Boyne City, Michigan — The Northern Lakes Economic Alliance (NLEA) is pleased to announce the third event of its Catalyst Conversations series, “Staffing Up: Innovative Workforce Strategies,” taking place on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at The Boathouse in East Jordan.
As workforce shortages and changing demographics continue to challenge businesses in our region, this event will provide real-world examples and concrete solutions from business leaders. According to the US Census Bureau, the share of prime professional age individuals (ages 25 to 54) in the region declined by 13.6% between 2010 and 2023, a rate almost double the state’s decline. This decrease is being felt by business leaders; 70% of respondents to the NLEA’s spring Economic Pulse Report listed staffing as one of the largest barriers to growing their business. With a panel of speakers, attendees will gain practical strategies to attract and retain talent in Northern Michigan’s evolving labor market.
Event Panelists Include:
- Abe Manthei, Director of Missional Development for Manthei Group, will discuss the staffing strategies of Manthei Wood Products through the use of international engineering visas and an innovative in-recovery program.
- Ryan Schultz, President of Mr. Chain, will share how new staffing methods and an innovative scheduling model have attracted a larger workforce outside the traditional working age population, helping the business thrive and meet staffing needs during times of peak demand.
- Rena Dam, Global Talent Corporate Outreach Michigan Program Manager with Global Detroit, will discuss how employers can connect with the tens of thousands of highly-skilled international students in Michigan. She will share best practices and avenues for companies to explore hiring and retaining these talented professionals.
- Sam Bailey, Strategic Initiatives Manager with NLEA, will discuss the demographic and labor force trends shaping our region before moderating the panel discussion.
The event will take place from 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM, with light refreshments provided. Tickets for this event are available through September 15th, 2025. For details and to register, visit: https://thenlea.com/calendar/catalyst-conversations-innovative-workforce-strategies/
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Northern Lakes Economic Alliance (NLEA) is a regional economic development organization serving businesses and communities in Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, and Emmet Counties in Northern Michigan. NLEA works directly with local units of government on infrastructure projects, facilitates local company growth and expansion, and assists many local companies on a wide range of issues that help retain existing jobs and create new jobs. For more information visit TheNLEA.com
