A local service and contact center provider gives college students information technology (IT) experience while adding to Memphis’ talent pipeline.
UMRF Ventures is a subsidiary of the University of Memphis Research Foundation (UMRF) and provides IT support and other services to companies. Profits from UMRF benefit the university through dividend payments to the nonprofit.
The company was founded in 2017 after FedEx awarded the University of Memphis a grant and contract to provide an IT service desk for FedEx employees. Students with UMRF Ventures were able to work on the account, and the partnership expanded over time.
“The university and FedEx wanted to find a way to provide good paying, part-time jobs to University of Memphis students while they were in school,” Pierre Landaiche, CEO of UMRF Ventures, said. “One of the main reasons [students] don’t graduate is because they run out of money.”
Landaiche joined the company in 2020 and said since its founding they have been able to employ over 1,000 students, and paid out more than $21 million in wages.
UMRF Ventures provides students with income during their studies while also giving experience in IT and other areas. Last month, the company hosted its Capture the Flag competition, which helped students gain experience in cybersecurity.
Kerrie Wilson, marketing and office manager at UMRF Ventures, said they employ students in majors such as computer science, business information technology, and cybersecurity. And while many students seek opportunities on their own time, they come to UMRF Ventures for “real-world experience.”
Wilson said students find UMRF Ventures through social media and recruiting events on campus. While most come from the University of Memphis, the company has also employed students from Southwest Tennessee Community College, Christian Brothers University, and Rhodes.
“We see a lot of applications coming in,” Wilson said. “Students are still looking for positions. They’re looking to get experience before they graduate, so we don’t really have an issue when it comes to recruiting or staffing. The want and need is there.”
In addition to FedEx, UMRF Ventures has worked with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Raymond James, Memphis Light, Gas, and Water and more. These partnerships have helped the company to not only have a positive impact on students, but the community as well.
“We consider ourselves a workforce development company,” Landaiche said. “When companies are considering relocating to Memphis or staying in Memphis, they look at your talent base. We feel like we’re having an impact on Memphis’ ability to provide experienced workforce talent.”
Upon reflecting back to when he joined the company, Landaiche said UMRF Ventures’ ability to provide support to employees working from home during the pandemic helped them grow. And as FedEx employees shifted from the office to remote work, the company was able to solve virtual private network (VPN) problems and troubleshooting different programs.
The CEO said their flexibility and ability to help solve tech issues remotely made them an asset to companies during this time.
Landaiche contributed their continued success to their management team, who helps push students to their full potential — companies are able to see that they’re not just hiring students but professionals.
“Just because we have students who serve as our associates and employees doesn’t mean they can’t do the job,” Landaiche said. “For many of our accounts, they outperform our competitors and peers.”
Wilson said they not only focus on hard skills, but soft ones as well. Professional development is an important component at UMRF Ventures, and they provide opportunities to workshop their resumes and participate in mock interviews and coaching sessions.