Do you have a great idea for a new product, service, or innovative startup? Show off your entrepreneurial skills at Moraine Park Technical College. Current MPTC students are invited to “Pitch at the Park”.  This competition is open to Moraine Park students enrolled in any program, apprenticeship, or an individual course. The course may be a dual enrollment course or offering through the college’s Economic Workforce Development department.

Individuals or group entries are eligible. To enter, complete the entry form and submit a summary of your project in 250 words along with a video. The video may be up to 90 seconds. A slide deck may be included with your submission. Entries must be received by April 2^nd. Entries will be evaluated on content, delivery, visual aids, creativity, and overall persuasion.

Two individuals or teams will be selected and notified by April 7^th. The winning entries will go on to represent Moraine Park Technical College at a regional Pitch event. Small Business/Entrepreneurship Instructor Jeff Stueber will provide coaching sessions to those selected to go on to The NEW (Northeast Wisconsin) Pitch Event. The NEW Pitch Event will be held at Moraine Park Technical College, 235 N National Avenue on April 27^th, from 4-7pm. Participants will compete for cash prizes.

Entry materials are available through the online entry form link or by scanning the QR code below:

MPTC Pitch at the Park Application

For more information please contact jstueber1@morainepark.edu.

Project management skills are sought after and across the globe, an increasing gap between employers’ need for skilled project management workers and the availability of professionals to fill those roles. The Project Management Institute (PMI) forecasts that by 2027, employers will need nearly 88 million individuals in project management-oriented roles. A project management skillset pays off. PMI’s research of wages in the United States in 2017 for workers with a project management skillset reported premium wages and those who obtained certification through PMI reporting earnings 20 percent higher (PMI, 2017).

Chuck Breithaupt is an IT Project Manager at Moraine Park Technical College. He is a member of the PMI and holds the Project Management Professional (PMP) credential. He shared his thoughts on the importance of the project management skillset and the Project Coordinator Certificate that is offered at MPTC.  “MPTC’s objective is to provide you with foundational education and practical skills for your profession; consider this training a step in a journey to career success. Additional training for certifications and accreditations like the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) awarded by the PMI can be the difference between getting a job, succeeding in a job, and advancing in your career. The project management courses at MPTC go beyond mere practical exercises; they also provide the theory to achieve professional accreditation to start a fulfilling career”.

Project management skills are needed in all industries. Manufacturing, construction, Information Technology, Financial and Insurance services are among the industries seeking those with project management skills. Chuck weighed in on his career in Information Technology. “If your chosen profession is Information Technology, project management training helps you function as a project team member or in the project manager’s role. It is common for an IT specialist to perform as a technology resource, business analyst and project manager in many organizations”.

The Project Coordinator Certificate at Moraine Park Technical College prepares students for entry-level positions that require project management skills, and introduces skill-sets for project management professionals.  Students who complete the certificate are eligible to write PMI’s CAPM certification exam. All courses in the certificate directly transfer to the Business Management, Business Analyst, Leadership and Organizational Development, and Administrative Coordinator Associate Degrees.

If you are interested in learning more about the Project Coordinator Certificate, visit our Admissions page online by visiting https://www.morainepark.edu/admissions/new-student/how-to-apply-for-admissions/

References

PMI (2017). Project Management Job Growth and Talent Gap 2017–2027. https://www.pmi.org/learning/careers/job-growth

82% of middle-level careers are considered digitally intensive (Bradley, Restuccia, Rudnicki, & Bittle, 2017).  The proficient use of technology is required in almost all careers and is essential to upward mobility.  Jobs with digital skill requirements are “growing faster, pay more and offer greater opportunity for career advancement than jobs without those requirements” (Bradley, Restuccia, Rudnicki, & Bittle, 2017). 

Earning micro-credentials is a quick, valuable way to provide employers with evidence that applicants possess these digital skills.  Micro-credentials are defined as “mini-qualifications that demonstrate skills, knowledge, and/or experience in a given subject area or capability” (SUNY, 2017). These credentials can be earned in shorter time, are often more focused, and can be a stepping-stone toward a degree.

