Terra State Community College
Spring 2016 • Volume 2 • Issue 1
What’s Behind the Door?
Get a great job in
manufacturing!
Terra State Launches
InnovativeWorkforce Training Program
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THINK Manufacturing: Planning for the Future Sandusky County Economic Development Corporation (SCEDC) has been working on two main projects that focus on bringing manufacturing jobs to Sandusky County and also close the skills gap.
Long-term goals of the Sandusky County Manufacturers’ Career Showcase are to raise awareness of opportunities in the field of advanced manufacturing, to change perceptions about employment in today’s manufacturing environment, and to ensure a sufficient supply of talent for the future. In short, to “THINK Manufacturing.” Kay E. Reiter, Executive Director of SCEDC
A reshoring initiative was started as a long-term program to target 44 companies in Ohio and the surrounding states that have been identified as having plastic-related supplier needs. An initiative has been in place to contact these companies and work with them to eliminate their supplier in Mexico and replace it with a supplier in Sandusky County or in the region if this is a better alternative for the business. The United States continues to lose manufacturing jobs to offshore plants. Our plans are to connect companies with other manufacturers that are closer to them. This reduces the time needed to respond to in-demand changes by having manufacturers in close proximity. The 2015 touchpoint is to send a Sandusky County Chamber of Commerce AG pack, that is made in Sandusky County, to the 44 identified companies. Following these deliveries will be a focus on face-to-face meetings with those targeted manufacturers with a plastic supplier need. The SCEDC is also working on closing the skills and generational gap that faces manufacturers throughout our area. A Manufacturers’ Career Showcase event was held on October 2, 2015. This event offered instruction in the seven skill sets that manufacturers said they were looking for in their employees. Seven different local Sandusky County schools participated in the event, and in total 825+ ninth-grade students attended the Manufacturers’ Career Showcase. The seven skill sets were teamwork/problem-solving, continuous improvement/Lean, employability, continuous learning, mechanical/electrical trades, machining trades/blue print reading, and robotics. Local representatives shared with students how basic workplace skills will help them succeed in an innovative, yet highly technical industry, and reacquaint youth with the process of designing and building products through hands-on activities. In addition, the event educated attendees about the varied career opportunities that are available to them in manufacturing. The 1st Annual Manufacturers’ Career Showcase event was a successful collaboration of local manufacturers, educators, economic development professionals, the workforce investment system, and community organizations. They came together to address workforce shortages in the industry, while providing career exposure opportunities for youth.
There is a shortage of skilled trade workers that, in turn, is leaving a generational gap in the manufacturing industry. We need to introduce the benefits of working in the skilled trades NOW, and let this generation know that they have options. Long-term goals of the Sandusky County Manufacturers’ Career Showcase are to raise awareness of opportunities in the field of advanced manufacturing, to change perceptions about employment in today’s manufacturing environment, and to ensure a sufficient supply of talent for the future. In short, to “THINK Manufacturing.” For more information about how your business can participate in the next Manufacturers’ Career Showcase, contact Sandusky County Economic Development Corporation at 419-332-2882 or visit our website at www.sanduskycountyedc.net.
CONTENTS
Questions regarding Terra State Community College curriculum programs or admissions can be directed to the Office of Admissions and Enrollment Services 419-559-2349. Editor........................................................................ Mary E. Mc Cue Director of Marketing and Auxiliary Services Contributors................... Jill Fick, Amanda Pochatko, William Auxter, Jill Caton, Dr. Michael Smithback, Jeffery Hamilton, Lisa Shuey, Philip Weiker, Andrew Carroll, and Kay E. Reiter Photography......... Jill Fick, Amanda Pochatko, and Michael Metzger Senior Graphic and Digital Designer.........................Michael Metzger Terra State Community College Board of Trustees Sandra Berlekamp, Chair Matthew Montowski, Vice Chair Kay E. Reiter, Sergeant at Arms Carl E. Koebel Kyle Overmyer Terra State Community College Foundation Board Thomas Kern, Chair Cynthia Young, Vice-Chair Tracy Troxel, Treasurer R. Jeff Joerg, Secretary Joan Bryden Tony Camilleri Patty Cole Elaine Denman Donna Jean Evans Robert Haslinger Thomas H. Hoffman William Keating Betty G. Love Jennifer Shaffer, Student Representative William H. Taylor William Tea Joseph Wasserman Nancicarol Woleslagel Robert Woolf Kay E. Reiter, Terra Board Designee Carl Koebel, Terra Board Designee Alternate Jerome Webster, Ex Officio
Visit Terra State Community College online at www.terra.edu or call us at 800-334-3886 or 866-AT-TERRA If you are interested in advertising in future issues of CareerFocus, call (419) 559-2204 CareerFocus is published periodically by Terra State Community College, 2830 Napoleon Rd. Fremont, OH 43420 in partnership with Academic Marketing Services. All rights reserved. No part of the material printed may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage retrieval system without the permission of the publisher. © 2015 Terra State Community College
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Small Business Development Center Award-Winning Faculty Member Not So Typical Terra State Launches Innovative Workforce Training Program Hey, Kid, Get a Job!
