The Learning for Independence (LFI) students, as part of the program at Moraine Park Technical College, like to plan a project that includes giving back to the community. This year 9 students and 3 instructors went to the Fond du Lac Fairgrounds Expo Center to help organize and set up for the Salvation Army Christmas distribution program on Thursday, December 10^th.

The Salvation Army doubled the distribution this year as close to 700 families were seeking assistance for almost 1,800 kids. They helped sort thousands of items, including toys, clothes, books, stuffed animals and more that have been donated to the Christmas distribution programs, like Toys for Tots, the Angel Tree, and Adopt-a-Family. Some students helped to unload big trucks with gifts from businesses in the community. 

The students enjoyed it, were overwhelmed by all of it and were exhausted at the end of the day.  They volunteered on their last day of class before semester break and ended with a positive and giving note.

Learning for Independence is a cooperative transition program offered in partnership by Fond du Lac Area High Schools and Moraine Park Technical College.  The students range from 18- 21 years in age, have a documented need for transition services in education, employment and/or independent living. The students have completed four years of high school and met desired level of academic proficiency for graduation at various Fond du Lac County High Schools.

For additional information on the LFI program or applications for enrollment, please contact Chris Schultz at cschultz@nfdlschools.org or call 920-929-3750, extension 6143.

Last winter, just a few weeks before the Covid-19 pandemic, Brenda was beginning the CNC Boot Camp training through the department of Economic & Workforce Development.  She already had years of manufacturing experience but wanted to upgrade her career in the field of computer operated machining. 

When this training was forced to go virtual, Brenda struggled. But MPTC staff encouraged her to persist and even allowed her to seek an internship outside the region when she was forced to move closer to family. Ultimately, Brenda flourished in this field and earned her Entry-Level CNC Certificate and a job offer by June. Her new employer was impressed with her CNC training and complemented her instructors. 

Brenda says, “I’m glad I stuck with it! And when I was offered a better position last month, they were glad I knew how to run multiple machines; I’m earning more money today than I ever have!” 

Are you interested in getting into a new career in just 3 months like Brenda? What about earning a college level certificate with hands on training and a PAID internship as part of the program? Even better – there is NO TUITION for students! Tuition and materials are covered 100% by a combination of grants and community agency support. No experience necessary and no income limits applied!

Spring Boot Camps are starting soon, so check out the upcoming opportunities to learn more about this amazing program.  Visit morainepark.edu/bootcamps to sign up for an upcoming information session.  

Are you interested in a new career in just 3 months? What about earning a college level certificate with hands on training and a PAID internship as part of the deal? Even better- NO TUITION for students! Tuition and materials are covered 100% by a combination of grants and community agency support. No experience necessary and no income limits applied! Check out upcoming opportunities with Moraine Park’s Manufacturing Boot Camps. We offer 3 month training programs in CNC Machining and in Welding where you can earn an entry level certificate and take part in a paid internship at a local business with the opportunity for it to become a full time job offer when you complete the program.

Unsure what Welding and CNC Machining have to offer? Come check us out at our Test Drive on December 9^th where you can tour the labs, participate in a workshop for CNC or Welding and try your hand at creating a project with the help of our instructors. Participating is FREE and you are not obligated to apply or enroll after. Spaces will be limited due to COVID-19 protocols, so please sign up early.

The first step to enrolling in Boot Camps is attending an Information Session, where you will learn more about Boot Camps and next steps. Information sessions will be held in January 2021 and Boot Camps will run March-June 2021. Boot Camps are a full time program for 3 months and run Monday-Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm.

Sign up for an Information session now

Visit www.morainepark.edu/bootcamps to sign up for the Test Drive or for an Information Session to learn more!

We are excited to introduce Dan Zoschke, our new Welding Instructor in the Economic and Workforce Development Department. In his role, Dan works with participants who are learning and crafting their manufacturing and welding skills.  He will also be working with students in our short term manufacturing boot camps as well as support the growth of that program.