Why is it so important to be technologically proficient?  Let’s consider our own work experiences.  Most of us have collaborated on projects with co-workers who are less efficient than they might be if they learned to digitally collaborate, utilize file sharing, and collectively edit documents. We may have worked with someone who took longer to write a report than necessary because they did not learn new technology.  We have felt frustrated by a co-worker who could not interpret numerical data or share it in a manner that was easily understandable.  We have sat through bad presentations that leave us feeling disengaged.  We have experienced working with someone who cannot pull data into a comprehensive and easy to interpret report.  This results in an inefficient use of time and results in lack of productivity. Learning to utilize collaborations tools, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access can make our workplaces more effective and efficient. 

Today’s workplace requires the ability to pivot, work remotely and collaboratively, and adapt to change.  Moraine Park offers many classes that build and enhance skills in technology.  Our Office Software Suite Certificate is available in a hybrid format and builds essential skills in collaboration, word processing, working with spreadsheets, creating engaging presentations, and utilizing databases.  Badges earned in these classes can be shared electronically with co-workers, social media, and potential employers.  More information is available here: https://www.morainepark.edu/academics/programs/office-software-suite-certificate/

Written by Stephanie Murre Wolf, Moraine Park Technical College, Business Technology & Software Applications Instructor, Information Technology Academics

References
Bradley, B., Restuccia, D., Rudnicki, C., & Bittle, S. (2017). The Digital Edge: Middle Skill Workers and Careers. Boston, MA: Burning Glass Technologies. http://www.burning-glass.com/wp-content/uploads/Digital_Edge_report_2017_final.pdf​ 
SUNY. (2017, October 24). What are micro-credentials and how can they benefit both businesses and employees? Retrieved from Deakin: https://www.deakinco.com/media-centre/article/Benefits-of-micro-credentials-for-business-and-employees#:~:text=Micro%2Dcredentials%20are%20mini%2Dqualifications,qualifications%20like%20diplomas%20or%20degrees. 

Amanda Kollmorgan, a Leadership and Organizational Development student, is getting fired up! As a part of her capstone course, Amanda is conducting a service learning project. Service learning takes the learning experience outside of the classroom, connects students to community, and provides a mutually benefit to the student and community through the service. Amanda is applying skills and knowledge acquired through the completion of her program in a project with the Village of St. Cloud Fire Department. She is partnering with local heroes to provide a COVID friendly online auction to help meet department needs.

When asked why she chose a community project, she reflected on her feelings about the community and why giving back was important to her. “I am not from the Fond du Lac area and come from a very small family. When I married my husband, I married into a large Fond du Lac and Holyland family. When I started a job in St Cloud, everyone immediately made me feel like family. The community out there is so warm and friendly. It just really feels like home, even though it’s not. That’s why I chose to support the Fire Department. They are volunteer based and rely completely on the community to run, so what better way to give back to all of those folks who became part of my family than do a fundraiser”.

Amanda is set to finish the associate degree program this semester and reflected on her experience at MPTC. “I truly love how involved in the community it is, the number of resources there are, the ability and support of the staff available, and the quality of teachers. This is my third time attending college, and I regret not having been able to start my journey here. In fact, I love this school so much I signed up for a second degree starting in the fall!”.

Amanda plans to leverage the knowledge, insight, and tools gained from her experience in the program to achieve her short and long-term career goals which include owning her own bakery. She shared that she now has”…a better understanding of how to manage people plus be aware of the laws and regulations that pertain to them. I feel better apt to provide trainings as well as plan and manage projects. For the bakery, I am aware of what will take to plan my project proposal, as well the laws governing recruiting, hiring, and employing personnel”.

The Moraine Park Community extends their appreciation to Amanda to all of her service to community!

Do you have a great idea for a new product, service, or innovative startup? Show off your entrepreneurial skills at Moraine Park Technical College. Current MPTC students are invited to “Pitch at the Park”.  

Individuals or group entries are eligible. To enter, complete the entry form, submit a summary of your project in 250 words or less along with a video. The video may be up to 90 seconds. A slide deck may be included with your submission. Entries must be received by March 26^th. Entries will be evaluated on content, delivery, visual aids, creativity, and overall persuasion.

Two individuals or teams will be selected and notified by March 30^th. The winning entries will go on to represent Moraine Park Technical College at a regional Pitch event. Small Business/Entrepreneurship Instructor Jeff Stueber will provide coaching sessions to those selected to go on to The NEW (Northeast Wisconsin) Pitch Event. The NEW Pitch Event will be held at Fox Valley Technical College, 1825 N Bluemound Drive in Appleton on April 29^th, from 4-7pm. Participants will compete for cash prizes.

