Always be prepared. This Boy Scout motto has been the groundwork to launch presidents, CEO’s and leaders in innovation.

Being prepared means taking specific actions to ensure that you are prepared for the now, short term and long term. Many of us put this into motion on a personal level by eating healthier, setting up a 401k, creating a savings account, etc. But translate this motto to your workforce. How well prepared are they?

A workforce is the lifeblood of any business. The better prepared they are, the better your company will do. Sadly, many business leaders overlook the component. Don’t fall into this habit and make a change today. Here’s how:

Now. The first step to any project is analyzing the current situation. How well prepared is your workforce for the current job? Do they properly manage time and resources? What gaps exist that could create a better, more efficient employee base? One quick fix is education. Sign employees up for courses in time management or software like Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint based on their position and skill level. A more comprehensive action would be to create a customized training program that appropriately evaluates your employee’s skills set and creates a solution based on specific company goals. The Institute for Corporate and Continuing Education offers a fully customizable training program for businesses in the Tampa Bay area and beyond.

Short Term. Your skills set as a supervisor has a direct effect on your employees. Knowing how to help them reach their potential by striving to increase your knowledge base is one of the best solutions to creating a better prepared workforce. We’re not just talking leadership here. We’re talking how to engage your employees on a daily basis through quotas, goals and team work. This doesn’t just happen overnight and it doesn’t just come from employee training. No ego is too big to learn and improve. The Institute for Corporate and Continuing Education offers courses that will teach you proven methods with the end result of a more prepared workforce.

Long Term. Being the best means hiring the best. But the employees with the most potential don’t always have the most training. Taking an employee that has the components to be great (e.g. good work ethic, analytical mind, leadership qualities) and training them to be the very best through the appropriate certifications will translate to hard dollars over the long term. For example, if your distribution arm is showing a skills gap, certification courses exist that will take a warehouse supervisor or logistics manager and take them to a level that will trickle down to all staff. Empowering an employee through long-term education also creates a loyalty and a stronger feeling of personal responsibility for the company. The Institute for Corporate and Continuing Education offers certification courses in a variety of trades including healthcare, logistics and human resources that range from a few weeks to a few months.

Always be prepared. No matter what type of business you’re in or where you are in life, this motto will help you to reach that next level. Like all the great leaders who learned the what is needed to truly be prepared, you too can find greatness by taking the specific steps we’ve mentioned above.

For more information on the Institute for Corporate and Continuing Education and how you can become more prepared through training go to www.TampaTraining.com.

The holidays… the time of year for giving and receiving, joy and laughter, family and friends.

Pfft… who are we kidding. The holidays puts loads of unsolicited stress on everyone. From fighting the crowds on Black Friday to all the cooking, cleaning, gift wrapping and organizing; The holidays are never easy and on some days, far from enjoyable.

But there’s light at the end of the tunnel! With help from the 12 days of Holiday Workshops at ICCE, you can simplify your year end lifestyle while creating that storybook holiday. Here’s how:

1. Make Your Own Gift. You may not be the next Martha Stewart, but in a world of over marketed, made-in-china merchandize, a homemade gift can go a long way. Simple items made from wood, papier-mâché or other crafts allow you to skip the long lines, save a little money and create a memory that will last longer than this year’s latest snuggie design.
2. Know What to Look For. Research is the most important part of any project. When it comes to electronics the options can be overwhelming and misleading. Learning a few key concepts like battery life, ease of use, life expectancy, performance and general specs (screen resolution, pixels, etc.) can make the difference between a deal and a “you just paid way too much for that.”
3. Find your Happy Place. When you’re caught in the middle of screaming kids, angry in-laws and the disaster that used to be your house, finding your happy place is vital. Our brains are capable of amazing things and learning to access those joy centers through mediation and concentration can make your holiday life a whole lot happier. Life goes by too fast to not enjoy it.
4. Capture the Moments Online. Technology isn’t just for headaches. Its end goal is to actually make our lives easier. Sites like Shutterfly and programs like Windows Live Movie Maker offer the ability to create professional grade videos and photo collections that are easily sharable.
5. Drink. When all else fails drink. Ok, so we don’t condone turning to alcohol in times of duress, but using wine to add a little lubrication to those tense family get-togethers can definitely help. Knowing which wines to serve at functions, which to gift and which to drink by yourself after everyone leaves can be confusing. A class with ICCE will teach you all these and more. That means you can actually impress the in-laws this year.

