Clark College News and Events

Graphic–Clark College News and Events

Clark College News and Events


February 5, 2008
For Immediate Release
For additional information: 
Barbara Kerr, Executive Director of Communications and Marketing
Telephone: 360-992-2921
E-mail:  bkerr@clark.edu

Lisa Nisenfeld, Executive Director
Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council
Telephone: 360-567-1073
E-mail: lnisenfeld@swwdc.org

CLARK COLLEGE AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL PARTNER TO SUPPORT EMPLOYER-BASED TRAINING

The project will provide customized training for
60 personnel from the Clark County business community

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Clark College and the Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council (SWWDC) have teamed up to increase the region’s total training capacity by helping SW Washington companies improve the delivery of their own in-house training.

The SWWDC has contracted with Clark College’s Corporate Education unit to provide customized “train-the-trainer” training focused on teaching adult learning principles and training delivery skills. Approximately 60 workers will be recruited from SW Washington businesses to participate in the training. The idea is to bolster the training delivery skills of local companies’ employees and subject matter experts, all of whom have significant knowledge to impart but many of whom do not have formal instructional expertise.

“This project leverages and builds upon the enormous amount of training that goes on within companies and helps to ensure that it is delivered in a manner that increases learning and maximizes companies’ investments in employee training,” said Lisa Nisenfeld, SWWDC Executive Director. The idea came from SWWDC board member Bob Lewis, CEO of Columbia Vista Corporation.

In addition to providing face-to-face training, the project will also include the development of an eLearning curriculum that can be used by the Vancouver and Kelso WorkSource offices to enhance communication and presentation skills of their job seekers thereby increasing their competitiveness as job candidates.

According to Todd Oldham, Clark College’s Executive Director of Corporate and Continuing Education, "This opportunity expands the use of public dollars two fold by creating and delivering curriculum to two different audiences.” Oldham also noted, “We are addressing traditional training needs in the present but also creating an eLearning curriculum that will be available long after the project is completed.”

Funds for the project come from the SWWDC’s Workforce Investment Act (WIA) allocation for incumbent worker training.

About the SWWDC
The Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council (SWWDC) provides leadership and resources to promote economic development through a trained and productive workforce in Clark, Cowlitz, and Wahkiakum Counties. By creating partnerships and in the private and public sectors, the SWWDC helps shape a system to supply skilled workers to local companies and good jobs for residents of the tri-county area.

About Clark College’s Corporate Education Unit
Clark College Corporate Education Unit provides a wide range of customized training solutions and professional development workshops and seminars to businesses throughout Southwest Washington and Portland, Oregon. Services include needs assessment, program and event coordination as well as the development and delivery of onsite training programs on topics ranging from business skills and industry-specific technical training to executive leadership development.

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