PROGRAMS
Terra State Community College Administration Dr. Jerome E. Webster, President Jack Fatica, Controller Nanci M. Kosanka, Director of Human Resources Dr. Cindy Krueger, Vice President Academic Affairs Mary E. Mc Cue, Director of Marketing & Auxiliary Services Randall G. McCullough, Vice President, Financial Affairs Dr. Cory M. Stine, Vice President, Institutional Advancement/Exec. Dir., Terra Foundation
Terra State Com
FEATURE
Jump Start Your Business Career COVER STORY
What’s Behind the Door?
12
Changing Perspectives on the Administrative Professional
15
Health Information Technology
14
SPOTLIGHTS
2015 Distinguished Alumni
On the Cover Nicholas Herner
As an industrial technology student at EHOVE, Nicholas Herner was introduced to welding. Now, it’s his career path. Herner, a Huron resident, is in his first year at Terra State, where he is pursuing an associate’s degree in welding. “I was looking for a college close to home and a place that had the career I was looking for,” he said of his college choice. He chose welding because of the pay, the fact that it’s a hands-on job, and it was a career “that I thought I’d really enjoy,” he said. Herner hopes to parlay his degree into an apprenticeship which will in turn open up the welding field to him. His best advice on pursuing a career in the skilled trades? “If you have ambition, you can achieve your goals,” he said.
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Main College Number 419-334-8400 or 1-800-334-3886 and 1-866-AT-TERRA Academic Divisions Allied Health, Nursing, and Public Services 419-559-2312 Business, Communication, and Arts 419-559-2411 STEM and Workforce Development 419-559-2410 Departments Academic Service Center 419-559-2109 Admissions & Enrollment Services 419-559-2349 Advising Services 419-559-2345 Apprenticeships 419-559-2324 Career Services/Planning 419-559-2252 Cashiers 419-559-2329 Disability Services 419-559-2342 Financial Aid 419-559-2344 Global Education and International Student Services 419-559-2428 Kern Center for Business and Industry Training 419-559-2464 Learning Support Services 419-559-2139 Life Scholars & Lifelong Learning 419-559-2255 Neeley Conference and Hospitality Center 419-559-2115 Records 419-559-2333/2330 Small Business/EDC 419-559-2210 Veterans Center 419-559-2348
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CareerFocus I Spring 2016
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PROGRAM
Jump Start Your Business Career By Associate Professor Phil Weiker
Terra State is a great choice for a business education. Almost everyone across the country today is aware of the increasing cost of higher education. Certainly this awareness has created a new evaluation of the opportunities for a post-secondary education. This scrutiny has enhanced the opportunities afforded by the business department at Terra State Community College. We offer the total campus experience in a local setting with small classes and affordable tuition.
A business degree at Terra offers many career options. The business programs we have to offer at Terra State have been designed to help students and
graduates leverage the goal of a quality education in a cost-effective manner. Terra’s options include two-year degrees, transfer degrees and certificate programs. Our business department has also collaborated with several four-year institutions to offer four-year degree opportunities locally.
Check out the two-year Associate of Business degrees. We have revised our programs to emphasize the core competencies of a technical business degree. These two-year degrees prepare a student to take on an entry-level position, enabling them to contribute immediately to an employer’s business objectives. Many of our two-year graduates secure employment with their degree and continue to pursue their education after being gainfully employed. The two-year degrees we offer include: • • • • • • • • •
Accounting Agribusiness Management Business Management Financial Services Hospitality Management Industrial Supervision Marketing Manufacturing Technology Real Estate
Our two-plus-two programs can be a very costeffective way to help you achieve your educational goals. We have developed collaborations with several four-year schools that make it possible to complete your four-year degree right on our
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campus. We also have a two-year transfer degree designed to fit seamlessly into four-year universities across the state of Ohio.
Terra is the place to start.
It’s a cost-effective way to manage your options.
2
The business programs we have to offer at Terra State have been designed to help students and graduates leverage the goal of a quality education in a costeffective manner.
Business skills are universally accepted as important in any career option you choose to pursue. A business degree from Terra State is an excellent starting point for any career. Regardless if you are seeking to enhance your professional skills, achieve one of our many certifications, graduate with a two-year degree, or are preparing yourself to pursue a higher degree, there are few educational choices more cost effective or convenient than Terra State. For more information about getting started on a business degree from Terra State Community College, contact Professor Phil Weiker at 419-559-2396 or email pweiker@terra.edu.
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FEATURE
Small Business
Development Center
Kelleah Oddo and her daughter, Jessie
By Bill Auxter, Director of SBDC at Terra State Community College
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network is the premier technical assistance program for Ohio’s small businesses. The SBDC at Terra State Community College operates through a funding partnership with the Ohio Development Services Agency and U.S. Small Business Administration and serves Erie, Ottawa, Sandusky and Seneca counties in northwest Ohio. Our center has been on campus since 1988, and provides training and counseling for people who want to start, buy or expand small businesses. Our free training geared to the needs of small businesses, along with our free, confidential counseling services, provides resources to assist small businesses that otherwise may be unaffordable.
café and ice cream shop located off Ohio 53 in Fremont. Floyd Miller, a current student on our campus, owns and operates My Maintenance Man LLC, a residential and commercial maintenance business located in Elmore. Both attended our small business basics training and have received business counseling to help develop their businesses.
