As part of their senior project, a group of University of Saint Francis students recently presented their research in employee retention practices to executives from Carlex Glass Indiana, LLC.

Carlex is an automotive glass manufacturer in Auburn. Like many firms its size in northeast Indiana, Carlex has experienced challenges in attracting and retaining employees in a low unemployment environment.

This student project was an element of the USF Keith Busse School of Business and Entrepreneurial Leadership’s Entrepreneurial Program with Integrated Cooperatives (EPIC), which offers participants unique opportunities for mentoring and networking, along with real-world industry experience.

The senior EPIC class collaborated with Carlex Plant Manager Tim Ellis and Human Resource Manager Jamie Bell to analyze the job selection process at Carlex and make recommendations to improve worker retention.

Bell said, “Tim and I were honored to assist the USF EPIC students with their senior project. We enjoyed learning from the students and look forward to exploring their recommendations for improving retention at Carlex.”

“USF and the Keith Busse School of Business and Entrepreneurial Leadership is grateful to have collaborated with Carlex Glass in this project,” said Assistant Professor Dr. Shawn Ambrose. “Both Carlex and USF realize that experiential learning is critical for students to work in real-world situations, bringing what is learned in the classroom to life.”

For more information about the Keith Busse School of Business and Entrepreneurial Leadership and the EPIC program, visit business.sf.edu.