Find your Career at the 9th Annual Return North Career Fair
MTEC SmartZone and Partners present the 9th Annual Upper Peninsula-Wide Career Fair, Inviting Alumni, Former Residents, and Friends of the U.P. to discover professional opportunities and return back to the region.
Houghton, MI –Monday, September 22, 2025 – Do you ever wonder what it would be like to move back to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula? To trade in traffic for a lakefront view, and reconnect with the place you once called home? MTEC SmartZone is proud to announce the 9th annual Return North Career Fair, for your chance to do just that.
Return North is an event designed to reconnect alumni, former residents, and local professionals of the Upper Peninsula with career opportunities across the region. Mark your calendars for November 13th, 2025, as we gather again to showcase the wealth of professional opportunities that await here.
This career fair will be 100% virtual, so you can connect from anywhere. Presented by MTEC SmartZone, this event is created in partnership with Upper Peninsula Michigan Works!, running from 3:00 to 6:00 pm.
Online registration is open now at www.return-north.com, welcoming both job seekers and businesses eager to participate.
Charges have been waived this year, meaning companies and employers alike can participate at no cost. Explore a variety of job openings, speak directly with recruiters, and discover a career path that offers both professional growth and the quality of life you’ve been missing.
Company registration includes prominent logo placement on the official Return North website and full access to the virtual platform. It’s a prime opportunity to connect with a talented pool of professionals who are eager to return to the U.P.
Whether you’re a local professional looking to advance your career, or someone ready to start a new chapter in a familiar place, the Return North event offers the opportunity to connect with top employers and gain insights into the diverse career landscape of the region.
“There is an incredible amount of talent deeply connected to the Upper Peninsula” says Jason Mack, VP of Business Development at MTEC SmartZone. “This Return North Career event isn’t about just fulfilling jobs; it’s about reconnecting people with a place they love and showing them they can build a life here.”
The 2025 Return North initiative is in partnership with Upper Peninsula Michigan Works!, an agency committed to driving economic growth in the U.P. by supporting local businesses, employees, and job seekers through a variety of programs and services.
Tom Autio, Communications Manager at Upper Peninsula Michigan Works!, adds, “Return North is about making it easier for people with roots in the U.P. to come back and thrive. We hope this event brings families closer and allows working professionals to live in a place they hold so close to their heart.” The 2025 Return North initiative is proudly sponsored by Upper Peninsula Michigan Works!, a key partner committed to driving economic growth in the U.P. by supporting local businesses, employees, and job seekers through a variety of programs and services.
To RSVP for this event, please visit Return North
Event Details
Date: Thursday, November 13th, 2025
Time: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM EST
Location: Virtual
Cost: FREE for Companies and Jobseekers
###
About MTEC SmartZone
Michigan Tech Enterprise Corporation (MTEC) SmartZone is one of 21 SmartZone Incubators in the State of Michigan. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization directed by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), their mission is to accelerate high-tech businesses growth in the region. Since 2003,
MTEC SmartZone has provided mentoring, technical support, and other services to local companies that has led to the creation of over 800 high-tech jobs in the Houghton/Hancock area.
About Upper Peninsula Michigan Works!
UP Michigan Works! (UPMW) is a driving force in the competitive world of workforce development and economic prosperity and serves the 15 counties of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. We connect employers, job seekers, training institutions, partners, and the community to maximize state and federal workforce resources. We support businesses to recruit, upskill and retain top talent, and we coach individuals to be better employees. Through workforce development, we help people and business Get Ready to Win!
About MEDC
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation, in collaboration with more than 100 economic development partners, markets Michigan as the place to do business, assists businesses in their growth strategies, and fosters the growth of vibrant communities across the state. MEDC’s Entrepreneurship & Innovation initiative establishes Michigan as the place to create and grow a business by providing high-tech start-up companies with access to a variety of critical resources, such as funding and expert counsel, from ideation to maturation. For more on MEDC Entrepreneurship & Innovation, visit michiganbusiness.org/entrepreneurship.
Media Contact
Allison Szlachta, Marketing Manager, MTEC SmartZone
aszlachta@mtecsz.com
Logo & Graphics
A Marketing Toolkit is available where you can obtain all logos, graphics, and more.
Please visit THIS LINK