Solutions Magazine: Winter 2023

SOLUTIONS

Continuing education and lifelong learning opportunities are a vital part of your personal and professional success. These short or part-time courses allow you to gain expertise and master skills in a specific topic or area. Industries, technologies and even employment can change at any time, and continuing education and NICC can be there to assist you.

In the NICC Business and Community Solutions division, we recognize how important lifelong learning is for community members and organizations. We develop a variety of personal enrichment classes for all ages to pursue their passions - from summer camps for youth to cooking classes and more. I’m sure you’ll find a class to spark your interest. Our timely professional training adapts to the changing needs of businesses and industry to keep employees engaged and improve their technical skills.

Continuing education can be customized to the unique needs of area businesses. Our team of experts can build a curriculum around your goals and mission to include a variety of training options such as professional development, career development, leadership, Lean and more. Career Pathway Certificate training programs at NICC have also helped many professionals restart or transition to new careers in a short period of time. Just this past year, our team served more than 450 area businesses to meet their workforce needs.

The Business and Community Solutions team looks forward to serving you and your business this year and into the future. To learn more, view our course catalog at www.nicc.edu/solutions or call 844.642.2338, ext. 1399.

Amy Green Director of Sales and Training Business & Community Solutions (BCS)

visit www.nicc.edu/centers

Grow with Continuing Education Classes

Continuing Education classes are short courses that allow you to develop knowledge and master skills in a specific area. These areas include professional development to advance your career, certification to maintain an industry license or personal enrichment to learn something you have a personal interest in, just for fun.

Continuing education can be a vital lifeline to your personal and professional success. Not only do industries and technologies change, but employment can also change at any time. Continuing education is a worthy investment to prepare you for economic uncertainty. Employees who invest in their skills development may increase their chances of promotion or a boost in pay, transition to a new career, enhance their image and marketability on a resume, or to impact their personal growth.

You could register for a Microsoft Excel class to improve your skills and beef up your resumé, learn digital photography, or Adobe software like Photoshop or Illustrator, to build your career skills. You can enroll in one or more of 20 Career Pathway Certificates to gain the skills you need in only two to four months and begin a different career.

Continuing Education Focus Areas

Adult Education and Literacy

Career Development

Computer Technology

Healthcare

VIEW OUR ENTIRE COURSE CATALOG TO FIND YOUR NEXT LEARNING OPPORTUNITY.

Licensure and Recertification

Personal Enrichment

Trades and Industry

Transportation

Continuing Education — Exercise for Your Brain

It is commonly known that activities such as exercise, word searches and crossword puzzles benefit your memory through the aging process and impact overall brain health. These creative, active activities are fun and challenge youbut have you considered how learning a new skill or enhancing your knowledge base impacts your brain health and overall happiness?

Continuing education is exercise for your brain. We take measures to maintain good health, such as eating healthy, exercising and making sure we stand up and walk every hour. When you’re learning a new skill or hobby, especially if it’s complex, your brain is working through intellectually challenging exercises and keeping in shape. Once you mastered a skill, your brain needs a new challenge, and the cycle repeats -- this is lifelong learning.*

The Northeast Iowa Community College Business and Community Solutions division is dedicated to offering courses focused on lifelong learning which is directly related to your, and your employees, brain health and growth. All classes we offer fit the "lifelong learning" mindset and set you up for greater brain health - you can never learn too much or be too healthy.

Take a class that interests you, attend a conference to expand your knowledge or, take it a step further, and register for a workshop that is completely outside your comfort zone and really challenge yourself. This is a great way to be mentally healthy with the added benefit of learning a new skill - both have countless applications and benefits to our daily lives.

Simple ways to add continuing education into your life.

check Read.

check Watch a documentary.

check Listen to a podcast. We highly recommend Solutions podcast!

check Learn new computer skills.

check Take dance classes.

check Attend conferences and seminars.

