Best State To Raise a Family
(WalletHub, 1st in 2020; 2nd in 2021)
Overcoming age as a barrier to employment: how a Veteran found her dream job with the right support
15 Dec 2025
News
On September 2, 2025, Rebecca Kaas, a Minnesota Veterans Employment Representative, enrolled Angela, a 60-year-old U.S. Army Veteran, into the Minnesota Veterans Employment Program. Angela came with an impressive background: a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s in organizational management with an emphasis in human resources, over 30 years of leadership experience, and more than 13 years in human resources. Despite her qualifications, Angela faced a significant internal barrier—her age.
Angela feared that hiring managers might overlook her in favor of younger, less experienced candidates. “I was afraid they’d see me as too old,” she shared. But with Rebecca’s guidance, that fear began to fade.
More Topics
On April 9, 2025, Rebecca Kaas, a Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) specialist with CareerForce Veterans Employment Services, enrolled 36-year-old Air Force Veteran Anthony, who had separated from service in 2019. For most of the time since he left active duty, Anthony worked as a self-employed project management consultant. He...
Overview:Minnesota’s manufacturing workforce remains one of the state’s most important competitive advantages. When manufacturers choose to locate or expand in Minnesota, they frequently cite access to a skilled workforce as a key driver of that decision. At the same time, however, workforce availability has emerged as one of the sector’s...
Grant brings farming history to Fairmont
Dec 6 2025Stearns County is home to the Anton Gogala Farmstead, founded in 1867. The operation was run by a Slovenian-American family, who helped to foundThanks to a grant from Minnesota's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, attendees got to learn about Minnesota's farming past from Author Jay Grammond at the Martin County...