The Moraine Park Technical College Economic and Workforce Development Department welcomed Kelli Karpinski as a new Business Representative. In her role, Kelli partners with area manufacturers to identify individual and regional workforce development needs. Working collaboratively, her goal is to create performance-minded business solutions through short- and long-term strategies to close skills gaps – all to help area firms remain competitive and profitable.

Before joining MPTC, Kelli spent more than six years as a senior consultant at Oshkosh marketing firm Blue Door Consulting. She also has an economic development background through a previous role at the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce and served as an adjunct instructor at Fox Valley Technical College, teaching introductory business and marketing courses.

Kelli earned a Bachelor’s degree from UW Eau Claire and an MBA from UW Oshkosh.

Kelli enjoys giving back to her community and has spent the past eight years on the Oshkosh Women’s Fund Board, currently serving as immediate past president. She and her husband like to kayak, tackle home DIY projects, listen to live music, travel, ride their Harley-Davidson and hang out with their Australian labradoodle.

“Being a part of the EWD team brings together my passion for education and training with my background in building business relationships. I’m excited to see the results of our work—the advancement of the area workforce and the positive impact that will have on our businesses.”

Welcome to the team, Kelli!

Written by: Pamela James, MBA, MPH, MPM, MT(ASCP), NBC-HWC, PMP

What do you use to clean your house, your dishes, your body?  Unfortunately, your common everyday products are putting the health of you and your loved ones in danger.  Every time you spray something, you inhale some of it.  Every time something gets on your skin (accidentally or on purpose), it can get into your bloodstream. 

Maybe some of you are thinking, “Yep, that’s why I buy ___ which is natural.  It says so right on the label.”  But did you know that even many “natural” products are full of chemicals, phthalates, parabens, and hormone disruptors?  And that doesn’t apply only to cleaning products but also to all those lotions and potions that we knowingly put on our skin every single day.

Here’s the great news. Making your home healthier does not have to be expensive or complicated.  There are many natural and safe options to choose from including essential oils, vinegar, castile soap, and baking soda. 

Essential oils?  Wait, aren’t those just a nice smelling alternative to candles?  Actually no, essential oils can be used in a number of ways and have been for thousands of years around the world.  I won’t bore you with all the science, but here’s the basics. 

Essential oils are naturally occurring compounds found in the various parts of trees, flowers, and other plants.  Plants make essential oils for their own health – to repel insects, protect them from the environment, resist microbes, and more.  When we use a 100% pure essential oil, those same properties work for us too! 

Have you ever used a scented candle, cleaning product, or lotion?  Ever had a cup of tea, put a lemon in your water, or added herbs and spices (fresh or dried) to your food?  Then you’ve used essential oils! 

As we’ve already discussed, we want to decrease (or eliminate completely) the use of dangerous household chemicals.  And the best way to do that is to start with simple swaps.  Make your own products and know exactly what’s in them!  Don’t let the idea of essential oils or DIY (do it yourself) overwhelm you.  Here are a couple easy DIY recipes to try.

Look at how easy it is to swap out expensive and dangerous cleaning chemicals!  Simple recipes with simple ingredients for a healthier home in just minutes.

A couple final notes.  Firstly, always use caution with essential oils as they are extremely concentrated and powerful.  A couple drops goes a long way.  Secondly, watch out for impure and synthetic essential oils as you lose all the great benefits when they are made in a lab instead of by nature.  Even those essential oils labeled as 100% pure are usually diluted or adulterated.  Do your research.

Interested in learning more about using essential oils in your life? There are a number of classes coming up that will help you get started. Visit https://www.morainepark.edu/academics/continuing-education/ find an essential oils class for you.

We all have goals of living independently and being self-sufficient but often obstacles and challenges get in our way.  After successful participation in a combination of virtual and in person instruction due to Covid,  two students were able to celebrate completion of a 2-year Learning for Independence (LFI) Program, moving them one step closer to meeting their goal of independence. 

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 ranging in ages from 18- 21 years of age, have a documented disability and are current students at various Fond du Lac County High Schools.  “It is inspiring watching the transformation from the first day our LFI students set foot on the MPTC campus to the completion ceremony two years later! Our students arrive as high school seniors and leave as confident adults with life skills and plans to continue with their present job or pursue new employment or enroll in classes to pursue a certification or degree at technical college. This amazing program would not be possible without the great partnerships of MPTC, Fond du Lac Economic and Workforce Development, the Fond du Lac Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, surrounding Fond du Lac County Schools and the School District of North Fond du Lac!” states Chris Schultz, LFI Program Director.  

