It’s amazing what a little bit of love can do for the soul. From pet visits at children’s hospitals to church groups at a nursing home, love has been a proven healer. Showing someone that they are important, that their well-being matters can completely change even the bleakest of outlooks.

It’s no difference for employees.  Investing in your employees is one of the best ways to show someone that their well-being is important; that they aren’t just another worker ant.

Show your employees the love. Here are 3 benefits to employee education.

Increased Performance. The most obvious point, teaching employees new skills or expanding on existing ones will ultimately increase quality and efficiency. Education courses can range from advanced certification programs that last months to a few simple excel classes. Either way, building upon base skills and creating new ones will bear fruit. When looking for courses for employee education, include the employee on the discussion. Is this something they want to build upon?

Increased Satisfaction. When you invest money into an employee’s education, it shows they have a future with the company and it’s going to be important. Feeling like you’re part of something important is what drives us and it will lead to higher employee satisfaction. Remember, a happy worker is a productive worker.

Decreased Drama.  Employee education can almost be equated to a share in the company. Having a stake in where you work means it becomes a part of who you are, and we all love showing ourselves the love. So… employees with a stake in the company are generally going to be more appreciative and less accepting of petty office drama. At the very least, they will be more likely to side with the company verses self-interests.

Showing your employees the love through education will do wonders for your business. Through increased productivity, increased satisfaction and decreased drama you will be on the road to work place Shangri-la in no time.

For more information on employee education courses and certification programs, visit www.tampatraining.com.

Offices can be a place of waste; time, money… respect, but few have as much impact on our planet and the bottom line as wasted energy.  The steps to reducing your energy usage can seem obvious, but the hidden culprits are often the biggest contributors.

Here are some obvious and not so obvious office energy wasters.

The Obvious

• Leaky Faucets. Just a few drops a minute can equate to hundreds of dollars a year on your office water bill. Fixing even a slightly leaky faucet can make a huge difference.
• Running Computers. Turning your monitor off is no different than closing your eyes; your body is still uses energy to run itself, there’s just no picture. Shutting your computer down all the way at night can make all the difference on your electric bill. Dimming your screen during the day can also save energy and your vision.
• HVAC. If you were to draw a pie graph of the biggest contributors to the electric bill, heating and AC would take a major portion. Setting the building at bearable temperatures while using fans and space heaters to make rooms comfortable can be a big saver. It is much easier to heat and cool small spaces than entire compounds, filled with spaces that get little to no use.

Check out Weatherization at YouTube.com

Not So Obvious

• Door and Windows. Doors and windows are major energy wasters. If not installed properly or just plain outdated, they are leaky and compromise the desired temperature. Windows now strive for optimum efficiency through special coatings that keep in heat, cut down on leakage and reduce sunlight on hot days. Choosing a door that seals on all sides with minimum under-flow will be a major saver.
• Appliances. These days, many refrigerators, ovens and other appliances come with an energy rating. They run more efficiently and use much less energy than counterparts from 15, 10 even 5 years ago. While they may require a higher initial investment, the savings will more than make it up.
• Lighting. Saving energy means more than just turning the lights off. New light bulbs are designed to last as long as 2+ years and reduce the amount of heat output by as much as 75%.

Learn more about Weatherization on Facebook

Making your office more energy efficient does not only a service to your company by saving money, but a service to humanity. Cutting back on fossil fuel consumption will be vital in the coming century, as reserves dry up and the population continues to expand. Reducing our usage at home and at work will ensure we continue our way of life for years to come.

Careers that revolve around the transition to more energy efficient methods are already seeing tremendous growth. For more information on positions in this field, including certification, go to www.tampatraining.com or checkout one of the links below.

It sounds like something out of a Ridley Scott movie; a planet populated by 3 headed aliens with a hunger for human flesh or maybe a time traveling space ship captained dashing young cadet and blond haired, vivacious co-pilot.

In all reality, Six Sigma is something so much more.

What – Six Sigma is the name given to a methodology that minimizes mistakes while maximizing value. This is done through specific steps that find, measure/analyze and design or improve on processes. Six Sigma can be applied to both managerial and technical components of a corporation. Projects are implemented from the Executive staff down, with key employees hired full time to run the project at various levels. Titles include green belts, black belts and champions.

Who – Motorola is credited with its birth in the 1980’s. Back then, an increase in quality was thought to have a direct correlation to an increase in production cost. Internal and external criticism caused the company to take a look at their production, mistakes, costs of mistakes, and overall inefficiencies. A scientific method was put to the managerial and technical aspects of corporations, who often experience tremendous growing pains that linger. The company so dramatically turned around that in the late 1990’s other large manufacturers began to wonder what had changed. The process was duplicated at companies like Texas Instruments and General Electric, who also began to see results. By 2000, many of the world’s Fortune 500’s had begun Six Sigma initiatives.

