Jeff Finch and Sarah DeForest present tips on hiring and keeping great employees.

 

Sarah DeForest and Laurie Wann share their expertise on customer service with the staff of the Modoc County Office of Education.

Eighty employees of the Modoc County Office of Education attended a customized Customer Service training provided by Alliance for Workforce Development on August 18 and came away with new ideas for providing "magical moments" to their students, parents and fellow staff. HR Consultants Laurie Wann and Sarah DeForest presented the four-hour workshop, which included elements on the fundamentals of guest service, working effectively with co-workers, taking charge of one's attitude, and dealing with difficult guests.

One attendee commented, "It was extremely interesting, well thought out and very well prepared and presented." Another staff member appreciated the opportunity to learn new ideas and techniques for making the new school year successful. The workshop was part of the educators' in service training during the week before school started.

Although Modoc County was not among the six NoRTEC counties declared by the Governor to be disaster areas, several Modoc County residents are currently working for Caltrans in Lassen County through the National Emergency Grant Temporary Job Creation program. Do to the proximity of Modoc County to Big Valley and Caltrans' field station, MEC program staff have been busy conducting outreach in Big Valley, answering questions, and enrolling clients into the Temporary Job Creation program. Five Modoc Employment Center clients have been hired to work for up to six months or $12,000. The National Emergency Grant provides funding to help public agencies clean up the damage from heavy 2005 winter storms.

 

 

 

Main Street Alturas, with Modoc Employment Center on the left, is freshly repaved. Orange traffic cones that run the length of the street indicate spots where antique-style street lights will be placed.

If you happened to visit Alturas this summer, you may have encountered a confusing maze of lane changes, detours and closed streets as Caltrans and local contractor Eagle Peak Rock & Paving ripped up Main Street as part of its long-awaited Main Street Rehabilitation Project. Those minor inconveniences are now a fading memory as the renovation begins to take shape. The work includes installation of a new storm drain, roadway rehabilitation, safety improvements and attractive new streetlights. Businesses and their patrons exercised patience in dealing with road and lane closures in front of their buildings, and that patience should begin to pay off as Main Street's fresh new look reinvigorates the inviting atmosphere of Alturas.

 

 

MEC Staff would like to congratulate Cynthia Griggs on her new job as a Floor Attendant at Desert Rose Casino. Cynthia moved to Modoc County from Sacramento in June and visited the Modoc Employment Center to launch her job search. She decided to enroll in Element K computer tutorials, which she accessed regularly to update her computer skills. Cynthia also worked with AFWD staff on job search techniques, resume development and interview skills. Cynthia admits that searching for a new job was frustrating after having worked in the same job for 21 years. She credits MEC staff, including Sherri Tice, Mary Martin, Sarah DeForest and Lina Isiordia with the support and assistance she needed to stick it out. "Everyone was so helpful and nice," Cynthia recalls. "Staff really went out of their way to help me." Now that she has found the full-time job she was looking for, Cynthia is relieved. "It feels good to be employed again," she said.

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Modoc Employment Center staff have earned new certifications in recent weeks, adding to their professional repertoire. On September 22, Service Coordinator Mary Martin joined other service provider staff from throughout NoRTEC in passing the California Accredited Consultant (CAC) exam offered by the California Staffing Professionals Association. The CAC certification indicates that the bearer has a comprehensive understanding of state and federal laws and regulations governing employment practice, specifically those that apply to staffing agencies.

Two weeks later, Employment Specialist Sherri Tice and HR Consultant Sarah DeForest attended a three-day training on Job and Career Transition Coach Training. The workshop was taught by Richard Knowdell, Executive Director of the Career Planning and Adult Development Network. Knowdell taught attendees how to administer career exploration assessments, help clients build and managing a career strategy, and motivate clients to reach their career potential. The training was sponsored by NoRTEC and hosted by the Shasta SMART Business Center.

Dick Knowdell taught the three-day certificate training on Job and Career Transition Coaching.	AFWD Employment Specialists Sherri Tice (Modoc) and Monica Hosier (Plumas) listen intently.

 

 

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UPCOMING EVENTS

 

October 17 - Modoc Economic Vitality Meeting

October 18 - "Getting Started with Government Contracting" Seminar

October 20 - Correctional Officer Workshop, California Department of Corrections

October 25 - Business Financing Conference

November 14 - Sexual Harassment Prevention Seminar

November 21 - Modoc Economic Vitality Meeting

December 19 - Modoc Economic Vitality Meeting

January 9 - 2007 Labor Law Update