New Powered Industrial Truck Forklift Training Courses
New and current employees can benefit from the new hands-on forklift training series offered by the Center for Business and Industry
Basic Course
Participants will learn the skills required for safe operation and maintenance of forklifts and other powered industrial trucks in compliance with OSHA regulations.
Advanced Course
Participants will gain a refined skillset to operate powered industrial trucks, use a variety of attachments and safely unload semitrailers.
Refresher Course
Participants will brush up on concise quality training and safe practice review in compliance with OSHA guidelines.
Classes are offered monthly and can be scheduled as needed. The series can be offered on campus or on-site.
For more information, contact Adam Carter, CBI Training Specialist, at 217-234-8258 or acarter2@lakelandcollege. edu.
To register, visit learn.lakelandcollege.edu.
How can we help you?
Customized
Skills Training
Center for Business & Industry
Apprenticeships
Customized Training
CDL Training
Manufacturing Skills Training
Traffic Safety
GED/ESL Classes
Adult Education
Free GED Classes
Free ESL Classes
Multiple Community Locations
Vocational Programs
Contact: Bonnie Moore Director of the Center for Business & Industry
217-238-8260 bmoore71258@ lakelandcollege.edu
Enrollment Process
Employee Tuition
Waivers
Recruitment & Enrollment Management
On-site Visits
Upskilling Employees
Campus Connections
Tuition Waivers
Contact: Pam Hartke
Associate Dean of Recruitment & Enrollment Management
217-238-2705
phartke@ lakelandcollege.edu
Contact:
Dustyn Fatheree Director of Adult Education
217-238-8200
dfatheree@ lakelandcollege.edu
Technology & Business Faculty
Work and Learn Options Coursework Updates
Tech 2 Day Work and Learn
Input on Skill Development
Internships
Partnership Opportunities
Classroom Presentations
Contact: Brian Madlem Division ChairTechnology and Business 217-234-5348
bmadlem@ lakelandcollege.edu
Hiring Grads/ Students/Interns
Career Services
Internships
Hiring Opportunities
Job Fairs
On Campus Interviews
Posting Jobs
Contact: Stephanie Anderson Internship & Employment Coordinator 217-234-5457
sfreeman41846@ lakelandcollege.edu
Community Partnerships & Scholarships
Foundation & Alumni College Advancement
Campus Events and Exposure
Sponsorship Opportunities
Scholarship Gifts
Equipment Donations
Contact: Bailey Cole Director of Annual Giving & Alumni Relations 217-234-5376 foundation@ lakelandcollege.edu
Building Impact Together: the Community Partner Program
The Lake Land College Foundation is proud to introduce a new Community Partner Program—a year-long opportunity for businesses to engage with students, attend events and enjoy ongoing campus visibility. More than a fundraising initiative, this program creates meaningful connections between local employers, students and the College.
The idea grew out of the Foundation team’s efforts to expand the annual golf outing. With two goals in mind— raising more funds for students and building deeper partnerships with businesses—the Foundation created a structure for year-round involvement. Whether it’s hiring students, training staff, participating in Career Day or speaking with a class, Community Partners have multiple ways to connect and make an impact.
"We are excited to share that 21 business partners have already joined the program, contributing a total of $92,000," Christi Donsbach, Executive Director for College Advancement, said. "Their generosity means 92 additional students will receive scholarships and emergency funding this year—students who otherwise may not have had that opportunity,"
We are especially grateful to Rural King and SC3F Wealth Management, our Gold Level Sponsors, for their outstanding support.
As we look ahead, the possibilities for collaboration are endless. We invite more partners to join us in shaping opportunities for students, strengthening our workforce and investing in the communities we serve.
Pictured are the 2025 Rural King Scholarship Recipients at the annual campus breakfast.
Apprenticeship Programs: Strengthening Career-Connected Pathways
New Apprenticeship Programs
Lake Land has prioritized the development of apprenticeships in recent years through the College’s Center for Business & Industry, leveraging partnerships with local businesses to build real-world, on-the-job training programs that help students advance their skills and support the region’s workforce.
