In mid-September 2025, the Greater Freeport Partnership and Highland Community College Career Services co-hosted an HR Roundtable for local employers to discuss Gen Z in the workforce. Much of the conversation was influenced by JP Michel’s “challenge mindset,” a growing philosophy in career services, with which Highland Career Services gained much firsthand experience at the National Career Development Association’s global conference in June.
Highland Career Services, supported by the Room to Grow Grant, embraces this “challenge mindset” and is exploring ways to develop it in partner high schools, beginning with materials for students attending the November career fair.