Celebrating Progress: Joe Vendetti’s Journey from Passion to Purpose at MDI

Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), a time to recognize and celebrate the contributions of people with disabilities and to promote inclusive employment practices. This year’s theme, “Moving People and Communities Forward,” is perfectly embodied in the story of Joe Vendetti. Joe lives in Hibbing, Minnesota, and … Read more

Tina’s Seven-Year Journey of Growth and Community at MDI

Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month At MDI, every employee’s story is part of a bigger picture, one of resilience, inclusion, and progress. This October, for National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), we’re proud to share Tina’s journey, who has been with MDI for seven years. Tina’s path to MDI began thanks to the encouragement … Read more

From the Lake to the Line: How Clayton is Moving Forward with MDI

Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month When Clayton Bowers moved back to his hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, he had a dream: to be near the lake, spend more time with family, and build a life centered around health and purpose. After a spinal surgery that left him battling nerve issues and chronic back pain, … Read more

MDI Goes for Gold as Official Sponsor of the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games

  Partnership unites two organizations with deep-rooted commitments to inclusion, empowerment and innovation A Shared Legacy of Inclusion For more than 60 years, MDI has been a champion for empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities through meaningful employment opportunities and training, and so it’s only fitting that we are an official sponsor of the 2026 Special … Read more

The QA Leader’s Checklist: Proactive Quality Steps and a Rapid Response Playbook

Prevent More, Fix Faster: The QA Balancing Act You’re tasked with preventing defects before they occur and also managing any issues that slip through. It’s a balancing act between being proactive to build quality into your processes and being prepared to react swiftly when something goes wrong. Quality assurance leaders in manufacturing carry a huge … Read more

How to Navigate the Manufacturing Labor Shortage in Minnesota and Wisconsin

Manufacturing Labor Shortage Trends in Minnesota and Wisconsin   If you run a mid-sized manufacturing business in Minnesota or Wisconsin, you’re probably feeling the pressure of the ongoing labor shortage. Even though more people have entered the workforce post-pandemic, the number of open manufacturing jobs still far exceeds the number of available workers. In Wisconsin, … Read more

MDI’s Success at Work celebrates 40 Minnesota students

The 2025 class is the largest in the scholarship program’s history Whether at its Minneapolis location or manufacturing facilities in Grand Rapids, Hibbing and Cohasset, empowering people and communities fuels MDI’s mission to provide meaningful employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Through its Success at Work scholarship program, the social enterprise manufacturer recently honored 40 … Read more

Unified Work Sparks Inclusive Career Exploration at Special Olympics Minnesota 2025

On Saturday, June 21, 2025, during the vibrant energy of the Special Olympics Minnesota Summer Games, Unified Work once again brought innovation and inclusion to life at the University of Minnesota Athletes Village. As part of the Inclusive Work Career Fair, our team engaged athletes with a dynamic suite of hands-on experiences, including immersive virtual … Read more

‘Success At Work’ Scholarship Program Awards $80,000 to Local High School Graduates

Minnesota Diversified Industries (MDI) has awarded $2,000 higher education scholarships to 40 graduating high school students. Congratulations graduates! What ‘Success at Work’ Scholarship Program is The MDI Success at Work scholarship program is a commitment to supporting the educational endeavors of students within the communities we proudly serve. The scholarship program is for applicants between … Read more

Minnesota Manufacturing in 2025 – Tariffs, Talent Shortages, and Turning Point Opportunities

The manufacturing sector in Minnesota has always been resilient – but 2025 presents challenges unlike any before. From escalating tariffs to labor shortages and cost volatility, the pressure on operations leaders is intense. And yet, for those ready to pivot, opportunity lies ahead. Minnesota’s Economic Outlook: Resilient, but Cautious Minnesota’s manufacturers entered 2025 with a … Read more

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