Community Tour Offerings Hit 2000+ Since Program Inception

We’re pleased to recognize community tour guide, Nelson Klavitter, who recently facilitated his 500th community tour, helping Greater Dubuque Development reach the milestone this past fiscal year of offering 2000+ tours. Our community tour program launched in 2009 and has become a go-to resource for our Workforce Solutions investors as part of their HR processes, especially when recruiting top candidates from outside the area.

“As an HR professional and long-time community member, selling what makes our area special comes easy but can also be skewed towards focusing on what I love and what I’m interested in,” states Kirsten Williams, Director of Human Resources for A.Y. McDonald. “In tapping Greater Dubuque Development’s community tours, I know our prospects will be in good hands. I can trust they’ll receive an unbiased perspective that connects across demographics while being tailored to our candidate’s interests and relocation needs.” 

One of the tours that helped put Klavitter over the 500 mark was for Joshua Flores, a life-long resident of Los Angeles. Flores recently found himself looking for new career opportunities absent the long commutes, stressful pace, and noise levels of a major metro. While interviewing in Dubuque with A.Y. McDonald in May, Klavitter took Flores on the 90-minute driving tour, understanding that increased access to nature and diverse recreational opportunities were on Flores’ relocation wish list. Being driven along the Mississippi River to see unique natural landmarks and through the Mines of Spain to identify trailheads helped solidify Flores’ decision to join A.Y. McDonald’s IT team and relocate to the Greater Dubuque area in June.

To learn more about our Community Tours program, contact Mandi Dolson, Director of Workforce Recruitment & Retention, at 563-557-9049 or mandid@greaterdubuque.org.