When Michigan University fell to UCLA in the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, thousands of Wolverines were disappointed. And Indianapolis tourism officials likely bowed their heads as the last Midwest team left the Big Dance floor.

After all, Michigan’s proximity to Indianapolis meant that many Wolverine fans were in the stands (and spending money before and after the games).

Courtney Kolb and Rachel Shutty were among the woeful Wolverines. They’re both Michigan natives and graduates of the university, as well as new Hoosiers working in Indiana’s tech sector. They remain bullish on their team, but more importantly to tech sector leaders, they’re also bullish on Indianapolis! 

“Indy is the place to be in tech because the cost of living is low and the opportunities are plentiful,” Courtney said. “Opportunities range from startup to enterprise, and the tech community is tight-knit. It’s easy to network and make moves.”

Michigan graduates recommend working in Indy’s growing tech hub.

Courtney and Rachel champion their new city whenever they get the opportunity. And they’ve both found that wearing Wolverine gear is a great way to start the conversation.

”I’ve met people in airports that have called out ‘Go Blue!’ while I’m wearing Michigan apparel,” Courtney said. “I let them know where I currently live and have found success. In fact, I gave my business card to a woman at one airport whose daughter was soon to be graduating from Michigan and looking for career options.

Rachel’s Michigan gear gets her noticed a lot during basketball season. When she talks with people, she always recommends Indianapolis for both work and play.  

“I feel like [Indianapolis is] definitely emerging as a tech hub amongst other cities like Chicago and Detroit,” Rachel said. “It’s creating more of a culture and pulse in the city for young people and working professionals. Plus, it’s more affordable than other cities, which I think makes it easier to stay here long-term.”

Rachel started her career at Salesforce in the heart of Indy.

Rachel was born in Columbus, Indiana, but grew up in Clarkston, Michigan. Now, she works at Salesforce as a Success Engineer and lives in downtown Indianapolis. Around the time she started job hunting, Salesforce came recruiting on Michigan’s campus. She was intrigued by the opportunity to live in a larger city while starting her career nearby her home.

“I love Indy as a city, and I feel that I’ve made it my own these past years,” Rachel said. “There’s always something happening and something new to explore. I personally like the coffee shops and small businesses that remind me of Ann Arbor. I plan to stay here as long as I can.”

Rachel also enjoys being close to her college friends, finding opportunities to meet up for tea tastings and bake nights. They live in Chicago and Rochester, Minnesota—with tech jobs of their own.

“We’re all starting out at new jobs. And it’s great to empathize with each other about it and encourage each other,” Rachel said. “I think they would be happy here as well if given the opportunity!”

Rachel first moved to Indianapolis during the pandemic. But even with those restrictions, she quickly fell in love with the city’s downtown community.  

“It’s a really fun place to be,” Rachel said. “[My boyfriend and I] like walking around Mass Ave mostly, but the Circle is also well within walking distance. It was such an experience when they closed down the street for outdoor dining. People skateboarded, played music, did some flame-throwing, you name it. It was like a mini festival!

Courtney found career success in the Indianapolis region.

Courtney is now the Software Services Manager at Schneider Geospatial, after years of working at Ultimate Kronos Group (UKG).

“I graduated from Michigan in 2008 with a major in Environmental Studies and specialization in Urban Planning,” Courtney said. “But the economic crash that year made a career in environmental work a challenge. I took night classes in IT for a couple semesters and repositioned my degree.”

Courtney credits her alma mater for getting callbacks and connections to recruiters and hiring managers. Michigan University is globally renowned in general and especially for their tech and engineer programs. And as if she’s a native Hoosier, Courtney sees the connection between that academic rigor and basketball. 

“The school has a legacy of clever, well-prepared, hard-working graduates that make something of themselves out in the real world. It’s the same kind of confidence you see in strong, well-coached basketball teams. It carries through in everything you do,” she said.

When she didn’t find a job in her home state, Courtney was quickly snatched up by InfoDynamics in Indianapolis. Then, she started working at Kronos Incorporated, which became UKG.

“I’ve never really looked back because there are tons of great opportunities here,” Courtney said. “My first experience was a great springboard for taking a technical job at Kronos at their downtown Tech Center. And there was opportunity to grow from there into the management role I have today.”

Indianapolis is the perfect place to start your tech career.

At TechPoint, we are committed to advancing Indiana’s tech sector—and connecting tech talent with opportunities to break into the industry. Comments like these are music to our ears because there’s no better way to attract young professionals to Indy. 

People like Rachel and Courtney help explain the benefits of crossing state lines and starting your career in a booming Midwest tech hub. From world-class sporting events to our low cost of living, there are countless reasons to make Indy your next career stop.

While basketball season comes and goes, Indiana’s thriving tech hub will keep on growing. Every day, we work hard to put Indiana in the national spotlight and welcome tech talent from across the globe. If you know someone working outside Indiana who’d be happier here, TechPoint’s Job Board is a great resource to share. And our Jobs in Tech 101 guide helps you match your skills and interests to the right career for you.