Seven Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College employees recently completed requirements for becoming certified training professionals through The University of Southern Mississippi Workplace Learning and Performance Institute’s Training and Development Certificate Program.

In much simpler terms, John Shows, Brenda Davis, Wayne Kuntz, Deena Kuntz, Louise Brown, Brock Clark and Stacy Carmichael all are better at business and academic training thanks to the program. The group spent three days a week over a four month period being exposed to new training methods, networking techniques, and updating their skills and knowledge of the training industry. Gulf Coast hosted the program which also featured training professionals from Louisiana and Alabama as well as employees from local businesses and industries.

“Gulf Coast was proud to host the program at our Jefferson Davis Campus,” said Anna Faye Kelley-Winders, Gulf Coast Community Campus vice president. “The opportunity for seven of our Workforce Development program members to work together and take part in this intensive development program will enhance the services offered to the businesses in our district. The commitment from these individuals is outstanding. They’ve improved their personal and professional careers.”

Employees representing more than 50 corporations from 10 states have completed the program.

“Whether we’re training, or preparing trainers, we have to know the content,” Carmichael said. “Thanks to this program, we’re more professional and better prepared. We went through plenty of hands-on activities, did lots of homework, and wrote several papers. It was quite intense.”