Dan came to Moraine Park Technical College from a long career in Manufacturing.  He has worked at Apache Stainless Corporation as a Welder/Fabricator specializing in custom built tanks.  This included Tig welding several different types of metals including Stainless, Hastelloy, Titanium and other high alloy materials.  Dan has also worked at Central Cable Contractors as a Maintenance Welder.  During his time at Central Cable, he had performed high level skilled welding on light and heavy duty equipment in control environments as well as in the field using all welding processes.     

Dan is passionate about manufacturing and is excited to share his skills with current and future business partners as well as boot camp students. 

“I am eager to meet and work with our business partners as well as our boot camp students.  I am looking forward to making a positive impact in the lives of boot camp students.  I am also excited to support the growth of skilled trades within our district as well as promote sustainable careers in manufacturing.”

Interested in learning more about our contracted training, visit
https://www.morainepark.edu/experience-mptc/services/business-industry/

Ready to head out on a new adventure? Have you ever thought about becoming a commercial truck driver? You may ask yourself, what does it take to get the required license to drive a truck? You’ll need to get a Commercial Learners Permit (CLP) to practice driving on public roads.

Take the first step towards a new career by enrolling in Moraine Park’s CDL Learner’s Permit Exam Prep class. You will meet face to face with an instructor who will guide you through the requirements to obtain your Commercial Learners Permit in as little as a week. Our 15 hour classroom course will introduce you to the trucking industry, familiarize you with the different written exams, background and medical information, and prepare you to pass the required knowledge exam whether you plan to apply for a CLASS A, B, or C license. Once you are issued a Commercial Learners Permit, you may operate a commercial motor vehicle as indicated on your permit with another person licensed to drive the same type of vehicle.

If you have a valid Wisconsin Driver’s License and an acceptable driving record, Moraine Park Technical College can help you take that first step towards a truck driving career.

Make an investment in your future today. In as little as one week, we can prepare you to pass the knowledge exam.  Get started by enrolling an upcoming class.

Monday – Thursday, June 1 -4, 2020
5:30 p.m. – 9:10 p.m.
Fond du Lac Campus, Room B-128
CRN 10203

Monday – Thursday, September 14-20, 2020
5:30 p.m. – 9:10 p.m.
West Bend Campus, Room T-104
CRN 20328

Monday – Thursday, November 2- 5, 2020
5:30 p.m. – 9:10 p.m.
Fond du Lac Campus, Room B127
CRN 20327

To register, please call 1-800-472-4554. For questions, please contact Laurie at lbarz@morainepark.edu or visit  https://www.morainepark.edu/academics/continuing-education/licensure-and-certificates/ .

Disclaimer: Moraine Park does not provide vehicles to practice on.

Written by: Mindie Boynton, EWD Business Representative

Most business professionals went from primarily working in an office setting to working virtually with less than 24 hours of notice this past week. This required many of us to think creatively, paper-less and connect with co-workers and clients in a new virtual world.  In less than a week, I have had meetings using 6 different software applications and wanted to share my feedback to help businesses during this transition.

1. Zoom

Zoom has been the most user-friendly application for me so far but I did have an account set up prior to quarantine but rarely used it previously. It was quick and easy to download the app to my phone and schedule meetings. There are also live training sessions and video tutorials free on their website. There is a screen share function and also a polling option which can be helpful for teaching or making group decisions. One downfall is that without a paid license account you can only set up meetings or classes for up to 40 minutes but you can have up to 100 participants with a basic (free) account.

2. Skype

Skype for Business is a supported software by my organization and so it is really easy to set up meetings with my colleagues because there is a button right in Microsoft Outlook calendars. I would recommend this for 1:1 meetings rather than larger groups. I have experienced more technical difficulties with audio and video as more people are added to the meeting. Skype also allows for screen sharing and there is a little paper clip for sending files. Other handy features include live subtitling of conversations, and the ability to record chats. Some of the companies I have tried to connect with through Skype do not allow for the download and install of software due to security or bandwidth. There is a free version and app that can be downloaded for up to 50 people group video calls.

