Mapping your future GED /HSED at Gateway

• Earning your GED®/HSED is anoption if you’ve not finished your highschool degree• Practice tests, evaluations, and tutoringare available free of charge in theAdultLearning Centers on each campus• Contact the GatewayAdult LearningCenter closest to you to sign up

Gateway/Workforce DevelopmentCenter Short-term training courses

• Need to get back into the workforcequickly• Classes offer 300 hours of instruction• Entry-level skills get you back on yourfeet and foot into the door of a newcareer• Applicants need to go through theirlocalWorkforce Development Office toenroll in a program

Gateway Adult Learning Center

• Been away from school a while? Thecenter can help you brush up on yourbasic education skills.• Didn’t graduate from high school?Here is a place to start your education.• GED®/HSED testing is administeredthrough the centers• There is a center on each campus:

Elkhorn, (262) 741-8184Kenosha, (262) 564-2796Kenosha County Job Center,(262) 967-4582

Racine, (262) 619-6218Burlington, (262) 767-5090

Validate your skills

• Get an edge on the fellow appli-cants – validate the skills you havethrough a Gateway gateway certificateprogram• Manufacturing Skill Standards Coun-cil training and certification showsemployers you have the strong skillset for your chosen industry.• Gateway offers the courses,www.gtc.edu/wedd

Technical Diploma

• Learn skills to a new career quickly• Many courses are about a year long• Twenty careers from which tochoose www.gtc.edu/degrees

County WorkforceDevelopment Centers

• A first-stop option• Center for professionals, skilled andunskilled workers• Resumé writing, access to computers• Job-seeking, career and training advice• Center officials will help you beginyour journey – whether it’s training,federal education funding, short skilltraining sessions• The center can direct you to Gate-way training resourcesKenosha County: (262) 697-4500;Racine County: (262) 898-7432;Walworth County: (262) 741-5275

Associate degree

• More than 50 Gateway careersfrom which to choose• Generally, programs lastabout two years for full-timestudents• Transfer agreements allowgraduates to continue theireducation at a four-year collegewww.gtc.edu/degrees

Gateway maps your career destination,no matter which on-ramp you take

Gateway strives to accomplish its mission to help addressour community’s workforce needs.That mission becomes even more critical in a changing

economy. More of our neighbors are seeking retraining toupgrade their current skills to be successful in

their current career, find a more sta-ble career or face the task of aembarking on a new careerbecause they’ve found them-selves dislocated from their cur-rent job.We offer training and services

in a number of ways to fityour needs. We meet youwhere you’re at and takeyou where you need to go.Gateway offers a full

array of training andeducation opportuni-ties for dislocated

workers to return to the workforce.Those seeking to earn theirGED/HSED; need English Lan-guage Learning services; look-ing to take short, intense train-ing to return to the workforcequickly; or earn their associ-ate degree, can discovertheir career at Gateway.Gateway provides you

with the tools toupgrade your skills.We offer a number ofworkshops to solidi-fy your success in achanging work-place, whether it’slearning newcomputer skillsor honing yourcurrent skills.

Gateway TechnicalCollege PresidentBryan Albrecht

‘I have the confidence to do anything I want’AGateway Technical College Human Services

degree fueled a life change for Katherine Wemmertthat brought her from the ranks of displaced workers

to the graduationceremony and acareer field.

“I enjoy my new career. What really amazes me isthat I would come home tired and sometimes crankyfrom my factory job. I don’t feel that way after my jobnow.“I graduated from Gateway and I now feel I have

the confidence to do anything I want to in my life.”Wemmert thought she was a couple years away

from retirement when the factory she worked at for33 years closed. “It was a big shock to the system,”she said. “I thought I was going to retire there. Ithought, what am I going to do now?”Workforce Development officials came to her facto-

ry and told Katherine and fellow workers about afederal program that would pay for up to a two-year

associate degree program and full unemploymentduring those two years. “I knew I had to take themup on the offer,” she said.While initially apprehensive about going to college

because of her age, Katherine realized quickly Gate-way is set up to help anyone at any age receive thetraining they need, and truly meet the student wherethey’re at.“It was hard to go back. I was 55 and thought I was

going to retire. It was very scary, knowing you wouldbe the oldest one in the class. But, after a while, thatgoes away – you are just one of the group.“I just love Gateway. I love the instructors, the pro-

grams, the entire college. In two years, I didn’t haveone bad experience.”What really helped her were industry-savvy

instructors. “They have such an extensive industrybackground and they go out of their way to help yousucceed. They are just out of this world.”

‘The world is changing and youneed that training and credential’After being out of work for more

than a year when her employerclosed and moved overseas, Peggy

Nelsonbeganher jour-

ney to Gateway Technical College fortraining to help her land a job quicklyafter her graduation. She is a healthunit coordinator for Wheaton-Fran-ciscan Health Care/All Saint’s in thecardiovascular institute in Racine.Peggy says certification and college

training is required to advance intoday’s labor market which haschanged even in the past two-plusdecades she’s been in the workforce.“I have the certification to tell

employers I do have the skills they’relooking for,” says Peggy. “I was outof college quickly and got hiredquickly. It has been a positive experi-

ence. I really enjoy what I do for aliving.”Peggy says instructors gave her a

realistic look at the career she wasentering and sometimes a little bitmore – the computer training shereceived was still being introduced tothe industry when she graduated.“They did a real good job of explain-ing what I would do in the work-place,” says Peggy.Peggy left her job as a receptionist

from the factory after company offi-cials announced they would be soonmove to Mexico.She said time and again employers

asked her during the interview whethershe had technical college training andcertification. “They stressed they neededsomeone to have the training they werelooking for in an employee,” she said.

