Collin College: Responding to the challenges of the regional job market
Residents of Collin County and the surrounding area know the North Texas economy is booming, with job growth, low unemployment and rising wages heralding the rapid changes taking place in the region. Even so, 2018 is expected to present some challenges for businesses searching for qualified workers.
According to a recent article in the Dallas Business Journal, a shortage of talent in certain fields threatens to slow the North Texas economic machine. Low unemployment means fewer candidates are available. Meanwhile, increasing numbers of Baby Boomers are reaching retirement age, resulting in more open positions. “Employers will find it difficult to find workers,” the article cited.
Collin College is working with business and industry to address the challenge and provide solutions to the region’s workforce needs.
Workforce advisory committees offer expertise to college programs
Building a new educational program means learning the subject in as much detail as possible from the people who know it best. As Collin College designs the curricula for programs in the high-demand construction and automotive fields, the programs’ designers are going to the people who know those career fields’ demands and potential areas for growth first-hand by convening workforce advisory committees made up of industry leaders from across Collin County.
This approach has been effective for the continued review and development of all workforce programs at Collin College, including nursing, hospitality management, culinary arts, applied graphic design, biotechnology, child development, commercial music, engineering, information technology, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), health sciences programs, paralegal and others.
“Having advisory committees comprised of industry representatives ensure the college curriculum remains responsive to the changing workforce needs,” said Dr. Brenda Kihl, Collin College executive vice president. “Employers can have confidence that the college will teach industry-identified skills, and the students will be ready for hire upon graduation.”
Likewise, the college continues to improve its programs as new technologies and tactics emerge in a given industry. Students can be sure they are learning the most useful skills for the careers they have chosen.
Phil Crone, executive officer for the Dallas Builders Association, serves on the construction management advisory committee. He believes the perspective that he and the other committee members bring to the college will make a difference in students’ lives.
“Students are going to benefit by having a program that was designed for and by their future employers,” Crone said. “They are going to get the practical knowledge and the education that Collin College can provide for them. That is going to lead them to be better equipped and marketable when they get out in the workforce.”
Having industry leaders visiting campuses also offers them the chance to see students in action and many have become more involved according to Associate Dean Karen Musa.
“Our advisory committee members are very active in hiring our students, giving tours of their properties for classes and coming to campus for guest speaker activities,” she said.
Want to share your expertise with Collin College as a member of a Workforce Advisory Committee? Learn more about the program you are interested in at www.collin.edu and reach out to the academic contact on its webpage to volunteer.
Calling all small business owners
Are you hoping to start a small business? Did you know the Collin Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is housed at Collin College’s Courtyard Center in Plano? The SBDC offers free consultations and a host of free classes on various topics including how to start a small business, government contracting, accounting and tax issues, funding and legal information.
The creator of more than 60 different types of bratwurst, Joshua Degenhardt knows a lot about sausage. After all, he and his family have been making them from scratch for years. However, moving to Texas and starting Degenhardt’s Brat Haus in Plano’s Legacy Food Hall in December 2017 was a large undertaking. He had many questions ranging from business leads to his parents’ immigration from Canada.
“We wanted to find a trusted source to give us answers. The SBDC is very resourceful. They will point you in the right direction. If you are starting a business, I would approach them first. It is a great service, and it is a free service. I would go back for future advice without reservation,” he said.
Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Collin SBDC partners with Collin Corporate College to offer area businesses the assistance they need to succeed.
“Since 1989, the Collin SBDC has assisted local companies in creating jobs and economic growth by utilizing the elements of quality advising, community involvement and leveraging resources,” said Marta Frey, director of the Collin SBDC. “Our strengths in business valuations and expansion funding make the Collin SBDC an important partner in a company’s ability to grow.”
Carrie K. Stein, owner of Coffee House Café in North Dallas, couldn’t agree more.
“My first recommendation to small business owners in transition, new entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs is always, always first and foremost to reach out to the Small Business Development Center at Collin College, immediately,” said Stein.
“The advice, encouragement, expertise and funding information has been a critical part of my success for the last seven years. The team at the SBDC is uniquely qualified to help entrepreneurs navigate launching a dream into reality. The importance of the SBDC to our business community and our small business culture in Collin County and North Dallas cannot be understated,” she said.
For more information about the Collin SBDC, visit www.collinsbdc.com or call 972.985.3770.
Workforce skills training does not have to break your budget
Having a well-skilled workforce is essential for companies that demand to stay on the competitive edge. Successful businesses have long known that maintaining a well-skilled workforce requires investing in the latest training for their employees, but training does not have to mean high cost.
Collin College provides affordable skills training to companies from various industries including finance, manufacturing, information technology, food processing and more. Hundreds of employees have received training in topics ranging from technology and team-building to leadership and organizational effectiveness, all flexibly scheduled to meet the needs of the employer. For more information, visit www.collin.edu/corporatecollege.
For companies needing more budget for their more technical/occupation-specific training, a workforce training grant may be the preferred option. Collin College’s Center for Workforce & Economic Development garnered $748,472 in awarded grants last year, assisting 11 local companies with needed skills training. In January 2018, Collin College received a $294,190 Skills Development Fund grant from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) to train 224 employees from two local businesses.
“Having training offered through Texas Workforce Commission grant dollars brings up the overall skill level of these companies and makes them more competitive in the market,” said Guy Boucher, training specialist at Unicom Engineering, Inc., one of the companies participating in a current grant.
Natalie Greenwell, director of the Center for Workforce and Economic Development at Collin College, said, “We work closely with our companies to identify specific needs and skills gaps and develop the training grant proposal. If a company needs advanced classes in Excel or Basic Aluminum Welding or Hyper V Server Virtualization – all current classes – that is what we will deliver.” By examining the gaps in current employee training, a company not only lays the groundwork for a grant application, but also gains a better understanding of itself.
“Our training is specialized and directed toward the employer’s needs,” Greenwell said, talking about the variety of training types available. “We measure our success by meeting clients’ needs.”
Learn more about the program by calling 972-985-3768 or visiting www.collin.edu/cwed/.
Corporate College: Your local training think tank
Collin Corporate College is a veritable training think tank, continually offering the up-to-date training area companies need to reach their peak performance. From executive and leadership development to technical instruction to workshops on successfully managing millennials, Corporate College has the information your company needs to succeed.
Wouldn’t it be great to have a trusted source that would work alongside you to explore your specific business needs and develop training to meet those needs? Area companies are taking advantage of this partnership every day with Corporate College.“
Collin Corporate College put together a terrific series of classes for our organization that benefited multiple departments,” said Matthew Howe, director of recruiting at Huffines Auto Dealerships. “The instructors don’t use a boilerplate syllabus but rather tailor the class to your group’s specific needs. We liked that the instructors scheduled calls prior to the training to discuss expectations for success and areas of emphasis to ensure we are maximizing our time.”
Corporate College knows training site options are important for businesses and employees.
“Corporate College delivers new, targeted, customized training directly to Collin County businesses, saving precious commute time,” said Dr. Sherry Schumann, senior vice president of Academic Workforce and Enrollment Services.
“We’re here to provide solutions. Whether we are working with small businesses or large corporations, our broad range of experts are prepared to meet clients’ needs and exceed their expectations.”
At Collin Corporate College, client success is a priority.
“With low unemployment rates, a competitive workforce, and new businesses making Collin County their home daily, training and professional development for your staff is more important than ever,” added Adam Pitluk, executive director of Corporate College. “We proudly offer affordable, accessible solutions to help optimize your organizational performance.”
For more information about Corporate College, visit www.collin.edu/corporatecollege, email corporatecollege@collin.edu or call 972.599.3110.