Thomas College to Offer Professional Development Courses Online and in Waterville and Augusta Locations MacKenzie Riley Young | January 9, 2020
professional development

WATERVILLE, MAINE, January 2020 — A new year means new opportunities for businesses to improve and succeed.

Professional development programming at Thomas College will help develop companies’ employees – and, in turn, help companies address the difficulty of training and retaining employees in a tight labor market.

Now in its third year, Thomas College’s professional development series through its Harold Alfond® Institute for Business Innovation has helped more than 60 businesses train over 200 employees right here in Central Maine. New this year is an online program option and the expansion of one-day programming.

In a tight labor market, the ability to quickly train employees is critical for not just skill development, but for employee retention and engagement. According to LinkedIn’s 2019 Workplace Learning Report, “94% of employees say they would stay at a company longer if it invested in their learning and development.”

“Our programs are designed to offer a mix of programs that offer both skills training, and long-term talent development,” said Program Coordinator of the Harold Alfond® Institute for Business Innovation Josh Devou. “We hope that by offering different formats, more businesses and employees can take advantage of these training opportunities.”

The Harold Alfond® Institute for Business Innovation at Thomas College offers eight programs total (one-day, three-week, and six-week programs, and online); the first program begins March 5 and the last program starts April 16.

This spring, the Harold Alfond® Institute for Business Innovation is continuing its partnership with the Buker Community Center to offer two programs, Lean Process Improvement and Effective Teamwork, in Augusta.

Building on the success of last fall’s one-day program, two one-day programs will be offered this spring: “Leading Change and Building Resiliency” is designed for managers, project leaders and directors looking to learn how to manage organizational change or sharpen their change management skills.  “Creating an Engaging and Sustainable Internship Program” is designed for companies looking to learn more about how to establish, manage and maximize impact from an internship program within their organization.

New this spring “Masterful Communications” will be online through Moodle over the course of three-weeks and will feature a combination of lectures and interactive discussion boards.

For more information and to register, please visit wwwold.thomas.edu/training.  

About Thomas College: Thomas College has been preparing students for success in their personal and professional lives for over 125 years. Thomas College nurtures the unique potential within each student. Our Guaranteed Job Program, 3-year accelerated offerings in all undergraduate degrees/masters in four-years, individualized advising, career counseling, and our Innovation Centers in Business and Education meets a student’s determination to succeed with the direction, confidence, and tools to realize the highest version of themselves. From the classroom to community activities, or on the athletics field with our 17 varsity sports, Thomas College provides a personalized experience that prepares you for the workplace of tomorrow. Data reported by the New York Times ranks Thomas second in Maine and in the top 13 percent of all higher education institutions in the U.S. for upward mobility of its graduates, and U.S. News & World Report ranks us #8 among colleges in the Northeast. For more information, visit wwwold.thomas.edu or contact MacKenzie Riley Young at [email protected] or 207-859-1313. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.