Workforce Development

Workforce Development provides customized non-credit professional development training to local businesses, individual community residents and local government employees. For more than 20 years, Workforce Development has complemented Erie Community College’s academic mission and has positioned itself as the Workforce Development Leader in Western New York.

Investment in life-long learning provides the local skilled workforce with the necessary skill sets to foster economic development.

Workforce Development’s four divisions: Community Education, Corporate Training, Driving Programs and the ECC One Stop have created an innovative entrepreneurial workforce team assisting local businesses in remaining globally competitive in a growing technologically and knowledge driven economy.

The reason for Workforce Development’s success is largely attributed to the development of partnerships, strategic alliances with the community and collaborative relationships working with the local, regional and federal government. Courses are customized short term training programs which meet business and industries training needs. These non-credit professional development or lifestyle training programs are offered onsite, or are held at any one of our three conveniently located campuses.

Through workforce training, ECC plays a critical role in both the state and region’s economic development efforts. Workforce Development provides a life-long learning partnership between education and industry offering the following:

• Providing non-credit upgrade training programs to skilled professionals who have already obtained a two-year, four-year, or advanced degree.
• Upgrading the technical and soft skills needed for job retention, advancement and personal, lifestyle enrichment.

It is Workforce Development’s goal to ensure this region’s long term vision for economic vitality.

Community Education

The Community Education Department continuously initiates and develops seminars, workshops and courses that provide students, employees and community members with the opportunity to expand their knowledge and update their skills. Community Education offers these exciting classroom-based courses:

• Community Emergency Response Training (CERT)
• Culinary Courses
• Customer Service Academy
• Dental Hygiene Continuing Education Units
• New York State Approved Insurance Pre-Licensing
• New York State Continuing Education Units
• New York State Mandated Child Abuse Recording and Reporting
• New York State Mandated Infection Control and Barrier Precautions
• New York State Real Estate Continuing Education Units
• NYSERDA Building Analyst Training
• NYSERDA Envelope Professional
• NYSERDA Heating and Cooling
• Respiratory Care Continuing Education Units
• SAT Test Prep for High School Students
• Special EducationWorkshop
• Wedding Planning Institute

For information about the non-credit professional development training programs that Community Education offers, please call 716-851-1800 or e-mail wfdinfo@ecc.edu.

Non-Credit Distance Learning Partnerships with Community Education

Online Certificate Training prepares an individual for employment in some of today’s fastest-growing career fields. These affordable, comprehensive online programs teach you everything you need to know to start a new career or advance your current one. Enjoy the convenience of taking professional development training at work or at home.

American Home Inspection: Learn how to conduct a thorough home inspection from the moment of pulling into the driveway to writing up the report. This course offers 100 hours of classroom training and 40 hours of field work. Visit www.ahit.com/affiliates/ecc for complete course information. Classroom training only in New York State.

The Wedding Planning Institute: Online and classroom training designed for those looking to start a career in the wedding industry. Learn everything a wedding planner needs to know about contracts, etiquette, marketing, business practices and more. Obtain all of the tools necessary to become a professional wedding planner. For more information visit www.weddingplanninginstitute.com

American Management Association Online Flex study: To meet the needs of the local business community, ECC has partnered with the American Management Association (AMA) to offer professional certification. These AMA/Flex study self-study courses, offering Continuing Education Units (CEUs), will enhance your career and improve your value to any organization. Visit www.flexstudy.com/ecc for a complete list of course online offerings.

Ed2go Online Courses: One of the primary advantages of our Internet workshops is that you can attend class in the comfort and convenience of your own home or office. Log into your online classroom when you’re ready. Our Internet courses fit into your schedule: you can take them any time, any place. Visit www.ed2go.com/sunyecc for a complete list of classes and certificate courses.

Gatlin Online Courses: Erie Community College, in partnership with Gatlin Education Services (GES), offers online open enrollment non-credit certificate programs designed to provide the skills necessary to acquire professional level positions for many in-demand occupations. Visit www.gatlineducation.com/ecc for a complete list of course offerings.

