Programs were developed and tailored to our staff’s professional and personal needs.  Your educators were wonderful based on staff feedback.  Outcomes have been even more successful than anticipated.  We look forward to continued collaboration in the future." — Ida Porteous, BScN, Nurse Manager, General Internal Medicine, St. Joseph’s Healthcare

TOOLS FOR BUSINESS
2008 Schedule

Designed with small to medium sized businesses in mind, the Tools for Business workshops can be taken independently or as a series for maximized benefit. 

Registration Information     Download Registration Form here   PDF


Mohawk College is please to announce that three of the Tools for Business workshops are now eligible for accreditation with the Canadian Construction Association Gold Seal program.  Programs are noted with "Gold Seal".

FALL 2008 Schedule 

Please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes ahead of the scheduled start time of the workshops as classes will start and end on time. Course fees include GST. Parking is available on site at an additional fee.

For more information please call: toll free at 1(866) 891-2011  or  (905) 575-2442 (Hamilton).  

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Professional Facilitation Skills   NEW

Workshop Description:

This one day workshop is designed to improve your ability to deliver your message through a powerful presentation method and develop you own personal style. Participants will learn a 7 step process to engage their audience and leave a lasting impression whether your call to action is personal growth and change, raising funds for a worthwhile cause or any number of behaviours you wish to influence.

Instructor: Audie McCarthy
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Effective Time Management

Workshop Description:
This one-day workshop is designed to help the participants increase their performance at work by introducing time-management techniques and providing an opportunity to apply them in the learning environment.  Participants will assess their personal deficiencies and learn how to stop procrastination and other time wasters.

Pre-requisites:
Pre Course Assignment

Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course participants will be able to:

• Set a SMART goal
• Prioritize their activities and tasks using a Time Management Matrix
• Describe the levels of empowerment and the benefits of effective delegation
• Identify their personal time wasters
• Articulate the relationship between time management and stress levels

Instructor: Lisa Dennie
Register

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Coping with Change

Workshop Description:
This half-day workshop helps employees look at change and its impact both personally and professionally.  Topics include approaches to change, resisting change, benefits of accepting change and the skills required for change.

Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the workshop, the participants will be able to:

• Define change.
• Examine the change they are facing and understand the impact on their role and on them as an individual.
• State the skills required to be successful through change.
• Accept and learn to deal with the conflict that often comes with change.

Pre-requisites:
No formal pre-requisites are required.

Instructor:  Lisa Dennie
Register

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Stress in the Workplace

Workshop Description:
This half-day workshop increases the participant’s ability to cope with stress as a key component in leading to a more successful business and personal life. Through individual and group activities, participants will learn to use practical tools to understand what stress is, how it affects us, and to create resiliency in today’s world.

Learning Outcomes:
Participants will understand and recognize the symptoms of stress, create an action plan to increase resiliency and learn practical tools to help manage stress for today's world.

Who Should Attend:

• Any individual who would like to better manage stress
• Managers who would like to recognize and diminish stress in their teams
• Entrepreneurs and business owners who would like to develop a stress resilient organization!

Instructor: Lisa Dennie
Register

Effectively Assertive

Workshop Description:
This one-day workshop outlines the characteristics of the three styles of assertive behaviour.  Once the participants determine their own personal style, they will be able to understand the impact of their style on the business.  Communication styles are addressed as part of learning to speak with confidence.

Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course participants will be able to:

• Identify your personal assertiveness style and demonstrate your understanding of how it differs from others and how it impacts others.
• Identify personal hot buttons and verbally express your reactions to those hot buttons.
• Express your feelings with confidence and clarity.  Demonstrate increased confidence when dealing with situations that were previously avoided or handled ineffectively.
• Communicate using a refined style that focuses on relationships and resolutions.
• Demonstrate how developing Emotional Intelligence Skills can enhance the quality of workplace communications.

Pre-requisites:
No formal pre-requisites are required.

Instructor: Audie McCarthy
Register

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Creating Amazing Customer Service

Workshop Description:
This one-day workshop is designed to improve customer service skills by focusing on areas such as projecting a professional image and understanding the negative impact of providing poor customer service.  Participants learn techniques to maximize the customer’s experience.

Learning Outcomes:
Participants learn to develop a personal checklist to measure professionalism; assess the cost of poor customer service in their environment; and demonstrate their understanding of good versus great customer service through role-play and small group exercises. 