Perk up your holidays and ease the stress! The Institute for Corporate & Continuing Education’s 12 days of Holiday workshops offers courses in everything above including Holiday Wines, Creative Holiday Gift Making, Accessing your Brain’s Joy Center, Digitized Photography and more.

For more information on these courses go to www.tampatraining.com. Hurry, classes are going on now!

In today’s world it seems like we’re constantly bombarded with ads for academic courses, certification programs and “quick” online degrees. But rarely do we hear what happens to students who have gone through these programs.

Thanks to the hard work and dedication from students in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program in conjunction with Hillsborough Community College, success stories are pouring in.

Adriane Falcon of Pasco County, 24, is a current student in the program at HCC. Even though she still has several weeks left before graduation, Adriane is already setting up a business plan for her budding career. “It’s an underutilized market,” says Adriane. “there is a definite need for energy savings, health and safety.”

Thanks to a $5 billion grant from the Department of Energy, underemployed and unemployed adults from across the country are receiving FREE training to become weatherization auditors. Since 2010, over 1,326 energy service jobs have been created in Florida alone and that number is expected to rise.

Two former students, Sam Radowick and Hector Hernandez, were once struggling construction workers floundering in a recession. Thanks to Weatherization training, they are now active in a “rocketing industry,” says Radowick. “You can see a return on investment within 12 months.”

Classes teach students how to examine areas of energy waste, poor environmental air quality and other health concerns and how to then improve them. Just one home audit can save a family over $400 a year in energy expense and address hazardous health concerns such as asbestos or radon gas. At the end of the 8 week program, students then take an examination certifying them as Building Performance Industry experts (BPI certification).

Start your success story today. To find out how you can become a Weatherization Auditor for FREE, go to www.floridaweatherization.org.

Homeowners interested in receiving a free energy audit, visit floridajobs.org and search “weatherization assistance program.”

Mind the gap. The IT gap that is.

The rapid creation of technology-driven jobs has created a gap between the demand for qualified IT talent and the available resource pool. This widening deficit, if not bridged, can lead to a dangerous mix of stagnation and outsourcing. That’s where a team of community based initiatives come in to save the day! The Tampa Bay Workforce Alliance, Hillsborough Community College and Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation, to name a few, are developing strategies to help you take advantage of the gap. We’ve knocked out the top 4 benefits below.

1. Market Demand. We are flying into the future faster than Marty McFly. Research conducted in Hillsborough and Pinellas county show that companies are concerned about IT related positions and are facing challenges finding entry level talent. Projections put IT job growth ahead of occupational job growth through 2019 with a regional contribution of 16 BILLION to the GDP annually. That means a continued demand for IT jobs for years to come!

2. Competitive Earnings. Since the industry is constantly updating, anyone in the field has to be a lifelong learner. An advantage to this continued career development is an ever increasing salary with greater marketability with time. IT jobs with the appropriate training and continued career development had an average earning anywhere from $46,000 for a Computer Support Specialist to $70K for Network and Computer Systems Administrators.

3. Community Interest. Thanks to the combined effort of Tampa Bay Workforce Alliance, Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation, Hillsborough Community College and others; a comprehensive strategy has been put into place based on research and collaboration with Tampa bay companies. Grow Tampa Bay Tech is working to do just that, grow IT jobs in the area, through real world training, streamlining internships, innovative career development, recruitment and retention practices, and regional and external marketing. With a full force of committed partners to IT job growth in the Tampa Bay area, anyone looking to go into the field has a myriad of resources and support available.