During the past five years, 1,400 people have attended our training seminars. In that same period, our center has provided one-on-one counseling to more than 750 clients resulting in 70 small business start-ups, 1,300 jobs created and retained, and more than $16 million in loans and capital investments to small businesses. A 2013 study showed for every dollar invested in the SBDC Network, it generated $2.72 in state and $1.85 in federal revenues. SBDCs generate more revenues than they cost.
Oddo has been impressed with the persistence SBDC Director Bill Auxter has displayed with her as they have worked through numerous business plans.
Miller has also seen the benefits of working with the SBDC. “I think every small business could benefit from the services of the SBDC,” he said. “And it’s nice to have an office right here on campus. Bill has always been responsive to my questions and the information he has given me has always been accurate.” Our center works with all types of businesses including, but not limited to, construction, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, service providers, finance and insurance, health care, food service and accommodations, arts, entertainment, recreation and non-profits.
Recent studies indicate many students would prefer self-employment. Approximately five percent of all graduates are actually self-employed after graduation. With 25 percent of our SBDC clients being either current or former Terra State students, entrepreneurship is a viable career option for students to explore now and in the future. Kelleah Oddo, a Terra State graduate, recently started DJ’s Coffee and Ice Cream LLC, a coffee
“He worked through every angle with me, whether each model would be profitable or not,” she said. “It’s been a couple of years and he has worked with me through every idea. He’s been willing throughout to just pick up the ball wherever I was and go with it. And I feel like he will be there in the future if I have any questions.”
Bill Auxter and Floyd Miller
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For more information about the Ohio Small Business Development Center at Terra State Community College, contact Bill Auxter, Center Director, by calling 419-559-2210, emailing bauxter@terra.edu, or visiting our website at www.terra.edu/ContinuingEducation/ SmallBusinessDevelopment.html
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FEATURE
Terra State Mathematics Professor Garners National Recognition for Work in Ohio By Jill Fick, Public Relations Specialist
Michelle Younker, Terra State Community College Associate Professor of Mathematics, has been recognized nationally for her work on the Ohio Mathematics Initiative as evidenced by her participation in two prestigious events during the fall of 2015. In October, the Perrysburg resident was invited to present at two forums on mathematics education: The New Mexico Mathematics Summit on October 2 and the Complete College America Math Pathways Workshop on October 26-27, 2015 in Dallas, Texas. Younker’s involvement in the statewide initiative began as a faculty review panel member for the Ohio Transfer Module Mathematics, Statistics and Logic. Through this work, she gained an understanding of the importance of the statewide credit transfer guarantees and the criteria used in the review and approval process. She also won the respect of those around her. “Her expertise, combined with passion for her profession, led to her involvement as a Steering Committee member for the Ohio Mathematics Initiative which established the statewide recommendations to reform Ohio’s mathematics education for student access and success,” said Dr. Paula Compton, Associate Vice Chancellor for Articulation and Transfer, Ohio Department of Higher Education. “In addition to her leadership and expertise in the initial work, her working relationship with various organizations was recognized by the mathematics community, and as a result, she was nominated by her peers to be a co-lead for the Communication, Outreach, and Engagement Subgroup.”
As a result, Younker has presented and shared the Ohio Mathematics Initiative with various key stakeholders at both state and national levels. She has also represented Ohio at numerous national events, including a mathematics pathways summit hosted by the Charles A. Dana Center at the University of Texas, Austin, in order to bring new and innovative ideas to her state. Most recently, Younker has been working with faculty across the state on the development of statewide learning outcomes for the Quantitative Reasoning Ohio Transfer Module course. “She continues to be a rising star in her profession, and her colleagues appreciate and trust her as a vital member and faculty representative of the Ohio Mathematics Initiative,” Compton said. Her peers at Terra State couldn’t be more proud. “Terra State is very fortunate to have someone with Professor Younker’s knowledge and experience representing our college at the state and national level,” said Michelle White, Lead Faculty of the Mathematics Department. “Her efforts to promote mathematics education are a plus for our department and especially our students. The perspective she brings to Terra from the state level enables us to put in place best practices that will help prepare our students for mathematics beyond the community college experience.” Associate Professor Michelle Younker
“Terra State is very fortunate to have someone with Professor Younker’s knowledge and experience representing our college at the state and national level. Her efforts to promote mathematics education are a plus for our department and especially our students.” Michelle White, Lead Faculty of the Mathematics Department 4
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FEATURE
Not So Typical
Today’s college students break stereotypes If you think that most college students are fresh out of high school, young, carefree and living at a university, you’re way behind the times. Eighty-five percent of college students today don’t fit that mold. More often, the typical college student is living off-campus, working and juggling college with real-life responsibilities.
