Workshops & Course Descriptions
Building Better Boards
This one-day workshop that will give you specific tools and techniques
for helping your Board become more effective and perhaps even more enjoyable.
It looks at ways to focus on "Big Picture" issues rather than
minutia and offers specific tips for improving Board meetings. We can
also delivered this information in conjunction with an interactive planning
session that allows your Board to focus on issues of local significance.
Trainer: Wynn Montgomery
0.6 CEUs
Building Inter-Agency Teams
This one-day program can be presented as a workshop that will give you
specific tools and techniques for helping your team become a cohesive
unit that can generate ideas and make decisions. It can also be delivered
as an actual team-building session that will get your local planning
efforts off on the right foot.
Trainers: Wynn Montgomery; Darlene Martin
0.6 CEUs
Career Assessment: Facilitating the Process
Learn how to use assessments to facilitate the career decision-making
process while gaining self-knowledge that is useful in effective communication
with your customers and your peers. We will discuss several formal and
informal assessments, and you will have the opportunity to take the
Self-Directed-Search and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator as an aid to
understanding how personality affects career/life decisions. This two-day
course is for anyone who has the responsibility of helping customers
plan and follow through on career decisions.
Trainer: Darlene Martin
1.2 CEUs
Career Development Facilitator Series
This 120-hour curriculum has been endorsed by the National Association
of Workforce Development Professionals, the National Career Development
Association, and the National Employment Counseling Association. It
is designed specifically to provide the knowledge and skills needed
by anyone who must provide career assistance to customers of the workforce
development system. Graduates are eligible for global CDF certification.
Lead Trainer: Darlene Martin
12.0 CEUs
Creating a Change-Resilient Organization
This highly interactive 2-day session is based on the belief that personal
change must precede organizational change. It focuses first on individual
staff members' ability to handle change effectively by helping them
understand the six stages of the Change Cycle™. Participants will
gain knowledge and specific skills that will enable them to become "Successful
Changers" who deal effectively with personal and organizational
change and who can help others do likewise. The session also asks participants
to discuss how their organization can help them master each state of
the Change Cycle™.
Trainer: Wynn Montgomery
1.2 CEUs
Creative Planning Solutions
This 2-day session is specifically designed for teams composed of representatives
of the major partner agencies involved in designing local one-stop centers.
Each session can accommodate four teams of seven to ten members each
(a maximum enrollment of 40 people). The session begins with an analysis
of each team member's preferred team role followed by an in-depth look
at problem-solving constraints and tips for developing the creative
mindset needed to recognize and avoid such constraints. The interactive
format requires the team members to work together and thus fosters team-building.
The session also introduces a variety of planning tools and techniques
that will enhance local planning efforts and gives training participants
an opportunity to apply these tools to their actual local situations.
Day One ends with each local area identifying its most important one-stop
challenge. Throughout the second day, each team analyzes this important
challenge, using more planning tools that they can use back home, and
initiates an action plan for addressing this challenge.
Session Leaders: Wynn Montgomery and Darlene Martin
1.2 CEUs
Creative Problem-Solving: "Thinking Outside the Box"
This highly interactive session gives you specific tips for developing
the creative mindset that will make you a better problem solver. You
will also learn to use six specific problem solving tools. This course
is ideal for anyone who must analyze complex issues (Who doesn't?) --
especially those of you who must lead group problem-solving efforts.
Trainer: Wynn Montgomery
0.6 CEUs
Evolution of WorkForce Development
Familiarize yourself with the evolution of workforce development programs.
Learn the similarities and differences between the myriad of programs
whose missions are to improve the employment prospects of Americans.
Gain knowledge that will enhance your coordination efforts and increase
your pride in your profession. This course should be a part of the orientation
process for every new staff member and volunteer.
Trainer: Wynn Montgomery
0.6 CEUs
Introduction to Quality: How to Apply the Baldrige Principles
This session introduces the seven quality principles that are the foundation
for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Awards and workforce development's
corresponding quality efforts (Simply Better!, Workforce Excellence
Network, etc.). It explores each of these principles by looking at the
underlying concepts and at examples of what excellent organizations
do in each area. You will learn how you can apply these principles in
your own organizations.
Trainer: Wynn Montgomery
0.6 CEUs
Personal Change Skills That Work: "Letting Go of Holding On"
Personal change must precede organizational change. All of us can handle
change more positively when we understand and appreciate our reactions
to new situations. This one-day session leads you through the six stages
of the "Change Cycle ™". You will learn to assess where
you are in this predictable cycle and will acquire important knowledge
and practical skills for handling personal and organizational change.
Trainer: Wynn Montgomery
0.6 CEUs
Quality Listening
Using specific examples from day-to-day situations, this one-day course
will help you ensure that what you think is heard is what people think
they said. In this fast-paced, highly participative course, you will
learn how to remain calm and listen when they're yelling at you and
it's not your fault. This course is designed for all who have a desire
to improve their ability to truly listen, hear, and understand other
people.
Topics include:
- effective listening principles
- 5 methods for listening and responding
- a specific model for listening
- communication with different personality styles
- scripts for clear communication with difficult people
Trainer: Darlene Martin
0.6 CEUs
Workforce Investment Act Briefings
This legislation is changing the face of workforce development programs
throughout the nation. Staff and volunteer Board members must understand
the law, the regulations, and the local planning requirements. Career Services / Project
IDEAS has developed a basic overview presentation that we update as
new information becomes available. We can customize this session for
WIBs, for staff, and/or for other local "stakeholders." We
can also combine/use this session as a lead-in to a strategic planning
session.
Trainer: Wynn Montgomery
CEUs vary depending on length of session
Writing Effectively
Effective communication is essential to professional success. Learn
to write more clearly, more concisely, and more persuasively. Learn
specific techniques for writing documents that get the results you want.
This one-day workshop is designed for anyone who wants to write more
effectively. Class size is limited to 10 people so that you can receive
individualized feedback on your writing.
Trainer: Wynn Montgomery
0.6 CEUs
A Look at Your Trainers:
Darlene Martin
Darlene Martin, Assistant Director for Career Services / Project IDEAS, is a National
Certified Career Counselor who has spent more than 20 years training
workforce development staff in the areas of career assessment, life
planning, stress reduction, and counseling skills.
Wynn Montgomery
Wynn Montgomery, former Director of Project IDEAS, has over 25 years
experience of in the workforce development community. He regularly
provides
training
across the region on personal and organizational change, program
management, strategic planning, grantsmanship, creative problem
solving, and effective
writing.
