Future Impact | Isabella Markward & Katie Alyea

How do partnerships between education and local businesses create real opportunities for students—and what does that impact look like in action?

In this episode of Impact: The Chamber Podcast, we sit down with Isabella Markward, a junior at Northeastern High School, and Katie Alyea, Regional Marketing Manager at 3Rivers Federal Credit Union and Chamber board member, to talk about the Student Future Success (SFS) program and the role businesses play in shaping the next generation.

We dive into how SFS is connecting students to real-world experiences, the importance of business involvement in workforce development, and how organizations like 3Rivers are making a difference both inside and outside the workplace. We also highlight 3Rivers’ recent feature in our Behind the Business series and what sets them apart as a community-focused organization.

From student perspectives to business leadership, this conversation showcases how collaboration is helping build a stronger, more connected Wayne County.

Tune in to hear how programs like SFS are creating opportunities, supporting local businesses, and empowering students for the future.

Transcript

SPEAKER_04 0:05

Hi, I'm Melissa Vance with the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce, and you're tuning into Chamber Impact Podcast, and we're so excited to have you join us today. We've got a lot to talk about. Um, we're really hitting on our um internship program, work-based learning called Student Future Success. We're gonna talk a little bit about things at the board level and what's happening with our friends next door to our office at Three Rivers. And um then we're gonna talk a little bit about what's coming up in regard to events, things you are not gonna want to miss. So make sure you stay tuned in for the whole thing for Lynette's list. Yes. So with that, um, I want to introduce our guests with us today. We have Katie Ellia from our board and Three Rivers. Thanks for coming. So happy to be here. And we have Isabella Markward.

SPEAKER_00 1:10

Hi, my name is Isabella, and I'm a junior at Northeastern High School right now.

SPEAKER_04 1:14

Great, thank you. Appreciate you being here. And then, of course, Lynette Davis, who is our director of events and um in charge of all things fun. So we're gonna jump right in and and um talk a little bit about what we call student future success, which is our high school internship opportunities that are developing now. So, Isabella, tell us a little bit about you just in general.

SPEAKER_00 1:46

So I'm a junior and I play volleyball for both my school and through a club called Montana. And I am Montana, that's big time. Yes. And I'm just super excited to talk about the workplace learning because I think it's really a good thing that's happening and being implemented.

SPEAKER_04 2:07

So what made you interested in the work-based learning opportunities in the first place?

SPEAKER_00 2:14

Yeah, so I'm been always been conflicted on what I want to go into after I graduate. And I think that the work-based learning is a really like in the internships are a really awesome way for me to get like experience and see if this is something I want to do when I graduate. So that's definitely a part of it. And it's also just a like great opportunity to get experience and yeah.

SPEAKER_04 2:36

Right. It's a wonderful thing to put on your college application for one. Yes. Um, it's really interesting that um we we only have to really start focusing on students that are freshmen this year because by the time they graduate, they have to have these new diploma seals with work-based learning opportunities. But the students now can go ahead and participate in these things and work on it, and it's exciting to see how many students like you are jumping in and taking advantage right away. Thank you. So, what do you have an idea of what you do want to do after college?

SPEAKER_00 3:21

Um, I don't know what I want to do after college. Like I'm looking at business for my bachelor's and a couple other things, but yeah, really right now I don't know what I want to do. So giving getting this opportunity is really um ideal to help me figure it out.

SPEAKER_02 3:37

Great. I love that so many these opportunities are there that our chamber is doing things like the career fair and the internships and so forth because I went to college, I have a degree, I'm not using the what my degree is is not what I'm doing. Um, and I wish I had explored other options or had the opportunity to explore. And so it's I love that we are doing this and you can kind of figure out, you know, well, okay, I definitely don't want to do this.

SPEAKER_03 4:07

And figuring it out earlier than when I don't want to sound like a dinosaur. But back in my day, I wasn't getting those experiences until well into or late in my college life, and so you're going to be getting to see all of that so much earlier, which only goes to benefit you and your goals and what you want to do. Right.

SPEAKER_04 4:26

I used to have some idea of things um that you've tried it and you know that I like this and I don't like that before you waste your money on a degree that you're not gonna get. Absolutely. But so from your experience as an intern next year, what do you hope to learn?

SPEAKER_00 4:51

I just really hope to learn what if I possibly go into this career, what it could look like for me. And I'm just gonna see so many things. And um, I was talking to Chantal and she was telling me so many awesome opportunities I would uh I would have. And I get to see so many things that go on like behind the scenes, and I just think that's an awesome like opportunity. Great.

SPEAKER_04 5:15

What um from a board standpoint, Katie, when we first started talking about work-based learning and how the chamber can and could be involved, from a board standpoint, what value was talked about around the table and and what were you seeing on your end?

