Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | Fact Book 2017 | Worcester Business Journal 33 T he Center for Business and Industry (CBI), an organization that provides a range of workforce and training solutions for businesses, has been housed within Worcester State University (WSU) for approximately a decade. But over the last two years under the leadership of new director Cherie Comeau, the Center has found renewed passion, energy and commitment. What is your background and how does it tie into your current position? I earned my Bachelor's Degree from Dartmouth College and my Master's Degree in Business Administration (M.B.A.) from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst. I am cur- rently enrolled in the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Organizational Leadership program at Northeastern University. I have more than nine years of management experience in work- force development and previously held positions as a program manager before becoming the Director of the Center for Business and Industry at Worcester State University. I am focused on repo- sitioning the Center as the preferred provider of learning and development programs for businesses in the area. How is CBI connected to WSU? CBI is an integral part of Worcester State and demonstrates the breadth of opportunities the university provides to the greater Worcester community, as well as its commitment to engaging with the business community. Our relationship with the University enables us to assist businesses in educating their work- force by drawing upon faculty and other resources. As an added bonus, being part of an accredited institution, we can provide credit-bearing courses, which really sets us apart from indepen- dent consultants. This Center is unique in its focus on serving businesses and their employees and this is not commonly found at other state universities in Massachusetts. What types of training does CBI provide? We provide several programs that enable companies to invest in their employees, improve skill sets and help the organization become more productive and competitive. We offer credit and non-credit training programs on-site at businesses, online, at the WSU campus or some combination of the three. Programs range from short-term workshops to certificates and career training. Topics we cover include business writing, com- munication skills, leadership, management skills, Microsoft Office applications, performance and project management, pre- sentation skills, team building, time management, and workplace English. Programs delivered on-site at businesses are customiz- able to fit their unique needs. Which of your programs are the most popular and why? Programs incorporating the Everything DiSC® assessment are the most in demand. We conduct an assessment and create a per- sonalized profile for each participant, which we can use as a stand-alone training or as part of a customized program. For instance, we might combine this tool with communication, man- agement, or leadership training to help the person or business gain self-awareness and self-understanding about how to better interact with others. These skills foster a sense of community and teamwork, and enhance productivity. Everything DiSC® Management has earned kudos from busi- nesses that have undergone the training. Alyson Weeks, Learning & Development Officer at Country Bank, says that the module "…helped to strengthen the confidence of our management team and consequently improved working relationships across the organization." Another popular training program is management and super- Dedicated to educating Massachusetts businesses Cherie Comeau, Director Address: Worcester State University May Street Building, Room 213 Phone: 508-929-8787 Email: Cherie.comeau@ worcester.edu Website: www.worcester.edu/cbi Center for Business and Industry visory skills training, which we also customize. Mike Socci, owner, MAS Building & Bridge, Inc., gives the training high marks. "Communication, accountability and performance man- agement training have provided our team with the necessary skills to take our business to the next stage in our growth and development," he said. How would you describe CBI's ideal business customer? Our ideal client is a company with about 50 to 400 employees that seeks an external training provider for some or all of their learning and development programs. CBI is not industry-specific, as we work with companies from a variety of industries and with employees at all levels. And although we focus on Central and Eastern Massachusetts, we can deliver our programs to clients anywhere in Massachusetts. What can you tell me about the Workforce Training Fund Program? This is a funding source available to all for-profit and some non-profit businesses in Massachusetts. The grants are specifical- ly for training current and newly hired employees with the aim of improving employee skills and enhancing the economic strength of those businesses. We partner with businesses and support them throughout the grant process, from application through implementation, including providing grant-writing assistance free of charge. These grants help to educate the workforce and offset the cost of training. What are some of the key strengths that make CBI such a powerful program? CBI focuses on providing high quality instruction with an out- standing level of customer service and flexibility, and can tailor training programs for every employee from entry level and man- agement to executive and CEO/president. We create customized experiences at an affordable cost. Furthermore, we continue to follow up with companies to promote accountability and applica- tion of the knowledge and skills learned. CBI is dedicated to enhancing workforce skills, improving productivity and enabling businesses to remain competitive. For more information about CBI, please contact Cherie Comeau at 508-929-8787 or Cherie.comeau@worcester.edu. FB Cherie Comeau C E O I N T E R V I E W

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