4. FREE Training. Research in the Tampa Bay market has identified key program areas where the skills gap is greatest including Java, cloud computing and sales engineers, CRM, security and SharePoint. To better bridge the gap, the Tampa bay Hi-Tech Training (HITT) program provides funding for training in Information Technology and Telecommunications fields. A partnership with Hillsborough Community College and the Institute for Corporate and Continuing Education has made this a reality through certifications for Network Administrator, Engineer or Specialist, Security Administrator, PC Support Specialist, Help Desk Technician and more. Priority services exist for veterans and the unemployed.

The IT gap can work for you. A huge demand, high earnings, community support and comprehensive training make now the right time for a job in the IT industry.

Thanks to the hard work and dedication from a collaborative of area workforce and educational organizations, the road to bridging the IT gap is paved in gold. For more information on what programs like Tampa Bay Hi-Tech Training can do for you go to www.WorkforceTampa.com.

For questions regarding HCC’s IT certification programs, or about HCC’s enrollment requirements, please contact Courtney Bowersox at cbowersox@hccfl.edu or (813) 259-6545.

Aside from being an awesomely 80’s hit, some people just like their home at a stable 1 million degrees. Others, like it so cold even the dog needs a blanket.

But what many of us don’t realize is just how much energy (and money) we’re wasting setting the thermostat at such extremes. People have survived for thousands of years without heating and cooling and for the most part they seemed to do ok. So why in the last 100 years have we seen such a dependency on these systems?

By taking just a few easy steps, you can save on your electric bill, reduce your dependency on A/C and ultimately do your part help mother nature… all while staying comfortable in your home. Let’s take a look.

1. Remember Outside? Back in the day, people would open their windows on cool summer nights or crisp autumn afternoons. In the winter, they insulated door and window frames and made sure to bundle up a little more. Working with nature instead of against it can lead to big savings. Setting the thermostat to 85 in the dead of winter is only going to weigh on your wallet. Try setting it to a more moderate temperate that is bearable and just be smart about clothing options. Do you really need to walk around in the living room in your underwear when it’s 30 degrees outside?
2. You can Deal. Our bodies are not as delicate as you think. Believe it or not, we can handle temperatures outside of the 72-78 home temperature range. Depending on where you live, try turning your air off when the temperature is in the 65-75 range. If it’s a cold winter day out, set the thermostat a little cooler than you normally would. Plan ahead by wearing warmer clothing indoors. The same goes for summer. If it’s 80 out, set the A/C to a little warmer than you normally would and wear cooler clothing.
3. Furniture doesn’t need A/C. If no one is home, turn the thermostat off or set it much higher. Why cool or heat a house if no one is there to enjoy it? Simply changing the setting when you leave in the morning and come in at night can make a big difference on your electric bill. Several companies now have special timed settings that can do this automatically!

The thermostat can be a hot point in many households, but it can also be a huge source of savings!  Just taking a few simple steps will get you on the right track.

While we briefly mentioned it above, one of the biggest savings in heating/cooling comes from good insulation. Professionals called weatherization auditors actually commit themselves to making your home more eco-friendly and energy efficient by finding ways to better insulate your home. For more information about Weatherization auditors please go to www.FloridaWeatherization.org

Nursing has become one of the hottest fields in the nation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2010 – 2020, the Registered Nurse workforce is the top occupation in terms of job growth through 2020! In fact, the medical field is adding more jobs every year than colleges and universities can produce nurses, meaning students have several options upon graduation.

From ambulatory to pediatric nursing, there is a never-ending list of specialties RN’s can choose from. This blog will take a closer look at the Perioperative track and what it offers.

