In partnership with Plumas Bank,

AFWD celebrates

NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE WEEK

October 4 - 8, 2004

"Free Customer Service Workshop for Area Businesses"

Good business owners know Customer Service is one of the most critical factors in maintaining a competitive edge. Whether your industry is retail, manufacturing, health care, hospitality, education, or services, chances are your employees deal with customers day in and day out.

Recognizing the importance of customer service and honoring people on the service front lines, the U.S. Congress first proclaimed Customer Service Week in 1992.

Customer Service Week is celebrated annually during the first full week in October. During this special week, your organization can: Boost morale, motivation, and teamwork; Reward staff for a job well done throughout the year; Raise awareness of the importance of customer service; Thank other sub-units/departments for their support.

In recognition of this celebration, Plumas Bank and the Alliance for Workforce Development, Inc. (AFWD) offered no-charge training in customer service specifically designed for business owners and managers. These fun, informative workshops were offered in Alturas, Susanville, and Quincy during National Customer Service Week giving attendees practical ideas and tips for improving front line performance, recharging employee attitudes, reducing turnover and having fun on the job!

In Quincy, forty-five business representatives attended the workshop presented by Laurie Wann, AFWD HR Consultant and Presenter Extraordinaire! The feedback was very positive including comments such as "the presentation was informative and fun" and "Laurie did an excellent job".

In conjunction with the celebration of National Customer Service Week, the Plumas County Visitor's Bureau presented their first High Sierra Host Award during the event. Suzi Brakken announced Greenville business owners Richard and Angie Dalton as the first winners! The Daltons own the Yorkshire House, a lovely bed and breakfast worth a visit for anyone! Check out their website: Yorkshire House

For more information about the Plumas County Visitor's Bureau, click here: Visitor's Bureau

A special thanks to Plumas Bank for their partnership on this event and to all of the staff who made this a huge success....teamwork!

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SUCCESS! SUCCESS! SUCCESS!

Job seeker assistance programs are the key to the provision of workforce development programs and Plumas is proud to share some of the successes of their Workforce Investment Act Programs.

The success of the programs is a combination of the guidance from excellent program staff and WIA funding, but the main reason for it's success is commitment, diligence, and dedication of the job seeker towards their job search or career change goal. Here are success highlights of three such individuals:

Mary: Working as a waitress to support herself through LVN training while traveling round trip to class 90 miles a day to attend the training at Feather River College, Mary had to persevere. During the summer she traveled 120 miles one-way to attend her clinical rotations in Reno! Hours of studying and a strong desire to make a long-term career change into the health field saw Mary through and she is now employed as an LVN in the Redding area making over $20/hr. But that's not all, Mary has completed her Registered Nurse prerequisites and is on the waiting list for the RN training at Shasta College. Mary is on her way up a career ladder that will provide sustainable, secure employment for her and her family. Good Work Mary!

Rebecca: As a single mother of a very young daughter, Rebecca was receiving public assistance and required to work on the Community Service Program when she first started attending LVN training at Lassen Community College. Successfully completing the training and obtaining her license, Rebecca has secured full-time employment making over $14/hr. She is now self-sufficient providing for her family's future. Way to go Rebecca!

Regina: Thinking she had established her career in a secure bank management position, Regina was unsure of her future when Placer Sierra Bank in Portola was closed in late 2003. Concerned about her employees, she assisted AFWD with connecting her staff to WIA services. During that process Regina researched options for her future and considered a career in Real Estate. Throughout this difficult time, Regina came to rely and appreciate the support from AFWD staff, especially Athea Stephenson. Through a committed job search effort, Regina was able to obtain a bank management position with US Bank in Reno. Congratulations Regina!

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NEW JOB BOARD

Available to Lake Almanor Job Seekers

Job seekers can access up to date job openings and labor market information in Chester! The Almanor Basin Community Resource Center located at 372 Main Street has a new Job Board! HR Consultant, Laurie Wann developed this idea and in partnership with ABCC Executive Director, Kate West, the Job Board will be a new, convenient resource to Almanor Basin job seekers and business customers.

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ADDITION TO PLUMAS STAFF

MARKETING TRAINING PROVIDED

BY NoRTEC

Two days of jam-packed information was presented by Celina Shands to staff from throughout the nine-county consortium compliments of NoRTEC.

From branding to low-cost marketing techniques, attendees were absorbing the information developing ideas, and creating action plans to implement when they get back to the office! AFWD will be incorporating a new marketing strategy to increase brand awareness/market penetration by 15%! Led by Laurie Wann, a cross-functional team from throughout the AFWD service area will be working together to reach this goal!

As AFWD moves into their new Quincy One-Stop, the Work Connection, it will give the team an opportunity to market a new brand awareness campaign and capitalize on promoting the full array of services offered to both job seekers and businesses.

Lassen Employment Specialist, Tammy Bedillion is joined by Plumas Employment Specialist Joe Kowalski and Modoc HR Consultant Ken Cordrey.

The training was enjoyed by Plumas Program Coordinator Shawna Kolb and Lassen HR Consultant Holly Schirmer.

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HR SOLUTIONS FOR BUSINESS

From Labor Law to Employee Handbooks to Position Desccriptions to Employee Recruitment! The HR Consultants of the Alliance for Workforce Development is ready to go to work for you! To learn more about how we can help your small business with their human resource needs call:

Plumas HR Consultants, Laurie Wann at 258-2627 or Alisa Marble at 283-1606

Lassen HR Consultants, Traci Holt or Holly Schirmer at 257-5057

Modoc HR Consultant, Ken Cordrey at 233-4161

or

Janis Trueblood, Director of Employer Services at 283-3933, extension #17

UPCOMING EVENTS

PLUMAS

Click Here for More Info: Plumas Flyer

Quarterly Conferences - Labor Law Update 2005
Thursday, January 13, Portola 7:30a, Quincy 11:30a
Friday, January 14, Greenville 7:30a, Chester 11:30a

February 9 - Worker's Compensation
March 1- Wage & Hour Issues
April 5 - Employee Privacy Issues and Drug Abuse

LASSEN

Labor Law Update 2005
Friday, January 7

MODOC

Labor Law 2005
Wednesday, January 19

Other training and services are being provided under contract to individual businesses.