enFocus Helping to Keep College Grads Here

Published Monday, June 19, 2017

enFocus Helping to Keep College Grads Here. The value of enFocus Inc. is becoming clear. A business that could be full of mumbo jumbo is doing research for companies, government and nonprofits. As it does so, it’s keeping college graduates in the region.

“We create opportunities that empower young, recent grads to help the community,” said Lex Dennis, chief strategy officer for the entity that formed in 2012. He was the first enFocus intern in 2013 and then joined it as an employee.

Business leaders in South Bend started it as a nonprofit to attract talent, said Andrew Wiand, executive director. Based on success in St. Joseph County, expansion into Elkhart County is in the works.

EnFocus offers fellowships to recent grads to work on projects that benefit the community. Nearly 80 percent of fellows have stayed in the area, about 90 people altogether.

This year, 12 fellows and 151 interns are at work on about 50 ongoing projects, said Wiand. Seventy percent of the time is spent on fee-for-service consulting and the other 30 percent is for incubating ideas or working on side projects. If that sounds familiar, it’s what Google allows its employees to do.

A fellow gets $40,000 and a few additional stipends for technology and health care.