WORKPLACE WATERCOOLER: Workshop examines recruiting a diverse workforce

The Flathead Valley Society for Human Resource Management will host a workshop on recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce on Nov. 10 at Flathead Valley Community College.

The workshop aims to help employers create a culture that promotes mutual respect, acceptance, cooperation and productivity at their business. Presenter Donna Pavlish has been in banking for over 35 years in Billings as an instructional designer for First Interstate Bank, and has created and facilitated training courses for over 1,800 employees.

The workshop will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Room 139 at the Arts and Technology building. Cost of admission is $24; Society for Human Resource Management members get in free of charge. Lunch is included.

To RSVP or for more information, contact the Society’s program chair Joann Kizer at j.kizer@flathead.coop.

Flathead Job Service lunch features city

This month’s Brown Bag Series by the Flathead Job Service will offer a “Blueprint for Business Success,” with insight into the city’s vision for the community and recent developments around the Flathead Valley.

City Planning Director Tom Jentz on Nov. 16 will speak at the Glacier Community Center about the city’s vision for Kalispell and what it means for businesses.

The presentation is free and set for noon to 1 p.m. in Room 26 at the Glacier Community Center. To RSVP or for more information, call Roberta Diegel 758-6273 or Tim Frye 758-6259.

Christmas Parade rescheduled to accommodate families

The Kalispell Chamber of Commerce Christmas parade has been rescheduled for 5 p.m. on Dec. 10 in hopes of making the Christmas City of the North Parade more accessible for families. The event is still in the permitting process, and the chamber will release further details and registration information after approval.

Kalispell Chamber hosts two business workshops this month

The Kalispell Chamber of Commerce is bringing two free business success workshops to the Flathead Valley this month.

Paul Brown’s “How to Increase the Value of Your Business” is set for Nov. 14 at the Kalispell Chamber. This workshop will explore how businesses can increase the value of their brand by adjusting owner’s day-to-day duties. The presentation will also look at eight “value drivers” that can impact a business’s wealth. The workshop is free and scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Kalispell Chamber.

On Nov.15 the Chamber will host “Surviving Health Care Premium Increases as a Small Business Owner.” The workshop will navigate the options available to businesses in Montana as the rising cost of premiums forces businesses to decide whether to offer health insurance as a benefit to their employees or let them purchase it on their own. The workshop runs from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Kalispell Chamber and is also free to the public.

To RSVP or to find more information, email info@kalispellchamber.com.

Trip to China meeting planned

The Kalispell Chamber of Commerce will hold their final meeting regarding the 2017 Trip to China from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 14 at the chamber boardroom.

The informational meeting will cover the trip’s opportunities, the two different itineraries and any questions participants have about the trip.

For more information or to RSVP for the meeting, contact the chamber at 758-2803 or by email at info@kalispellchamber.com.

Montana Manufacturing Extension Center brings workshops to the Flathead

The Montana Manufacturing Extension Center will host a workshop this week using LEGO airplanes to demonstrate the power of applying new concepts and principles to your production operation.

The workshop aims to reduce work in process; promote quality improvement; improve flow of materials; increase production capacity and productivity; maximize space utilization and improve on-time shipments.

The presentation, led by Bill Nicholson of the MMEC, will include three rounds, focusing on systematic operation improvement.

The workshop is set for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 9Cost of attending is $295 per person or $275 for three or more people from the same company.

For more information or to register for the event, contact Nicholson at (406) 249-9404 or by email at bnicholson@montana.edu.

Lean Enterprise Certification, 10-session class

The Montana Manufacturing Extension Center is also hosting a 10-session Lean certification course to help businesses build internal capacity by learning tools for systematic waste elimination.

The Society of Manufacturing Engineers Lean Enterprise Certification Program is an 80-hour education and training session that will provide employers and employees the opportunity to attain valuable skills recognized across the industry; share and gain Lean knowledge through mentoring with other company leaders; help week out wastes that lead to downtime; experience first applications at local manufacturing firms and more.

The sessions will be held at Flathead Valley Community College run from Nov. 9, 2015 to Jan. 24, 2017. Exam review will be on Jan. 31, and the online exam will be help on Feb. 7.

For more information, contact course instructor Bill Nicholson at (406) 249-9404 or by email at bnicholson@montana.edu.