Career success means education
doesn’t stop with a diploma
Today’s worker can’t think of education
as having an ending point, I heard a
representative of WorkOne say a few years
ago. Graduation from high school or
college is merely the beginning of our next
set of classes. Everybody, he said, needs
continuing education.
When thinking about continuing
education, we usually imagine a twoor four-year degree from a college or
university. But even if college is not in
a student’s future, planning for special
certification or training is a must to be
employable. And, quite frankly, obtaining a
college degree does not give any of us a pass
on continuing education.
Different degrees provide more, but not all,
the skills needed by our employers. On the
vocational track, a certification in welding
may apply only to limited types of that skill.
If an employer requires a different type,
then additional skills must be sought.
Fortunately, our chamber includes many
organizations providing training our
employers and workers need. Whether
someone seeks a traditional college degree
or a specialized certification, one of our
members has the programs needed for a
21st Century workforce. Currently, Ivy
Tech is seeking support for a new training
center to focus on the specific needs of
manufacturers. The Elkhart Area Career
Center has been winning awards for its
career and technical education programs.
And there are more.
For my own education, I earned a bachelor’s
degree from Ball State University and a
master’s from IUSB. But that wasn’t enough.
To keep my skills fresh, and to bring
benefit to our members, I attended the
Institute of Organizational Management.
(The Chamber has four staff members
who have earned IOM certification – a
four-year program to learn skills applicable
to chambers of commerce – and Claudia
Meenan is on IOM’s governing board.)
Am I done yet? Probably not. This is a
changing world with a changing economy.
Join me in keeping our skills fresh so
Elkhart County has the most-capable,
best-trained workforce in the country.
“Leading Business” is the
monthly magazine published by:
Ambassadors Claudia Meenan, ext. 134
Dec. 12, Council meeting, 11 am
Annual Golf Outing Denise Polachek, ext. 132
Business Recognition and Beautification
Denise Polachek, ext. 132
Dec. 17, Council meeting, 8 am
Economic Development
Trevor Wendzonka, ext. 110
Dec. 20, Council meeting, 8 am
Education Kathy Cardwell, ext. 122
Environmental Trevor Wendzonka, ext. 110
Dec. 20, Council meeting, 8 am
Dec. 11, Council meeting, 8 am
Leadership Denise Polachek, ext. 132
OSHA Jim Walsh, ext. 121
Dec. 18, Council breakfast, 7:30 am
Technology Jim Walsh, ext. 121
Transportation Kay House-Clark, ext. 138
Dec. 12, Breakfast, 7:30 am
Women’s Claudia Meenan, ext. 134
Dec. 3, Council meeting, 9 am
Young Professionals Arielle Schmitt, ext. 128
Dec. 4, Council meeting, 8 am
Government Trevor Wendzonka, ext. 110
4 GREATER ELKHART CHAMBER
418 S. Main St. | Elkhart, IN 46516
(574) 293-1531 | Elkhart.org
All rights reserved 2013
Permission from the Chamber
president is required for any
reproduction, reprint or reuse of
the content of this magazine. A
PDF version of “Leading Business”
is available at Elkhart.org and in
e-reader format on the Greater
Elkhart Chamber’s Facebook page.
“Leading Business” benefits
from contributions by readers
and member companies. Please
submit news releases, event
information, article ideas and
inquiries to Trevor Wendzonka,
Greater Elkhart Chamber
communications director, at
[email protected].
For information on advertising
with “Leading Business,” contact
Arielle Schmitt, Greater Elkhart
Chamber marketing specialist, at
[email protected].