On Thursday, June 14, 2018, nine Six Sigma Green Belt candidates representing 4 local manufacturing companies presented their final projects and received their certifications. The graduation ceremony took place on the Moraine Park Technical College Fond du Lac Campus with business representatives, sponsors and project champions present.

Participants completed 88 hours of training over 6 months, and additional time working on their independent project work collecting and analyzing data to improve products, processes and reduce waste. The return on investment from these projects resulted in over $536,000 – an average of $60,000 per company, with opportunity to continue saving as the projects are fully implemented and scaled.

Six Sigma Green Belt certification programs are suited for individuals who are expected to work with process improvement initiatives. Though the use of the DMAIC (define, measure, analyze, improve, control) process, participants will apply the skills and tools learned to their workplace project. To learn more about Six Sigma Green Belt, click here.

Reading and hearing about new career opportunities is helpful. But what if you actually could try them out as well? Moraine Park Technical College is offering a unique opportunity to do just that with its “Test Drive” workshops for welding and computerized numerical control (CNC).
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Like many students, Tammy Flick of Beaver Dam found Moraine Park Technical College as a place of hope and a promise of a better future. Tammy was a part of the customer service world for over 25 years, and in 2009, as a result of a suffering economy, she found herself unemployed and unsure of where to go next.

“It was a scary time, but looking back on it now, the timing was perfect,” said Tammy. “I wanted my work to be rewarding. I knew if I was going to make a change, I wanted to be in the medical field.”

She sought guidance through Moraine Park’s Career Center in Beaver Dam. The career instructors helped her with program selection, financial aid, grants, and enrollment. Tammy decided to pursue both the Medical Assistant and Medical Coding Specialist technical programs. She was able to take all of her classes at the Beaver Dam campus, right in her hometown, and she completed both degrees in a one-year time span.

Tammy wasn’t just a student in the classroom, she was also active at the College and with her peers. She involved herself in the student senate and helped with many student-life events. Tammy made many connections and lifelong friends during her time at Moraine Park. And, on May 22, 2010, Tammy walked the stage to accept her dual technical diploma at the College’s annual commencement ceremony.

So where has she been since graduation? The question really should be ‘where hasn’t she been?‘

Immediately following graduation, Tammy began her medical career at Dean/SSM Health Dermatology clinic in Madison.  And, when an opportunity became available closer to home, she transferred to the Dean/SSM Health Family Medicine clinic in Beaver Dam.

“I know I’m in the right place,” said Flick. “It is a very rewarding field. If at the end of my day, I can ease a worried mind or a put a smile on the face of a patient, then my job is done.”

Her philanthropic spirit has carried on in her daily work, through the many events she volunteers at locally both through her employer and also through personal endeavors. Tammy has also participated in two mission trips, one to Guatemala in November 2016, where she helped work in a health clinic and built houses for residents.

Then in November 2017, she visited Haiti, where she assisted at a dental clinic and taught CPR to individuals at an orphanage.

“The trips were life-changing,” said Tammy. “It opened up my eyes to the world in a different way, it made me want to give back, and it made me truly grateful for the life I have been given.”

So what’s next for Tammy?

She is currently making plans for a 2019 return to Haiti. She expressed that there is much more work to do, and she wants to help in any way possible.

She accredits many of the opportunities she has been given, to the education she received and the hard work of Moraine Park staff, like Janet Bauer, a medical assistant instructor at Moraine Park.

“Janet is amazing, knowledgeable, and was tough for a reason, we were learning about people’s bodies,” said Tammy. “I am so thankful for the many doors that have been opened as a result of my education.”

Today, Tammy is enjoying her life. On June 16, she celebrated 30-years with her husband Brian, at a small intimate backyard vow renewal.

Around her community, you might find Tammy enjoying everything that Beaver Dam has to offer. From the Kayak launch at Waterworks Park to her grandson’s soccer games, and everything in between. She is also heavily involved in the Swan Park’s Rotary Light show, this winter will be the 2nd annual event.

It’s not hard to see that Tammy is living her best life, and we are proud to be a part of her journey.

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

When you think of a Business Analyst, what words or thoughts come to the top of your mind? Do you think its technology or IT related? Perhaps someone who sits behind their computer analyzing data, numbers, or customer insights all day long? Or, maybe someone who analyzes workflows or processes?

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Ingredients:

1 jar marshmallow fluff

8-ounces cream cheese softened to room temperature

2 Tbsp. frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed

Fruit for dipping: strawberries, grapes, pineapple, apples, assorted berries, melon

Directions:

Spoon marshmallow fluff into a large microwave-safe bowl, and microwave for 15 seconds. Whisk in softened cream cheese and orange juice concentrate, until very smooth. Chill for several hours or overnight. Serve with fresh fruit.

Substitution Options:

• For gluten-free, use one tub of gluten-free marshmallow fluff (7 oz.), and 8-ounces of 1/3 less-fat cream cheese softened to room temperature.
• You can change the flavor of this dip. Instead of orange juice, use the juice from a jar of maraschino cherries.
• You can substitute any Greek flavored yogurt for the cream cheese.

For more information on Moraine Park, visit morainepark.edu

Do you have blonde hair or highlights?

Beware of the effects of chlorine, because it can turn your golden-locks green! And, I’m not talking about the trending hair colors, either!

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This my third and final installment of a blog series introducing military service and veterans to educators and administrators in higher education. In Part One, I discussed the demographics and composition of the veteran community, addressing who veterans are and what they ‘look like’ upon transitioning out.

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Chris Rowe, a May 2018 graduate of Moraine Park Technical College, enrolled in the Introduction to Mass Communication course and was not entirely sure what to expect.

The Introduction to Mass Communication course at Moraine Park explores communication in media and media literacy by providing insight into the important issues that confront students as consumers and purveyors of mass media within the workforce and in society. The mass media revolution, including media technologies, the evolution of media content and platforms, including new media, the impact of media communications on business and society as a whole, media bias, and media law and ethics provide the focus for this course.

“I learned that Mass Communication is more complicated than I thought,” said Rowe.  “In an ideal world, mass media companies should strive for excellence, honesty, and the betterment of the people they supply the information to on a daily basis,  however, this is not always the case.”

Students who take this course learn that the freedom we enjoy does not prevent the spread of misinformation.  Different types of media can contradict or leave information out to affect individuals’ beliefs and opinions.

“While taking part in this class, I really enjoyed considering some of the history and evolution of mass media, such as news, music, and film,” said Rowe. “It also was significant to learn about the impact the media has on our society and how we think and feel collectively, as well as individually. The pervasive role that media plays can be not only detrimental but also at times positive. I highly recommend this class with Dr. Rebecca Leichtfuss so that individuals understand the role and influence that media has on our free society.”

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

Moraine Park Technical College held its 26th annual GED/HSED graduation ceremony on June 7. For the 2017-18 school year, 141 students received their General Education Development (GED) and High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) certificates.

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