Workforce and Community Development at St. Louis Community College

How Will Lean Make My Company More Competitive? Podcast

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 12:00:00 -0600

Reviews the primary benefits of adapting lean, especially its impact on employee engagement and the resulting advantages. It is through an unrelenting focus on driving higher levels of employee engagement (the heart of Lean) that Lean work processes (aka The Toyota Production System) become strongly embedded in the culture of the company and, as a result, drive very significant and sustained increases in both productivity and profitability.

Why Should an Organization Not Implement Lean? Podcast

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 12:00:00 -0600

This podcast discusses the importance of management commitment to the process and the major ways in which lean effects the jobs of all members of the management team. Many Lean implementation efforts fail and their failure can be traced to three primary factors: First, the leadership team starts the implementation of Lean without an inspirational purpose. Second, the leadership team doesn't really understand what Lean is. Third, the leadership team isn't prepared for some of the significant ways in which their jobs must change as they implement Lean. It is better not to start the implementation of Lean processes if the organization's management team doesn't go in with a total commitment to all that Lean encompasses.

Getting Back to Work or Back on the Job

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:00:00 -0600

The January 2010 issue of St. Louis Commerce magazine features an article on the new workforce initiatives at St. Louis Community College that retrain displaced workers.

New EPA Brownfield Job Training Program - Environmental Remediation Techs

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:00:00 -0600

The program offers residents of brownfields-impacted communities an opportunity to participate in an intensive six-week training program. Participants who qualify receive technical training in environmental issues, including lead abatement, site remediation and weatherization. The training is supported by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) and administered through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The courses allow participants to apply for state licensing in both Missouri and Illinois as lead and asbestos abatement workers. Coursework in weatherization and ecosystem restoration is also included to ensure participants are able to tap into the emerging "green jobs" market.

Remain Engaged in a Workplace Setting Through "Volunteer Between Careers"

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 10:00:00 -0600

Volunteer Between Careers (VBC) is a service that allows unemployed workers to remain engaged in a workplace setting through skill-based volunteer opportunities. VBC will connect unemployed workers with opportunities to utilize job skills in support of not-for-profit organizations throughout the St. Louis region. If you are currently laid-off and looking for ways to increase your marketability, VBC just might be for you!

Two Basic Beliefs that Make Lean Succeed Podcast

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:00:00 -0600

Over 65% of attempts to implement Lean manufacturing fail and they typically fail because the organizations leaders fail to recognize that Lean manufacturing is about beliefs much more than it is about tools. The two key beliefs upon which Lean depends are that: 1) all work processes are imperfect, and 2) the best way to improve work processes is to tap the knowledge and creativity of line workers. This podcast examines the operational implications of these beliefs.

STLCC Offers A Lean Manufacturing Podcast Series

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 12:00:00 -0600

St. Louis Community College's Center for Business, Industry and Labor (CBIL) is offering a weekly series of podcasts on topics related to lean work processes, a dominant force in 21st century manufacturing, health care and other industries. The series offers information vital to the successful implementation of lean processes and is presented George Friesen, CBIL's practice leader for lean manufacturing and noted performance improvement consultant.

Henry Ford: The Father of Lean Podcast

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 12:00:00 -0600

In 1950, Eiji Toyoda took a team of managers on a 12-week tour of US automotive plants to learn how to improve Toyota's production processes. What he saw didn't impress him. However, he read two books written by Henry Ford in the 1920s, "My Life and Work," published in 1923, and "Today and Tomorrow," in 1926. In these books, Toyoda found ideas about the nature of work and workers which his company would expertly and diligently apply and, in the process, trigger an industrial revolution. This podcast reviews these revolutionary ideas, developed by an individual who can rightly be called the Father of Lean Manufacturing, Henry Ford.

What is Lean Manufacturing? Podcast

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:00:00 -0600

This podcast is the first in a series of six, all focused on ways to ensure that Lean work processes stick. All too often, the impact of Lean work processes is very transient, with the process improvements they brought quickly fading, as old work habits reassert themselves. In fact, studies show that Lean work processes fail at least 65% of the time. But this doesn't have to happen, and this series of Podcasts will provide information that can be used to drive the successful, long term implementation of Lean transformations ... transformations that stick.

Ten Tips For Business Networking Podcast

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 12:00:00 -0600

In today's business environment, networking is more important than ever. Ten tips on how to be an effective networker are presented in this podcast, chief among them being that networking is about relationships - not using people. Here's how to make sure the right people get to know you. Learn how to set up a network meeting, agenda setting, location, follow up, and more.

