A Deep Dive with TrainND Southwest to Empower the Local Workforce
TrainND, North Dakota’s comprehensive and inclusive training network, was founded in 1998 with the mission of researching what the best practices in other states are for workforces. Originally coordinated by the Greater North Dakota Chamber of Commerce, the initiative has expanded significantly over 26 years and solidified itself as a world-class workforce training system in our state.
I sat down with Joe Camisa, TrainND Southwest Manager, to discuss what the training network offers to entrepreneurs and businesses alike, collaborating with Bismarck State College (BSC), a variety of up-and-coming programs to get involved in, how they tailor programs to your budget, and much more.
The homegrown workforce initiative expands opportunities across the state of North Dakota by training local employees to achieve more for both themselves and their employers, according to Camisa. Each of the four regions in North Dakota cooperates with a distinct college to ensure coverage for all of North Dakota’s current workforce needs.
Career Pathways
TrainND’s Career Pathways provides short-term career training programs that help participants get the jobs they want and salaries they need. The programs are focused and relevant, and include a variety of face-to-face, hybrid, and online learning formats that can be completed within weeks.
Career paths offered include:
- Certified Medication Assistant II
- Custom Applicator
- Certified Medical Assistant
- Dialysis Technician Program
- Heavy Equipment Operator
- Wildland Firefighter
- Certified Nurse Assistant
- Commercial Driving (CDL)
- Cybersecurity Certifications
- Phlebotomy Technician
Joe Camisa | TrainND Southwest Manager at Bismarck State College
TrainND is known for its wide range of programs offered, including the popular Dialysis Technician Program and Custom Applicator training. They are also excited to have recently launched a Heavy Equipment Operations Program, which aims to equip individuals with practical skills for our region’s construction industry.
“[The Heavy Equipment Operations] Program is designed to prepare participants not just in operating machinery, but also in understanding overall job site dynamics,” Camisa said. “Out of all these other programs, however, we’re truly known for our Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) or healthcare program, along with our Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Program through Career Pathways.”
Healthcare and commercial driving remain pillars of TrainND’s offerings, as the organization is committed to addressing the immediate needs of the local workforce.
Did You Know?
According to Camisa, TrainND’s CDL program aims to put out roughly 96 drivers per year, while taking pride in a 98% pass rate for drivers when taking the state licensing exam.
Corporate Contract Training Opportunities
Beyond individual programs, TrainND specializes in contract training, directly engaging with businesses to tailor training solutions to their specific needs. For example, Camisa may receive a message from a local business or organization that’s struggling with customer satisfaction. He will work with them in a consulting capacity to begin developing a set of questions for them to ask themselves regarding their current financial status, goals, and more. Depending on the results, Camisa and TrainND then develop tailored customer service training for that organization.
“Over the years, I’ve seen that some smaller organizations might not have the budget for this kind of training. There are mom-and-pop shops that can afford to send only one person to training,” Camisa said. “However, if we can gather 20 people in a classroom, the cost per person drops significantly. Chambers of Commerce in our region are gaining interest in facilitating open enrollment opportunities for their members, which is an excellent way to reach out to smaller businesses. I’ve been focusing on connecting directly with chambers of commerce and trade organizations in the southwest region, as my goal is to negotiate through them to help reduce the program costs for trainees.”
Did You Know?
Given Bismarck State College’s polytechnic status, TrainND can house training on-campus when needed, or have an instructor come to the trainee’s job site, depending on what’s needed.
Sara Vollmer | Dean of Continuing Education and TrainND
Did You Know?
“Bismarck State College is home to the Southwest Region of the TrainND program. TrainND Southwest serves both large and small communities in and around the Bismarck, Mandan, and Dickinson regions. The Southwest Region provides custom, contract training for organizations seeking to upskill or reskill employees to meet an ever-changing economy through corporate and industry training programs. TrainND Southwest also offers individual training opportunities through open enrollment career pathway programs and online self-paced courses available on-demand.” – TrainND
How It Works
STEP 1:
Review the line-up of topics and descriptions.
STEP 2:
Fill out and submit the Speakers Bureau form.
“Your group is counting on you and you can count on us. The more we know, the better equipped we are to help you select the most appropriate topic(s) and presenter(s).”
STEP 3:
Upon receipt of your request form, a CE representative will contact you.
“During that contact, we will verify the information and provide you with a recommendation. Our goal is to find a presenter who is a perfect fit for your group.”
STEP 4:
You confirm a speaker and the speaker has accepted.
