Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Eric Mayne. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Eric , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

I am an Iowa native, descended from two generations of veterans and manufacturers. My father, a Vietnam War veteran, worked in underground utilities, and my grandfather, a World War II veteran, was employed at John Deere.

Given my family’s background, it’s no surprise that I was drawn to a career in the manufacturing industry. I spent a total of 10 years working as a welder in various capacities and ran my own pre-cast concrete countertop business for 13 years.

“The skills I acquired in manufacturing and construction are ones I can always fall back on, and they’ll be with me forever,” I reflect on my journey.

Over time, I developed a passion for passing on the skills and knowledge I had acquired. I became involved with local schools, aiming to spark students’ interest in trades and manufacturing.

However, I observed that not all students had an equal opportunity to gain experience in my field, even at the high school level.

“I remember one Ethiopian kid who had a two-hour bus ride to our shop,” I recall. “It was just too much on top of his school schedule, and he couldn’t become one of our apprentices.”

Encountering stories like this motivated me to be part of the solution. In the meantime, I got involved with an organization providing temporary housing for newly arrived immigrants in St. Paul and Minneapolis. It was there that I met co-founder and cultural advisor Myto.

Niyo, an immigrant from Africa, shared a similar journey in the United States. We connected through volunteer work and our love of sports, bonding over experiences and a shared desire to address the challenges faced by immigrants.

Like me, Niyo had a background working with machines as a mechanical engineer. However, his lack of U.S. accreditation for his engineering degrees received overseas and no work experience within the United States made it challenging to find a job in his field.

A lack of reliable transportation further complicated the already-difficult puzzle of finding employment as a new American.

“Each time I saw a job opening, I had to check and see — is it on the public transportation line? Can I get there using buses?” Niyo shared. “As you can imagine, that limits the number of options you have.”

This transportation challenge wasn’t unique to him; many in our community faced similar constraints. One of Niyo’s housemates, for example, had a 6 a.m. shift but had to wake up at three to catch a bus, spending three-plus hours just to commute to work and back.

In addition to adjusting to a new culture and language, immigrants and refugees supporting family members back home face long commute times, adding another layer to their daily struggles.

As Niyo and my friendship solidified, we brainstormed ways to address the transportation problem.

“One thing we noticed is that there are other challenges that, while not necessarily solved, many other organizations are addressing them already — for example, there are a handful of organizations that help people like me with housing,” Niyo observed. “But when it comes to transportation, there’s not one specific organization focusing on that. That’s how Change Drivers started.”

Eric , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am Eric Mayne, a creative entrepreneur and problem solver who has established numerous small businesses, with my most recent ventures focusing on the trades and manufacturing sector. In 2022, after successfully selling my decorative concrete countertop company, I delved into volunteering with recent immigrants and asylum seekers. The experience left a profound impact on me as I witnessed their impressive skills and unwavering motivation.

With 25 years of hands-on experience in the trades, I directly encountered the challenges posed by shortages of dedicated workers and how it hampers a company’s ability to thrive and expand. My journey of owning and running businesses not only equips me with a comprehensive understanding of the industry but also enables me to articulate the language of CEOs and comprehend their concerns.

This firsthand experience forms the foundation for communicating the narrative of Change Drivers and its visionary mission.

Right now, what fills me with the greatest pride is the remarkable speed with which our team has transformed ideas into tangible actions. Our programming began just this past October, and at present, we have a growing community of 22 students, with three of them successfully attaining their licenses already. The rapid progress is a testament to our collective dedication and effectiveness in bringing our mission to life.

Even with the growth of public transportation in cities like Minneapolis and St. Paul, the reliance on personal vehicles remains predominant among the majority of Minnesotans for their daily commute to work. Data from the most recent American Community Survey reveals that an overwhelming majority of workers aged 16 and above in Minnesota opt for cars, trucks, or vans as their primary mode of commuting.

As of 2022, estimates indicate that 69.3% of nearly 3 million working individuals in the state are the sole occupants of the vehicles they use for their daily commute. In contrast, only 7.7% engage in carpooling, highlighting a significant preference for individual transportation.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

In the fall of 2005, I took a second shot at starting a business from, trying to build an upscale, boutique health club from scratch. My partner and I dove headfirst into this idea, stretching well beyond our means to finance it. Our napkin plan seemed solid, the market was there and we went all out, thinking everyone would race to join our new top-notch fitness experience. Fast forward three years, and our dreams collided with reality. Turns out, customers didn’t show up like we hoped, and the 2008 financial crash hit us hard. We ended up with more debt than I could ever have imagined.

From that mess, I learned two big things:

1. Trust your instincts: Right from the start, I had this feeling in my gut that our location was too far off the main road, but I ignored it. I listened and believed in my partners feelings that people will come to this newly developing area of the suburb. The business minds and coaches all say “location, location, location,” and I should’ve listened. We were convinced the suburb we picked would be a hotspot, but we were dead wrong.

2. Keep it real with your finances: Dreaming big is cool, but you’ve gotta be realistic about what you can afford. In the last year of that health club disaster, the stress was off the charts. Waking up every day, dreading putting my feet on the floor to face the grind, drove me to the deepest rock bottom place I have ever been in. They say “once you find your bottom, the only way is up,” and I get that now, even 15 years later. Knowing where my bottom is makes everything above it feel a bit easier.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

We’ve been experiencing a surge in New Americans reaching out to us, and finding clients to assist has not been an issue. However, like any non-profit, our major hurdle in expanding our driver’s training program is securing sufficient funding to serve the need.

A significant portion of my time each week is dedicated to identifying partners who recognize the tremendous value that this untapped community and workforce can offer. Our secondary focus, behind drivers training, is on educating employers, chamber of commerce members, and business associations about the solutions that immigrants and refugees bring to the workforce. The driver’s license, which we help individuals obtain, serves as a tool for independence—a key that unlocks doors to explore better opportunities.

We acknowledge that despite widespread labor shortages across various industries in the state, some employers have reservations about hiring new Americans or supporting their driver’s education.
I’ve noticed that nobody wants to take the first step, and there are many misconceptions about what it means to hire an immigrant. Once you actually meet and talk to a few of them, you quickly realize the motivation, talent potential, and desire they have to improve.

With Minnesota, being the number-one state in the country for secondary migration, has gained a reputation as a welcoming place for immigrants. This is partly because of the abundance of resources available to both immigrants and those willing to assist them, including potential employers.

While hiring someone from a different culture might present unique challenges compared to hiring a U.S.-born employee, I believe it comes with the benefit of tapping into a whole new talent pool that is ready to work in industries currently facing labor shortages with no immediate solutions.

“There are numerous nonprofit partners that can provide assistance with ESL (English as a Second Language),” I mention. “We’re discovering various ways to overcome barriers and make real progress by collaborating on problem-solving. The advantage of being close to Minneapolis is the collective support and strength found in our community mindset.”
I recognize that our organization can’t tackle every aspect of the issue at hand; our primary focus is on transportation, with career development as a secondary concern. We’re enthusiastic about partnering with other Minnesota nonprofits and employers to collectively address the remaining challenges.

My primary goal as Executive Director is to engage with individuals interested in our mission, those committed to creating more solutions, while continually improving and expanding our current driving programs.
“There’s still a lot of education needed,” I note. “We welcome any opportunity to talk with employers, whether over a cup of coffee or a sit-down, to discuss the challenges and how we can all contribute to solving them. We see a way to create a genuine win-win scenario for everyone involved!”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thechangedrivers.org/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/change-drivers/

Image Credits
Ocean photo — That is Myto, overlooking the sunrise of California when he first arrived in the US