Nixon Details Science, Technology Jobs Legislation at BRDG Park

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:00:00 -0600

Students and staff from St. Louis Community College's biotechnology program and Center for Plant and Life Sciences met with Gov. Jay Nixon at the Bio-Research Growth and Development Park when Nixon outlined a new initiative that will create stable, ongoing funding to attract and retain high-tech scientific and research jobs in Missouri.

Preventing Employee Burnout Podcast

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:00:00 -0600

Employee stress and burnout imperil individual employees and the health of a business. It's often the best employees that experience burnout first or most severely. Burnout can be prevented by some structural and cultural changes in the workplace. Employees can take responsibility for dealing with their own stress. Several approaches are presented on how to deal with stress and avoid burnout.

Avoiding the Perils of Groupthink Podcast

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:00:00 -0600

Working in teams has become the norm in global business. Teamwork often leads to better solutions and decisions, but not always. Groupthink is a danger when dissent is discouraged in groups. Certain group characteristics may lead to groupthink. There are simple ways of dealing with the risks of groupthink. Here's how to ensure that your team's decisions are well crafted and thoroughly vetted.

Making Meetings More Productive Podcast

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:00:00 -0600

How can we make meetings more productive, and how can we decide whether a meeting is even necessary? When meetings really are necessary, consider the use of new technologies to save time and money. When you hold a meeting it should be as productive as possible. One of the simplest (and still the most effective) ways of ensuring meeting productivity is presented. Learn how to keep meetings moving and make something good happen.

Making Teamwork Happen Podcast

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:00:00 -0600

Teamwork doesn't happen automatically when you put a bunch of people in the same room. Teams go through four stages of development, each stage having its own characteristics and outcomes. We can learn how to accelerate team development to get to the highest performing stage quicker. A useful tool for accelerating team development is provided along with other characteristics that help a team be productive.

Business is Personal Podcast

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:00:00 -0600

Everyone brings personal needs to the workplace, and business leaders ignore these needs at the peril of the business' well-being. These needs are outlined in this podcast. Meeting people's personal needs often helps the practical business needs to be met. You can meet people's personal needs by changing the way you communicate with them - and in some cases, not much of change is needed.

Generational Diversity in the Workplace Podcast

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:00:00 -0600

Today's workplace has as many as four generations working together. Each generation is defined not so much by age as by common experiences and key events. Generational diversity will affect not only recruitment, management, and retention of employees, but strategic planning, as well. This free podcast is the first in a series that addresses important workplace topics that will give you a clearer understanding of the information, skills and resources you'll need to successfully navigate today's complex business environment. Listen to or download this episode, and subscribe to this new weekly podcast series.

St. Louis Community College and the Triple Bottom Line

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:00:00 -0600

With metro St. Louis having one of the nation's worst per capita carbon footprints, unemployment approaching 10%, and 30% of adults (age 25 and older) with no education beyond high school, opportunities to contribute to the 'triple bottom line' are very much in play. This is the impetus for the greening of St. Louis Community College (STLCC), the region's largest educational institution, and its role in helping the region achieve the interdependent goals of sustainability, economic recovery and a skilled workforce.

Nixon Says Community Colleges Will Play Key Role in State's Economic Turnaround

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:00:00 -0600

The need for workers with vocational or technical training is growing quickly, and Missouri must be ready to keep up. That was the central theme of a roundtable discussion led by Gov. Jay Nixon during a visit to the high-tech Emerson Center for Engineering and Manufacturing at St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley Oct 26.

What Are Green Jobs? KY98 Metro Show Broadcast

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:00:00 -0600

Emily Andrews, Executive Director of the St. Louis Regional Chapter of the USGBC, and Rod Nunn, Vice Chancellor for Workforce and Community Development at St. Louis Community College discussed "What Are Green Jobs?" on the KY98 "Metro Show" program (24 minutes).

American Management Association Self-Study Online Courses

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 10:00:00 -0600

AMA Self-Study courses provide practical solutions for today's business challenges and allow continuous feedback along the learning curve. You get the latest management information, "how-to" explanations, practical examples, and real solutions to apply in your everyday work environment. Choose from more than 60 skill-building courses in 20 subject areas, including supervision, human resources, communication, leadership, finance and management.

Boeing and STLCC Receive Innovative Industry Training Award

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:00:00 -0600

Boeing Integrated Defense System and St. Louis Community College recently received the Director's Innovative Industry Training Award at the Governor's Conference on Economic Development for the Boeing Pre-Employment Training Project, a joint venture to create an ongoing pool of employee candidates for the sheet metal assembler riveter (SMAR) occupation through the development and delivery of a pre-employment training program.