 “When students start their LFI experience, they are anxious, excited and ready to embrace the program. During their two years, they meet students from different high schools and become friends quickly.  They start to become a close group and help each other when needed.  Their confidence levels and self-advocacy skills are completely turned around and almost mastered! The skills learned from each class will be ones they will be able to use when out living independently.  At their completion ceremony each student speaks about what they learned, what they liked about the LFI program, and where they see themselves in five years.  This is quite a transformation and all the instructors, people at MPTC, Chris Schultz and myself are so proud of all of them.  We send them out with a job lined up, or already employed, and some have gone on to attend MPTC.”, states Jo Marchionda, LFI Coordinator and Instructor. 

In person classes will be starting again in fall.  For additional information on the LFI program or applications for enrollment, please contact Chris Schultz, School District of North Fond du Lac, at cschultz@nfdlschools.org or call 920-929-3750 ext 6143.

Moraine Park Technical College has selected the Department of Corrections- Taycheedah Correctional Institution (TCI), as the recipient of the 2020 Innovation award. The College’s Economic and Workforce Development (EWD) presents five Business and Industry partnership awards each fiscal year; Excellence in Partnership, Employer of the Year, Innovation, New Partner of the Year, and Workforce Development Champion.

The Innovation Award is given to an organization that implemented an innovative solution to a workforce challenge. Jason Lederhaus, education director at TCI, continuously promotes educational opportunities for the incarcerated women at their facility. Lederhaus continued to advocate for the women in the welding cohort when COVID-19 created many restrictions and created a plan to allow them to safely complete their welding program. Additionally, the welding program became approved as a pre-apprenticeship program with Department of Workforce Development (DWD). Lederhaus has advocated for two new programs at TCI. These innovative solutions create real opportunities to enter the workforce in high demand fields upon release from TCI. The College recognized TCI and Lederhaus during a small gathering at TCI in late May.

For more information on Moraine Park, visit morainepark.edu.

This summer, teens from the Fond du Lac, Tri-County, and Jackson Boys and Girls Clubs will be learning about various careers through the MPTC Dream Big community service project.

The Dream Big project started in 2017 with  area BGC teens visiting MPTC or MPTC students visiting the Clubs each semester to help teens learn more about the over 100 careers available through MPTC. This past year, due to COVID, no visiting was possible. The MPTC Student Community Impact Team, in partnership with faculty leaders, came up with a plan to offer summer career exploration of welding, blueprint reading, cosmetology, and culinary through interactive videos with fun hands on activities.

Dream Big is a great community partnership opportunity to showcase MPTC careers and for area teens to get excited about career choices! Tri-County Boys and Girls Club Director of Operations Mindy Collado said, “We are so excited for these Dream Big opportunities! Thanks for stopping in today and delivering all the goodies. The teens already had a lot of fun and I am sure we will get good use out of the careers materials all throughout this summer! Thank you MPTC!”

Moraine Park Technical College has selected Nathan Glander of Wabash National, as the recipient of the 2020 Workforce Development Champion award. The College’s Economic and Workforce Development (EWD) presents five Business and Industry partnership awards each fiscal year; Excellence in Partnership, Employer of the Year, Innovation, New Partner of the Year, and Workforce Development Champion. 

The Workforce Development Champion award is given to an individual focused on improving the skills and retention of personnel in the region and has positively influenced workforce issues around recruitment, training, and career development. Glander has been a consistent advocate for the College and the boot camp programs throughout the last year, even when that proved difficult with the pandemic. During the pandemic when others weren’t able to offer internships, he stepped forward to make sure there were internship spots available to provide the students with learning opportunities. In fall 2020, Glander demonstrated his commitment to the College and the program- and provided services as the sole business partnership for the boot camp welders. This semester, Glander has opened nine fulltime positions for the College’s boot camp completers. As a result of his support, students who complete the program have a greater opportunity to obtain fulltime positions in the welding field. Glander was recognized during a small ceremony in late May.  

For more information on Moraine Park, visit morainepark.edu.

Moraine Park Technical College has selected the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), as the recipient of the 2020 New Partner of the Year award. The College’s Economic and Workforce Development (EWD) presents five Business and Industry partnership awards each fiscal year; Excellence in Partnership, Employer of the Year, Innovation, New Partner of the Year, and Workforce Development Champion.

