Regional Employer Support Network
A presentation entitled “Healthcare Benefits: Understanding the Differences Among Current Options and Learning What’s on the Horizon” will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, Thursday, August 2 at the Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College Center for Research and Innovation Custom College. The presentation will explore both the technical and strategic differences between current benefit plan options and will discuss ways of capitalizing on any plan design. Presenting will be Janis Koltun, consultant/broker with Practical Benefits, an employee benefits brokerage and consulting firm based in St. Louis Park. Koltun has more than 20 years experience in a broad range of employee benefits responsibilities. Prior to becoming a consultant in 2002, she held employee benefit management positions in companies representing several industries and employing from 3,400 to 30,000. The fee for attending this quarterly session is $50. REGISTER NOW! Registration forms are available online. Full RESN schedule and more information are online.
Northern Minnesota Safety Council
The Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College Center for Research and Innovation Custom College will host a presentation Wednesday, August 15 from 11:30-1:00 on techniques for preventing soft tissue injuries in the workplace. A $20 fee will be charged to cover the price of materials and lunch. Advance registration is encouraged in order to guarantee lunch and materials. Presenting will be a Joe Kapaun, an occupational therapist with North Country Peak Performance of Bemidji, which provides outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy and programs specializing in industrial rehabilitation and injury prevention. Joining Kapaun in his presentation will be Jeff Breyen, who is also a Peak Performance associate. They will discuss muscular, skeletal and repetitive motion injuries and describe the best techniques for preventing those injuries as well as the importance and health benefits of stretching and maintaining flexibility. Registration forms, more information and schedule of upcoming sessions are online.
Bemidji Area Natural Resources Continuing Education Consortium
A natural resources presentation entitled “Seeing the World Through the Nose of a Bear” is scheduled for 3 to 4 p.m. on Monday, August 20. Presenting will be Dave Garshelis, Ph.D., bear project leader with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Grand Rapids. Garshelis describes black bears as “perhaps the quintessential generalist, opportunist omnivore.” Their ability to vary their diet according to circumstances enables them to inhabit areas as diverse as dry Mexican scrub forests, Louisiana swamps, Alaskan forests and Labrador tundra. Yet, even at the center of this broad distribution, in Minnesota, fluctuations in the abundance and types of available foods impact their biology and interactions with people. Appropriate management of bears, therefore, relies on a good understanding of how they perceive the world. “It would be enlightening if one could become a bear for a day, and see the world as they do,” observed Garshelis. The information will be of interest and use to natural resource managers as well as adults wishing to learn more about the habits of bears. More information and the full schedule of Natural Resources Consortium events are available online.
Marketing your Small Business and Measuring its Success
With competition increasing every day, you need proven marketing techniques you can use and evaluate to generate demand for your existing products and services. Get a jump on your holiday marketing plans now by learning ways to market yourself and build customer relationships in today’s competitive environment. You will learn strategies to recruit new customers and retain and expand the relationships of your existing customer base. We will help you develop your marketing mix; product, price, place (distribution) and promotion and introduce you to a combination of marketing tools that are used to satisfy customers and company objectives. Cost for this 3-hour training is $60 and advance registration is required. All sessions will be held at the Center for Research and Innovation and are co-sponsored by the NW MN Small Business Development Center. Classes are scheduled August 13 and 14, 7:30-9:00am or August 16, 1-4pm. Registration form is online.
Community Appreciation Day Set for August 28
BSU will be hosting its second annual Community Appreciation Day on August 28, starting at 6:00 pm on the BSU practice fields next to the John Glas Fieldhouse. This event is free and open to the entire Bemidji community. Come and enjoy great food and music, get autographs from all your favorite BSU athletes, and have your picture taken with Bucky the Beaver! Watch for future notices for a full list of activities the whole family can enjoy.
New FREE Learning Opportunity Offered at the Center for Research and Innovation
Before you invest your time and money in training and services, have a taste of what return you will get on your investment. The CRI has designed a program to help you learn a little about a lot of things that can help you, others within your organization, your clients as well as the organization itself. Participants will leave the session with information that can be applied to you and your organization and an understanding of additional related skills that could be gained through additional services provided by Center for Research and Innovation Custom College. Sessions are free and open to the public (feel free to bring your own lunch) from 12:00 to 1:00 on the first Wednesday of the month beginning September 12. The first session is entitled “Annual Fund Raising—what is it and how does it work for your organization?” Click here for more information and full schedule.
Mental Health Knowledge Cluster Coming in September 2007
The Center for Research and Innovation is pleased to announce the formation of a new Knowledge Cluster designed for professionals in the Mental Health and Human Services field, beginning this fall. This group is designed to serve as a forum for mental health professionals to collaborate their efforts, to provide networking opportunities and to offer local training opportunities so that agencies can reduce costs and improve service to the Bemidji Community. Currently, we are looking for professionals in these fields who would be interested in serving as part of the Advisory Board, or who would like to participate in the initial brainstorming session(s) and formation of the group. Please contact the CRI with any questions regarding the knowledge cluster and let us know what your level of interest in participating might be. The first meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 17 from 12:00-2:00 p.m. Contact the CRI at cri@bemidjistate.edu for more information.
Open Enrollment Courses Offered at Northwest Technical College
Looking for a new career or perhaps a refresher course? Bemidji State University Center for Research and Innovation Custom College is hosting a variety of programs to meet your needs. Options range from the 84 hour Paralegal Certificate Course beginning September 18 or the CPR Healthcare Provider Refresher program on September 28. Many more programs are available. Click here to learn more or contact Sue Ludwig at 218 333 6656 / 800 942 8324, ext. 6656.
Computer Forensics Course Offered Online
In this 4 week online Training Session, individuals will learn the fundamental principles and concepts in computer forensics. The topics include: the differing data file structures, the procedure of discovering and preserving evidence, and methods of searching and retrieving evidence using software tools. Related legal procedures and reports are also discussed briefly. Participants will conduct a minimum of 1 hands-on practice Case during the training session. Once completed, this training session should allow a basic understanding of the process, policies, and software needs to conduct a computer forensics analysis. This course is approved for 45 POST Credits. More information and registration is online.
New Small Business Development Center Director Named
It is with greatest pleasure that we welcome Jorge S. Prince, the new director for the NW Minnesota Regional Small Business Development Center (NWSBDC). Jorge is a graduate of the BSU Accounting program and Bemidji High School. He was a Store Manager, an Area Manager, and the Operations Manager, for MinnTex Investment Incorporated. He brings a wealth of management and business experience to the NWSBDC. Jorge can be reached by calling 218-755-2257 or email jprince@bemidjistate.edu
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Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and regional support partners. All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the program sponsors. Programs are open to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if request at least two weeks in advance. Contact (name, address, and phone number of person who will make the arrangements).