Lake Land is exciting to partner with the following organizations on new apprenticeships:
Industrial Maintenance Mechanic with North American Lighting
Concrete Laborer with J.B. Esker & Sons
Early Childhood Education with Montessori Kids Universe and Stevens Industries
Automotive Technician Specialist with KC Summers
Construction Craft Laborer with F & C Concrete
HVAC & R Installer/Servicer with CR Neff
Health Care (CNA, LPN, RN) with Lincoln Health Care
Assembly Technician Flex-N-Gate
Plastic Process Technician/ Industrial Maintenance Certificate with Flex-N-Gate
Pending Program: Coat Process Technician with FlexN-Gate
Congratulations to Our First Youth Apprentice!
Carson Body entered the apprenticeship program in November 2022 as a senior at Mattoon High School. He was dual enrolled in the automotive program at Lake Land College and knew he wanted to work at KC Summers. Lake Land facilitated the first youth apprenticeship with the company. He completed his apprenticeship in Spring of 2025 and is now enjoying his career as an automotive technician at KC Summers.
Meet the New Apprenticeship Coordinator
Lake Land College is pleased to welcome Lesa Allsop as the new Apprenticeship Coordinator.
A native of Windsor, Allsop brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the role. She returns to her home region after successful careers working in the airline industry and leading a workforce development team in Missouri, where she focused on apprenticeships and closing skill gaps for employers.
Allsop is most excited to partner with local businesses to help meet their workforce needs while building valuable skills for apprentices. Contact Allsop at 217-234-5228 or lallsop@lakelandcollege.edu.
Lake Land Receives National Apprenticeship Grant
Lake Land College is one of 10 recipients of the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) Scaling Apprenticeship grant.
The grant seeks to empower community colleges across the nation to expand apprenticeship opportunities and develop new apprenticeship programs that lead to sustainable careers and address local employment needs. The grant is funded in partnership with Ascendum Education Group, New America and Job Forward.
The grant will focus on developing programs in specialized heavy equipment operation, advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, education, healthcare, diesel technology, welding, sterile manufacturing, information technology and agriculture.
New Surgical Technolog y Program
Partnering with Industry to Meet Workforce Demands
Lake Land College is launching a brand-new associate degree program in Surgical Technology, creating a local pathway for students to earn highdemand careers, beginning this January.
The new program will prepare students to perform the vital work of surgical technologists, including preparing patients for surgery, assisting surgeons with instruments and following strict procedures to maintain sterile environments.
The Surgical Technology program is a hybrid for mat with online classes and in-person labs, providing students with an immersive yet flexible experience. The College is partnering with multiple hospitals in the area for students to complete the program’s clinical requirements.
The new program addresses a local need for highly-qualified surgical technologists. Statewide employment for surgical technologists is predicted to increase by 17.7% over the next three years, according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security. By developing this new program, Lake Land is set to create a strong pipeline in the region to fill this growing field.
To learn more about the Surgical Technology program, contact Erica Hotze, Surgical Technology Program Director & Clinical Coordinator, at 217-234-5369 ehotze@lakelandcollege.edu.
Effingham Technology Center in Business
Bringing Education that Works to Effingham
This fall marked the very first semester for students to attend classes and complete programs at the Effingham Technology Center.
Center for Business and Industry Expands Robotics and Technical Training
Lake Land College was thrilled to host the Eastern Illinois Manufacturing Summit on campus in September! Following the presentations, participants toured the Center for Business & Industry Technical Training Lab in the Workforce Development Center.
The Center for Business and Industry continues to expand expertise and equipment in the Technical Skills Training Lab to meet the demands for industryfocused, hands-on training in the region.
The newly launched Introduction to Robotics course features upgraded equipment and a diverse fleet of robots across multiple brands. Students learn essential robotics skills, including programming error recovery, mastering, calibrating, point touch-u and network communications. W ith Training Specialist Adam Carter certified as a FANUC Robotics Instructor, the program is aligned with nationally recognized standards. Carter also holds certifications in NC3 TORQ Precision Measurement, SACA Mechatronics and Powered Industrial Truck/Forklift, further strengthening the expertise available through CBI.
