South Bend-based SlateUp is on a mission to connect workers with manufacturing employers. Their efforts are paying off in more ways than one.
The manufacturing talent marketplace partnered with the Northern Indiana Workforce Board, which named SlateUp its 2025 Partner of the Year award.
It also announced a partnership with the Economic Development Corp. of Elkhart County to bolster hiring in the region's manufacturing sector.
“Workforce development works best when it starts with employers, focuses on actual jobs, and makes career paths visible from day one. That’s the approach we’ve taken in Elkhart, and it’s already producing measurable results,” said Robert Merritt, CEO of SlateUp, in a press release.
Both partnerships rely on creating a “human power grid.”
“We needed to do something different — something more visible and outcome-oriented,” said Tom Kavanagh, president and CEO of the Northern Indiana Workforce Board. “SlateUp isn't just a job board; it's a blueprint for one’s professional prosperity. It allows us to show workers clear pathways for promotion and training while helping our local manufacturers access the funding and talent they need to grow. It has become a essential part of our strategy to keep our regional economy competitive.”
The Economic Development Corp. of Elkhart County had a similar need.
“Elkhart County’s manufacturing strength depends on how well we connect people to real, long-term careers,” said Chris Stager, president and CEO of the Economic Development Corp. of Elkhart County, in a press release. “SlateUp gives employers a way to clearly define what they need and gives workers visibility into where those jobs can take them. This partnership helps us move from filling openings to building a sustainable talent pipeline for the region.”
SlateUp works with manufacturers to address specific workforce needs.
“For too long, workforce systems have asked workers to guess which training programs might lead to opportunity,” Merritt said. “We believe the focus should be on employers clearly defining demand, career progression and skill expectations, then letting technology connect people to those opportunities transparently. When employers lead and workers can see the path ahead, everyone wins.”
SlateUp also partnered with Ivy Tech Community College, South Bend-Elkhart in September.
“Together, we’re creating pathways that connect talent with opportunity and industry with skilled workforce and future leaders,” said Patrick Englert, Chancellor, Ivy Tech South Bend-Elkhart, in a press release.
Indiana had an estimated 83,000 unfilled manufacturing jobs, according to a Conexus Indiana report in 2022.
SlateUp was founded in 2024 with the backing from the Notre Dame 1842 Fund and managed by Alloy Partners.
