Career connections don't stop at a single event or conversation. This month, we're sharing how schools and employers are creating meaningful experiences for students, using Compass to strengthen relationships, and opening doors to new opportunities.
From recent career expos to practical resources for employers, new Compass features, and a growing network of partners, there’s a lot happening this fall. We're also welcoming a new team member who will help us grow our partnership across the region and beyond.
Here's what's new in November:
Welcome to the Golden Path team, Tom Dryburgh!
We're welcoming a familiar face and experienced workforce development leader to the Golden Path team: Tom Dryburgh. He brings extensive experience in education, employer partnerships, and workforce development, including his work with the Moorhead High School Career Academy and Minn-Dak Manufacturing Association.
“Tom’s background is a perfect mix of working with educators across the region, developing employer partnerships with schools, and driving initiatives like work-based learning, industry-focused events for students, and state policy work,” says Golden Path founder and CEO Patrick Mineer.
Now based in Alabama, Dryburgh will serve as Director of Business Development, helping Golden Path strengthen relationships throughout Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota while expanding our reach into new states.
“That's what makes this opportunity with Golden Path Solutions such a natural fit,” says Dryburgh. “Compass provides an exciting way to strengthen the connections between education and industry, helping schools and businesses work together to prepare students for their futures.”
Please join us in welcoming Dryburgh!
Put your Compass data to work: Watch the webinar recording
Want to know how students are engaging with your company and careers in Compass? The new Compass Dashboard brings your key analytics into one place, helping you understand student interest, identify which schools are engaging with your content, and identify new ways to engage with students and schools.
If you missed our recent Get Started with Compass Dashboard webinar, you can now watch the recording at your convenience. We'll walk you through the Dashboard's features and show you how to use your data to guide your next steps – from strengthening your Compass presence to planning school outreach, career events, and work-based learning opportunities.
Career exploration takes center stage across the region
It's been a busy season of career exploration for students across the region! From Bloomington Public Schools' Industry and Innovation Day to the Northern Valley Career Expo in Grand Forks, the Bioscience Summit in Fargo, and the Dakota Central Career Fair in Bismarck, students are getting firsthand exposure to industries, meeting employers, and discovering possibilities for their futures. More opportunities are ahead with upcoming career expos in Minot and Fargo.
Compass can help schools and employers make the most of these events by simplifying employer registration, helping students explore participating companies and careers ahead of time, and creating opportunities for continued engagement. Employers can highlight their organizations, share work-based learning opportunities, and connect with interested students.
Check out the events list below for the next expos.
Work-based learning doesn't have to be complicated
You don't need a formal internship program or a big budget to give students meaningful career experiences. A job shadow, part-time job, or mentorship opportunity can help students explore careers while introducing them to your organization.
Our recent Work-Based Learning Made Easier for Employers virtual sessions explored practical ways to get started, common questions and challenges, and how Compass can help you share opportunities with students. The sessions were hosted by Golden Path Solutions, the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce, Moorhead Area Public Schools, and Cass County Career and Technical Education Center as part of a regional effort to expand work-based learning.
Watch the recording for ideas, guidance, and resources to help you identify opportunities that fit your organization and take the next step toward building your future workforce.
Watch the recording.
New Compass tools and insights for colleges
More North Dakota college students will soon have easier access to Compass, with updates underway to connect their high school and college profiles and enable single sign-on through Campus Connection. These improvements were among the topics discussed during recent visits with Dickinson State University, Bismarck State College, and Minot State University.
Golden Path is also preparing to train colleges on the new Compass Dashboard, which provides insights into student interests, engagement, and trends. Colleges can use this data to better understand prospective students and strengthen their recruitment efforts across the region.
We're also pleased to continue our partnership with Concordia College in Moorhead, which recently renewed its Golden Path membership. Concordia is leading innovative efforts with regional high schools around early enrollment, and we're looking forward to helping the college highlight these opportunities for students.
What’s new in Compass? Explore the latest features
From easier career event connections to new tools for managing work-based learning, the latest Compass updates are helping students, employers, and educators make the most of their experience.
Students can now explore participating employers before career events, identify companies that match their interests, and create a personalized visit list. School professionals have more flexibility to manage employer registrations, work-based learning applications, and agreements. Employers can use new tools like interview requests for work-based learning applicants or QR codes for sharing their Compass content.
There are updates for colleges, too, including the new Compass Dashboard, which provides insights into student and school engagement.
Discover all the new Compass features in the October Compass Release Notes.
Welcoming new employers and celebrating renewals
More employers and community partners are helping students explore careers and connect with future opportunities through Compass. We're grateful for the organizations renewing their Golden Path memberships and pleased to welcome new employers from across the region and beyond.
We're also thankful to the Detroit Lakes Chamber of Commerce for renewing its partnership with Golden Path Solutions, continuing our shared commitment to supporting students and building future workforce.
Some of the recent employer membership renewals include:
- American Crystal Sugar, Moorhead
- Korber Pharma Inc., Fargo
- Apex Engineering Group, Fargo
- Altru Health, Grand Forks
- Marsh McLennan Agency, Fargo
New employers in Compass include:
- FM RedHawks, Fargo
- Marshall (WI) Towne Building Supply
- 13th Hat, Bismarck
- Legacy Financial Partners, Bismarck
- Hoof it Forward, Mandan
- Rugby (ND) Manufacturing
- BNSF Railway, Fort Worth, TX
- Patterson Dental Supply, Fargo
- Mandan (ND) Public Schools
Learn more about how Golden Path employer memberships can help you build your future workforce.
Upcoming events
- Nov. 10: Minot (ND) Area Career Expo
- Nov. 12-13: Minnesota State Career and Technical Education Summit, Minneapolis
- Nov. 13: UND Health Professions Career Fair: INMED Works, Grand Forks
- Dec. 1: Career Expo, Fargo
- Dec. 2-5: ACTE’s CareerTech VISION 2026 Conference, New Orleans, LA
- Dec. 15: Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corp.’s Third Annual Workforce Insights Breakfast, Fargo
- Feb. 7: North Dakota Counseling Association Annual Conference, Bismarck
Apr. 28-30: ACTE’s Work-Based Learning Conference 2027, Oklahoma City, OK
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