Getting Connected in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

42 Organizations to Expand Your Professional and Personal Network

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (U.P.) is the state’s largest region and approximately 300 miles long (Ironwood to Sault Ste Marie). Bordered by Lake Superior (to the north), Lake Michigan (to the southeast) and access to Lake Huron on the northeast corner, this region provides a combination of natural beauty, an amazing outdoor lifestyle, and job opportunities with an array of organizations, from advanced manufacturing, health care and medical devices to outdoor recreation technology and innovative startups.

With three state universities (Michigan Technological University, Northern Michigan University and Lake Superior State University) and a network of community colleges across the region, you’ll have access to a wide range of programs and events for new degrees, certificates and professional skills to advance your career.

There are a wide variety of organizations across the U.P. where you can get connected, learn new skills, give back to the community and even make new friends.  For job seekers, this is a great way to extend your network and learn more about the region and its employers.

Some organizations cover the whole U.P., so you’ll find them listed in all three categories of West, Central and East.  Some organizations focus on social activities and networking, and others offer learning and development, business support services and community involvement.

Western U.P.

Major cities: Houghton, Hancock, Ironwood, Iron River, L’Anse

1. Copper Harbor Trails Club: provides a wide variety of events and programs to advocate for, develop and maintain Copper Harbor trails.
2. Gogebic Community College: delivers professional development classes and programs in the Ironwood area.
3. Husky Innovate: provides workshops, competitions, training, guest speakers, mentors and more.
4. IDEA Hub: identifies opportunities to help drive educational innovation – including faculty, staff, students and community members.
5. Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce: offers regular networking events, as well as business referrals and resources for Houghton and Keweenaw counties.
6. Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance: provides services and resources to foster business growth in the region.
7. Keeweenaw Young Professionals: offers networking and many opportunities to get involved in the community and connect with other young professionals.
8. Michigan Small Business Development Center (SBDC): provides no cost consulting, market research, business education, additional resources to help small businesses succeed in the U.P.
9. Michigan Tech Alumni Association: provides great opportunities to stay connected to your Husky friends.
10. Michigan Tech Global Campus: delivers a wide array of professional development and continuing education classes to build skills, expand knowledge, network and make connections.
11. Michigan Tech University Career Services: helps Michigan Tech students and alumni reach their career goals.
12. MTEC SmartZone: provides programs, events, and resources for technology-based companies, entrepreneurs and researchers
13. One Million Cups: Copper Country, MI: hosts regular events that educate, inspire and connect entrepreneurs and the larger business community for coffee and conversations.
14. Remote Workforce Keweenaw: offers a community hub with resources for remote workers in the Upper Peninsula.
15. Return North: provides an annual virtual career fair as well as resources for getting connected to job opportunities and employers in the region.
16. Rotary Club of Houghton connects individuals from an array of industries and engages members in a wide range of service projects and programs in the community.
17. UP MichiganWorks!: provides career counseling, interview prep, resume feedback, support services for job seekers who currently reside in the U.P.
18. Upper Peninsula Arts and Culture Alliance: connects individuals and organizations across the U.P. with networking opportunities focused on public arts and culture programs.
19. Volunteer Opportunities in the Community: provides a list of many nonprofit organizations where you can network, learn new skills, make friends, get connected and give back to the community.
20. Work/Live UP (Invest UP): provides resources and information on communities, healthcare, education, arts and culture and more, across the U.P.

Central U.P.

