A Dual Success

When innovative talent connects with community groups in need, great things can happen.

That has been the case with the Mortgage Group’s Data Dive event, which wrapped up its most recent session last fall. Now in its fourth year, the two-day event held in Greensboro brings together savvy college students and nonprofits that need assistance examining their data.

Tina Swain, Manager, HR Operations and Data Dive lead, said the event is beneficial as it gives students real-world experience while helping nonprofits that often lack the resources or expertise needed to sift through their data.

Here’s how the event works: The teams of students meet on a Friday for dinner and to receive ground rules. Then, over the course of a Saturday, the groups review the data and questions submitted by the nonprofit. Once the teams have a better understanding of the nonprofit’s critical issues, they formulate a solution. Their recommendations are then presented to representatives of the nonprofit and a panel of Arch employees, who determine the winner. And since Data Dive is a competition, the winning team walks away with a cash prize.

As Tina explained, there are two reasons why the program is successful. First, by connecting with a nonprofit, it’s yet another way for the company to live out the Value of making a difference in our communities. And second, it raises awareness of Arch with risk management and data analytics students — the type of talent that is attractive to the company.

“Those students don’t typically graduate from college and say, ‘I want to go into the insurance business,’” Tina said. “When they graduate, hopefully they will remember this opportunity and consider a career in the insurance world.”

Tina aims to bring in 30 students each year. Recruiting occurs through job fairs, university career centers and simple word of mouth. Along with gaining actionable experience, the students also have a chance to network with Arch employees, some of whom offer guidance the day of the event. In all, about 18 to 20 employees help make the event a success, including the organizers, the Ambassadors, the judges and the “data scopers,” employees who look over and clean up the data before it’s given to the students.

Nonprofits are selected after an application process that includes reviewing their needs and determining whether the organization is willing to give access to their data.

In 2022, Data Dive partnered with a nonprofit that looks to cultivate an inclusive and vibrant community through the support of the arts. Tina said a representative from the group followed up a few months after the event and said much of the information that was shared from Data Dive had been incorporated into their development plan and strategy.

For Tina, that’s the goal and the ultimate win-win for the nonprofit and for Arch.

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The 2023 Data Dive event included six teams that analyzed data and presented their findings to assist Victory Junction, a nonprofit that offers camping experiences to children with chronic illnesses and disabilities at no cost to their families. Pictured: Returning interns and participants. Below: One team presents to attendees.