SPEAKER_03 5:38

Well, uh from a board perspective, I just love the work-based learning so much because it it's like the it's a program that's at the perfect intersection of education and workforce development. So what the students are gonna be exposed to are gonna help them be stronger. Uh, they're gonna like you were mentioning the experiences you're going to get to see that will help determine maybe a career path that you hadn't thought about. Or even opening your eyes to gosh, I did not know that these this business offered a career in whatever it might be. Um so it's uh it's an amazing benefit from the student side because you know, like I said earlier, I didn't have those opportunities when I was in high school. Um basically we kind of got the story that if you don't get a four-year degree, you're not going to do anything with your life. But there were no opportunities prior to graduation to see a career path. Um, you had to I I didn't even have my first interview until I was a junior or senior in college. And so getting to do those things earlier helped set our students up for success and hopefully will help allow them to see the opportunities that are here locally that could hopefully keep them here. And you know, change that narrative of there is nothing for me here. I have to move to Indianapolis or I have to move to Chicago or wherever it may be, you know, changing that narrative to let them see there are a lot of career pathways here. Right. Um, but then on the workforce development side, we're helping businesses because a business is only as strong as the talent pipeline behind it. And we all have talked with businesses for years about the importance of workforce. And um, if anybody has been in HR, they know uh the importance and the struggle that comes with hiring and getting good talent. So I think it's you know, the workbase program is just at that perfect intersection of helping our young people and our students in the community and giving a benefit to our business folks.

SPEAKER_04 8:00

Well, um Katie, I know you have been working with Three Rivers for how long now?

SPEAKER_03 8:08

Um it is well, I was at West End for four years, and um it's been six years since since Three Rivers merged with West End. So a total of ten years in the community and um with the organization.

SPEAKER_04 8:21

So um how have how have you seen Three Rivers really diving into financial education and and you know, how does the work that you all do complement the work of this SFS Student Future Success Program?

SPEAKER_03 8:41

Yeah, uh you said it exactly, it's very complimentary. So financial education is a huge component at Three Rivers. You know, every day we are helping our members and the community understand the importance of being financially smart and having the knowledge to make wise decisions in your own daily life, whether that comes um from a lending side if if you need a loan, but knowing the background to what goes into needing a loan and what you can qualify for, but also um the importance of having savings accounts and creating budgets and working towards goals and all and all of that. So the importance of the financial education and what we do every day is such a complement to a program like this because you know the work-based learning opens the door to opportunities for the students, but what we're doing every day on the financial education component is going to create a confidence. So if you understand to a better degree than most people, if you understand, you know, where you are in terms of your pay every month, um, what you can afford in terms of whatever the little nicet you know, niceties are. Uh I've got my iced coffee here this morning. Um it gives students because when they get their first job, they're now probably the first time experiencing a steady income and getting a paycheck. Yeah, yeah. And probably more money than they have seen from um, you know, mom and dad giving an allowance or grandma and grandpa with birthday presents or things like that. So it's a steady income that can look really awesome until you actually like, oh man, I've got to get I've got gas now to and from my job every day. I've got that expense. Um, possibly maybe having your own insurance or whether that's under your parents. Um but with the financial education, having a young person know those things to be on the lookout for, especially you know, on credit cards, because that's around the time that can enter the picture and you know pick what to look out for and how to be safe when it comes to using credit cards. Um it gives them more confidence when they're going into that job for the first time. That they don't have to worry about no, I've got this plan, I know I I've got my you know what I'm expected to bring in laid out, and it just makes for a more confident and well-rounded person.

SPEAKER_04 11:36

If you don't tell your money where to go, it's gonna leak out and you're gonna lose it. Yes. I mean, it's just kind of the way it is, right? Yep, be f yep, exactly. And that's a hard lesson to learn. Yes. I think we've all experienced lessons in life, but that's a hard lesson to learn.

SPEAKER_03 11:52

And we would be here to help to we are here to help folks when they do and there's so many unknown certain, you know, things that come up unexpectedly. Um, but you know, we're here with no judgment and just to help educate and because it is kind of sad. Um, you know, my mom and dad taught me a lot about finances and and tracking your dollars, not to say I'm the best at it still, but there are so many that don't get that. Yeah. Um and that's what we can help with.

SPEAKER_04 12:23

So I know you've been working with Alexis on a behind the business feature that's gonna come out soon. Talk about why it's important to tell Three Rivers story and and what you hope to see come from that.

SPEAKER_03 12:36

Yeah, it's so cool to have the opportunity to do something like Behind the Business because it gives a behind the scenes peak about Three Rivers that allows us to really tell our story about who we are. Um, it allows us to give a highlight to our awesome team, our great culture. And a lot of times in traditional marketing and advertising, that kind of message gets lost. Um so having the ability to tell our story in such a natural way is is really cool for us.

SPEAKER_04 13:18

And this one's gonna be um, and and you all are gonna wanna check that out as soon as it is launched. Um that filming at BAM Fitness, which is a great, great customer and great success story. So I'm excited for people to hear that, and that's just a teaser. We're not gonna go in any further on that side. But um, I also wanted to give you a chance to talk a little bit about how Three Rivers shows up in the community. Yeah. Because we see you everywhere at everything, just being supportive.

