Regional Employer Support Network
Dynamics of Communication
Presenting is Dr. Jan Guggenheimer, Clinical Director of Counseling/Professor at Bemidji State University. This is a workshop designed to provide information, understanding and strategies for the most effective communication in all kinds of crucial conversations we have in our relationships and professional situations.  This workshop will help you understand yourself better regarding style and possible roadblocks for effective and helpful communication, even when dealing with difficult situations. Join us at CRI on Thursday, June 4, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Advance registration is required. Click here for more information.

Brown Bag Lunch Series -FREE and open to the public
Take this Job and Love It
The director of Career Services at Bemidji State, Margie Giauque will explain a re-careering process where employees strive to make themselves stand out as indispensible to their current employer or to better position themselves for a job shift where they might find more personal fulfillment.?The focus will be on evaluating a person?s skills to more closely help them find the right fit in their current position. Giauque explained.Join us on Wednesday, June 10 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. More information is online.

Natural Resources Consortium Series - FREE and open to the public
Wind Energy Matures: The Second Generation of Wind
The chair of the Bemidji State University Department of Physics, Dr. Dave Bahr feels wind energy is poised to become a significant contributor to America's power grids. "Community-based wind offers local economic development opportunities," he said of the current favorable climate toward alternative sources for electricity."Green industries and green-collar job are slated to expand dramatically over the current decade.Small wind and a smart grid will enable development of marginal wind resources like Bemidji's."Join us Monday, June 15 from 3 to 4:00 p.m. at the Center for Research and Innovation. More information and the full schedule are online.

Northern Minnesota Safety Council
Debunking the Myths of OSHA
Former Senior Investigator of OSHA and 20 year veteran in the construction and general industry environment, Doug Crosby, gives real-life useful information for employers and employees alike.This session will bring participants up to a level of knowledge that will enable them to feel comfortable during interaction with OSHA, teach practical techniques to protect your establishment and employees, and to clarify and any questions or misconceptions regarding this regulatory agency and the compliance statutes relating to Safety & Health.Registration and more information are online. This session will be held at CRI on Wednesday, June 17 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Industrial Lift Truck Training
In this course you will learn:

• Industrial Fork Lift Truck Training

• Powered Industrial Truck Training

This course meets the Federal OSHA training requirements standard 1910.178

After completing the Industrial Lift Truck Training course, you will receive a safety certification. This session will be held at North Central Door Company in Bemidji on Wednesday, August 19 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Registration form and more information are online.

Professional Development Offerings
Whether you are a dislocated worker, simply need a resume builder or are interested in professional development, Center for Research and Innovation - Custom College has a course for you!

The Art of Leadership: Course One
Instructor:Karen Pikula
ONLINE July 13 - August 30, 2009
Cost: $450, plus $27 eBook within the course
In The Art of Leadership course one students will self define leadership and the role it plays in their life. They will learn the elements of caring leadership, how to identify the satisfactions and frustrations of leadership, and what people want in a leader. They will learn look at leadership through the lens of both trait and behavior theories. This class focuses on distinguishing qualities of leaders and the characteristics of followers as they are relevant to leadership. Registration form

Human Resource Management-Performance Appraisals, Coaching, and Termination
Instructor: Lyndi Odegard
ONLINE July 20 - August 2, 2009
Cost:$200
This course addresses human resource topics including; reward systems, performance management, and retention from a strategic perspective. It will teach business managers how to retain good employees and coach for improved performance through the use of an employee performance management system. This course will discuss the importance of improving and correcting employee performance, as well as what to know when discipline and termination becomes necessary. Registration form

What's New Word 2007?
Instructor: Cal Rice
ONLINE August 10 - August 17, 2009
Cost: $75
The purpose of the course is to help the experienced Microsoft Word PC user transition quickly to Word 2007.The primary emphasis will be on the user interface but there will also be tips regarding some of the new functions available. Registration form

The Basics of a New Position: Job Analysis to Hiring
Instructor: Lyndi Odegard
ONLINE August 17 - August 30, 2009
Cost:$200
Whether you need to create a new position or fill an existing one, this course will help you analyze your businesses needs and walk you through the entire process.Throughout the course you will develop a job description, improve your job application, create an ad posting the position, walk through the interview process-creating job appropriate interview questions and strategies to evaluate applications, and finally, you will learn about recruiting and hiring. Registration form.

The Art of Leadership: Course Two
PREREQUISITE:The Art of Leadership: Course One
Instructor: Karen Pikula
ONLINE September 14 - November 11, 2009
Cost: $450
The Art of Leadership course two builds on course one and focuses on the application of the principles, methods, and techniques for developing others that were covered in course one. Registration form.

Succession Planning
Instructor: Brian Mathews
ONLINE September 28 - October 25, 2009
Cost: $350
Succession planning is a process of developing talent within the organization to meet needs now and into the future.  As the workforce is facing retirement of baby boomers, it is important to establish and implement a succession plan now.  Topics that will enable you to define, prepare and write a succession plan will be covered. Registration form. 