There are college students in the U.S. today
21.6 million
Only 15% attend a four-year college full time and live on-campus
Source: nces.ed.gov
Source: chronicle.com “The New Traditional Student”
Today’s Typical College Student
42%
38%
Are over age 24
Are enrolled part-time
Source: nces.ed.gov
Source: nces.ed.gov
50%
Are seeking an associate’s degree or certificate Source: theatlantic.com “Old School: College’s most important trend is the rise of the adult student”
32%
Work full-time Source: theatlantic.com “Old School: College’s most important trend is the rise of the adult student”
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27%
Have financial dependents Source: usatoday.com “Degrees of Difficulty”
45% Attend community college
Source: www.aacc. nche.edu
50%
Live with parents while attending college Source: buck.blogs. nytimes.com “More College Students Living at Home”
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FEATURE
Terra State Launches Innovative Workforce Training Program By Andy Carroll, Dean of STEM and Workforce Development
The STEM and Workforce Development Division of Terra State is gearing up to launch a Robotics/Integrated Manufacturing program at the University of Toledo’s Scott Park Campus. Terra State will be offering classes that lead to certifications and industry-recognized credentials. Coursework applies directly towards Associate of Applied Science programs at Terra’s main campus, and the goal is to provide a pathway for students to enter UT’s baccalaureate programs. Meanwhile, Terra State is also committed to continuing operation of the Robotics/Integrated Manufacturing program at its main campus in Fremont. The goal is to grow enrollment and serve both markets, thus better meeting the workforce development needs of the Northwest Ohio region. Terra State has been teaching robotics since 1982, but this will mark the first time that the college has operated such a program at a remote location. This initiative is part of a project that culminated from a partnership between the University of Toledo, Northwest State Community College and Terra State Community College. The State of
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Ohio and the Toledo Area Chamber of Commerce have collaborated to fund the development of the Northwest Ohio Workforce Development and Advanced Manufacturing (WDAM) Training Center. The state-of-the-art center is located in a completely renovated building, formerly known as the Engineering Technologies Building at the
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Lyn Sullivan, Director of Satellite Services; Andy Carroll, Dean of STEM and Workforce Development; Beth Hannam, Manager of Business and Industry Training
Scott Park Campus. The facility features beautiful well-lit lab spaces, lots of windows and plenty of collaborative areas. Terra State is currently receiving and installing new equipment, including Fanuc and Kuka robots, as well as Festo Mechatronics equipment. This equipment is high tech and mirrors that which industry is using today. More broadly, standard electrical, PLC, mechanical, hydraulics, pneumatics, plastics, and rigging training equipment is also being installed. The WDAM Center will be well equipped to train today’s skilled technicians. Such positions are in high demand as the need for people who can work with technology is ever increasing. Terra State will be launching two required robotics certificate classes this January at the WDAM Center, including EET1050 Electricity and ROB1010 Introduction to Robotics. The classes begin Monday, January 11 and run Mondays and Wednesdays with Robotics starting at 5 p.m. and Electricity at 7 p.m. Terra State is also able to meet the workforce training needs of local employers by offering customized, college credit coursework at the center. Additionally, Terra State looks forward to partnering with Materion Corporation this summer to offer the START Camp to high school students in the Lucas County area. START stands for Skilled Trades Apprenticeship Readiness Training and is offered free to selected high school students for a week in the summer. Last year’s
inaugural START Camp consisted of four days of training in subject areas such as electricity, sheet metal fabrication, welding, machining, and basic automotive care. The event went so well that leadership of Materion and Terra State decided to run camps in Fremont and Toledo this year. For anyone interested in learning more about the opportunities at the WDAM Center, please contact the STEM and Workforce Development Office at 419-559-2410. For companies interested in Workforce Development opportunities, please contact Beth Hannam at 419-559-2237.
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Terra State will be launching two required robotics certificate classes this January at the WDAM Center, including EET1050 Electricity and ROB1010 Introduction to Robotics. The classes begin Monday, January 11 and run Mondays and Wednesdays with Robotics starting at 5 p.m. and Electricity at 7 p.m. CareerFocus I Spring 2016
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COVER STORY
What’s Behind
the Door? By Jill Fick, Public Relations Specialist
If you haven’t had a class in it, you may not know what’s behind the door leading into the Skilled Trades Center. After all, the building is the only classroom building not connected to the circle of the main campus. It’s, well, a little out of the way. 8
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But for anyone looking for a career in a rewarding field which boasts lots of job openings, it’s worth the short trip across the parking lot to check out the labs and classrooms in the Skilled Trades Center. The 23,225-square-foot building opened in 2010 and houses several skilled trades programs: • Automotive – About 90 percent of the equipment used in the automotive lab is made by Snap-on. It’s valued at more than $400,000 and is the most stateof-the-art equipment available today. There are roll tool boxes for each team of students as well as four tool boxes that include one of every diagnostic tool that Snap-on makes.
1250 plasma arc power supply with handheld plasma torch. A refurbished Universal Testing Machine used for weld testing and welding certification testing is also on the equipment list. The Skilled Trades Center also has five classrooms – four with Smartboard technology – and a student lounge.