Entry materials are available through the online entry form: MPTC Pitch at the Park Application.

For more information please contact pitchatthepark@morainepark.edu.

We increasingly read about today’s newest technologies (Artificial intelligence, blockchain, machine learning, virtual reality, autonomous vehicles). But living in Wisconsin, we often ask the following questions:

• What are these technologies?

• Isn’t this technology 5 years away?

• Aren’t the companies and industries using this technology just in New York, Chicago, or Silicon Valley?

• How can I get skills in Northeast Wisconsin to be involved with these technologies?

Oliver Buechse, co-Founder and Executive Director of Advancing AI Wisconsin, will present at Moraine Park Technical College on Tuesday, April 30th at 4:00pm.

Campus Location: 235 N National Avenue, Fond du Lac, WI. The event will be held in room A109 (Cafeteria). Get Campus and Visitor Information here.

Register for this free event at the NEW IT Alliance Events page. Refreshments will be provided.

A Sneak Preview Event on May 10 for the new Fondy Food Pantry was planned by Moraine Park Technical College students.

Have you ever had a great time planning a party and thought how fun a career in event planning could be? Coupled with the fact that the special events industry is growing at an alarming rate, it seems like a viable career option.

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Cover courtesy of Agnesian HealthCare as seen in Living in Good Health Magazine, Fall 2015.

Robin Peebles, a graduate of Moraine Park Technical College’s Cosmetology Program, knew it was time for a change. Upon graduation, she looked forward to starting her new career and accepted employment with a small salon in Oshkosh. After gaining experience over the next seven years in different salons, decided renting a booth would be the logical next step but it didn’t take her long to begin thinking about starting her own business.

Becoming an entrepreneur would allow her to create an atmosphere for her clients to “achieve a state of bliss while visiting the salon” and would definitely provide an opportunity to achieve financial success, while becoming more independent.

“I had the skills and ambition to make the dream a reality but soon learned there were things I needed help with. Immediately, I needed help with writing a business plan and spent quite a bit of money hiring someone”. After her initial investment and her business plan in place, Robin opened the doors to Euphoria, Inc. an Aveda concept salon specializing in hair and makeup services.

As she became more invested in her business, Robin soon realized there were additional skills that she would need such as payroll, how to prepare accounting and tax reports, and determining effective marketing strategies. Through a great deal of hard work, Euphoria, Inc. has been a success but Robin cautions those who are thinking of making the leap to entrepreneurship.

“I am happy I made the decision to open my own business; however, it has not been an easy task. Owning a business is more than having the skills associated with the trade. You need to have business skills and constant problem solving to achieve solutions”.

If you are considering your own business, Moraine Park Technical College offers a certificate program and associate degree program to enhance your existing skillset. The programs provide new and existing entrepreneurs hands-on training in the areas of business planning, financing, marketing, customer service, financial management and business communications.

Jeff Stueber, Business Management Instructor at Moraine Park Technical College comments, “An entrepreneur is a doer, not just a dreamer. It takes a lot of hard work and passion. Robin demonstrates that in her pursuit of her salon while voicing some of the obstacles that might get in the way. That is where a class or certificate might come in handy. Entrepreneurs are vital to our economy and they account for 28.8 million businesses in the United States according to the SBA. The interesting part is we still need more. Imagine what our down town districts would look like without small business.”

If you are interested in learning more about the Small Business Entrepreneurship associate degree or Entrepreneurship Certificate, please contact an academic advisor to get started on your new career pathway!

• Julie Bosveld, 920-924-6325 jbosveld@morainepark.edu (Fond du Lac campus)
• Laurie Kuehn, 920-887-4457 lkuehn2@morainepark.edu (Beaver Dam campus)
• Robin Kranz, 262-335-5877 rkranz@morainepark.edu (West Bend Campus)

To learn more about Moraine Park, visit morainepark.edu.

Aurelio Rosas celebrates his May, 2017 graduation with family.

Aurelio Rosas knew it was time for a change and found great value in Moraine Park Technical College’s Medical Assistant program. “I enrolled in Moraine Park Technical College’s medical programs because I could obtain an affordable and valuable education in a short amount of time. Also, the hands-on learning and the one-to-one interaction with my instructors at Moraine Park was very important and appealing to me. You get to know the instructor and the instructor gets to know you rather than a four-year college where you are with 40-plus students, which can make it difficult to get the instructor’s attention or help.”

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