Grant Writing
Instructor: Nate Dorr
ONLINE October 5 - November 15, 2009
Cost: $350
This course will bring you through each step of writing a winning grant proposal, from the letter of intent to letters of support.You will learn how to write concise goals and needs statements, describe your organization and project/program, develop a budget, create an evaluation and project timeline, and collect supporting documents critical to the grant process.The course will take you through the Common Grant Application accepted by most foundations and giving organizations, and will give an overview of Federal grant formats. Registration form.

Northwest Technical College Custom College Course Offerings
All courses will be held at NTC unless otherwise noted. Contact Richard Lehmann at Richard.Lehmann@ntcmn.edu for additional information.

Boomer Financial Seminar Series
Each course will be held at Northwest Technical College, 905 Grant Ave SE, Bemidji from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.Registration fee is $40 per session and the registration form is online.
June 10, Annuities: What is an annuity and how does it work?
June 17, Retirement and Tax-deferred Accounts
June 24, Financial advantages of Alternative Living Arrangements
Managing your finances is a critical component to enjoying a rich and rewarding retirement. The Boomer Financial Seminar Series is an interactive program that includes a speaker presentation and interactive discussion with participants. Content is appropriate for those who took "Mapping Your Retirement" and want additional financial information or for those who have no previous financial planning exposure. Instructor Gretchen Larson is an attorney who has spent years working with financial and estate planning. She recently moved from Portland, OR to her childhood stomping grounds in Northern Minnesota. She is looking forward to discussions with other Boomers on how to make practical, creative and joyful decisions in planning their retirement years.

Concepts in Safety and Health for the Supervisor
Registration form
June 11-12, Northwest Technical College, Bemidji
June 18-19, Northland Community and Technical College, Thief River Falls
July 16-17, M-State, Moorhead
August 13-14, M-State, Fergus Falls
This 16 hour, credit or non-credit certification is for learners that are either in a supervisory or management position.The course provides a "Train the Trainer" approach to improve an entire organization's occupational health and safety programs.Learn the management and supervisory responsibility, knowledge, and liability in relation to safety & health laws and rules of enforcement agencies.Employment law topics covered include OSHA, Workers Compensation, Wage & Hour, Federal and State Whistleblower laws, and Construction codes and licensing. Recordkeeping rules and requirements are also outlined.The AWAIR Act is covered and the employee misconduct defense is discussed. Learners will fully understand the multi-employer issue with regard to violations of statute and the 'create vs. expose' language for determining liability. This course will help to squash the myths and rumors about what OSHA can and can't do to familiarize learners with directives, policies, and due process.(Also available to employers as a customized course with topics, times and locations of your choosing.)

Residential Energy Auditor Training
Sept. 21 - 25, 2009
This five-day course provides basic training in how to assess the potential for improving home energy efficiency and comfort. The Residential Energy Auditor program is suited for employees or individuals who are performing or interested in utility sponsored residential energy conservation audits and working with the low-income weatherization program. It also provides the technical skills for building contractors to add a residential energy efficiency line of business. A certification examination of the State of Minnesota's minimum qualifications for residential energy auditors will be included with the cost of registration.Offered in partnership with Dunwoody College of Technology, Minnesota Department of Commerce, and U.S. Department of Energy. To register please go to http://www.dunwoody.edu/custom/energyaudit.html

Commercial Vehicle Inspection Re-Certification
Coming in October.
This mandatory course is designed to provide re-certification for commercial and/or self-truck inspectors already in Commercial Vehicle Inspection.Individuals whose certification has expired must complete this re-certification course to renew within six months of expiration date.Participants are required to bring their current certification number and business address with them to class.

Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance Building Operator Certification, Level 1
Building Operator Certification (BOC®) training includes nearly 80 hours of classroom and project work in building systems operation and maintenance. Each course in the series is completed in a one-day training session, except BOC 103 - HVAC Systems and Controls, a two-day course. To become certified, participants must pass an exam at the end of each day of training and complete assigned projects.Unless otherwise noted, training begins at 8 a.m. and ends by 4 p.m. The cost of the training is $1,200.Ottertail Power customers are eligible for incentives for their employees to be trained.Register online at www.boccentral.org.For more information about BOC training, please contact James Pena at (312) 784-7277 or jpena@mwalliance.org. Click here for the flyer. (Steam Plant Engineering certification will enhance the BOC.See below.)

Steam Plant Engineering
Coming this fall!
This 36-hour course is designed to prepare the boiler operator or those preparing for employment as a boiler operator to take either the Minnesota Low Pressure (C Level) or Minnesota High Pressure (Levels A & B) Boiler Exam for the following classes:special engineer, 2nd class engineer, 1st class engineer, or chief engineer.The contents include the following:Low pressure - valves, steam traps, pumps, flame safeguards, burners, safety valves, boiler room safety, and hot water boilers.High pressure - condensers, steam engines, mathematical formulas, boiler room safety, and hot water boilers.

Attention Dislocated Workers
MN received over $17 million in federal stimulus for dislocated workers, the vast majority of which is for training.If like many in this recession you've lost your job, don't miss out on this unprecedented opportunity to enhance your employability and earning potential.This program is administered through the Workforce Center system.Contact your Workforce Center to find out if you are eligible.http://www.mnwfc.org/field/