About

Hi, my name is Eric.  After 25 years working in the trades and in manufacturing facilities, including 10 years welding on a variety of project designs and 13 years growing my pre-cast concrete business, I have experienced firsthand the shortages of dedicated blue-collar workers. 

In Minnesota, manufacturing alone is the single largest private sector component of our GDP ($52 billion in 2019), making up 13% of the states total employment and where 20% of refugees work. Manufacturing and trades based jobs which are not on metro transit lines face one of the biggest obstacles for growth, dedicated workers on site. Without a driver’s license and a vehicle, it is nearly impossible for the talented immigrant NEEDING to work and the local business NEEDING help to grow.  That’s where we come in...

Through the “wonderful” process of change I came to meet the incredible Myto. Spending time together and learning much from him, I witnessed firsthand the talent, dedication and hunger he and many other New Americans possess.  Together Myto & I have partnered with Beth Borgen, a dedicated giver and hero to (who could only imagine how many?) children, and now many grown up people. Myto & Beth both are inspiring to me to say the least!  

Change Drivers is going to help with 3 of the independence barriers many new immigrants face when striving towards empowerment with the ability to succeed in our community.

License - Vehicle - employment

Team

Eric Mayne

  • My childhood was Midwest American, circa the late 80’s and graduating in 94’. Growing up in Dubuque Iowa my father served in the navy at the end of the Vietnam war. Then home to marry his high school sweetheart, settling in for 36 years at our town’s natural gas company working with underground city gas piping in a challenging but rewarding blue-collar career. Mom went to work part time at a bank then accounting for a small print shop for many years.

    My parents worked hard, set an example and carved the path while my older brother and I watched, learned, worked, (made mistakes :) all while developing skills. Those early cultivated skills, shaped through the meat grinder of life and time, have become the backbone in both our lives today.

    In this goofy age I may not know much anymore but I know for certain that when Skills can be partnered with Opportunity...it’s a place where real magic happens!

Myto

  • I'm a recent immigrant and currently going through the process of rebuilding my life in the United States. Since I am living the process, I can help Change Drivers craft its direction as we find effective ways to help other immigrants.

    When I met Eric, he had a vision of using his skills to help New Americans rebuild their lives and achieve self-sufficiency. I decided to commit myself to helping him turn this idea into reality by sharing my first-hand experience and unique perspective as an immigrant.

    I am proud to be a part of Change Drivers now, and I am dedicated to working towards our shared goal of making the United States a welcoming place for all, while addressing the issue of labor shortage. I am honored to be able to give back by creating resources that will help people in a situation like mine.

Beth Borgen

  • Dr. Beth Borgen-Lindberg is a passionate educator & dedicated to lifelong learning. A retired high school principal, her current educational passions are serving on the school board of a charter elementary school and providing drivers education instruction to adolescents and adults. When not inside fostering learning Beth spends hours outside causing trouble.

“Don’t be afraid of new ideas, be afraid of old ideas. They keep you where you are and stop you from growing and moving forward. Concentrate on where you want to go, not on what you fear”

— Tony Robbins