The New Partner of the Year award is given to an organization that supports Moraine Park through contributions, sponsorships, or involvement for the first time. Moraine Park Technical College, in partnership with The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Bureau for Drinking & Groundwater, worked to develop and conduct three online training courses comprised of four training modules to aid the DNRs Water Utility Management program. The purpose of these training modules is to increase the technical, managerial, and financial capacity of municipal water systems in Wisconsin, and to help decision-makers at these water systems make informed decisions. These programs are free for participants. This 3-year partnership between Moraine Park and the DNR is a first of its kind in Wisconsin, and its structure paves the way for future training opportunities. In addition, the College supports continuing education training for certified operators of small public drinking water systems and provides 55 continuing education courses around the state each year.

The College presented the award during a virtual ceremony on May 27.

For more information on Moraine Park, visit morainepark.edu.

Moraine Park Technical College, in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Bureau for Drinking & Groundwater, worked to develop and conduct three online training courses to enhance the DNR’s Public Wisconsin Capacity Development program.   

The DNR regulates over 600 municipal water systems, the majority serving a population of fewer than 10,000 people. To ensure that the technical, managerial, and financial capacity of the state’s water utilities is maintained, the DNR created the Wisconsin Capacity Development program, which aims to help public water systems strengthen their ability to consistently supply safe drinking water to their customers. The program focuses on assisting system owners and operators with improving their technical abilities, managerial skills and financial resources to comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.  

“The purpose for this training is to increase the technical, managerial, and financial capacity of municipal water systems in Wisconsin, and to help decision-makers at these water systems make informed decisions,” Nicholas Bertolas, Capacity Development & Operator Certification Coordinator for the DNR Bureau of Drinking Water and Groundwater, said. “We hope these training opportunities will encourage better communication between decision-makers and water utility staff.”   

In 2019, Moraine Park’s Economic and Workforce Development (EWD) department was awarded the project, which included the development, hosting and maintenance of the training for the DNR.   

Each course includes four unique learning modules. The first two modules launched on Dec. 31, 2020, and are free to government bodies (village, city, or town boards), other utility governing boards (utility commissions), and professionals with decision authority as it pertains to drinking water utilities. To incentivize the online training modules, the DNR is offering continuing education credits to operators who take the training, as well as principal forgiveness points towards Safe Drinking Water Loan Program applications to municipalities who have a minimum of 50% of their governing body take and pass the training modules.  

“These training opportunities are unique in that they benefit anyone that takes the course, from the first-time water board member who is just getting an introduction into water quality to the veteran certified operator that can pick-up some best practices,” Matt Goff, Moraine Park instructor, said. “Together we have developed something rather simple that can have a big impact on our local utilities.”  

Moraine Park and the DNR have been long-standing partners on the DNR’s Operators Water Quality Program. They expanded their partnership in 2019 to add both the continuing education training for certified operators of small public drinking water systems and the online program. These programs are free for participants. This 3-year partnership between Moraine Park and the DNR is a first of its kind in Wisconsin, and its structure paves the way for future training opportunities.  

For more information on Moraine Park’s EWD efforts, visit morainepark.edu/training.   

For more information on the DNR’s Capacity Development program, visit https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/DrinkingWater/CapacityDevelopment.html. 

When was the last time you took an Excel course? If you are like most of us you have probably googled a command or two or watched a YouTube video on a specific function when needed. You get the work done, but the experience was uninspiring.  Over the course of a few weeks, you’re lucky if two or three of the new commands or functions you learned make it into your daily routine.  Sound familiar?

Here are some simple Microsoft Excel tricks you can use to be more productive at work.

Select All. This quick keyboard commands can cut your computer task time by seconds, which quickly adds up to minutes and hours.  [Ctrl]+A can be used to select all of the data in your Excel spreadsheet at one time. It also works in Word and other Windows applications.

Display formulas. Not the original author of a spreadsheet than you will find this helpful. When you hit [Ctrl] + ~, all of the formulas in a spreadsheet will be visible, allowing you to edit or tweak them as needed.

Using Quick Analysis. Who doesn’t want to analysis data quickly? Right click inside the table you wish to work with. Select the Quick Analysis button to open the menu. Hover over one of the tabs: Formatting, Charts, Totals, Table or Sparklines to preview the effects. Click on the button to apply the feature.

Moraine Park offers a host of Microsoft Excel classes that can teach you basic and advanced skills, or can be used as refresher training.  Consider what skills would make you more productive. Here are some options: 

Excel Level 1

Excel Level 2

Excel Level 3

If you’re looking to update or improve your Excel skills, please feel free to contact us today for more information on everything we offer!