The WHAT. Perioperative nurses (formerly referred to as O.R. nurses) work in operating rooms in hospitals, day care surgery units and specialized clinics. They perform pre-operative, intra-operative (during the operation) and post-operative care such as stress test evaluations, cardiac monitoring, vascular monitoring and health assessments. Perioperative nurses work with surgeon technicians and staff to ensure the safety of the patient and surgical environment.

The HOW. RN’s must complete an accreditation course to become a certified Perioperative nurse. All programs are run through or in conjunction with the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses. Classes include online and instructor led coursework along with clinical experience. Upon completion of a Perioperative accreditation program, students have a working knowledge in HIV/Aids, anesthesia, electro surgery, endoscopic surgery, wound closure, sterilization and surgical assessment and patient care.

THE WHERE. As part of a pilot-program, HCC has launched a Perioperative training program with HCA Hospitals. Graduates are screened and selected by the HR department of HCA hospitals in anticipation of the offer of employment upon successful completion of the training program. Once employment begins, participants of this program are required to undergo the routine new employee orientation and training in accordance with the standing policy of each institution.  Course work is broken down into:

• 40 hours online through the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses.
• 112 hours of instructor led combination of lecture with hands on practical skills at a campus location of Hillsborough Community College.
• 112 hours of instructor led and preceptor guided clinical externship in the operating rooms and Surgical Services Department of Brandon Regional Hospital.

THE PAY. According to a survey by the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses in 2011, the average salary was $67,800 for staff level nurses. This number increased in larger facilities or private institutions. Advancement opportunities exist in team lead and supervisory positions with salaries as high as $95,000+.

So you’ve made it through nursing school and now you’re hitting the real world. With so many options available, it is important to decide what type of environment you want to work in and what services you want to offer. A career in Perioperative nursing ensures a rising income, an exciting but stable work environment and a lifetime of helping others.

To pursue your accreditation in Perioperative nursing in this new pilot program, go to www.TampaTraining.com today. Other programs are in specialized nursing e.g. Emergency Department Nursing are being launched so stay tuned for sign up information.

So get this, according to the EPA if every household installed water-efficient appliances like ENERGYSTAR dishwashers, the U.S. would save over 3 TRILLION gallons of water a year! That translates to over 18 billion dollars savings in water bills!

And water isn’t the only thing you could be saving. As the population rises, so does the need for a relatively limited amount of potable drinking water. Battles are already being waged right here in the U.S. over drinking water and it’s only going to get worse. Using energy efficient appliances can save lives… no joke.

Dishwashers aside, according to the EPA, the kitchen is one of the best and easiest ways to use less energy and save more on your bills. With some help from the EPA, here are 7 ways to make your kitchen greener.

1. Dishwasher. As we discussed, installing an ENERGYSTAR rated dishwasher can help you save big on your water bill. And remember, scrape your dishes, don’t wash. Washing your dishes before the dishwasher can use as much as 20 gallons of water.

2. Stove. Natural gas has become the ‘greener” fuel of choice by many. While arguments persist for both electric and natural, there’s no doubt natural gas burns cleaner and is much cheaper than coal. According to the EPA, natural gas produces half as much carbon dioxide as coal-fired generation. Natural gas stove tops and ovens can range greatly in price, but chefs around the world will contest to their cooking abilities. No matter what you choose, make sure it’s inspected by a professional so it’s performing at its best. Inefficient appliances waste energy and your money.

3. Refrigerator. The biggest energy consumer in the house, these babies run 24/7. Choosing the right ENERGYSTAR rated appliance is crucial to your electric bill. When selecting a refrigerator, be realistic about your storage needs. Bigger isn’t always better.

4. Cabinetry & countertops. Know where your materials come from. Recyclable materials are always a good choice choice, but when choosing stone or wood, research where the wood was grown or the stone was mined. Many rainforests have been obliterated for pretty cabinets and entire mountains have been leveled in the name of contemporary styling. Salvaged pieces and sustainable materials made from recycled glass, ceramics and porcelain make your home greener and a unique design flare.