Who Should Attend: 

• Front line customer service representatives in either a call centre or retail environment
• New customer service representatives or those with experience that need or want to improve their skills
• Administrators, receptionists, sales representatives, financial planners, entrepreneurs
• Anyone who is involved in the customer service relationship

Instructor:  Audie McCarthy  
Register

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Mastering Communications with Personality Profiling

Workshop Description:
This one-day workshop explores the communication process and provides an understanding of the communication skills required to effectively interact with fellow employees and staff.  Topics include: principles of effective communication, understanding different personality types, identifying motivators that encourage people, barriers to effective communication, active listening and constructive feedback skills.

Learning Outcomes:
Participants learn to identify and develop their personality type and understand different personalities through DISC profiling, learn the principles of communication, develop skills as an active listener, eliminate the barriers that stand in the way of communicating effectively, and demonstrate considerate feedback skills in order to appreciate each co-worker's uniqueness in conjunction with their own to enhance work productivity.

Who Should Attend:

• Individuals who need to build good working relationships with others at home and at work
• Individuals who need to communicate effectively on an ongoing basis

Instructor:  Lisa Dennie
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Dealing with Difficult Behaviours

Workshop Description:
This one-day workshop is intended to assist front-line employees in understanding and dealing effectively with difficult behaviours.  Topics include: separating the behaviour from the individual to develop a greater understanding of the actions of others, the role that the participant plays in a difficult situation, identifying hot buttons in self and other, and strategies to encourage positive behaviour.

Learning Outcomes:
Participants use exercises and role-plays to identify specific behaviours that they have difficulty dealing with. Tips will be discussed and practiced to help deal positively and productively with these behaviours.

Who Should Attend:

• Individuals who are experiencing difficulties or are anticipating problems when dealing with other individuals either at work or home
• Managers and supervisors wanting to improve their people skills
• Individuals working with customers in a face to face or call centre environment

Instructor: Audie McCarthy
Register

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Successful Selling Techniques

Workshop Description:
This one-day introduction to sales workshop is intended to help improve your sales results through the use of the six-step selling process.  Topics include: discovering personal strengths and how to use them to connect with customers, mastering the art of relationship-building, the philosophy of the soft sell and securing repeat business.

Learning Outcomes:
Participants use individual and group exercises as well as role-plays to practice the art of selling using a six-step process.  They will learn to overcome objections and sell to the customer's needs.  The practice sessions help learners build long-term relationships, secure repeat business and overcome common objections with skill.

Who Should Attend:

• New sales employees
• Frontline sales employees looking for greater sales success
• Sales team leaders, supervisors and managers who want to improve sales results.

Instructor: Audie McCarthy
Register

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Professional Facilitation Skills   NEW

Workshop Description:

This one day workshop is designed to improve your ability to deliver your message through a powerful presentation method and develop you own personal style. Participants will learn a 7 step process to engage their audience and leave a lasting impression whether your call to action is personal growth and change, raising funds for a worthwhile cause or any number of behaviours you wish to influence.

Instructor: Audie McCarthy
Register

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Union Management Relations     NEW

Workshop Description:
This one-day workshop explores the relationship between management and unions by looking at historical references and applying this to how the relationship has developed today.  The focus is on building a strong, non-controversial relationship resulting in a better, more positive workplace for all employees.

Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Appreciate the history behind the relationship
• Realize the importance of adhering to a collective agreement
• Recognize management rights and act accordingly
• Apply assertiveness, communication and negotiation skills when dealing with employees and their union representatives
   

Instructor:  Audie McCarthy
Register

Effective Time Management

Workshop Description:
This one-day workshop is designed to help the participants increase their performance at work by introducing time-management techniques and providing an opportunity to apply them in the learning environment.  Participants will assess their personal deficiencies and learn how to stop procrastination and other time wasters.

Pre-requisites:
Pre Course Assignment

Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course participants will be able to:

• Set a SMART goal
• Prioritize their activities and tasks using a Time Management Matrix
• Describe the levels of empowerment and the benefits of effective delegation
• Identify their personal time wasters
• Articulate the relationship between time management and stress levels

Instructor: Lisa Dennie
Register

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Positive Change:  The Leader as Coach    NEW

Workshop Description:
This two-day workshop is based on the award-winning program designed by Adler International Learning Inc.  It provides an introduction to the skills that are taught in the Adler certification program for coaches.   Being a coach is today's number one competency for leaders!  This highly interactive workshop will "Positively Change" the way you perform as a leader.  You will further develop your coaching skills to more effectively engage with your employees, peers and managers.

Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this course, participants will obtain an Adler Certificate.  They will also receive 16 coaching units which would count towards coach training programs setup by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), the larger coaching certification body.  Adler and ICF are partners in coach certification.

Instructor:  Jane Kilpatrick
Register

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Core Skills for Team Leaders, Supervisors and Managers

Workshop Description:
This two-day workshop outlines the characteristics of a successful supervisor. Participants examine the different communication styles, skills, knowledge and attitudes that are required to be an effective supervisor. The workshop will culminate with individuals preparing a personal development plan.

Learning Outcomes:
Participants create lists of positive and negative styles and attitudes and develop strategies to maximize the positives and eliminate the negatives. They will identify key supervisory skills such as coaching, delegation and motivation and give examples of how they will demonstrate these skills back on the job.

Who Should Attend:

• Newly promoted supervisors (less than a year on the job) whether in a temporary or permanent position

Instructor: Audie McCarthy / Lisa Dennie
Register

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Developing Cohesive Teams

Workshop Description:
This one-day workshop explores three steps for effective team building. Topics covered will include recruitment selection, team dynamics, and performance evaluation.

Learning Outcomes:
Participants identify critical success factors in team building, conduct a short exercise, and complete a template for their personal use on the job.

Who Should Attend:

• Managers, supervisors and team leaders who are interested in opening up the communications within their team to produce greater results

Instructor: Audie McCarthy
Register

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Workshop Description:
This one day workshop provides participants with strategies to effectively motivate and inspire work teams.

Learning Outcomes:
Participants demonstrate their understanding of managing versus leading, through role-play and small group activities.

Who Should Attend:

• Managers, supervisors, business owners and other individuals who have the responsibility of leading others in the workplace
• Chairs of committees or boards who need to direct the efforts of a team of volunteers

Instructor: Audie McCarthy / Lisa Dennie
Register

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Problem Solving

Workshop Description:
This one-day workshop addresses two major factors of problem solving: flexibility and creativity. Participants will use these factors to examine key problem-solving techniques, such as examining assumptions, modeling, shifting paradigms and drilling down.

Learning Outcomes:
Participants use the various problem-solving techniques in case studies and real-life scenarios to demonstrate their use of creativity and flexibility in solving problems.

Who Should Attend:

• Managers, supervisors and team leaders
• Employees involved in situations where problem solving is required

Instructor: Audie McCarthy
Register

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Managing Performance     GOLD SEAL

Workshop Description:
This one-day workshop guides participants through employee motivation and goal-setting, coaching and performance feedback.

Learning Outcomes:
Participants practice coaching and employee feedback in this non-threatening environment.

Who Should Attend:

• Managers, supervisors and team leaders who have the responsibility of measuring staff performance.

Instructor: Audie McCarthy
Register

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Successful Interview Techniques

Workshop Description:
This one - day workshop teaches the participants to create and use interview documents that will increase their success in hiring and retention of employees. Using behavioural interview techniques, the participants will develop interview questions and scoring mechanisms for actual positions they are hiring for.

Learning Objectives: 
The participants will be able to select relevant questions for their interview, demonstrate their understanding of behavioural interviewing through role-play and small group activities and use the scoring criteria designed to “select” a candidate. The participants will review a list of “Interview Do’s and Don’ts” and be able to identify which have legal consequences.

Who Should Attend:

• Managers or employers who do not have a human resource manager
• Small business owners who are in a hiring position
• Individuals within companies that are assigned human resource duties

Instructor:  Audie McCarthy
Register

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Project Management - Introduction to the Basics

Workshop Description:
Looking to deliver results on time an on budget?  Learn a practical approach to the world of project management, the vocabulary and key elements needed to get your projects organized and in control.  Prepare a basic project plan applying a simple work breakdown structure to help organize your work.  For hands-on training, see the Microcomputer Workshops.

Instructor:  David Cole
Register

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Dreamweaver 1

Workshop Description:
This one-day workshop explores the Dreamweaver environment of web page design & maintenance.