When – Projects are often implemented by consulting firms, and theoretically may never end (methodology argues there is always room for efficiencies). Certifications range from a few hours to months of coursework, depending on the level e.g. black belt, green belt.

Where – Six Sigma projects are ongoing at many Fortune 500’s companies at some level. Certification courses are offered at many colleges and universities.

Why – Mistakes cost money. Plain and simple. Finding these mistakes and using scientific processes to minimize these issue while maximizing value (quality) can save a company major bucks. Some reports have put Motorola’s long term savings from Six Sigma in the millions.

As with any methodology, there are criticisms. What works for one company may not necessarily work for another. Consulting firms, by nature, seek fault and find ways to fix it; this may not always be done in the most honest of manners.

Despite the controversies, Six Sigma is a major player in some of the biggest corporations in the world. Certifications equal job security in a market that demands more verified positions. The Institute for Corporate and Continuing Education offers certification and training programs in Six Sigma and its affiliate. It may not be the next science fiction fascination, but it is launching careers and changing how companies do business. For more information go to www.tampatraining.com.

If you haven’t heard, green is in. From shopping bags to shopping malls, everything these days seems to claim an eco-friendly merit badge. And this isn’t just a passing trend. Climate change, population booms and the industrialization of developing nations are impacting our world on a scale like never before, with the effects becoming more and more visible. Governments are seeing these changes and are developing programs to slow negative consequences. Programs like REDD and LEED are gaining popularity by both the public and private sectors as a sustainable, money making way to be “eco-friendly.”

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System has certified over 7,522 projects in the U.S. with another 32,210 already registered. Nearly 155,000 professionals have been accredited as LEED certified and this number is growing. According to a report by Booz Allen Hamilton, by 2013 green building construction will add $554 billion in GDP and support over 7.9 million jobs.  And this just isn’t restricted to the United States. Projects around the world are using LEED certification in everything from campus dorm rooms to commercial office buildings.

These jobs are not restricted to construction contractors. Architects, developers, lawyers, real estate professionals and even property manager are being impacted. Likewise, certification is not just for those doing the building. Becoming certified in LEED will expand your job opportunities and cater to a growing number of businesses looking for those with a “green” background.

Becoming a LEED certified professional means passing the Green Associate Exam. Like any exam, preparing yourself is crucial to earning a passing score. At the Institute for Corporate & Continuing Education at HCC (ICCE), you can take courses that cover all aspects of the test to ensure you are ready, including water management, project site factors, public outreach and stakeholder involvement.

In today’s job market, it is crucial for professionals to stay on the cutting edge in order to become more marketable and in turn bolster higher earnings. Becoming a LEED certified professional will make you a better candidate for the business of tomorrow, today. For more information go to www.tampatraining.com.

Peninsular Florida sits at the climax of trade; highways starting in California, Maine and Canada end here, several major ports funnel goods to and from Latin America and the Caribbean and four major rail lines serving industrial hubs in the Midwest and Northeast terminate in the state. Together these factors have given Florida the designation of America’s Logistical Center.

So what does that mean for the average resident?

Jobs, jobs, jobs. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ranked transportation and logistics management as the second largest employment sector in the U.S. Over 11,000 trained workers are currently needed in Florida and the growth is slated to continue. Studies show a greater increase in job outlook thanks to the rising popularity of internet shopping coupled with the globalization of industries.  In major international crises like the Haiti earthquake or Japan tsunami, logistics management is crucial to response and recovery by government agencies and aide organizations. Thanks to a high amount of revenue combined with an ever cheaper transportation model, wages can range from above average to a six figure salary.

More Money. Currently, the average Logistics Manager makes over $60K a year with senior positions making around $100K. While most jobs are employed by major firms and private companies, the opportunity exists for start-ups. Thanks to the industry’s early adoption of technology, services are constantly becoming more streamlined and operations based, meaning you can run an entire shipping company from the comfort of your own home. While jobs are relatively more plentiful than other markets, most qualified candidates in the higher paying positions had technical training in addition to work experience.

Education. The CTL (Certification in Transportation and Logistics) and the PLS (Professional Designation in Logistics and Supply Chain Management) are two certifications companies look for when hiring for these higher paying positions. This shows employers that you are committed to excellence in your current position and will help you stay on top of an increasingly globalized market place. A recent CTL graduate had this to say. “Upon earning my CTL credential, I informed my direct supervisor, and the following day the CEO of our company congratulated me on my accomplishment. The following week a vice president from another department offered his congratulations and asked for further details because he is interested in sending some of his staff through the CTL program. Even though logistics software has been my focus for almost 16 years, I felt my business knowledge was lacking, especially in the International supply chain arena. The CTL helped me solidify my current understanding and fill in many gaps.”

The Global Logistics Training Resource Network at HCC partners with other Florida community colleges and universities to provide students with access to the best professors, career placement services and global business partners.  HCC offers 5 areas of study including CTL and PLS certification available to individuals looking to get ahead or companies wanting a better prepared staff. For more information go to www.tampatraining.com today.