Genuine Leadership Found at R & O, Inc.

In June 2007, Joliet Junior College's Corporate and Community Services (JJC-CCS) worked with the R&O company's Joliet facility to provide formal training that would effectively teach employees to think about the big picture and long-term goals and issues.

R&O, a division of Group O Companies, provides integrated solutions for Fortune 500 companies in agriculture, automotive, construction, consumer products, industrial and mining industries. For over 25 years, R&O has worked to evaluate, design, recommend and execute supply chain integration solutions that create value from receipt through delivery.

Twenty-one R&O employees completed the management-based training at Joliet Junior College called Achieve Global, which covered topics like principles and qualities of genuine leadership, hallmark of supervisory success, and delegating for shared success.

We had the opportunity to interview the human resources manager, Mike Saltzman, and asked him to share his company's goals and the experience he had with the college.

What are the business goals of R&O?

Founded in 1979, R&O, a division of Group O Companies, provides its customers with innovation, efficiencies, cost reduction, quality, and excellent delivery performance. We provide supply chain integrated solutions for Fortune 500 companies in agriculture, automotive, construction, consumer products, industrial and mining industries.

By blending the focus on process management with the culture and tools of Six Sigma we can accomplish the mission to provide our customers with the highest level of customer service while delivering unparalleled value.

How did you hear about JJC-CCS?

We chose JJC because of its geographic location. Lou Nauman, R&O director of operations, wanted to work with a local college to support the local community.

What led to your decision to use JJC-CCS for the management-based training you were seeking?

The employees at the Aurora facility had already gone through the program, and we wanted the same training for the employees in Joliet.

What did the students have to say about the training?

"This program showed me a different way of being a leader." – Thomas Garrett

"The instructor is very positive. I'm excited because I'm learning so many different ways of fixing problems." – Maribel Barrera

"Thank you, and I will enjoy coming back to better myself and learn more and gain more wisdom." – John Farley

What improvements have you seen since employees took part in the training?

We've noticed supervisors taking more ownership of their areas, increased responsibility, and more attention to detail. Attendees were current project managers, supervisors, and employees with potential for increased responsibility.

Do you see a continuing need for training over the next decade?

Yes. There will be a need for continuing education at some point in the future.

If you would like to partner with Joliet Junior College on your next training project, call Amy Murphy at (815) 280-1418 or e-mail amurphy@jjc.edu.

JJC Awarded $110,000 Grant for Employee Training

Joliet Junior College Corporate and Community Services was given an additional $40,000 June 20 to add to a workforce training grant originally awarded to the program this spring, bringing the total sum of the grant to $110,000.

The grant money, along with the additional funds, will be used to keep workers' skills in pace with new technologies and business practices. Originally awarded in the amount of $70,000 to JJC in May, the grant was distributed through the Employer Training Investment Program. That program—which is part of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity—is a branch of the 21st Century Jobs Training Initiative that reimburses companies and organizations for up to 50 percent of the costs of training workers.

Amy Murphy, JJC director of corporate and community services, said the ultimate goal is to expand training dollars to keep workers and businesses in the state. Over 40 businesses are already involved, she added. JJC provides professional and technical training services for employers.

"We encourage anyone who's interested in utilizing these training funds to contact us," she said. "We are in the process of accepting new applications for fiscal year 2008." State officials said the program has provided $62.5 million to advance the skills of nearly 236,000 Illinois workers at almost 6,000 companies over the last four years.

Bruce Kuzmanich, contract training manager at JJC, presents Amber Bloomquist, employee relations manager at Pepperidge Farm, a grant check in the amount of $4,141 for electrical training held on-site for their employees. Kuzmanich has been working with Pepperidge Farm for the past three years.

ExxonMobil Refining and Supply Company's Scott Carpenter and Kris Kirchner accept a reimbursement check from Amy Murphy, director of corporate and community services at JJC, in the amount of $5,487.50. Murphy has worked with ExxonMobil for the past 10 years, assisting them with providing boiler and pipefitting training for their new-hire training program.

For more information on how your company can be part of this great opportunity, contact Murphy at (815) 280-1418 or email amurphy@jjc.edu.

Eureka! Winning Ways

Doug Hall

If you've ever wondered how Fortune 500 companies turn ideas into successful business ventures, Doug Hall can tell you.

Hall—a well-known corporate growth expert, author, radio, and TV personality—will be at Joliet Junior College Sept. 5 to share his experiences in helping Fortune 500 companies achieve these goals. In a series of events hosted by the Chicago Manufacturing Center (CMC) and its partner organizations, Hall will show how small and mid-sized companies can make big-company growth strategies work in their firms.

Companies that register for an event and complete a Eureka! Winning Ways pre-planning assessment will be entered in a drawing for a private coaching session with Hall during his Chicago visit. Eureka! Winning Ways is the Hall-created service that converts that knowledge into a 30- day program for manufacturers to develop practical ideas for explosive growth within their companies. The program is being offered exclusively through the national Manufacturing Extension Partnership and its local affiliates, including CMC.

Hall, one of the judges of the TV show "American Inventor" and founder of the nationally known Eureka! Ranch innovation think tank, has spent his 25-year career creating and developing new ideas and products for such companies as American Express, Nike, Proctor & Gamble, and Walt Disney.

"My personal mission now is to take what we have proven to be successful for these large companies and develop a method for America's smaller companies to grow just as fast," Hall said. "It's time for America's manufacturers to be able to take advantage of processes and methodology that up until now have only been accessible by large corporations."

CMC's growth coaches have been personally trained by Hall to facilitate Eureka! Winning Ways for Chicago area manufacturers. The program kicks off with a one-day Eureka! session in which participating companies will be guided to develop at least 50 measurably smarter choices for growth, Hall said.

Larry Gess, CMC's chief operating officer, said the center is pleased to offer the new service to local manufacturers.

"CMC has always focused on helping companies achieve operational excellence to reduce cost," Gess said. "But today's marketplace is demanding that companies look for more and more opportunities to grow sales. Eureka! Winning Ways jumpstarts that effort, helping companies develop a structured process for idea generation and quick, profitable deployment."

Reservations are required. To reserve a spot at this luncheon event, call (815) 280-1555. There is no cost to attend. The event will be held at JJC Main Campus, T-1000, 1215 Houbolt Rd. Joliet.

Grand Opening of the Corporate and Community Services Office

Joliet Junior College's Corporate and Community Services invites area businesses to an open house on Sept. 12 from 2 to 5 p.m. in the T-Building Conference Center at the Main Campus, 1215 Houbolt Road, Joliet.

"We are very excited about our recent move to Main Campus," said Amy Murphy, JJC director of corporate and community services. "Our new offices are more efficient and put us closer to the classrooms." Snacks and beverages will be served and door prizes will be awarded.

If you would like to attend, or would like more information, call Kathy Dolosic at (815) 280-1429.