*Ingleside Engaged Living

Brain Health Summit

This annual event is a partnership between Brain Health Now and Northeast Iowa Community College, and is dedicated to destigmatizing brain health. The summit features national and international brain health experts and advocates. Previous summits have featured Sean Astin, actor and brain health advocate, and Ramona Wink, licensed counselor.

LEARN MORE. www.nicc.edu/brainhealth

What is Business & Community Solutions?

19,196

People registered for our courses to enhance their skills and advance within their career.

20,000+

People enrolled in continuing education courses last year.

31,518

Courses were offered last year in the healthcare, information technology, advanced manufacturing, business and career development.

20+ Career Pathway Certificate programs are also offered in advanced manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, information technology and business for students to enhance their employment prospects.

Paul Hanni Welding, CBE Student

Business and Community Solutions develops and delivers lifelong learning opportunities for all community members, businesses and professionals. When new legislation, advanced technologies or regulatory changes impact businesses and employment Business and Community Solutions creates classes or trainings to help you stay current. Employers and their employees may access these continuing education offerings such as; National Electrical Code (NEC) Book revisions, changes in real estate or cosmetology law, healthcare legislation or the latest safety guidelines for high school interscholastic athletics coaching. Business and Community Solutions flexes with the times and customizes training programs to the specific training needs of businesses through one of our career pathway certificate programs that provide entry-level career training in a matter of months. Many local professionals develop their skills through training programs in robotic welding or new information technology systems, project management, soft skills and communication, accounting software, Commercial Driver License or any number of skill areas.

Paul Hanni completed two short career pathway certificate programs, through NICC Business and Community Solutions, to compete for in-demand, high-paying welding and machinist jobs. Manufacturers in northeast Iowa need skilled people and Paul’s training made a difference in the job search. He’s now employed as a welder-fabricator.

Whether you’re an employer that needs people with a specific skill, a part-time employee looking to work full-time or you just want to take some leisure classes for fun, Business and Community Solutions has what you’re interested in!

LEARN MORE. www.nicc.edu/business-community

“The certificate programs prepared me for more advanced training and my career. If you go into a manufacturing job, you need to know how to read blueprints yourself. Having a good grasp of this really helps with employment and makes you stand out. I’m ahead of many people looking for the same job,” Paul said.

500 Businesses in northeast Iowa participated in our training solutions and programs in 2022.

1,155 Business and partners participated in 17 regional business and community board meetings last year to discuss key workforce challenges and opportunities.

Customized Training: Unique to You and Your Employees

Major healthcare providers in northeast Iowa, such as Winneshiek Medical Center (WMC), enroll their management team in leadership training to stay on the leading edge of the industry.

"Because the leadership training is customized for our leadership and their specific needs, Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) is able to build a curriculum that reflects WMC’s goals and mission," says Laurie Bulman, WMC director of human resources.

Thirty-five senior leaders from WMC participated in the training, hosted at the Wilder Business Center at the Calmar campus. The leaders also held an after-class networking hour to help cultivate managers’ relationships across multiple departments.

The training focused on communication, change management, working with a variety of work styles, understanding individual work styles and strategic planning. Although some companies may be reluctant to participate in employee training because of work schedules and daily responsibilities, communication with the NICC training team helped create a solution.

“We asked all of our directors to attend the same training. We were able to schedule multiple half-day sessions over the course of nine months and chose a time of day that was best for our team. NICC worked with speakers and made facility arrangements to make it work,” Laurie said.

Bulman has received positive feedback from leaders who participated in training, supported in part by American Rescue Plan funds.

Business and Community Solutions works closely with each organization to understand their training needs, according to Amy Green, director of sales and training.

“NICC Business and Community Solutions understands every organization, large or small, is unique and this is why our training is unique. We provide fully customized solutions to address the needs and objectives of our clients. Companies that partner with us and invest in training see improved employee efficiency, productivity, morale and retention,” Amy said.