5. Flooring. As with cabinets, know where the wood is coming from. Also, keep the seasons in mind. Stone is much more reactive to the immediate environment whereas wood keeps a more steady temperature. Vinyl produces hazardous chemicals in the production process and should not be used.

6. Insulation. Windows that are not properly installed can run up your electric bill faster than any single appliance in your house. A professional can quickly tell you how much leakage is occurring and what steps should be taken to fix the issue. Also keep in mind how much sun your windows will be getting. The better insulated your windows are, the greener your kitchen will be.

7. Cleaners and pesticides. The deaths of two young travellers in a hotel room in Cambodia were recently linked to the possible use of pesticides in local agricultural practices. This shows just how hidden these chemicals can be until it’s too late. Knowing how to use and store household bug killers is important not only to your health but the health of the surrounding environment. When purchasing chemicals read the label for proper usage and disposal. Try chemical free solutions to getting rid of pests like properly storing food, setting traps, sealing entryways and keeping the floor free of food debris.

We are living in an ever-crowded world. Each of us needs to do our part to ensuring that the quality of life many of us have earned stays that way. The kitchen is one of the most impactful ways to make your house “greener” but it can also be the most difficult without a trained professional.

A Weatherization Auditor’s sole purpose is to make your house more efficient through greener practices. Becoming an auditor can be a fulfilling career that truly changes the lives of those being helped, as well as our greater society. For more information on weatherization click here or go to www.TampaTraining.com.

How many hours are wasted during the work day?

Let’s rephrase that; how many hours do you waste during the work day? Staring at the computer screen, searching for “lost” emails, becoming distracted by Yahoo articles about Lindsey Lohan’s latest binge… sound familiar?

Managing your time effectively is an important trait to acquire on the road to upper management and vital in a job market of multi-taskers. Here are 5 tips to make your work day more efficient.

1. One Project at a Time. Whether you want to admit it or not, science says our brains can only process one thing at a time. Trying to do 2 or more projects at once will only increase your time spent fixing errors and reviewing what you’ve done. To be able to critically think about a project, you need to do one thing at a time. PERIOD.
2. Lose the Distractions. We live in an OCD society, that is; a society that is constantly throwing new stimuli at us before we’ve finished processing the last one. Filtering these out as much as possible while you’re working will lead to more efficient use of your time .That means x-ing out that Yahoo article, cutting down the rock music and telling your friend Susie to hold the work gossip for lunch. Lose the distractions and you’ll gain more time to enjoy your job.
3. Pace Yourself. Working with a sense of urgency can be a good thing, but working too fast will compromise accuracy and critical thinking. At the beginning of the day, budget your time out like you would (or should) a bank account. Allot time to each project then add 15 minutes, keeping in mind deadlines. Most importantly, follow your guide. In this case, finishing early is a bad thing.
4. Take Breaks. We all need downtime. It refreshes the brain, reduces stress and gives us important time for socializing and that thing called eating. If you don’t have regimented break times, then be sure to give yourself 15 minutes for every 2 – 3 hours of solid work with at least a 30 minute lunch. Walk around, lay your head down or talk to a friend. Most importantly, rest your eyes and your brain. Downtime at work is OK in moderation and necessary for your mental health.
5. Organize Emails. The most time consuming aspect of any job, emails are our great friend and worst enemy. Organizing and prioritizing your emails can save you hours each week spent searching for lost emails and figuring out what you’ve answered. Set calendars for important dates and deadlines. Move emails that are no longer a priority to folders that get them out of your main feed. Prioritize emails by what needs to be done and when. Most importantly, learn the ins and outs of your email software. They are capable of some great things that are there to make your life easier.

A more efficient work day is possible. Like a London Olympian, it takes training and dedication but will result in a golden experience. Classes are available at The Institute for Corporate and Continuing Education with these 6 tips and more. For more information and to sign up for a class, go to www.tampatraining.com .

