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SmallerOne of them is Diane Quear of Cicero, who recently lost her technical support job when her employer moved out of the state. After completing A+ and Network+ certifications through the Ball State/WorkOne program, she landed a job at Baker Hill in Carmel, which deals in computer software for financial lenders.
Today Quear handles client technical support at the company, earning a little more pay than her previous job plus good benefits and opportunities for advancement.
"A big reason they hired me was because of those certifications," she said. "It made me much more attractive to my employer. I gained a lot of knowledge that will benefit the company and me as I move up the ranks."
Ball State's Center for Organizational Resources (COR) and the new Hamilton County WorkOne office in Fishers are using more than $1.1 million in federal grants to train displaced workers in central Indiana for well-paying jobs in the state's growing information technology industry.
Since opening a year ago, the Fishers IT training site at 10022 Lantern Road has trained more than 400 people.
Nearly 200 participants have received Microsoft Office User Specialist (MOUS) certifications in Word or Excel, about 25 have become A+ certified and nine have become Network+ certified.
"For the state, it's a nice economic development partnership," said Stephanie Huffman, assistant director of COR in Ball State's School of Extended Education. "We're leveraging state and federal resources."
The training program is providing more skilled workers for Indiana's IT industry, supporting the state's economic development efforts as increasing numbers of workers are displaced from the traditional manufacturing economy.
The training assists white- and blue-collar workers in the Indianapolis area who qualify for services under the federal dislocated worker program.
Classes prepare workers for the new demands of the job market and enhance their overall employment skills so they can re-enter the workforce at competitive wages.
"I was impressed with the quality of the classes and instructors," Quear said. "They were definitely top grade. I knew clearly the value of what was being offered to me."
The IT program and its staff also helped to change her attitude from discouragement to hope.
"They took me under their wing and let me know what was available," she said. "It was my family for a while, and they encouraged me. It was a lifesaver."
Terry Ambler of Greenwood also lost her job when her employer went out of business. She was a veteran WordPerfect expert who suddenly found herself in a job market that required additional computer skills.
"I was in a Microsoft world with WordPerfect skills," Ambler said. "You have to be up-to-date on your software skills to find a good-paying job as an administrative assistant for top-level management. People look to that position as a help desk."
She obtained Microsoft certifications in Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint at the Fishers training site and quickly found a new job as an administrative assistant in marketing for Advanced Physical Therapy in Indianapolis.
After 30 years in the workforce, Ambler wanted part-time employment. Her new position includes a four-day workweek, full benefits, vacation time off and a decent salary.
"It's even better than my last job, plus I get challenged," she said. "I got the job because my productivity increased with the certifications that I had. It was exactly what I needed."
The IT training program is funded by a $927,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Labor and $231,000 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Other partners include the Interlocal Association, Circle-7 Workforce Investment Board, Indiana Department of Workforce Development, Ivy Tech State College, Fishers Chamber of Commerce and Fishers Town Council.
(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Stephanie Huffman at (765) 285-2771 or shuffman@bsu.edu.)