For more information on these programs, contact: Automotive – John Carpenter at 419-559-2182 HVAC-R – Steve Bender at 419-559-2277 or Tim Roth at 419-559-2276 Welding – Bill McCleese at 419-559-2444
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Career Field
Job Outlook, 2012-2022
Employment Change, 2012-2022
Automotive
9% growth
60,400 jobs
Heating, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration
21% growth
55,900 jobs
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, Brazers
6% growth
20,800 jobs
Students learn their craft using the biggest, best and newest machines for such skills as alignment, wheel balancing and tire changing. They also have laptops with diagnostic software, which can be taken right to the vehicles on which they are working. The automotive lab is 4,661 square feet and the engine rebuild lab is 1,331 square feet. • Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration – This working lab is filled with five hybrid (heat pumps and gas fired) units, six package units (commonly used in hotels), six roof-top units, three boilers, 18 reach-in freezers, a large walk-in cooler/freezer and an ice machine. The HVAC-R program has a traditional two-year degree component and a Fast Track class that can be completed in nine months. Both tracks can accommodate 18 students. The lab is 4,345 square feet and also includes an outside teaching space. • Welding – The O.E. Meyer Welding Lab has eight state-ofthe-art welding power sources, including the most advanced welding systems from Miller Electric and Lincoln for pipe welding. Other equipment includes an 85-ton capacity Scotchman ironworker, a Watts pipe beveling machine and a Hypertherm
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FEATURE
Hey, Kid, Get a Job! Get a great job in manufacturing By Associate Professor Michael Smithback, Ph.D.
Manufacturing isn’t what it used to be.1 It has become incredibly complex, relying more on technology while technology itself becomes more advanced. One could choose to view this as a dangerous dependence upon technology but why not take the view that this is an opportunity for technicians upon whom the technology depends. These technicians are in high demand today and Terra provides a pathway for those who want to fill that demand through the Integrated Applications-Based Curriculum in Advanced Manufacturing (IA-CAM). The economic recovery in Ohio has been attributed to a rise in manufacturing jobs2 and these multi-skill jobs are available today.3 So, good-paying technical jobs are available and more opportunities are continuing to develop as industries search to reduce the impending skills drain due to Baby Boomers retiring.4 Despite this good news, one might wonder: how does one find those jobs, or better yet, how does one prepare to step into one of those jobs? Ohio manufacturers are also wondering how to find the people to fill these jobs!
Assistant Professor Jeff Hamilton; Associate Professor Michael Smithback
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Terra State Community College proposed a project to the National Science Foundation: Advanced Technological Education (NSF:ATE) program to: • directly determine the skills needed by the manufacturers • provide the opportunity and proper environment to teach these skills to job-seekers • foster relationships between jobseekers and manufacturers Embarking on a major restructuring of curricula in the technical disciplines of electricity (automation and process control), robotics, mechanical engineering technology and manufacturing technology with the help of this grant from the NSF, Terra State launched the IA-CAM project. This project was launched last year by a team of Terra faculty and staff. Two project accomplishments include the start of a major renovation of two outdated trades’ laboratories and the
Good-paying technical jobs are available and more opportunities are continuing to develop as industries search to reduce the impending skills drain due to Baby Boomers retiring. Terra State Community College I www.terra.edu I 800-334-3886
reorganization/revitalization of viable, existing equipment. A newly established Project Leadership Committee, composed of Terra State faculty and staff, high school guidance counselors, and local industry representatives, collaborates on the development of career pathways. Because this leadership team constitutes a broad network of individuals with varied experience, members can share ideas and form pathways of knowledge previously missing in technical training programs. Curricula from several manufacturing related disciplines have been found to contain a significant number of common courses and the curriculum is being further reviewed for appropriate revision to suit today’s advanced manufacturing needs. With the complexity of today’s manufacturing and processing systems, specializing in one distinct discipline is becoming less valued and the ability to function within two disciplines, or more, is becoming necessary. Allowing TSCC students to explore multiple pathways makes them more attractive to industry.
professional growth opportunities have been created to keep faculty up to speed in technology and also aware of changing manufacturing needs. These quarterly seminars allow teachers and staff to sit in class as students, with students, along with industry partners, and all gain a technology edge, as a team. If you would like more information on the IA-CAM project or the NSF grant, please contact Michael Smithback at 419-559-2146 or Jeff Hamilton at 419-559-2215.
1 2 3 4 5
Kern, Aug. 2013 Halbert, Oct. 2012, p. 5 Horner, Apr. 2013, p. 5 Nogucki, Nov. 2015 Kern, Jan. 2013
References [Kern, Aug 2013] Dan Kern, Then and Now: Why Manufacturing isn’t what it used to be, retrieved from http://blogs.cisco.com/manufacturing/ then-and-now-why-manufacturing-isnt-what-it-used-to-be on 5 November 2015, published: 6 August 2013. [Halbert, Oct 2012] Hannah Halbert, Trade Adjustment Assistance in Ohio, retrieved from http://www.policymattersohio.org/trade-oct2012 on 5 November 2015, published: 15 October 2012. [Horner, Apr 2013] Lewis R. Horner, Manufacturing in Ohio: a postrecession employment outlook, retrieved from http://ohiolmi.com/ research/ publications/Manufacturing_in_Ohio_2013.pdf on 5 November 2015, published: April 2013. [Green, Jun 2012] Tom Green, Robots, Re-shoring and America’s Manufacturing Renaissance, retrieved from http://www.roboticsbusinessreview. com/article/robots_re_shoring_and_ americas_manufacturing_renaissance/ on 5 November 2015, published: 10 June 2012. [Noguchi, Nov 2015] Yuki Noguchi, Businesses Try To Stave Off Brain Drain As Boomers Retire, retrieved from http://www.npr.org/2015/01/15/377201540/ businesses-try-to-stave-offbrain-drain-as-boomers-retire on 5 November 2015, published: 15 January 2015. [Kern, Jan 2013] Dan Kern, Reshaping the Manufacturing Industry Perception to Attract the Next Generation, retrieved from http://blogs.cisco.com/ manufacturing/manufacturing-industryperception on 5 November 2015, published: 28 January 2013.