The e-Learning Center proudly offers the most comprehensive collection of online continuing education courses from the world’s best e-learning companies and authors. We offer self-study courses with open enrollment in nearly every subject from business to technology. Visit www.ecc.theelearningcenter.com for a complete list of more than 5,000 course offerings.

360 Training Real Estate and Insurance NY State Licensing CEUs: Take a variety of courses required to maintain either a NY State Real Estate or Insurance license. All courses have been approved by the NY State Office of Professions. Visit http://eccworkforce.360training.com.

Ways to get your company to provide you with professional development training:

1. Ask. A simple verbal request is usually all it takes.
2. Show them this catalog. Ask them to read it. Attach a memo.
3. Stress the benefits. Additional skills training will make you a more productive employee, adding value to the company.
4. Emphasize the convenience. Rather than expensing out of town training, ECC Workforce offers classes at conveniently located campuses across Western New York. Online courses offer the convenience of remaining at your worksite without any travel expenses.
5. Affordable career investment.Workforce Development provides our community with unsurpassed training at affordable prices. www.ecc.edu/paths/communityed.asp

Benefits of Professional Development Training: 

1. Increase job satisfaction and workplace morale.
2. Increase employee motivation.
3. Increase efficiencies and processes resulting in financial gain.
4. Increase capacity to adopt new technologies and methods.
5. Increase innovation in strategies and products.
6. Reduce employee turnover.
7. Enhanced company image.
8. Provide new career opportunities.

To register for classes or for more information call 716-851-1800.

Corporate Training

Since the mid 1980s the Department of Corporate Training has provided non-credit training programs in support of the academic mission of Erie Community College. Over the past three decades, Corporate Training has served the residents and local business community of Erie County by providing professional development and lifelong learning opportunities. An investment by business and industry in continuous learning and training strategically positions its workforce for regional economic development and future growth. With this in mind, upgrading the current skills and retraining the workforce in Erie County remains the primary objective of the Department of Corporate Training.

The target population the department strives to serve includes small, medium and large businesses located in Western New York and Erie County. All training programs are customized to meet the specific needs of a company. Corporate Training’s professional staff can assist in identifying the educational and training needs of your business with a free training assessment. Training plans can include a custom designed training program or modification of existing course offerings to meet an organizations specific needs and goals. Corporate Training staff can also be a valuable resource in identifying potential grant funding opportunities that are available to companies. Such opportunities may assist a company in defraying the cost of training or provide additional benefits.

Whether it is a single course or an extensive training program, small or large company, the Department of Corporate Training can offer the following services, programs and benefits:

• Free training workplace assessments
• Customized courses to meet company specific skills for employees
• Flexible scheduling of courses
• State-of-the-art on-site training labs
• Interactive training from industry experts and our faculty
• Productivity enhancement training
• Greater efficiency, cost savings and profitability as a result of training
• Grant resource information and assistance
• High quality non-credit customized training at reasonable costs

Customer Service Academy

• Attitude in the Workplace
• Communication Skills
• Conflict Resolution
• Customer Service
• Decision Making and Creative Problem Solving
• Ethics and Values
• How to Deal with Difficult Coworkers and/or Supervisors
• Managing Organizational Change
• Organization and Time Management
• Stress Management
• Team Building

Professional Development and Leadership

• Diversity in the Workplace
• Evaluations in the Workplace
• Executive Leadership Management
• Executive Management Series
• Foreign Languages for Business Managers
• Human Resource Training
• Leadership in the Workplace
• Motivating Your Employees
• Sales and Marketing
• Speaking with Confidence
• Supervisory Skills

Technical and Manufacturing

• Auto Cad
• Basic and Advanced Electricity
• Blue Print Reading
• Computer Numerical Controls
• Geometric Dimensioning
• High Voltage Electricity
• Industrial Hydraulics and Pneumatics
• ISO Certifications
• Lean Six Sigma
• Machine Tool Technology
• Mechanical Maintenance
• Programmable Logic Controls and Tolerancing
• Shop Math
• SolidWorks ®
• Statistical Process Controls