LEARN ABOUT CUSTOMIZED TRAINING SOLUTIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS. www.nicc.edu/customized-solutions

User Amy Green Director of Sales and Training

Envelope greena@nicc.edu

phone 844.642.2338, ext. 3130

“The ability to customize our training program ensures we are delivering content that is relevant and in alignment with our goals. We were able to meet with the NICC team and each of the trainers so they understood our needs. We have partnered with the College in multiple ways for many years and NICC was the natural choice for this training partnership.”

Leadership in Changing Times

Good management involves working with people, navigating change and being proactive to keep pace with advancements. It’s a focus Cascade Lumber Company’s leadership team embraces as they look for opportunities to promote from within and develop the next generation of management.

The company started leadership training in January 2022. 260F Iowa Jobs Training Program and Workforce Training and Economic Development (WTED) funding is supporting the effort, and the company is doing supplementary training in CPR/First Aid, Microsoft Excel skills and plant safety training.

Led by John and Kathie Rotz of Business and Community Solutions, the leadership curriculum focuses on the role of a leader, motivation and engagement, change management, empathy, personality assessment and other leadership development topics.

“We worked with John and Kathie two years ago and selected them again for the leadership training to have continuity from start to finish. When training concludes this spring, we’re going to do role playing between team members to bring all the lessons together and reinforce what everyone learned. We will have come full circle and be able to make the training even more impactful,” Joe said.

State of Iowa funding, such as the 260F and WTED programs, offsets training costs for northeast Iowa companies of all sizes.

Noonan Director of Operations Cascade Manufacturing

“We are working with NICC Business and Community Solutions on plant management training because it’s important that our company can attract, retain and build a highly engaged workforce,” said Joe Noonan, director of operations for Cascade Manufacturing, a branch of parent company Cascade Lumber.

In 2022 NICC facilitated 31 unique 260F Iowa Jobs Training Program projects and trained 757 workers. Last year, WTED funds also supported another 27 unique training projects for 706 workers and students.

Business & Career Benefits of Continuing Education

Continuing education and professional development can be considered two sides of the same coin -- both refer to additional learning or training to upgrade your skills and knowledge. Investing in additional learning is vital in today’s competitive job market. Employers want candidates who not only excel at their work, but who are versatile and resilient. Professional development has a strong focus on investing in yourself with the specific purposes of career growth, increasing pay, increasing promotion opportunities or resume building.

Professional development is a great way to gain confidence, improve job performance and grow within your career. With more skills knowledge and education you can make better decisions on where to invest your time and efforts within the workplace. Taking professional development classes can help you build skills you may not have the opportunity to practice during the workday. Plus, during classes you can network with like-minded peers to gain insights about your industry and learn tips or best practices from other professionals.

The College partners with Cottingham & Butler to provide continuing education to their employees. This training is critical for the growth and development of their business.

“We are a growth company and in order to achieve these goals we value partnerships that help our team become better business professionals, in turn providing the excellent customer service our clients have grown to expect.”

Increasing your skills with continuing education may have an impact on your salary and promotion opportunities because acquiring more valuable skills make you more valuable to employers. Gaining new skills and certifications allows businesses, large or small, to keep tasks in-house instead of paying to outsource projects to freelancers with the desired skill sets. You can build a stronger resume with continuing education in professional areas related to your career. Professional development classes can expand the areas of expertise listed within your resume.

“Our partnership with NICC has allowed us to scale professional development course topics with our team, as well as hosting larger training events in a comfortable, off-site environment,” stated Sara Klostermann, Organizational Development Manager at Cottingham & Butler.

Sara Klostermann Cottingham & Butler Organizational Development Manager

Megan Palen Klauer Manufacturing Human Resources Manager

Employees at Klauer Manufacturing have utilized continuing education opportunities through the NICC Business Consortium, Business Summit and Brain Health series. While the idea of leaving work or attending a training can be daunting to professionals with limited time, there is a great benefit in carving out this time. Megan Palen, Human Resources Manager at Klauer Manufacturing, says, "Continuing education has been a way for us to retain team members who have the drive and desire to continue to learn. We’ve been able to promote from within and allow those team members to gain the skills they need to succeed in their next roles.”