SPEAKER_03 13:52

Yeah. Thank you. Um you know, community is so important to Three Rivers and what we believe in. You know, we're not just a credit union or as most a lot of people still call us, a bank. Um, we're not a financial institution that's just here. You know, this is our community too, and our team members live here and work here. Um, we give back in a lot of different ways and very intentionally, but we have our Three Rivers Foundation that grants nonprofits throughout the year funding for initiatives that involve education, financial wellness, or um health and wellness. Um, and the impact of those gifts to the organizations that are doing the work is amazing. Um and you know, our teams show up in so many different ways. They volunteer on boards, they show up to committees, um, and these aren't just like one-off things, it's consistently being there and being present. Right. And I think that's you know, we our team part of our culture, our team loves that. And community means a lot to us. So the the ability we have to give back in the ways we do is so important.

SPEAKER_02 15:19

Now, okay, also I'm gonna jump in there too. If I come up with some crazy idea of like a video or a dance or a trains world photo, I know Three Rivers is gonna be right in their head first. Their crew is gonna come up with something they have. It's been fun, I know. Or I just call over there and say, hey, got an idea. Okay.

SPEAKER_03 15:45

It's so fun, and it just changes, you know, the day-to-day for our team to be able to be involved in fun stuff like that. But it it truly does mean a lot, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 15:57

Yeah. Hopefully, when you find a permanent spot that you land in, whether it's um whether it's in business or in another field, whatever that ends up being, that place has a little bit of that fun element too, because we always say we we work hard, but we have a great time doing it. And I your team is really good at that as well. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 16:24

Makes the hard days bearable.

SPEAKER_04 16:26

Yeah, that's a little bit better.

SPEAKER_01 16:28

Absolutely. And you gotta be able to laugh. Um gotta be able to laugh about it.

SPEAKER_04 16:33

Well, Lynette, what's your list?

SPEAKER_02 16:37

We're on to P already. Hold on, I gotta change up and get my notes up here. Okay, so speaking of fun, um we are getting kind of back into our bigger chamber event times, um, where um we have some fun things coming up. So, first thing I want to mention is an absolute chamber favorite, and that is our annual golf outing. Um, I say annual golf outing. We actually uh started a second golf outing, but this is like it's so big we started a second golf outing in the fall. Um but this is our June golf outing, and um, it is so big that we have two flights full of golfers, just golfers everywhere. Um we take over four stills that day, uh literally. And um, yeah, so this is one of our favorites. So right now I am getting our sponsor team signed up. So it's not quite open to the general chamber membership yet to get a team in there, but that will be happening soon. So look out for that.

SPEAKER_04 17:36

Are you a golfer, Isabella? I am not, but I have friends who are. Well, I am not either, but I brought a golf outing.

SPEAKER_02 17:45

I want a mini golf outing, but I'm I'm not a golfer other than top golf. Mini golf. Mini golf. Um I I love putting this day together so the golfers that do enjoy it can go down below. And uh I'll put Katie on the spot. You want hole number 10? Yes. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 18:07

Is that the one closest to the clubhouse?

SPEAKER_02 18:08

Yeah, because Katie always wants the one closest to the clubhouse, which is fair. You know, I yeah, I it's a perfect view.

SPEAKER_01 18:15

Yes, it is a beautiful view. Yeah, so yes.

SPEAKER_02 18:17

Hole number 10 at Fost Hills is is gorgeous. So, all right, we're we gotta put you on the spot. You have to give yes to it right now.

SPEAKER_01 18:25

I saw with the like red attention that I haven't gotten yet. Typically for you.

SPEAKER_04 18:30

Yeah, and if you are a golfer, you all probably already know you stop by Three Rivers and pick up goodies. Yes. Usually involve some sort of fun shades. Yes. So I do love the sunglasses. They're about there.

SPEAKER_01 18:45

I am so tired of them, but everyone loves them, so I can't stop when you get up. You know, can't stop, won't stop. That's right.

SPEAKER_02 18:51

No, no, I do love those. So um, yes, so like I said, we are getting sponsor teams in right now, um, and then we'll see what we have left for chamber member teams, um, but we usually have a few spots left for that. And if you don't get in on this one, then we do have the fall one.

SPEAKER_04 19:07

Yep. So register fast because it they go fast.

SPEAKER_02 19:10

Yeah, but we have a lot of fun. I know our committee, ACES committee, is um has come up with and is working on some some fun things for it too. So it'd be a good day. Hopefully, weather like today is where it's nice.

SPEAKER_04 19:24

Yes, beautiful. Beautiful. Beautiful. Well, I that's a wrap for us. Thank you guys for being here. It's very nice to have you with us, Isabella. Thank you for joining us. It wasn't so bad, right? No, not at all. Too scary, I hope. And Katie, always fun spending time with you and hanging out. Appreciate all the Three Rivers does, but also your continued presence on our board and the support of the chambers. Great. Thank you. And thank you for tuning in today. Um, make sure you share and comment on the podcast, and then follow us so that you get notifications for all of our podcasts coming up. And hopefully, you've learned a little something that you didn't already know. Um, we appreciate you tuning in and your support of Wayne County. Look forward to seeing you next time here on Chamber Impact.