For the past 20 years, Ernest Tanner has served as inventory clerk auditor. Now, bolstered by UNMC’s new career development program, the longtime employee is looking forward to a new career.
Tanner, who plans to attend physical therapy assistant courses in the future, recently completed UNMC’s Foundations for Success program. The program helps employees hone their personal and career development skills.
“When you do the same job day in and day out, you can find yourself reluctant to open up the door for yourself,” Tanner said. “The program can help you find the value in yourself.”
The program has reenergized Tanner to focus on a new goal – a physical therapy assistant degree to compliment the after-hours work he’s done as a personal trainer. He also hopes to eventually open calorie expenditure centers.
On Feb. 4, Tanner and 30 others graduated from the Foundations for Success program and praised the UNMC leadership for investing in them.
“Our goal is to help develop talent and build careers at UNMC,” said Jane Harris, director of UNMC Employee Relations. “We have considerable talent on our campus and this allows people to really develop and grow at UNMC.”
Program gains immediate interest
The collaborative training course, which was created by Human Resources, Community Partnership and the Center for Continuing Education, drew immediate interest as more than 90 office service employees signed up for 31 available slots.
Participants met on four occasions at the Scott Center for the 24-hour program, which laid the foundation for future success by providing career planning information, as well as presentations on how to use internal resources for career development, exploring management careers, boosting personal skills in financial and stress management, professionalism and dressing for success.
“Rewarding program”
Charlene Tate, a staff assistant in Business & Finance since 1996, gained a wealth of information through the program, from how to put a resume online to a better understanding of the different levels of campus management. “There’s so much change on campus and I like to be caught up with the growth and expansion of the medical center,” she said. “I also like to be as professional as I can be so it’s important to take advantage of such programs and learn as much as I can. Foundation for Success was a rewarding program for my personal growth and self development.”
The group will keep in touch, Harris said, through mentoring, future alumni workshops and networking. The sponsoring departments are planning to offer the program again in the future.
“This was my time to work on my strengths at my current position and expand my professionalism,” said Joan Foreman, a staff assistant in surgery. “I have clearly benefited from this program. Others have seen the difference in me as well. I feel more confident with my contributions to UNMC.”
Pam Welch, a UNMC employee for the past 13 years, signed up for the course only 20 minutes after hearing about it. “I want to use my education at the university and move up the ladder,” said Welch, an administrative tech I in Business Services. “The program was very informative.”