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) is a valued and credible source for training and education in the community. Employers recognize our quality skills training and certifications. NICC has many professional development opportunities to make a positive impact in growing your career. Our short-term training can have a long-term benefit in advancing your career in years to come. Many of our professional development classes can be customized to create a unique training program for businesses to engage and retain their employees.

» www.nicc.edu/careertraining

CONTACT BAILEY KLOFT FOR MORE INFORMATION

User Bailey Kloft

Career Development & Business Partnership Lead

Envelope kloftb@nicc.edu

phone 844.642.2338, ext. 3140

INSTRUCTOR Spotlight

INSTRUCTORS

Northeast Iowa Community College instructors are experts in their field and are excited to share their knowledge and expertise with you.

Learn more about a few of our instructors then register for one of their upcoming classes!

www.nicc.edu/solutions

Alisha Leytem

ALISHA LEYTEM WELLNESS, FOUNDER & CEO

CERTIFICATE Credentials

• Certified Wellness Coach

• Certified Yoga & Meditation Teacher

• Author of The Six Gold Keys to Well-Being

university Education

• B.A., Communication Studies & and Entrepreneurship, University of Iowa

• Graduate Certificate, Nonprofit Leadership, Minnesota State University

briefcase Years of Experience

10+

Star Areas of Training Expertise: Mindfulness, Brain Health, Stress Management, Burnout Recovery and Prevention, Resilience, Well-being Strategy

TROPHY Recent Awards, Honors or Accolades: 2022 Woman of Achievement

Nominee

Calendar-Check Upcoming Classes:

• Webinar | Slowing Down to Get Ahead in Life - Striving for a Balanced Life

• Communicating Your Well-Being Needs at Work

• Preventing Burnout and Building Resiliency

Michael Leytem

CATCHING LEADERSHIP, CEO, FOUNDER, AUTHOR

university Education

• M.A., Industrial-Organizational Psychology

briefcase Years of Experience

11+

Star Areas of Training Expertise: Leadership, Psychology, Mindfulness

Calendar-Check Upcoming Classes:

• Creating a Coaching Culture

• Talent Management Across the Employee Lifecycle

View video intros of our instructors.

INSTRUCTORS

Celina Peerman, Ph.D. MERIDIAN PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT

university Education

• M.A.

Upper Iowa University

• Ph.D.

Capella University

briefcase Years of Experience

20+

Star Areas of Training Expertise Organizational Behavior, Human Resource Management

Calendar-Check Upcoming Classes

• Webinar | SHRM Certification Prep Course®

Lisa

university Education

• B.A., Public Relations Loras College

• M.A., Public Administration Iowa State University

briefcase Years of Experience

10+

Star Areas of Training Expertise Leadership, Team Culture, Engagement, Connection

TROPHY Recent Awards, Honors or Accolades

Two fun facts about me are that I am on a mission to connect with one million people and I have a monthly joy calendar for work and play.

Calendar-Check Upcoming Classes

• Webinar | Organization, Prioritization & Delegation

• Webinar | Why is Motivating So Hard? Developing a Team Culture of Continuous Improvement

• Webinar | Building Team Culture Post COVID-19

Helena Long

JET ENGINEERING, VICE PRESIDENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Star Areas of Training Expertise Training and consulting services to Fortune 500 and small to midsize companies

TROPHY Recent Awards, Honors or Accolades Certified DiSC Trainer, Member of Association for Talent Development

Calendar-Check Upcoming Classes

• Recruiting in the NOW

• From Peer to Supervisor

Even, MPA SPEAKER, COACH, JOY CONNOISSEUR

Career Transition through Advanced Training

During peak COVID-19 Will Decker saw opportunity. After a job loss in 2020, Will returned to Northeast Iowa Community College to develop his skills in the two-year Industrial Maintenance program. While enrolled at NICC, he developed a fresh outlook and new perspective.

“I returned to the College because I wanted to keep learning,” said Will, who also graduated from the Welding program in 2018.