Benjamin Franklin once said, “Speak little, do much.” Well he obviously didn’t live in today’s society.  Success, wealth, confidence, wit, and intelligence are all words people associate with a good public speaker in our modern world.

Public speaking was once considered a soft trait; a non-essential skill to have in the business world. Today, gaining vital skills in public speaking can change your life and here’s why.

1. Enhance Speaking Abilities. A speaking class will teach you the tricks of the trades for better writing and delivering speeches, debates, even conversations. Knowing when to pause, when to emphasize, the pace to speak, etc. will make a big difference in your daily life; from talking with your boss to talking with your spouse.
2. Boost Confidence. Public speaking is considered the #1 fear in the U.S. even over death. Knowledge is power, and having the power to conquer public speaking will give you a major confidence boost. And as we all know, when you have confidence behind you, you can do anything!
3. Enrich Resume. A good speaker, in this society, can do anything. Having that training (and proving it) listed on your resume will help you gain the upper hand in the next round of promotions. Showing you take initiative to work on traits important to the business world and your employer will help you get on the path to an executive position.
4. Improve Relationships. Speaking is the essence of communication and as we’ve all experienced, communication is key to any relationship (both personal and professional). Learning to better convey information to people and interpret what you hear will lead to improved relationships in all areas of your life.
5. Higher Quality of Living. When you combine all the above life changing benefits to a public speaking class; enhanced speaking abilities, a boost of confidence, an enriched resume and improved relationships you create an overall higher quality of living. Even better, happier people tend to take things much more in stride then those who are stressed, have low self-esteem, etc. meaning the bad really just doesn’t seem that bad.

Taking and really learning from a public speaking class can be a life changing event. In a society that raises up those who can speak, having that ability can lead to higher paying jobs, more opportunities and improved inter-personal relationships.

Courses in Public Speaking can range from 60 minutes to 6 weeks, depending on what you want to cover and how well you really want to develop these skills. For more information about taking a Public Speaking class, go to www.tampatraining.com today.

According to the 2009 American Community Survey, over 35 MILLION people spoke only Spanish at home. That means 35 MILLION people are living their daily lives without the use or a limited use of English. When something happens and they need medical help, the lack of communication to the untrained professional can be the difference between life and death.

Knowing even a few simple phrases can make big strides in saving a life and easing the stress brought on by medical trauma. Here are 15 phrases anyone in the medical profession should know.

English: What happened?

Spanish: ¿Qué pasó?

English: Are you in pain?

Spanish: ¿Tiene dolor?

English: Where does it hurt?

Spanish:  ¿Dónde le duele?

English: Are you taking any medications?

Spanish: ¿Está tomando algún medicamento?

English: Are you allergic to any medications?

Spanish: ¿Es usted alérgico a algún medicamento?

English: Open your mouth.

Spanish:  Abra su boca.

English: Watch me.

Spanish:  Míreme

English: I’m going to take your temperature.

Spanish:  Voy a tomar su temperatura.

English: Are you hungry?

Spanish:  ¿Tiene hambre?

English: Are you thirsty?

Spanish:  ¿Estás sediento?

English: Are you having trouble breathing?

Spanish:  ¿Tiene dificultad para respirar?

English: Do you have family?

Spanish:  ¿Tiene familia?

English: Are you cold?

Spanish: ¿Estás frío?

English: Are you hot?

Spanish:  ¿Estás caliente?

English: Everything will be ok.

Spanish: Todo va a estar bien.

With the population of the U.S. becoming more ingrained with latino influence, it is crucial that medical staff know common Spanish phrases. A steady stream of clear communication can and will save lives.

Compared to English, Spanish is relatively easy to learn with only a few simple rules. ICCE offers a course specifically for medical staff, with training focusing on commands, anatomy, courtesy and diagnosis questions and medical history.

For more information on this class and more, click here or visit www.tampatraining.com today.