By: Krystal Smalley
KSmalley@wbcowqel.com
The setting was similar: a few tables set up across a room with students diligently filling out their workbooks and sheets of examples taped to the walls. There were just a few differences: the students weren’t teenagers and they didn’t have class every day.
It was the next-to-the-last days of class for the Vision: 20/20 Supervisor Bootcamp training program.
Instructor Lorie Simpson walked around her makeshift classroom, occasionally looking over work and interacting with her twenty students. Simpson, who’s company was hired to come up with a plan for the supervisor training, has led the group through the six-week program.
“We did a little tweaking here and there and we ended up with the topics that I’m teaching,” Simpson said, “which are four classes; there are six total.”
The classes covered employment law, communication, time and change management, problem solving, and coaching. They will be tackling conflict resolution next week.
“I think it’s gone well,” said Simpson. “From the feedback that I’ve received so far, it seems like everyone’s been pleased with the results. It’s gone really well. It’s been great to get to know everyone, all the companies, businesses and what they do.”
Jason Bursby is a fairly new supervisor at Transco Railway. “I learned a lot of the names for the stuff that I learned the hard way,” Bursby said about the education.
He believed that this kind of education could be very beneficial to people, especially to those like him that came into their position right from the floor.
As for Beverly Wireman her company, Shilling Graphics of Galion, asked her to attend the program to gain leadership skills.
“What I have gained?” Wireman asked. “Certainly the learning of delegating and being kind to others and respect for others.”
“I think it’s very beneficial,” said Wireman. “They have crammed a lot into it but, yes, I think they will be able to take back what we have learned and it will be useful.”
Clay Thompson was part of a group of IB Tech workers selected to attend the program. “Most of us do (have a supervisory role), so therefore we have an influence in the organization to bring back what we learned.”
Thompson found the problem-solving techniques to be most beneficial for him. “For me I think that will be a big benefit for our situation.”