Computers and Information Technology

• A+ and Net+
• Cisco
• Graphic Design
• Microsoft Office Suite XP and VISTA
• Navigating the Internet
• QuickBooks
• Web Page Design and Development

Environmental Health and Safety

• Asbestos Awareness
• Back Injury
• Blood Borne Pathogens
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
• Confined Space
• Electrical Safety
• Emergency Evacuation
• Emergency Preparedness
• Ergonomics
• Fall Protection
• Forklift Operation
• Hazard Communication
• Hazardous Waste
• Health and Safety Committee
• Heat/Cold Stress
• Indoor Air Quality
• Ladders and Scaffolds
• Lockout/Tagout
• Machine Guarding
• National Electric Code
• Noise/Vibration
• OSHA 10 and 30 Hour Outreach Course (Construction)
• OSHA 10 and 30 Hour Outreach Course (General Industry)
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Repetitive Motion
• Safety Management
• Video Terminal Display
• Workplace Violence

Corporate Training Business Partners

• Buffalo Medical Group
• Buffalo Niagara Partnership
• Catholic Health System
• City of Buffalo
• Erie County
• Ford Motor Company
• General Motors
• Greatbatch
• Greater Buffalo Savings Bank
• HSBC
• Kaleida Health
• Mittal Steel
• MOD-PAC
• Nano Dynamics
• Surmet Ceramics

Specialty Training Partners

• Accelerated Resource Solutions Ltd
• Buffalo Spinal Institute
• Dantra and Associates
• Ergo Works
• Fire Inspection by Ron Endle
• Hagemeyer North America
• Hands on Technical Training
• Hunt Associates
• Invirogenics
• James A. Mezhir Consulting
• Quality Inspection Services
• RGonzalez Consulting Inc.
• Transformation Partners Company

Driver Safety Programs

Programs focus on each individual driver’s responsibility to interact lawfully within the traffic system to create and maintain a safe environment for all drivers. The curriculum emphasizes personal accountability, awareness of laws and how they impact the whole community and is designed specifically for the different needs and types of drivers in the different programs offered.

The division is the largest provider of safety training in New York State with more than 20 years of experience in delivering services to the judicial, substance abuse, safety and general community. The department offers the following training programs driven by market demand:

• NYS Point and Insurance Reduction Program: This six-hour course is voluntary and is open to the public and local businesses. Benefits including a 10 percent reduction on liability and collision insurance/four points off driving record.
• NYS Five Hour Pre-licensing Program: This five-hour pre-licensing driver safety course is necessary for any driver applying for a driver’s license in New York State who has not completed a driver education course.
• Driver Improvement Program (DIP): This three-hour course is available by court referral for traffic violators. One hundred Western New York courts use our training program to help the traffic violator improve his/her attitude toward driving.
• Risk Intervention Program: The Risk Intervention Program is a unique four-week traffic safety course for persistent or severe violators. This court referral program also reduces the fine and/or charge for the driver when the program is completed.
• New York State Drinking Driver Program (DDP): This 16-hour program is available only through a referral from the New York State DMV or as a condition of discharge from a court. The Drinking Driver Program is part of New York’s effort to reduce both the personal and property losses caused by drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

For more information, please visit http://www.ecc.edu/paths/drivingprog.asp or contact drivingprograms@ecc.edu. or call (716) 851- 1820.

ECC One Stop Center

The Workforce Development One Stop Center is located at 3176 Abbott Road in Orchard Park, NY, just minutes away from the South Campus. It is funded by the Buffalo and Erie County Workforce Development Consortium and has other non-profit partner agencies housed onsite to assist job seekers.