3. Facebook Messenger

Facebook messenger is mostly used for one-on-one or group messaging, but it can be used to send images, emoji and video chat. Messenger is a great application for friends, family and any co-workers that you have added as “friends” on Facebook.  This works for quick chats but I have not used this application for scheduled conference calls or meetings. There are concerns regarding privacy issues as with most Facebook applications and that it can drain your phone battery.

4. GoToMeeting

GoToMeeting was developed for hosting business meetings online and works well if you have global clients. It has screen sharing with the ability to take over another person’s machine if they are struggling with information or a presentation. The only thing that is required is the meeting link and access the GoToMeeting software. There are options to host up to 250 attendees so you could host an all-company event or large training/webinar. There is a free plan that allows up to 3 participants to meet for 40 minutes maximum. There are different levels of monthly paid plans available that offer a suite of resources.

5. Google Hangouts

I tried to set up a video conferencing hangout with a teacher to get instruction for an assignment and was unsuccessful. Google Hangouts has a desktop and mobile application that can also be used in a web browser. The Hangouts chat function can be used for up to 150 people but video chat is limited to 10 participants. This is typically good for smaller groups and participants that have Gmail accounts already set up. It is currently free but requires an invitation from someone that is using a Google+. There have been concerns with security and privacy.

6. Microsoft Teams

If your organization has Office 365, then Teams might be a great option.  Teams gives you the option to set up phone calls or video conferences with two to many people.  I’ve used it very successfully this week for individual meetings and group sessions.  The benefits of Teams is that all of your contacts are already there, it’s pretty intuitive to use by clicking on the Calls section and putting in the email address of the person you want to reach.  The downside, they won’t get the call if they aren’t also on Teams.  My suggestion is to send the meeting invitation in Outlook, with the location of the Teams site you want them to go to.  If you have multiple people, you have to invite them all.  If you contact the same people often they will show up in your favorites or frequently contacted list, making those invitations easy. 

Moraine Park’s Six Sigma Green Belt training is a comprehensive and flexible system for achieving and sustaining results. Organizations that deploy Six Sigma methodology within their business are able to improve processes, eliminate defects and enhance satisfaction to drive bottom-line results. Participating companies who recently completed Six Sigma Green Belt projects reduced errors within their operations, yielding an immediate return on their organization’s training dollar. On Thursday, January 23, 2020 the Six Sigma Green Belt Fall 2019 class presented their final project results which is estimated to have a combined saving of over $1 million in revenue to their companies through waste reduction, improved process and increased production.

Five participants from the manufacturing and health care industry received their certifications upon successfully completing the program. The program participants included Josh Smith a Quality Resources Analyst at Grande Cheese Company, Kimberly Collins an Operations Support Specialist at Regalware, Ann-Liese Ellis a Nursing Supervisor at Marshfield Clinic, Angela Heinbuch a RN in the Quality Department at Marshfield Clinic, and Joshua Eastman a Quality Engineer at Gateway Plastics. The ceremony took place on the Moraine Park Technical College Fond du Lac Campus with business representatives, sponsors and project champions present.

The participants completed 88 hours of class time and additional time working on their independent projects which included developing a project team, collecting and analyzing data in an effort to reduce waste, eliminate re-work and improve customer satisfaction through product improvements. The return on the investment from these project resulted in over $1 million dollars in hard savings which averaged with projected opportunity to continue the saving as the projects are fully implemented and scaled.

The Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) – Green Belt Certification takes employees to the next level of training in the Six Sigma philosophy. Six Sigma is a comprehensive and flexible system for achieving and sustaining bottom-line results in your organization. The fall course will begin in August 2020 and you can register by emailing training@morainepark.edu or calling 920-924-3449.