KWMU St. Louis on the Air Broadcast on the State of the St. Louis Workforce

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:00:00 -0600

Rod Nunn, Vice Chancellor for Workforce and Community Development at St. Louis Community College, and Julie Gibson, Missouri Director of Workforce Development discussed the State of the St. Louis Workforce, services available to dislocated workers, and new and emerging employment opportunities such as green jobs on the KWMU program "St. Louis on the Air."

Nunn, Ballard Earn Local Awards

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 10:00:00 -0600

An administrator and faculty member from St. Louis Community College have been recognized for professional achievements. Rod Nunn, vice chancellor for workforce and community development, is a recipient of the Inclusive Leadership Award from the St. Louis Business Journal. Kelly Ballard, associate professor in mathematics at STLCC-Meramec, is one of eight recipients of the 2009 Excellence in Education Award.

Microsoft Certified Application Specialist (MCAS) Excel 2007 Accelerated Job Training

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 08:00:00 -0600

In this hands-on, instructor-lead course, learn the skills necessary to be proficient in Excel 2007 and prepare for the Microsoft Certification Exam (Exam #77-602) to become a Microsoft Certified Application Specialist (MCAS). The student will learn Excel essentials, creating and editing a workbook, formatting cells and ranges, worksheet formatting, managing worksheets, working with data, using basic formulas and functions, using more advanced formulas, creating charts from your data, adding pictures and shapes to a worksheet, and securing and sharing documents. This course provides structured step-by-step learning for each of these tasks and is reinforced with supplementary eLearning and certification prep exercises. Time is included for the student to prepare for and take the MCAS certification exam.

STLCC Receives Brownfields Job Training Grant from EPA

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:00:00 -0600

St. Louis Community College recently was awarded a $500,000 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Brownfields Job Training Grant by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

State of the St. Louis Workforce Report Released

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 10:00:00 -0600

The State of St. Louis Workforce Report was released Thursday, July 30, to an audience of more than 250 business professionals at a St. Louis Business Journal seminar. Rod Nunn, St. Louis Community College's vice chancellor for workforce and community development, participated in the panel discussion about the report.

STLCC Offers New Accelerated Job Training Programs

Thu, 21 May 2009 10:00:00 -0600

The Division of Workforce and Community Development (WCD) of the St. Louis Community College is a leader in developing training that enables the area's workforce acquire or maintain the skills necessary to participate in the region's economic growth. WCD creates accelerated programming, which means "just in time" training for in-demand jobs.

STLCC Now Offers Over 400 Career and Professional Development Online Courses

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 10:00:00 -0600

St. Louis Community College has partnered with ed2go and Gatlin Education to provide a wide variety of high quality online courses, virtually something for everyone. Fast paced, low-cost, short-duration (most are only 6 weeks) programs are available in partnership with ed2go. Longer duration, career-focused online courses are also available in partnership with Gatlin Education. Management programs are available in partnership with the American Management Association. These are designed to give you the latest in learning, and to provide the skills necessary to acquire professional caliber positions in many in-demand occupations.

CBIL Is Microsoft Gold Certified Partner

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:00:00 -0600

The Center for Business, Industry & Labor (CBIL), a part of the Workforce and Community Development division of St. Louis Community College, has attained Gold Certified Partner status in the Microsoft Partner program with competencies in Networking Infrastructure Solutions and Learning Solutions.

Survive and Thrive: Your Employees Will Make It Happen

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:00:00 -0600

View our latest 5 minute free webinar to learn why companies that continue to invest in their employees are the ones that will survive and thrive in this new economy.

Business Office Applications Training (BOAT)

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:00:00 -0600

This is a 12-week certificate program offering students the practical skills necessary to compete in todays business offices. The hands-on and small class size is ideal for individuals re-entering the work force, dislocated workers, adult, career changers and those seeking to upgrade their skills. The professional instructional staff ensures that you leave with a strong foundation in written and verbal communication, proficiency in Microsoft Office, the fundamentals of business office procedures, customer service and personal career planning. The successful completion of BOAT also provides an opportunity to receive Core Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification in Microsoft Word and Excel and 8-9 credit hours from St. Louis Community College. For more information, contact Karin Fowler, 314-746-0872 or kfowler@stlcc.edu

Workforce Development Opportunities through St. Louis Community College

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:00:00 -0600

St. Louis Community College is the leader in developing the skilled work force that powers our communitys economic growth. We provide a wide array of programs and services designed to prepare individual students, businesses and organizations for success in the workplace and the regional economy. The workforce development services of St. Louis Community College may be your answer if you are: an employer looking for a qualified work force, a business or other organization requiring a customized solution for a performance problem, a recent high school graduate looking for career education, a college graduate in need of hands-on applied skills, or unemployed or looking to change careers.