FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                    Contact:   Fred Dillingham

March 3, 2004                                                                              (517) 546-0822

 DEVELOPING A HIGH PERFORMANCE WORKPLACE SERIES

A consortium of local economic development, workforce development and training organizations will offer a three-part workshop series this year on “Developing a High Performance Workplace.” The first workshop, “Understanding the Challenge,” is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 12 noon Wednesday, March 31, 2004 at the Livingston Regional M-TEC^sm, 1240 Packard Drive, Howell.

Guest speaker Dr. Shelly Funderburg, Director, Hiring Solutions for Manpower, Inc., will provide practical suggestions on how companies can effectively deal with changing skill requirements and emerging skill gaps of their workforce. Breakout sessions on “Developing Your Workforce” and “Motivating Employees” are also scheduled. 

Dr. Funderburg is in charge of the Hiring Solutions department at Manpower’s world headquarters in Milwaukee. She is responsible for the design, development, validation and continual support of the hiring and placement tools used by Manpower worldwide. She is an expert in the areas of competency and job analysis, tool development and implementation.

The workshop series is targeted to the manufacturing community, but topics will be relevant to many businesses and organizations, says Fred Dillingham, Executive Director of the Economic Development Council of Livingston County, and one of the sponsors of the event.

“Our goal is to provide relevant and practical tools to help our local manufacturing companies compete successfully in today’s competitive environment,” Dillingham says. “We have designed the workshops so that participants will both have access to experts on developing a high performance workplace, and an opportunity to share experiences with their peers.

Two other half-day workshops are also planned for the series. “Workforce Stability” will be the topic of the second workshop scheduled for June 9. The final workshop, scheduled for September 29, will be “Leading the Change: Best Practices.”

Co-sponsors of the workshop series include the Economic Development Council of Livingston County, the Livingston County Workforce Development Council, the Livingston Regional M-TEC, Manpower, Inc., and the American Society of Employers HR Management Group.

Cost of the workshop is $20 for each session, or $50 for the series. More detailed information and registration information is available at the Economic Development Council of Livingston County website, http://www.livingstonedc.com, or by calling the Livingston Regional M-TEC at (517)548-4589.

On July 1, 2002, Cleary College became Cleary University, marking yet another quality milestone in the 119-year history of the school.

"Just as businesses adapt to change so must institutions of higher learning to keep pace with customer expectations and needs," said Tom Sullivan, Cleary University president and Chairperson of the Economic Development Council Board of Directors.  "The name Cleary University more accurately reflects the depth and breadth of the services we offer our students."

Certification as a university is not a symbolic gesture, but one that involves a long and rigorous process authorized by the Michigan Department of Education and the North Central Association.

:This really will have a positive effect on our students," Sullivan said.  "The word 'university' on their diploma will equate to greater employability."

Classes at Cleary University will continued to be offered in smaller, cohort groups, with flexible class schedules including Internet (distance) learning.

EDC would like to congratulate Cleary University on its continued success.

For more information, contact (517) 548-3670