Over the last six years Arthrex and Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) have worked together to forge a mutually beneficial partnership that helps grow and keep top talent in Southwest Florida.
Recently, representatives from 30 Arthrex departments and nearly 200 students representing 50 different majors came together for the sixth annual Arthrex Day at FGCU.
The recruiting event brings together current Arthrex employees, many of whom are FGCU alumni, and students who are interested in opportunities to intern and eventually work at Arthrex.
“This event is a win-win for Arthrex and FGCU students,” said College Relations Supervisor Alyssa McCoy. “The targeted nature of this event allows for in-depth conversations between Arthrex employees and students who are genuinely interested in a particular field.”
Arthrex Senior IT Business Analyst Klaudia Fisheku, who earned three degrees from FGCU – an undergraduate degree, a Master of Science in Information Systems and Analytics and an MBA, started at Arthrex as an intern. Today, she volunteers her time to help prepare other FGCU students for internships at the company.
“I first learned about Arthrex at a career day,” Klaudia said. “My current manager hired me as intern. Today, I am passionate about giving back and I try to help mentor students as much as possible. Some of the most impactful ways to stay involved as FGCU alumni include giving back to our local community, staying engaged in the Southwest Florida networks and serving as a mentor for the next generation of college students.”
Arthrex Engineering Project Manager Emily Shafer also graduated from FGCU with a degree in bioengineering and recently completed her MBA there. She says she vividly remembers the challenges of looking for a job right out of college. Today, Emily’s pleased and proud to represent Arthrex at the FGCU career fairs. She personally helped recruit Engineer I Colby Rakowski and Engineer II Victoria Lawless first as interns and now as full-time Arthrex employees.
“I love being able to provide much needed clarity to students about the process,” Emily said. “It’s wonderful to see the relief on their faces as they realize that they are on track for success. And for Arthrex, we gain valuable recruiting leads.”
Creating a pipeline of skilled, motivated potential employees with ties to Southwest Florida who want to stay in the area is key for Arthrex.
“Recruiting locally is a huge advantage for us,” Alyssa said. “We are able to reduce hiring costs, onboard candidates quicker, increase retention and strengthen our partnership with FGCU.”
FGCU Director of Career Development Services Rose Fuller says that partnership also helps the university with their own recruiting efforts.
“The synergy between Arthrex and FGCU is really special,” Rose said. “FGCU is a small, regional institution and we have a lot of very talented students who want to stay in this area. And they also want a career with a large company where they can learn and grow – it’s a wonderful opportunity to introduce them to Arthrex.”