In addition to robotics, the Technical Skills Training Lab offers a strong lineup of core courses:
• Applied Industrial
• Electricity Electronic Drives
• Fluid Power for Industry
• Mechanical Systems
• PLC Level 1 Control Logix
• PLC Level 1 SLC500
• Troubleshooting Techniques
• Powered Industrial Truck/Forklift
• Introduction to Robotics
CBI continues to partner with Lake Land’s Technology faculty to share equipment and resources, ensuring both students and incumbent workers benefit from advanced training. In addition to scheduled classes, CBI provides customized, cost-effective training yearround, tailored to meet the needs of local businesses and individuals.
For more information about upcoming training opportunities or to explore customized options, contact Bonnie Moore, Director of the Center for Business & Industry at 217-238-8260 or bmoore71258@lakelandcollege.edu
Partnering for Success: Reach Students with Career Services
Connecting talented students with outstanding employers is at the heart of what we do in Career Services. We’re here to help you find the right candidates for your organization—at absolutely no cost to you. Whether you're hiring for full-time positions, internships or part-time roles, we offer a range of free services designed to maximize your visibility and streamline your recruitment process.
Handshake Job Promotion
can easily create an employer account, post jobs, manage applications and even schedule interviews. We can directly promote your Handshake posting to students in specific majors and departments, aligning your recruitment efforts with students' academic and career goals.
On-Campus Recruitment Opportunities
Social Media Spotlight
We’ll boost your opportunity by featuring it on our Career Services Facebook page, helping you reach an even broader audience—including students, recent grads, alumni and community members who follow our page for the latest job updates.
Promotional Giveaways & Donations Welcome
Handshake, is a powerful, userfriendly job search system used by colleges and universities nationwide. Every Lake Land College student has access to Handshake, making it a direct pipeline to our campus community. You
Are you looking to connect face-to-face? We can help you host an on-campus recruitment table, schedule open interviews or hang your flyers on campus. We also host a series of divisionspecific job fairs. These are great ways to engage with students who are actively seeking employment or internships.
Want to build brand recognition while supporting student engagement? We welcome donations of promotional giveaways like pens, stickers, notepads, bags or other branded items. These are distributed to students during our many tabling events throughout the year.
Our Commitment to YOU
We’re committed to tailoring our services to fit your hiring goals. We are grateful for your continued partnership and look forward to helping you connect with the next generation of skilled professionals—our Lakers.
Ready to Get Started?
If you’re interested in getting started, we’re ready to help! Reach out to begin promoting your opportunity— schedule a call with us to talk about your needs in more detail.
Scan this QR code or contact: Stephanie Anderson Internship & Employment Coordinator 217-234-5457 sfreeman41846@ lakelandcollege.edu
Lake Land College recently unveiled a bold new strategic plan, “Education that Fits Your Life,” designed to reshape how students access and experience higher education.
The plan lays the groundwork for many new college-wide initiatives that will provide students with crucial personalized support and empower them to balance their academic goals with their busy personal lives by providing more customer-centric schedules and learning options.
The “Education that Fits Your Life” strategic plan is centered on the voices of Lake Land students, developed through direct feedback received in the spring of 2025 from the College community to address specific student needs. This feedback, coupled with research on national demographic
and enrollment trends, led College leaders to identify several areas of opportunity to enhance the student experience and position the College for success into the future.
“When you consider higher education from a student lens, the reality is that students have many competing priorities, from jobs to families to personal lives,” Lake Land College President Josh Bullock said. “With our new strategic plan, our goal is to find opportunities to make college accessible to everyone. We want to assure students that no matter what, there is a pathway at Lake Land College to get them to their goals.”
To view the complete Strategic Plan, scan the QR code or visit LakeLandCollege.edu/ about-us/strategic-plan/.
What's on your mind?
In the latest episode of the Laker Advantage podcast, Dr. Bullock shares exciting insights into the brand-new strategic direction for the College: Education that Fits Your Life! Listen now on Spotify.
This short survey will guide our Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment by identifying equity gaps and determining whether our graduates are meeting local labor market demands. Your feedback will help us understand workforce challenges and what credentials matter most to employers like you.
Thank you in advance for taking the brief survey!