“From there BSC will issue the contracts to the speaker and the client.”
“Our speakers bureau is also available to customize development programs.”
Topics Include
Business
- Art of Public Speaking
- Communication Styles 101
- Crucial Conversations
- Dangerous Hope—How to Make Your Disappointments Matter
- Diversity and Inclusion: Creating an Inclusive Culture
- The Art of P.A.U.S.E.—Simple Tips for Managing Stress so You Can Live and Lead Better
- She Who Overcomes—Rising Out of the Ashes of Your Circumstances
Inspire
- Embracing Personal Leadership in Times of Crisis
- Downsizing Your Way to Happiness
- Relationship Revolution
- The Math of Conflict Resolution
- 360 Degrees of Servant Leadership
- Vision-Driven Leadership
… and many, many more.
Outreach Through TrainND’s Speaker’s Bureau Program and Other Programs
TrainND also offers a Speaker’s Bureau Program, providing expert speakers for events and training sessions. “Through our Speaker’s Bureau Program, the speakers that we provide are often also trainers in our Corporate Contract Training programs,” Camisa said. “These experts conduct training sessions and lead courses in our professional development catalog.”
This initiative extends its educational reach within the southwest region’s professional community as a resource for people who plan conferences, special events, and meetings to give them access to professional experts that fit their event. With direct access to, and extensive history with, a wide range of professionals across North Dakota, Camisa knows how valuable a proper match is when planning a speaking engagement or other event.
"Sometimes the regions overlap in what they offer, and each region has unique offerings. If another TrainND region needs an instructor, we collaborate with them to coordinate and ensure that happens."
Furthermore, TrainND also provides the opportunity for enrichment opportunities that encourage motivated people to help them grow and become more successful. Past classes have included ‘Money & Investing 101: Financial Mastery for Young Professionals,’ ‘Introduction to Canva,’ ‘Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI),’ and more. According to Camisa, these enrichment classes range from finances and technology to cooking and yoga.
In addition to the services and courses already mentioned, TrainND also provides online classes for more convenience, including different courses surrounding business fundamentals, leadership skills, and team management. For any people who may be interested in bettering their knowledge of these skills by themselves, TrainND offers self-paced virtual classroom options online to explore.
“For example, if someone approaches me with $150 wanting to learn QuickBooks, I won’t send out a trainer, but what I can do is link them up with our online platform,” Camisa said. “This offers more affordable, self-paced options for those who may not be able to afford the full program or are seeking training alone, as it doesn’t make financial sense to charge upwards of $1,000 for a trainer to offer a session to just one person.
Camisa has also managed to bring different companies together in the past to share a classroom, making it more cost-effective. “Regarding the total cost of any instructed class, it’s more affordable to have as many people as possible in it to get the most bang for their buck, and I work to try and bring people together to make it as affordable as possible on everyone’s wallets,” Camisa said. “That’s why I say there are options for everybody; it just depends on what your budget is, and what you’re trying to accomplish at the end of the day.”
Commentary From Past Participants
Leanne Schmidt,
City of Bismarck Human Resources Director
“The training opportunities that TrainND brings to our managers and supervisors, especially in small group settings, are very reasonably priced and effective. We recently completed a session titled “Learning to Manage: Techniques and Tools for the New Manager,” which showcased real-world examples and best practices. The people behind TrainND are always willing to meet and discuss opportunities, tailoring training programs to your needs. They are always ready to help. We have benefited greatly from this in the past and look forward to working with them more. The organization has professionals ranging from IT and healthcare to welding and energy, providing a comprehensive cross-section of expertise.” – Leanne Schmidt
Kristal Fields,
Learning and Development Manager for Steffes
When we expanded into oil and gas marketing between 2014 and 2015, we aimed to provide our employees with support for getting involved in that area. They offered extensive technical training on PLCs (programmable logic controllers), how controllers function, motors, and more. They provided very beneficial, in-depth information for our employees. When there was a shortage of welders, they assisted us again with welding training through their program. Those experiences blossomed into other opportunities with [TrainND] in automation and green energy, and they’ve been extremely accommodating to us in many different fields and other ways.” – Kristal Fields
Cheryl Froelich
Director of Human Resources for BNI Energy
“BNI Energy has taken advantage of several courses through TrainND. One of these courses is welding, where an instructor came on-site. Even though we have experienced, associate-level degree welders, technology is always advancing. The instructor tailored the training to meet their specific needs and skill levels. We participated with a grant, and TrainND is very good about informing us when grant money is available, which helps reduce the cost for participants.” – Cheryl Froelich
Keeping A Local Impact
TrainND puts speakers up in local hotels when needed, works with external printers in the area, and oftentimes provides instructors local to the area, supporting the local community as much as possible when developing different pieces of training.