Learning Outcomes:

• Design a website, explore the Dreamweaver environment and identify the HTML tags in the file.
• Define a website, create and save a web page.
• Organize site files using the Files panel.  Create templates to help develop multiple pages easily.
• Add content to a web page, including text and prepared images.
• Identify the different types of links and create them for easy navigation.
• Create a frames-based page to enhance navigation within a website.
• Upload a website.

Instructor: Michael Scott
Register

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Dreamweaver 2

Workshop Description:
This one-day workshop further explores the Dreamweaver environment of web page design & maintenance.

Learning Outcomes:

• Create an effective user-navigation interface.
• Manage libraries and images for easier site management and development
• Manage head tag elements for search engine optimization
• Work with style sheets.
• Work with layers.
• Work with the History panel.
• Target websites to specific versions of browsers.
• Work with code.
• Author with basic XML data.
• Create forms for user interaction.

Instructor: Michael Scott
Register

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 MS Project - Level 1

Workshop Description: 

This one-day workshop is the first in a series of two courses designed for individuals who will use MS Office Project as a tool to assist in managing projects.  

Learning Outcomes:
The topics in this course cover the critical skills necessary to create and modify a project plan file that contains tasks, resources, and resource assignments.  You will create a project plan file containing tasks, organize these tasks in a work breakdown structure containing task relationships, create and assign resources, and finalize the project to implement the project plan.

Who should attend:
This course is designed for a person who has an understanding of project management concepts, who is responsible for creating and modifying project plans, and who needs a tool to manage those project plans.

Instructor: Bob Chapman
Register

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MS Project - Level 2

Workshop Description: 

This one-day workshop is the second course in the MS Project series. In Level 1, you used your project management skills to create a complete project plan. This course will build upon that knowledge, and give you the opportunity to work with a project plan once it has entered the project implementation phase.

Learning Outcomes:
You will exchange project plan data with other applications, update project plans, create custom reports, and reuse project plan information.

Who should attend:
This course is designed for a person who has an understanding of project management concepts, who is responsible for creating and modifying project plans, and who needs a tool to manage those project plans.

Pre-requisites:

• Understanding of project management concepts
• MS Project Level 1
  

Instructor: Bob Chapman
Register

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MS Project - Levels 1 & 2

Workshop Description: 

Learn the concepts and acquire the skills with this two-day workshop to create a project plan including tasks, develop a project plan, assign resources to tasks and build a project template.  Create custom reports, exchange project plan data and other applications and much more.

Instructor: Bob Chapman
Register

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Instructor Bios

Audie McCarthy, BA     













Audie McCarthy is the founder of Marrek Solutions Inc, a human resource consulting firm specializing in helping businesses and individuals become the best they can be. With over 30 years experience in the corporate world and as an entrepreneur, Audie has designs and delivers “soft skills” and human resources training for corporations, educational institutions and the not-for-profit sector.

Audie is also a sought after coach. She provides guidance to small to medium business by providing expertise in human resources, marketing and growth strategies. Audie also works with individuals who are looking to climb the corporate ladder.

Audie is also a trained career transition coach, helping individuals with career changes that were either voluntary or not.   Audie is an accomplished speaker and a published author.

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Dr. Louie D'Orazio, MSc.Eng., MBA, Ph.D., P.Eng.

Louie holds a Bachelor's Degree in Materials Engineering, Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Executive MBA and PhD in Engineering Management.  Both his MBA and PhD have the Thesis published in the US Library of Congress. 

As a Professional Engineer, Louie holds a Certificate of Authorization with over 20+ years industry and training experience (Senior Management) in the industry sector, agriculture sector, educational sector, government sector and private consulting. 

He has a number of papers published, has presented at numerous conferences (research, operations, quality, training) both Domestic and International, and holds a patent and pendings out of the United States.

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 Lisa Dennie BA, B.Ed 
 

Lisa Dennie is an experienced corporate trainer with over 15 years experience in the business world. She has designed and delivered courses in customer service, conflict resolution, assertiveness training, and facilitation skills.

Lisa has an extensive background in sales and customer service and is energized by helping people learn and achieve success in all areas.