Small, growing businesses need help. The reality of entrepreneurship is that you can’t do it all on your own.  With thousands of new businesses starting each year, any advantage you can get the better.

For this reason, Moraine Park Technical College, in partnership with the Beaver Dam Chamber and Downtown Beaver Dam Inc., will hold it’s popular, “Start Your Own Business” series of workshops this month at the Beaver Dam Campus . The workshops are scheduled for Thursday nights beginning on January 23^rd from 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. The fee is $175 for the series of five workshops. Workshops can also be taken individually for $40 each. MPTC’s Beaver Dam Campus is located at 700 Gould Street, Beaver Dam, WI 53916. 

Students will learn how to develop a business plan while exploring business management skills and resources necessary to succeed in today’s competitive business environment. Concepts related to marketing and promotion as well as budgeting and finances will be explored. In addition, students will gain access to a network of national, State and local resources. “Entrepreneurship is a key component to revitalizing any community.” said Moraine Park’s Economic and Workforce Development Community Coordinator Laurie Barz. “With the efforts being made by local officials in Beaver Dam, we felt supporting entrepreneurship at the Beaver Dam Campus was the perfect location to hold the popular ‘Start Your Own Business’ series of workshops.”

To learn more visit the Entrepreneurship section in our course schedule. To register, call 920.924.3207.

Success isn’t given, it’s earned, and Christian Bailey-Steenport of Fond du Lac is using his drive and motivation to pave his path. He had a difficult upbringing with a traumatic home-life. As a result, he left home before finishing high school. The choices he made from there weren’t always the best, but it ultimately led him to where he is today.

“I had a horrible home life,” Christian said. “When I left, I ended up with the wrong crowd and eventually became a product of my environment.”

He needed a change in his life, but at the time didn’t have access to opportunities that could help turn his life around. It wasn’t long before Christian was in trouble with the law. 

“I wasn’t making good choices,” he said. “However, my time behind bars is ultimately what gave me the clarity and fresh start I needed.”

While Christian was in jail, he made solid goals and a plan to obtain them. When he was released on January 8, 2019, his first stop was Moraine Park Technical College’s Economic and Workforce Development Boot Camp program test drive.

The College’s test drive offers the opportunity to explore the welding and computerized numerical control (CNC) machining careers, meet potential employers, and receive valuable real-world opportunities. Christian immediately signed up for the welding boot camp. 

“Both my Grandpa and Dad were welders,” he said. “I had some background knowledge of the field and decided to learn more.”

Christian began his college career in February of 2019 and hasn’t stopped since.

“When I first came to Moraine Park, I was only interested in completing the welding boot camp,” he said. “I wasn’t interested in making friends. I wanted to focus only on my goals. It didn’t take long for my mindset to change, and I’m glad it did. I’m learning a lot, enjoying college, and I have made some great friends along the way.”

Christian completed the welding boot camp in May of 2019 and immediately enrolled in the welding technical diploma program. He is scheduled to graduate in December of 2020. He also has plans to earn his metal fabrication and automotive technician technical diplomas and has an interest in serving an industrial maintenance apprenticeship. His overall goal is to own a custom metal fabrication shop with his brother, who begins his boot camp journey in January 2020. 

“I am motivated to succeed,” Christian said. “I’ve overcome a lot in my life, and my college journey hasn’t always been easy, but I keep showing up. I’ve never missed a day of class-ever.”

Currently, Christian works full time at MEC, where he served his boot camp internship and was hired before graduation. He also attends school full time. He is busy but motivated, and that is the driving force that makes it all work for him. 

“I’ve had a lot of support from Moraine Park,” he said. “They helped me to succeed and ultimately have guided me through this new path. I’m proud of myself and look forward to accomplishing more.”

For more information about a career in CNC or Welding, visit morainepark.edu/bootcamp and sign up for one of the information and testing sessions in January 2020. These sessions are a required step to participating in the free boot camp program.