A Q&A with Joe Camisa
Q: What’s the general price range that people should expect when reaching out to TrainND for a tailored program?
A: The price range can be anywhere from hundreds to thousands, depending on the package tailored to you and your mission. We account for organizing the program, the speaker managing the program, mileage, lodging if necessary, and meal reimbursement, and all of these costs are factored in at the state per diem or lowest cost that we can offer.
Our services are meant for anyone in our region who can afford them. I’ve encountered businesses that have come to me with their budgets, and we always try to work something out for everyone. We might not have options for only $100, but we aim to tailor our offerings as much as possible to meet different budgetary needs.
If it’s a really small organization that’s struggling, I will try to find any free resources that I can for them, which is just my approach to helping out small businesses. If there’s truly no way to make it affordable for them, we’ll reach out to the North Dakota University System (NDUS), State Commerce Department, or Bismarck-Mandan Chamber EDC to inquire about other options for them moving forward. Just like us, those organizations are always trying to find ways to help support smaller businesses.
"If you reach out to someone in the Bismarck-Mandan region for help, they're going to assist you 9 times out of 10 or are happy to help you and send you in the right direction. Our business community is very tight-knit; a lot of us know each other."
Industry Training
Industry Training refers to practical training in a company or an industrial environment that helps the students develop the required skills that will help them become professionals in the future. Training and development programs enhance employee performance, boost employee productivity, reduce employee turnover, and improve company culture. Industry training programs include an array of:
- Welding Readiness Programs
- HVAC Training/Certification
- Forklift Training/Certification
Q: What does Bismarck State College bring to TrainND? What opportunities do you benefit from by working in partnership with them?
A: Our resources are the resources of Bismarck State College; we work hand in hand. If I have to use BSC instructors, I can do that. There may only be two of us who manage the program, but we have an entire college that we can reach out to for assistance and help with workforce training. We can tap into those educational resources, so we’re growing leaps and bounds by having access to curriculum and support staff.
Furthermore, with BSC’s polytechnic mission, TrainND provides people the opportunity for further education without having to be enrolled at the college if that’s not the choice that they want. Whether they want to foster their education or develop their workforce, business, or organization, we can do that without requiring people to be enrolled at the college.
"As a former city commissioner, I want to see Mandan and Bismarck thrive with both communities working together. It's not easy as a small business owner. Every time you think you're getting somewhere, there are new tax rules and business requirements to catch up, so we try to offset those struggles when running a business by assisting them."
Q: What other beneficial resources would you recommend to entrepreneurs looking to get their feet planted on the ground, learn more, or sharpen their skills as they enter a new venture?
A:
1. Local chambers are great resources, especially for smaller businesses. When you reach out to anyone there, they’re always searching for new ways to support business owners.
2. Other programs like the Bismarck Mandan EDC Leadership Program or the North Dakota Women’s Business Center (NDWBC) are always asking for ideas and feedback because they care deeply about our business community. When you reach out to them, even if they just pass you along to someone who may know more, it’s great that they’re happy to send passionate people in the right direction.
3. There’s an opportunity through NDUS, the ND Career Builders program, that will provide scholarships and loans to those going through those certification programs. Essentially, it’s a scholarship and loan repayment program that provides matching funds to North Dakota businesses. If a business contributes $4,000, they will match it with state funds, and they’re getting somebody trained for half the price. While there are some requirements there, not only for the business but also for the individual who is being sponsored, it’s very much worth anyone’s time to reach out and learn more.
4. Looking beyond a knowledge base, there are a lot of great member organizations. If somebody is younger and wants to get some experience and get exposed to mentors in the business community, the Young Professionals Network (YPN) and 1 Million Cups are both excellent opportunities. Through both organizations, you’ll find individuals who are willing to inspire and mentor, or at least be a helpful resource to ask questions.
“We expand opportunities for businesses in North Dakota by training your employees to achieve more. Whether you’re training IT professionals, managers, welders—or any worker—we can help develop the skills you need at all levels. Our comprehensive, customized adult learning and employee training enables North Dakota businesses to maintain a well-trained workforce to stay viable and competitive.