Major Cities: Marquette, Escanaba, Menominee, Munising, Gladstone, Iron Mountain, Kingsford, Ishpeming, Manistique

1. Accelerate UP: offers peer-to-peer support for startups and small businesses in the Marquette community.
2. Bay Community College: offers a wide range of professional development classes and programs in the Escanaba and Iron Mountain communities.
3. Connect Marquette: provides many professional development and leadership opportunities for individuals in the Marquette area.
4. Innovate Marquette SmartZone: provides programs, events, and resources for technology-based companies, entrepreneurs and researchers in the Marquette area.
5. Invent@NMU: offers many entrepreneurial support services on the campus of Northern Michigan University.
6. Kiwanis Club of Marquette: hosts a wide variety of programs and events for the Marquette community.
7. Lake Superior Community Partnership: provides networking, programs, events and services for entrepreneurs and small businesses, including a Business Breakfast series and Lake Superior Leadership Academy.
8. Marinette-Menominee Area Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals: offers a wide array of professional development, community service and networking opportunities for Marinette and Menominee area early career professionals.
9. Marquette Compass: offers a community event and resource guide showcasing events and programs in the Marquette area.
10. Marquette County Remote Workers: provides monthly meetings to connect and network with other professionals in the area.
11. Northern Initiatives: provides support services for small businesses.
12. Northern Michigan University Alumni: offers many opportunities to stay connected with your Wildcat friends.
13. Northern Michigan University Career Services: supports students and alumni in reaching their career goals.
14. Northern Michigan University Professional Development: provides many classes and programs to develop professional skills and advance careers.
15. Return North: provides an annual virtual career fair as well as resources for getting connected to job opportunities and employers in the region.
16. UP MichiganWorks!: provides career counseling, interview prep, resume feedback and support services for job seekers who currently reside in the U.P.
17. Upper Peninsula Arts and Culture Alliance: connects individuals and organizations across the U.P. with networking opportunities focused on public arts and culture programs.
18. Upper Peninsula Road Runners Club: promotes running, cycling and other outdoor activities with an array of programs and events.
19. Volunteering in Central UP: provides a list of nonprofit organizations looking for individuals that want to get connected and give back to the community.
20. Work/Live UP (Invest UP): provides resources and information on communities, healthcare, education, arts and culture and more, across the U.P.

Eastern U.P.

Major cities: Sault Ste Marie, St. Ignace, Newberry, Mackinac Island

1. Bay Mills Community College: provides many classes and programs in the Brimley, MI community to help individuals expand their skill set, and reach new levels of professional success.
2. Headwaters North: assists new and small businesses in the eastern Upper Peninsula with a wide variety of resources, programs, and development opportunities.
3. Lake Superior State University Alumni Association: offers many opportunities to stay connected and involved with your Seaduck friends.
4. Return North: provides an annual virtual career fair as well as resources for getting connected to job opportunities and employers in the region.
5. Sault Area Young Professionals: offers a wide variety of social events, networking opportunities, professional development and community engagement in the Sault Ste. Marie area.
6. Ignace Chamber of Commerce: delivers many opportunities for networking, professional skills development, business development and community engagement.
7. UP MichiganWorks!: provides career counseling, interview prep, resume feedback, support services for job seekers who currently reside in the U.P.
8. Upper Peninsula Arts and Culture Alliance: connects individuals and organizations across the U.P. with networking opportunities focused on public arts and culture programs.
9. Volunteering on the east end of the UP: provides a list of nonprofit organizations looking for individuals that want to get connected and give back to the community.
10. Work/Live UP (Invest UP): provides resources and information on communities, healthcare, education, arts and culture and more, across the U.P.

For more information about the Upper Peninsula, check out region-specific information of the Upper Peninsula Region, a Cost of Living Calculator, and information about working, living and playing in the Great Lakes State.  And check out Return-North for a wide variety of resources for your U.P. job search.

Jason Mack is VP of Business Development at MTEC SmartZone in Houghton. An engineer by training, he worked for GE early in his career before moving into his role at the MTEC SmartZone where he provides strategic support to businesses across the region. Jason received his undergraduate degree from Michigan Tech, where he fell in love with the opportunities the U.P. offers for a great career and an amazing outdoor lifestyle. Jason oversees the Return North initiative, which provides a virtual career fair connecting employers in the UP with job seekers from across the U.S., as well as many other resources. He is actively involved in a wide variety of organizations and programs across the region, helping to connect individuals and communities and foster collaboration that is helping individuals and organizations in the region continue to grow and prosper.