The IA-CAM project includes new opportunities for TSCC faculty members, staff, and students to not only maintain advanced manufacturing skills and knowledge but to also professionally grow. Working with local industry and industry technology leaders,
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PROGRAM
Changing Perspectives on the Administrative Professional
Terra State training gives students in the Office Administration Program skills that lead to good jobs By Instructor Lisa Shuey
Today’s administrative assistants are responsible for a variety of administrative and clerical duties necessary to run an organization efficiently. 12
management and leadership skills along with the newest communication, data, and presentation methods.
In the beginning of the office, there was the secretary… How does Terra State’s You know what the stereotypes are; Office Administration you’ve seen them on TV’s Mad Men! However, during the Great Recession, Program train students for things changed and many companies this modern role? were forced to go lean. With fewer employees, the work load increased making it necessary for office support staff to pick up some functions formerly performed by management personnel. Not only do administrative professionals need to stay on top of the ever-evolving technology requirements, they must also have management skills in their repertoire. Terra State has been training students to be skilled, competent office professionals for decades - from the days of learning shorthand skills and creating copies on a typewriter using carbon paper through the era of the very first word processors and into the present, teaching the newest version of Microsoft Office suite programs. As the critical elements of this profession expand and evolve, Terra State continually updates and improves the Office Administration Program curriculum, teaching business
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The Office Administration (OAD) Program prepares students to work in executive as well as medical offices. Today’s administrative assistants are responsible for a variety of administrative and clerical duties necessary to run an organization efficiently. They manage information and communication for an office; plan events; schedule meetings and appointments; organize and maintain paper and electronic files; oversee projects; conduct research; communicate information using the telephone, mail services, web sites, and email; and coordinate travel and guest arrangements.
for a challenging career by offering two majors: • Executive Office Administration • Medical Office Administration Many students choose to double major and earn both degrees, maximizing their job opportunities. The OAD Program includes an extensive work experience component targeted to the student’s major. Each student participates in an intern/work experience program for 20 hours per week in a local business or medical office, putting the skills learned during class into real-world practice. This ensures that the resume of the OAD student graduating from Terra State already has work experience on it and the student is ready to drop seamlessly into the workforce.
At Terra State, the curriculum is designed to offer courses that enhance students’ technical, communication, and leadership/management skills with an emphasis on professional work ethic. The OAD program prepares students
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What difference does a degree in Office Administration make in a person’s life? MEET NICOLE LEETH, a 1994 graduate of Terra Tech’s Medical Secretary Program, as it was named at that time. Her first job in the field was at Firelands Counseling & Recovery in Tiffin, Ohio, as an office assistant. She made sure to tell me that she was referred to this position by a fellow Terra Medical Secretary graduate, a great example of how a sense of community bonds Terra State students beyond graduation. She reported that her classes at Terra meshed perfectly with the demands of her position at Firelands, including Microsoft Word, typing, business correspondence formats, and speech classes. Nicole said that the speech classes she took really helped when she was in the office interacting with staff, patients, and professionals. “There wasn’t a class that I took at Terra that wasn’t helpful to me in one way or another,” she said.
Nicole Leeth
Nicole pointed out that just having a degree can make a positive difference in how one’s career progresses. Right after she graduated from Terra, she enlisted in active duty Air Force. Because she had her associate degree, she had a leg up, coming in at Airman First Class instead of Airman Basic. She said it was almost like being put on a “fast track.” Because of her degree, she was awarded the role of Element Leader, and was chosen to attend a six-month tech school to become a weather observer, a position she held for the duration of her time in the service.
Flash forward to 2015, Nicole says the functions in a medical office have not changed greatly over time – she is still answering phones, scheduling patients, rescheduling patients, and filing. The changes have come in the technology. She currently works at ProMedica Physicians Behavioral Health, and she says that the big change over the years was the move to Electronic Medical Records (EMR) rather than the paper charts and files they used to have. There is one program for patient information and insurance and another for therapists’ and doctors’ notes. The professionals also use a voice recognition program that populates the patient record immediately as the doctor dictates his notes. Nicole feels her experience at Terra was a life-changer. She points out that classes are smaller at a community college, allowing students to have a better rapport with the instructors, as opposed to the larger class sizes common to most four-year colleges. Her daughter recently transferred from BGSU to Terra State for just those kinds of reasons. Nicole adds that the low cost of tuition at Terra was helpful, and says that it is a good campus and really growing! She has a real Terra family - her husband is also a Terra graduate, having earned his associate of business degree at Terra and then continuing to Tiffin University where he completed his bachelor’s in business management.
