CUSTOMIZED TRAINING PROGRAM AIDS BUSINESSES, CHAMBER TOLD

The Cape Girardeau Area Vocational-Technical School has trained hundreds of workers for special industrial jobs over the years, and thanks to a Missouri Customized Training program there has been an increased interest in classroom skill training over the past two years.

"We provide a number of community educational opportunities, ranging from students to senior adults." said Harold Tilley, director of the facility at 301 N. Clark St.

Tilley was one of three speakers who addressed the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's First Friday Coffee meeting Friday concerning the "Customized Training and the Vocational Connection," program, which involves working with area business and industry to provide skilled-training programs for their employees through the vo-tech school.

Also on the program were Pat Hagan of Dana Corp., a member of the Southeast Missouri Regional Training Group, and Dr. Randy Shaw of Southeast Missouri State University, which shares a number of its labs and facilities with the vo-tech school.

"We call this a partnership," said Tilley. "The customized training program helps employers in the training and retraining of workers to meet the demands of new technology and changing markets."

The program, said Tilley, also reduces the costs to employers for training and retraining workers. The program, which is available to new companies, expanding companies and businesses that need to retrain employees, is partially funded by state grants.

"We help write the training program, which may include training programs on-site or at the vo-tech school" added Tilley. "We talk with businesses and conduct an analysis of their training needs."

Tilley said the program was available for both small and large companies.

"More than 500 businesses have been contacted by the SEMO Regional Training Group," said Hagan. "We feel the shared costs for basic skill training makes sense."

Dana Corp., which was recognized as 1993 Industry of the Year by the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, has utilized the vo-tech training facility since it opened here in 1990. Dana officials who accepted the industry award said at that time the company took advantage of vo-tech training facilities to put together a skilled work force.

"We have a number of employers in the regional training group," said Hagan, who listed three big advantages for the group participation.

"The program offers shared costs for employers, certificates of skilled training, which are recognized throughout the area, and a skilled workers pool."

Additional information concerning the regional training group is available by contacting the vo-tech school.

"We recognize the importance of this program," said Clark. "We're pleased that we can share our facilities. "It's another opportunity for inter-agency cooperation."

In other activity during the morning coffee, Jim Rust, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, reported that Doug Groesbeck of Union Electric had been appointed to the board, succeeding Carol Keeler-Daniel, who has accepted a position with KMOX Radio in St. Louis and is leaving town.

Larry Shafer, chairman of the chamber's membership committee said the 1995 membership blitz will be held May 9. Karen Hendrickson reminded chamber members that the annual Business Conference is scheduled Wednesday at the Show Me Center.