Class of 2005: CareerTech’s BIS Certification Program

Story by Ann Houston

In January, 21 CareerTech Business and Industry Services coordinators joined the ranks of more than 250 who have completed the Business and Industry Services Certification Program (BISCP) during the past 10 years.

Certificates were presented to the current graduating class at the conclusion of the second in the two-part program through the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education on Jan. 21. BISCP coordinator Karen Gutenkauf, adult career and development program consultant at the state CareerTech agency, awarded the certificates.

“The program is designed to prepare new staff from Oklahoma's technology centers for meeting the training and education needs of the state’s businesses and industries,” according to Gutenkauf.

Last year CareerTech’s business and industry training programs had more than 342,000 enrollments through the state’s technology center system.

Training programs are developed for coordinators working with industry-specific/existing industry, adult and career development, and the Training for Industry Program (TIP), for new and expanding business and small business development in Oklahoma. The coordinators who are new to the CareerTech system often come from industry and benefit from this opportunity to cross train and network, said Gutenkauf.

Between the two sessions, each participant is paired with a mentor. Together, they visit business and industry partners and peers across the state to identify training needs and how to fulfill them.

“The CareerTech system has business and industry coordinators across the state who have had their own businesses, are bankers, retail store managers, manufacturing plant managers, attorneys, real estate brokers, career specialists and economic development directors,” Gutenkauf said.

They come to our system as experts in such areas as financial accounting, human resource management, marketing, business law, business planning and informational systems, just-in-time manufacturing and total quality management. Through this program, they learn who the experts are in the various areas that they can call on to provide the best service possible for their clients.”

Topics addressed during the first session included CareerTech system orientation, strategic planning, school reporting criteria, business communications, marketing and promotion of programs, and team-building. During the final segment of the training program, participants were trained in consulting skills, needs assessment, research and planning, program development, human resources issues and economic development.