Lisa Shuey
What happens after graduation? To see what happens to Terra State graduates after college, visit our online edition at terra.mycareerfocus.org For information on the Office Administration Program, contact Lisa Shuey, OAD Instructor, at 419-559-2356 or lshuey03@terra.edu.
Job outlook The job outlook for professionally-trained administrative assistants is encouraging. While developments in office technology are certain to continue, there will be an increased demand for administrative assistants who are adaptable and versatile. Furthermore, many administrative office duties are of a personal, interactive nature and are not easily automated. Responsibilities such as planning conferences, working with clients, and instructing staff require tact and communication skills. Because technology cannot substitute for these personal skills, well-trained administrative assistants will continue to play a key role in organizations. Statewide, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services 2012-2022 Snapshot of Occupational Projections shows an expected increase of 37,640 job openings for Office and Administrative Support Occupations. The most meaningful statistics, however, reflect the local job market that our Terra State graduates will be entering. The 2022 Job Outlook from the August 2015 JobsOhio Network projects a rise of 3.1 percent for Office and Administrative Support Occupations in Northwest Ohio. That’s good news – there are and will continue to be new, local jobs to be filled!
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SPOTLIGHT
2015 Distinguished Alumni Three Terra State Community College graduates were recently honored as distinguished alumni by the Terra College Foundation. Distinguished alumni recognition has been established for the purpose of honoring outstanding alumni who have made contributions to enrich our communities over the years.
Angie Chlosta Terra State Community College, Class of 1990 Associate of Applied Business in Business, Banking and Finance
of Human Resources and Executive Assistant to the CEO and Board of Directors at FFCU.
me with the knowledge and understanding of the crucial aspects and components of working in the financial industry.”
Progressing through various positions before arriving at her current role, Angie enjoyed the challenges of each job within the banking industry. She continued her education while employed, receiving a Human Resources Management Certification from the University of Toledo in 1999.
Angie is active in many civic and community organizations, including the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the Sandusky County Human Resources Management Association, Leadership Sandusky County, Soroptimist International and American Cancer Society, and she serves as the PTO treasurer for Bishop Hoffman Catholic Schools.
“Terra State has been the foundation that initiated my career at FFCU,” she said.” My degree in banking and finance provided
A life-long resident of Fremont, Angie and her husband Craig have two children. Alex, who took courses at Terra State while
Joseph Wasserman
bachelor’s degree at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus.
sharing his musical talents as choir director.
Terra Technical College (Terra State), Class of 1987 Associate of Applied Business in Graphics Bachelor of Liberal Arts Pontifical College Josephinum, Columbus Fremont native Joseph “Joe” Wasserman has supported his community throughout his life. A graduate of St. Joseph Central Catholic High School and ‘87 graduate of Terra Technical College, he earned a degree in graphics before completing a
On February 17 of this year, Joe celebrated 10 years of ownership of Bella Cosa Floral Studio. Bella Cosa is a full-service florist, selling silk and real flowers. In Italian, Bella Cosa means “beautiful thing.” The flower shop also has decor items, such as vases, candles and arrangements.
He worked on the committee that established the first fundraising auction at the now Bishop Hoffman Catholic Schools, and assisted with fundraising campaigns that brought in more than $2 million for facility renovations.
After graduating from Terra State in 1990 with a Business, Banking and Finance Degree, it didn’t take long for Angie Chlosta to find employment. Starting the Monday after graduation, she was hired by Fremont Federal Credit Union as a teller and today is the Vice President
Joe previously worked for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Toledo, teaching religion and art at the high school level, representing the diocese as a delegate to the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions, serving as parish minister at St. Ann Catholic Community, and
Wasserman has been a trustee of the Terra College Foundation since 2002, and is completing a decade of service as the Foundation’s chairperson. During his tenure, the Terra College Foundation has assisted hundreds
in high school, is now a junior at Ohio University majoring in Civil Engineering, and Abby, a sophomore at St. Joseph Central Catholic School, who plans to study at Terra State during her junior year. Terra State continues to be an important resource. “My educational experience at Terra State while obtaining my degree 25 years ago, in addition to the continued educational relationship for on-going training throughout my career, has been invaluable.”
of students with the costs of college, and has provided millions of dollars for facilities and program equipment. “Education is important in every community, and the work of the Foundation allows education to be attainable by anyone,” he said. “If a person has a desire to learn, that opportunity needs to be available.” Joe enjoys fine dining, travel and boating on Lake Erie during calm weather.
Erika Beckman
Aided Drafting (CAD) program.
machining, coding and actually making parts rather than a theory course.”
she was an assistant director at EHOVE. Her new role as principal is a natural fit.
Terra State Community College, Class of 1997 Associate of Applied Science, Mechanical Engineering/ CAD/CAM When EHOVE Career Center named Erika Beckman its new principal earlier this year, it allowed the Republic native to come full circle. She is a product of career-technical education.
“Personally it was the best decision I made because I was able to go to college with a skill set and was ahead in my college classes,” she said.
Her college experiences served her well after graduation.
She and her husband, Josh, have two daughters, Andra and Erin. They manage a hog facility on their farm and she handles the accounting.
