Workforce Training Center Keeps Albuquerque Businesses in Shape
In Albuquerque, the most effective tool for economic development is a trained workforce. Central New Mexico Community College keeps that tool sharp through its Workforce Training Center, which supports Albuquerque’s business community by offering customized, non-credit training.
“We are a quality improvement organization,” says Dr. Susan Murphy, CNM’s vice president for external affairs. “We are here to assist business in any way that we can.”
As part of an ongoing training and quality improvement process, the WTC will design a training program tailored to just about any business, no matter the size. In addition to innovative, customized training, the training center also provides skill development and business consulting. The goal: to increase productivity, performance and profitability for a cross section of Albuquerque businesses. The key to the success of the program is tied to the quality of the instruction provided.
“We have some very talented trainers providing these courses,” Murphy says. “Albuquerque is such a wonderful place to own a business because we have trainers with national and international experience in so many fields.”
In tough economic times, the services offered by the training center are at a premium thanks to the speed with which they are delivered. In fact, Murphy says that requests for short-term training are likely to blossom during 2009.
“Most of the people who go through our programs do not have three to four semesters to get a degree,” Murphy says. “That’s why we give local businesses a very quick response.”
The Workforce Training Center program was originally designed more than 10 years ago to be a cost-effective training site for local businesses. Since that time, the training center has built a solid reputation in the Albuquerque business community.
“We are a significant force for economic development in the community,” Murphy says. Indeed, the training center has provided corporations such as Intel and Verizon with hundreds of trained employees, thanks to ongoing partnerships with the companies. In fact, local economic development authorities regularly include the training center in presentations for business development.
“The way we touch business is tangible even as businesses are building themselves,” Murphy says. “If they need cross training, supervisory training or even if they are scaling down and want to provide re-training, we are here to help. Whatever industries need, we will be there.”
The training center also offers professional development courses, from how to use the Microsoft Office Suite to how to “green” your business. The variety of open-enrollment courses is intended to provide a broad selection of current, relevant and useful training experiences based on the needs of local businesses. Future plans for expanding non-credit offerings include: Security Officer Development, Performance Leadership Academy, Green Project Management, Relationship Development for Professionals Working with Families, Screenwriting, Vocal Talent Techniques, and expanded Grant Writers Academy.
