on the program. This year, before the session began, the Chamber surveyed members and partnered with
New Staff
30 TEACHERS & 6 EMPLOYERS participated in Educator Industry Experience
Paid Family Medical Leave Info Session with Dunlap & Seeger
12 | ROCHESTER AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ADVANTAGE MAGAZINE — FEBRUARY 2026
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