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Margo Karolyi

Margo Karolyi has over 25 years of teaching and corporate training experience, with a specialty in the integration of information technologies in business. For many years, she managed her own I.T. consulting business while teaching part-time for Sheridan College, the Halton Board of Education, and Mohawk College. The rapid growth of the Internet led her to expand her business to include application and training in web development, e-commerce, and usability analysis. Margo’s corporate clients have included large Fortune 500 companies as well as a variety of small and medium sized enterprises throughout southern Ontario. Margo is currently a full-time professor and Coordinator of the E-Business Program at Mohawk College, where she shares her knowledge and expertise with students who wish to pursue a career in cutting-edge e-business technologies.

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David Cole

David is a seasoned management professional with a record of empowering staff and influencing strategic directions. He is an effective leader who applies cross industry Best Practices in technology, people and process management to deliver high quality pragmatic business solutions. Throughout his management career, he provided strategic IT leadership to improve business operations, project delivery, and strategic planning. Serving in various senior management roles, he has prepared budgets, implemented project management and time-tracking procedures to monitor, control, and support internal IT projects as well as providing a roadmap for IT resource investments. With a strong focus on personal and professional development, he has provided mentoring, coaching, and encouragement to all his staff.  Functional areas managed include, Strategic Planning and Technology, Business Applications Development and Support, National Training, Help Desk, Telecommunications, Business Operations, Human Resources, Professional Development, Quality Assurance, Disaster Recovery, and Computer Operations.  As a graduate of Mohawk College, past Chair of the Computer Science Advisory Committee, a member of the Ministry of Education Curriculum Development Committee, a part time Professor and his work with the IAR Center, he continues to be active in the continuous improvement process at Mohawk College.

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Michael Scott

Michael Scott has been teaching as part of the Continuing Education Webmaster Program at Mohawk College since September 2000.  In addition to teaching, he has also developed a number of programs for the department, specializing in Website Development and Graphic Design.  Michael is also an active instructor in the Distance Education and Corporate Training programs.

Michael currently manages websites for a number of clients, which provides him with a wealth of knowledge, experience, and enthusiam which he shares with his students.

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Wendy Marlow

Wendy Marlow has been providing focus and direction for small businesses through her company, The Art of Marketing since 1999.  In her marketing consulting practice, the focus in on the unique needs of small business owners.  Wendy's passion is working with clients to create results-oriented marketing plans and business growth strategies; promotion ideas that are simple and cost-effective to implement; and problem-solving solutions that work!

Dedicated, enthusiastic and positive, this award winning Maestro of Focus & Direction has helped hundreds of businesses over the years and is a respected member of the community.

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Bill Potts

Bill’s work experience includes over 28 years in the computer related field for EDS/Stelco Steel of Hamilton. The last 25 years have been involved in the design and creations of computerize systems. Bill has worked with most of the major PC software packages as well as a host of Dec Vax based applications. His area of specialty is with PC database.

Bill as taught for Continuing Education, Distance Education and Corporate & Community Training at Mohawk College for the past 18 years as well as teaching Microsoft windows and office packages at Stelco Hamilton. Bill is the subject specialist for Access database for Mohawk College’s Continuing Education Department.

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Jane Kilpatrick, C.H.R.P., ATC

Jane Kilpatrick is a hands-on human resources practioner with over 20 years business experience providing human resources expertise to a variety of industries.  With expertise in organizational leadership, growth and development, Jane assists individuals and organizations to maximize their potential through strategic planning, coaching, facilitation, business alignment and acquisitions.

As a representative of industry, Jane has served on the Halton and Peel Industrial Advisory Committee.  She has been a guest speaker on "Professionally Speaking", a T.V. series that addressed business opportunities facing organizations.  Jane is deeply committed to transforming organizations and individuals to unleash their aspirations and move beyond what they already know to capitalize their results.

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Registration Process

Download Registration Form (PDF) here

Withdrawal/Refund Policy: Mohawk College refund policy applies a $20.00 administration fee on all withdrawals received in writing or by e-mail by 4:30 p.m., 5 working days before the workshop date. No refunds will be issued for withdrawals received after this date and time. However, substitutions are permitted at any time so if you can’t make it at the last minute, send a colleague in your place.

Cancellation Policy: Mohawk College reserves the right to cancel or reschedule workshops. In the event of cancellation by the College, Mohawk’s liability is limited to the course fee only. We will not be liable for travel or lodging expenses.   It is our policy to notify registrants of any cancellation as early as possible.

Confirmation: Details confirming course registration, location and directions, will be provided on receipt of completed registration form and payment.

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