Why a LinkedIn report highlights Flyover country | Finding tech talent | Virtual inspections
“It’s a cliché, but opportunities are rarely offered; they’re seized.” — Sheryl Sandberg
Today’s itinerary:
MAY 28, 2020
DESIRED DESTINATIONS
Flyover country dominates LinkedIn’s 'top cities to launch your career' 
Photo courtesy Shutterstock
New research by LinkedIn confirms what we’ve been shouting from the rooftops: Flyover country is full of great places to live and work. In its new “Top 15 Cities to Launch Your Career” list, none of the top coastal cities are anywhere to be found. Instead, Midwestern cities like St. Louis, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis take the top five spots, with Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Columbus, and Houston rounding out the top ten.
LinkedIn looked at 3 million open positions over a three-year period, taking into account "career starter" positions, job title, geography, median salary, and median housing rent data on Zillow for the same time period. Top jobs included software engineers, nurses, salespeople, teachers, project managers, and analysts.
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ON THE RADAR
Columbus startup aims to make tech hiring more personal Five Ohio State students and graduates have launched Helm, a platform that job seekers can use to build digital portfolios that showcase their coding skills. Companies looking to hire tech talent can access the platform and evaluate the posted projects for a monthly subscription fee.
The idea is to allow prospective employees to present themselves via their interactive portfolio, which highlights their work, their goals, and their accomplishments. Co-founder and CEO Tommy Hillyer thinks this approach will be far more effective than a traditional resume, which doesn’t present a candidate’s story. “We’re trying to make hiring more about people and less about your network connections, resume, GPA or some of these arbitrary metrics that tend to create barriers for a lot of our peers,” Hillyer said.
Minnesota construction firm conducts virtual inspections Knutson Construction, based in St. Louis Park, MN, has been responding to the pandemic with a focus on protecting employees, partners, and the community. One innovative way the company has approached this mission is by conducting virtual inspections.
Knutson recently performed a virtual inspection for the Minnesota Department of Health. By scanning the worksite with a 3D video camera, uploading the scans, and hosting a virtual follow-up meeting, the team was able to carry out the inspection without requiring as much physical onsite presence.
Registered architect Katie Montag is heading up Knutson’s virtual inspection efforts. In an interview with Finance & Commerce, she described the benefits of the process. “Rather than having a group of inspectors, the architect, the engineer, and our field team there, we can limit the amount of people on site.”
FUELING THE FUTURE
PA’s Infectious Disease Connect combines with ILÚM Health Solutions
UPMC Enterprises’ telemedicine company Infectious Disease Connect is joining Merck’s ILÚM Health Solutions, which supports “infectious disease management, clinical decision-support and precision antibiotic therapy.” UPMC Enterprises and Merck Global Health Innovation Fund are investing $5 million apiece in the combined company.
NC startup raises $1.35M in equity
Winston-Salem company Wellnecity, a “proactive benefits management service for self-insured employers,” has raised approximately $1.35 million, collecting funds from 30 investors. The round remains open and is capped at $1.39 million.
Avtex acquires Indy’s Communications Products
IT-services company Avtex, based in Bloomington, MN, has announced that it’s acquiring the assets of Communications Products Inc., headquartered in Indianapolis.
PKWARE agrees to acquisition by private equity firm
Milwaukee data security firm PKWARE has entered into an agreement to be acquired by St. Louis-based private equity firm Thompson Street Capital Partners.
Orchid Monroe to acquire Carter Motor Company
Wisconsin manufacturer Orchid Monroe, which produces components for electric motors, generators, and transformers, is acquiring Carter Motor Company. The acquisition is slated to be completed by the end of June.
FINAL APPROACH
Welcome to Moonshine University What better place to have a school that teaches about the craft-distillery industry than in Kentucky, the heart of bourbon country? That was Flavorman founder David Dafoe’s thought when he decided to launch Moonshine University, which brings together specialists from every facet of the distilling and spirits industries under one roof to provide technical training, support, and services for start-ups, distilleries, industry professionals, and those looking for careers in the distilling industry.
Dafoe, who formerly worked for Brown-Forman but went out on his own to start Flavorman, recognized the potential for the university when the craft-distilling movement began to take on momentum. He saw that the tremendous surge in demand for distilling permits had no foundation: there was no formalized education catering specifically for these emerging craft enterprises.
Moonshine University opened it in the summer of 2012. The premier class is five days and it costs $5,950. Dafoe said, “We’ve filled every class and we have a waiting list.”
IN-FLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT
It's ... Name that Flyover city!
This week's trivia is pretty straightforward. Just match the musician with the city in which he was born.
Click here for today's answers.
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