Registration open for 2021 career development program

GUYMON - Registration is now open for the 2021 career development course, an eight-week program lasting from Feb. 3 to March 24.

Six years ago, a Main Street Guymon board member expressed her disappointment about her search for chances of taking professional development classes. Her employer was willing to send her to a professional development workshop because he understood the importance of encouraging and training their workforce so they would be more empowered and more knowledgeable.

With this in mind, the employee began searching for workshops of this type. She found them, but they were all a week long in cities a long distance away that would require airfare and expensive accommodations in addition to her being away for a full week from her family and her desk. She was disappointed. Everything about her wanted to advance in her work, to improve as an employee and to learn more about herself and her work.

A conversation about her frustration was the first step to the Main Street Guymon Career Focus professional development workshop.

With a list of possible topics, the search for exceptional speakers began, and the first workshop was held with 15 people accepted into the class. Each year since, the class has been full, and the rewards have been great.

Employees have a chance to feel appreciated when their employ

ers invest in their training, employees have an opportunity to learn more about being a better employee and manager, and everyone has a chance to network with others from our local business arena.

With changes made each year because of the participants’ evaluations, this year’s classes are about people and presentation skills, leadership lessons, sensitivity training, cultural competency, company image, ethics, budgeting and financials, managerial skills, strategic planning, employee relations, and communication.

The classes will take place on Wednesday afternoons from 2-5 p.m. starting Feb. 3, 2020 and finishing with graduation on March 24, 2020. The cost of the course is $250 per person. For more information, contact Main Street Guymon Director Melyn Johnson at (580) 338-6246.