Erika attended Sentinel Career Center where she was a student in the Computer
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Attending Terra State was a good choice for her. “Terra State prepared me for my career best by providing real-world and hands-on experience,” Erika said. “Since engineering was my focus, I was able to learn
“I was fortunate to have an entry level engineering position offered to me a month before I graduated,” she said. “While working in business and industry for seven years, Terra State offered me a part-time teaching position and this is where I fell in love with the teaching profession.” Erika taught CAD at Vanguard Tech Center and at Terra State, and from 2010 to 2015,
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PROGRAM
Health Information Technology By Jill Caton, Coordinator of Health Information Technology
Karen Faulk knew that finding a school and a program that met her requirements was essential in making her experience enjoyable and successful. She found that at Terra State in the Health Information Technology (HIT) program. “The Terra HIT program provided me with a broad range of skills that allowed me to be marketable in today’s ever-changing workforce,” she said. “Thanks to the HIT program I have a rewarding and stimulating career as an Ambulatory Health Informatics Analyst at Wood County Hospital. The HIT program faculty consists of knowledgeable and caring instructors that promote personal growth and confidence.” Faulk has also served as an adjunct faculty in the program. “I am fortunate to Karen Faulk have been given the opportunity to give back to today’s students some of the same experiences that were provided to me,” she said. Health Information Technology (HIT) is a diverse yet evolving field that incorporates medicine, management, finance, information technology and law into one dynamic career path. Professionals in the health information technology field acquire, organize, analyze and protect health information of patients. They work behind the scenes in order to ensure quality patient care as all information contained in their medical record, whether paper or electronic, is vital to their care.
HIT professionals possess a number of different skills in order to be proficient in their jobs. These skills include, but are not limited to: • Attention to detail • Organization • Verbal and written communication • Critical thinking • Computer applications Providing updated information that is accurate helps ease the work of physicians, nurses and other healthcare providers so they are able to deliver high quality care to their patients. With their knowledge and expertise in maintaining health information, HIT professionals use their skills in a number of different healthcare settings such as: • Hospitals • Physician offices • Long term care • Insurance companies • Public health settings • Health clinics • Consulting firms The industries that employ the most HIT professionals are general medical and surgical hospitals, offices of physicians, and nursing care facilities. Professionals in the health information technology field hold a number of positions in the various healthcare settings.
Positions include, but are not limited to: • Medical coding • Billing • Reimbursement • Release of information • Compliance officer • Registries • Supervisor • Manager • Director Careers as health information professionals are on the rise as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states health information technology is one of the 20 fastest growing occupations in the United States. BLS claims that employment opportunities are expected to increase by 22 percent between 2012 and 2020, which is a much faster rate than the average for all other occupations. Salaries will depend on the position or job title, type of healthcare setting, years of experience, education and other key factors such as geographical location, but can range anywhere from $24,353 to $46,679 and the overall salary range was $35,000 according to PayScale.com. The median salary according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics was $17.27 per hour or $35,920 in 2011. According to the Health Information Technology Salary HQ website (http://www.
healthinformationtechnologysalaryhq. com/), the top three highest paying industries are: • Scientific Research and Development • Insurance Carriers • Management Scientific and Technical Consulting Services. There are many different career paths to take in order to obtain the desired job. The Career Map from the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) is a useful guide to follow in order to ensure professionals are on the right path to their career of choice in the health information field. http:// hicareers.com/CareerMap/ Health Information is the profession that focuses on healthcare data and the management of healthcare information resources. It represents a continuum of practice concerned with health-related information and management of systems to collect, store, process, retrieve, analyze, disseminate and communicate information related to the research, planning, provision, financing and evaluation of health services. This career combines knowledge and skills from medicine, information management, business applications and computer technology within the healthcare industry. It is an exciting and rewarding career choice in the ever-changing world of healthcare.
Health Information Technology Professionals Speak Out “Learning HIT puts your medical experience into a different perspective. You learn the ‘behind the scenes’ action. It is a growing field with many career opportunities. It has made me appreciate medical office staff and their duties on a whole new level.” Amy Duty “During my time here at Terra, I have learned so much about what my future holds. I have learned that HIT (Health Information Technology) is important to all areas of the healthcare field. We protect both doctors and patients with the work that we do. We are the missing piece that works behind the scenes. Without HIT, the puzzle is not complete. I am proud to say that I am that missing piece.”
Jill Caton
Danielle Waldrup
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“I have been working in healthcare for more than 30 years and I have always stated that the career of the future is going to be HIT! With the education and credentials that I am receiving in this program here at Terra, I will be able to advance to the area in healthcare that I love – training!”
Cheryl Radin-Norman CareerFocus I Spring 2016
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A Fresh New Place for Your Event!
The Ronald L. Neeley Conference and Hospitality Center Suitable for Private, Public, or Corporate Functions Located on the campus of Terra State Community College, Fremont, Ohio Contact Jim Stephenson, Conference & Event Services Manager 419-559-2115 • Jstephenson01@terra.edu
Made-to-Order Omelets Homemade Soups Daily Fresh Salad Bar 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Monday –Thursday 7:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Friday OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
We use locally sourced produce & meats from area farms and butcher shops.
Catering available. Contact Chef Ben Staples at 419-559-2323.
Located on the campus of Terra State Community College