CLH Building Talent Pipeline Early with Michigan City Students

Northwest Indiana accounting firm CLH, CPAs & Consultants isn’t wasting a single opportunity to build its talent pipeline and is starting its outreach efforts early. At a recent career expo event hosted by Michigan City Area Schools, CLH was actively engaged with students as young as sixth grade. Their goal was to show the students that high-quality careers in accounting are a promising option for their futures and they don’t have to fit a mold to find a rewarding career in the accounting field.

Exposure to various career pathways is one of the most empowering experiences that employers can provide for young people. Awareness can be the key determining factor later in life when students are making decisions about their professions.

“There’s a common misconception that accounting is a stuffy or boring job and that couldn’t be further from the truth. We want to show students what it’s really like in our industry. At CLH, we aim to support our team in pursuing career paths that are fulfilling and challenging and we also want to see them live life to the fullest,” commented Stephanie Russell, CLH Human Resource Manager.  She continued, “We aim to provide our team with the flexibility to participate in all of the activities they enjoy outside of the office, like volunteering, being active in the community, spending time with their families and friends, traveling, or anything else that leads them to a true work-life balance.”

Stephanie Russell and CLH interns Colin Flanigan and Matthew Flanigan attended the inaugural MCAS 6th Grade College and Career Expo to represent careers in accounting.  Using a creative approach, the team shared about the wide variety of careers available in accounting, including public accounting, forensic accounting, and managerial accounting, among others.

Nearly 500 sixth grade students from Michigan City Area Schools attended the event at Lake Hills Elementary School to learn about the many different career and college paths available to them. Over 40 colleges and businesses were in attendance as well.

The primary event organizer was Kristi Davis, MCAS K-12 Coordinator for Counseling and Support Services. Both Davis and Russell are members of the Michigan City Chamber Education Committee, which focuses on MCAS Career and Employer Connections. The committee’s goal is to connect employers and educators to collaborate on the best ways to educate students on available opportunities and prepare them for successful careers.