We help North Dakota ensure that its businesses can compete in the global economy by:
- Maximizing Employee Productivity
- Keeping up with Trends and Technology
- Providing Access to Professional Experts in the Region
“TrainND provides organizational and employee training which allows businesses to further develop internal talent. TrainND works with businesses and industries providing an assessment to determine each organization’s needs, then provides courses to meet those identified needs and builds a program that’s right for the continued development of employees, increasing employee and organizational productivity.” – TrainND
Training Opportunities with TrainND
TrainND provides content that is customized for your business, specific to your industry, and designed to match the needs of your employees. If you have unique, specialized training requirements, TrainND has the resources that you need for successful employee development. TrainND can help assess and identify skill gaps, and then work to deliver customized training that fills those gaps. Whether those needs are in technology or leadership, technical or soft skills, TrainND can help get your company and staff on the right track for growth.
Brian Ellersick and Joe Camisa – TrainND Managers
Commercial Driving (CDL)
“TrainND Southwest’s Commercial Driving course is a combination of classroom theory instruction and hands-on training. Hands-on training components include behind-the-wheel driving on local, county, and highway routes, and alley dock, offset, and straight-line backing maneuvers.
This course meets the requirements for both Entry-Level Driver Training and Hazardous Material Endorsement Theory set by the FMCSA. Upon successful completion, students will be eligible to complete the ND State Drive Test and Hazardous Material Knowledge Test to obtain the H endorsement.
For manufacturing, there are courses in welding, geometric distancing and tolerancing (GD&T), FARO 3-D imaging, occupational safety (OSHA), and manual lathe and mill. Contact us about your company’s unique needs, and we can also develop customized training for your employees. Other technical training we offer includes blueprint reading, engineering drawing, process/power plant, asbestos abatement, and ArcGIS.”
Welding Readiness Programs
“TrainND Southwest also offers a wide array of welding training and testing to organizations throughout the region. Training can be held onsite, at one of our state-of-the-art welding shops on Bismarck State College’s campus, or through our mobile welding lab.
TrainND Southwest can train and test in the following areas:
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding
- Gas Metal Arc Welding
- Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
- Oxyacetylene Welding
- Flux Cored Arc Welding
Open enrollment and customized training options are available.”
HVAC Training and Certification
“TrainND Southwest offers an approved EPA 608 and 609 training and certification course taught by instructors with years of industry experience and knowledge of maintaining and repairing HVAC equipment.
Successful completion of our course will prepare students in the following areas:
- Complete the Core Section of the EPA 608 certification exam along with, type I, II, & III exams.
- Complete the EPA 609 exam.
- Become eligible to take the universal certification exam, which allows professionals to service all types of systems.”
Did You Know?
While TrainND Southwest’s programs are in collaboration with Bismarck State College, the training opportunities offered are noncredit programs.
Soft Skills Training
“In a recent study done by Adecco Group, the world’s largest provider of human resource solutions, 44 percent of executives believe that American workers lack necessary soft skills. Of the executives who believe there is a skills gap, 89 percent say that apprenticeships and training programs could help.
If your business needs help building soft skills, look to TrainND. We offer programs on communications, teamwork, generational diversity, stress management, problem-solving, critical thinking, and conflict resolution. Our curricula are designed for employees across the spectrum of skill sets, allowing inexperienced employees to learn the basics and seasoned staff to gain more advanced skills.”
RADaR
“‘RADaR’ aims to provide a greater number of highly qualified workers in high-demand careers in healthcare and manufacturing industries through apprenticeships, job coaching, and other support services.
In 2022, BSC was awarded a $1.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Strengthening Community Colleges Round 2 Grants. The focus of the grant is to recruit and support diverse, underserved populations; offer expanded experiential learning; prepare students for the workforce; and improve the economy in North Dakota.”
Online Training, On Demand
“TrainND offers hundreds of courses online, that you take at your own pace, to improve your skills and give you a leg up at work and in life. With prices starting at $99, our online training is affordable, accessible, and can build the skills workers need in as little as six weeks. Popular topics include Introduction to QuickBooks, Effective Business Writing, Designing Effective Websites, Computer Skills for the Workplace, and more.”
"It's a competitive world. Train for it."
TrainND, in partnership with BSC, is setting a new standard for tailored workforce training in the Bismarck-Mandan and the southwest region of North Dakota as a whole. Reach out to them today to find out how they can assist you and your organization!
TrainND Southwest
TrainND.com
701-224-5600
[email protected]
1200 Schafer Street, Bismarck, ND 58501