The following complimentary services are provided: Microsoft Office computer classes, career preparation workshops, resumé assistance, tuition grants for eligible students, career counseling, job search assistance, high speed Internet access for job searching, labor market information, free postage for correspondence to businesses for job searching purposes and referrals to other federal, state and local agencies. The One Stop also has an extensive clothes closet of donated business attire available to individuals who need clothes for work.

In order to better serve Erie County residents and ECC graduates, the One Stop is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Evening computer classes, resumé workshops and GED classes are offered on Tuesday and Thursday evenings until 8 p.m. Registration is required for all computer classes and most career development classes.

Computer Class Offerings

The One Stop Center offers complimentary non-credit computer classes in conjunction with Community Education. Classes run in the mornings, afternoons and evenings at three locations: 3176 Abbott Road, ECC North Campus and 45 Oak Street. Students may register for these classes at www.ecconestop.org or by contacting 825-2525.

Computer Microsoft 2007 and Vista class descriptions:

• Intro to Basic Keyboarding: Improve your current speed and accuracy on the computer through extensive practice and error reduction exercises. Recommended for individuals who need to increase their keyboarding skills.
• Basic Windows Vista Application/Basic Computers: Experience Microsoft Vista’s dramatically different look and learn how it makes your daily tasks quicker and easier. This course will introduce you to the new intuitive Ribbon technology. Learn the taskbar and Start menu; open and close programs; create, manage, minimize and maximize files and folders; identify icons, acquire appropriate terminology for computer components and more. Recommended for individuals who have little to no experience with computers. 
• Intro to MS Word 2007 Applications: Microsoft Word is the most widely used word processor in the world. Learn how to use Word 2007’s new Ribbon technology; open, navigate, proof and print documents, enter, save, edit, move, copy, find and replace text. Create, modify and format tables and change page layout. Use mail merge to generate form letters, data sources and mailing labels. Prerequisite: Basic MS Windows Vista Applications.
• Intro to MS Word 2007 for Resumés: Having a great looking resumé in a format that employers can read is an absolute must for jobseekers. This class will teach you the basics of Word while developing a professional resumé at the same time. Learn how to open, navigate, proof and print documents, enter text, save, edit, move, copy, format, find and replace text, check spelling and grammar and more. Prerequisite: Basic MS Vista Windows Applications.
• Intro to MS Excel 2007 Applications: Microsoft Excel is the spreadsheet program most commonly used by business owners around the world to track and analyze business and personal data. Learn the basics of Excel 2007, including how to create spreadsheets, sort data, use shortcut menus, use functions such as SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX and more. Prerequisite: Basic MS Word 2007 Applications.
• Intro to MS Access 2007 Applications: Microsoft Access is used by many businesses to store data and run complex queries. Learn the basics of Access 2007, including how to plan, explore and create databases and tables; find, edit and organize records; create, perform operations and modify queries and reports. Prerequisite: Basic MS Word 2007 Applications.
• Intro to MS PowerPoint 2007: Discover why an estimated 30 million businesses a day use PowerPoint to share ideas and deliver presentations. Learn how to create slide presentations using PowerPoint 2007 by designing, formatting, and editing your material easily. Prerequisite: Basic MS Word Applications.
• Intro to MS Publisher: Desktop publishing is a useful tool to enhance office productivity. Create, customize, save and edit text in multi-page publications, such as newsletters, brochures, flyers, catalogs and Web sites. Modify and format text frames and create text styles. Prerequisite: Basic MS Word 2007 Applications.
• Six-Week Intro to MS Office: This 6-week course provides students with comprehensive instruction in file management. Create, edit and print documents, perform mail merges and tables using MS Word 2007. Also learn how to create spreadsheets, formulas, charts and lists using MS Excel 2007.

For more information about One Stop services, please visit http://www.ecc.edu/paths/onestop.asp or contact Denise Raymond, project director, at raymond@ecc.edu or (716) 825-2525.

For more information about Workforce Development, contact Carrie Kahn, executive dean of Workforce Development at (716) 851-1800.