“I thank Northeast Iowa Community College and the flexibility and guidance of faculty. Without their support, being accepted into the Deere apprenticeship would not have been possible,” Will said.

Other students have restarted their careers by completing short-term training programs through NICC Business and Community Solutions. Crystal Dixon worked in construction since she was 21 years old and wanted to earn credentials to begin a new career in Dubuque. She completed the Dual Construction Career Pathway Certificate program and continued in the Cabinet Making & Casework program.

“These certificate programs gave me a second chance to get my construction career back up and running. I knew my potential, I just needed help getting back on track. I can finally build a better, stable life for myself and accomplish a lot more. It really makes me happy to be doing something I love,” Crystal said.

CHECK OUT CAREER PATHWAY CERTIFICATE OPTIONS

Now his persistence and resilience are paying off. Two months after he graduated, Will applied for the John Deere Maintenance Apprenticeship along with 78 other Deere employees – all vying for the same maintenance mechanic and tool and die maker positions – and he scored the highest test, interview and qualifications scores of all the applicants. As a result, he earned second-year apprentice status for his knowledge and skills.

www.nicc.edu/cpc

“You never know what the future holds. Now I’m looking for every opportunity to use the skills I learned at NICC in my career.”

Will Decker INDUSTRIAL MAINTENANCE, '22 WELDING, '18

Crystal Dixon BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT OPERATOR, '22 INTRO TO CABINET MAKING AND CASEWORK, '22

Continuing education doesn’t just apply to adults, it applies to our youth as well.

Northeast Iowa Community College offers various youth programming year-round. Many programs focus on STEAM, outdoor activities and sports. These programs are unique because the weave in topics such as starting a business, coding, life skills and more.

What is STEM and STEAM?

STEM: Science. Technology. Engineering. Mathematics.

STEAM: Science. Technology. Engineering. Arts. Mathematics.

STEAM uses tools such as data visualization or fine art imagery to deepen one’s understanding of science, math and technology. This kind of outside-of-the-box thinking is what leads STEAM professionals to create new products using 3D printers or distill complicated data sets into easy-to understand formats, such as infographics.*

Summer camps are some of our most popular programs. Krista Weitz, NICC program developer, oversees our longest running camp,

Kids on Campus in Peosta. Kids on Campus started in 1994 for third through fifth grades and has since expanded to second through seventh grades.

“Kids on Campus is a great place to make new friends and strengthen friendships. It’s also a great education experience, all of the classes are hands-on and keep the kids engaged in learning,” Krista said.

Danielle Meyers attended Kids on Campus when she was a kid and today she’s a camp teacher. For the 2022 camp Danielle taught Beautiful You, where she had the kids channel their creativity and artistic skills. One day they made lotions with essential oils, using creativity and critical thinking to pick two scents and determine which combinations would make a great-smelling lotion. On other days they painted nails, made art by decorating graham crackers and learned about blending colors.

Danielle’s camp legacy continues on in her daughter, Lydia, who attended as a camper in 2022.

*University of Central Florida

"Kids on Campus is near and dear to my heart for so many reasons. My grandma Nancy Gourley took all of us grandkids every year so it became a childhood staple for us! Learning and having fun! When asked to teach a class at the camp I was over the moon excited because that little girl within me felt like she was going back to camp! Now that my daughter is old enough to attend, I am even more excited because she gets to experience a piece of my childhood. In today's world, everything is changing so much and the simple things we did as children are gone or just not the same anymore. Kids on Campus is nostalgic for me and hasn’t changed all that much! It’s a priceless experience and will hopefully be my daughter's childhood staple too."

- Danielle Meyers

Continuing Education for Youth Summer Camps

www.nicc.edu/camps

Our youth summer programs are offered at multiple locations and range from half-day, full-day or a full week of fun! Kids have a blast creatively learning about topics in science, technology, engineering, art, cooking and so much more.

Map-Marker-Alt

Camp details will be announced by March 1. Sign up for the Youth Programming e-newsletter to stay in the know or keep an eye on the website.