KatherineWemmert, 57, Racine

Peggy Nelson, 47, Kenosha

Destination continued on Page 4

Katherine Wemmert continued on Page 4

Peggy Nelson continued on Page 4

A wordfrom thepresident

Katherine Wemmert used Gateway to fuel a life changeafter she was displaced from her job at a local factory.Wemmert graduated with a Gateway Technical Collegedegree in Human Services and now works as an advocatefor the elderly.

Peggy Nelson looks at a patient chart, discussing laboratory or doctor’s orders with nurseGary Krause. Nelson received the training and qualifications she needed from GatewayTechnical College’s Health Unit Coordinator program to re-enter the workforce.

Agreement providesUW-P, Gatewaytransfer option

PAGE 2

Gateway goesgreen with

program offeringsPAGE 3

Illustration by Michael J.Wroblewski

®

Gateway launchesstudent blogsWant a cool way to keep connect-

ed with Gateway events and whatstudents are saying about the col-lege? Gateway is taking its campuscommunity online with Facebook,Twitter, YouTube and a studentblog.Social media is a great way to

keep students and the communityupdated on Gateway news andhappenings.The Gateway student blog fea-

tures current students sharing theirthoughts, experiences, and bloggingabout their program of study andcampus life at Gateway. Facebook,Twitter, and YouTube share pro-gram information, news updates,and information about events oncampus.Follow the blogs at

www.gtc.edu/blogs and join Gate-way networks on Facebook , Twit-ter, and YouTube.Three sworn inas board membersRebecca Vail, Roger

Zacharias and R. ScottPierce were appointedas members of theGateway Technical Col-lege District Board ofTrustees.Pierce is a newly

appointed board mem-ber, Zacharias is areturning board mem-ber after a one-yearabsence, and Vail wasreappointed to herseat. The three wereappointed to three-year terms to run from2009-12. Zachariasserved on the board2004-08.Pierce is the district

administrator for Cen-tral High School Dis-trict of Westosha, Vailis the district adminis-trator for Twin LakesSchool District #4 and Zacharias is abusiness representative/organizerfor Chicago Regional Council ofCarpenters.Gateway to offerdiesel program this fallGateway will offer Diesel Technol-

ogy this fall. The program willdeliver highly proficient and much-

neededdieseltechni-cians tolocalemploy-ers. Thejob out-look andwageearningpotentialfor thiscareerfieldremainsstrong in

Southeastern Wisconsin, particular-ly as the Interstate 94 reconstructionproject progresses. Diesel technciansare required for on- and off-roadvehicle and power generationequipment maintenance and repair.The demand for trained diesel

technicians has risen recently acrossthe globe as diesel technology hasadvanced in leaps and bounds.

Dieselwww.gtc.edu/horizoncenter

Vail

Zacharias

Pierce

Real-world skills learned throughstudent club competition

Keli Mielke and Laura Funklearned a lot more than how toprepare and win a competitionthrough their work on Gateway’sstudent marketing club – theygained valuable insight into howtheir future career really worksand skills through creating a mar-keting plan targeted to work intoday’s marketplace.They say they will use the suc-

cess and skills they obtained fromthe competition in any workplacesetting they encounter after grad-uation. And the skills and successfrom this endeavor were great –the pair took home first-placehonors in the Advertising Cam-paign category at the 48th AnnualDelta Epsilon Chi’s InternationalCareer Development Conferencein Anaheim, Calif. The pair andother Gateway students were partof contingent of 1,300 two-yearand four-year college and univer-sity competitors.Mielke and Funk say they

worked many hours on the com-petition before the state and inter-national competitions. Their workgave them insight into how anactual campaign works, how topitch a marketing plan and howto work as a team to accomplish agoal at the highest level.“I think it definitely will trans-

late into my career,” says Mielke.“I know how long producing acampaign takes and how theprocess works, because I’vealready done it. I realize it’s a stu-dent organization, but the compe-titions are structured to mimicreal-world work.”

Mielke will continue her Gate-way Marketing degree this falland plans to take part in anothercompetition. Funk, though, gradu-ated in Graphic Communicationsand has moved on to a four-yearcollege, helped by Gateway’stransfer policies. Funk says she’s“saddened” that she can’t com-pete with the Gateway Marketingand Management Association,which has a reputation at theevents as being one of the teamsto beat, she said.“Gaining all the experience from

the competition allowed me togain an even better understandingof the concepts being taught inclass,” says Funk. “I think it willhelp me in my career because Iwill become more confident inknowing how to do a big project.The format we created can beused in the real world.”They took the cutting-edge

approach of combining two sepa-rate and appealing products to theconsumer: selling quality andaffordable Snap-on tools, a majormanufacturer of tools now soldonly though distributors, to theconsumer through Home Depot,and to encourage customers to

use “green” and sustainable prod-ucts in their do-it-yourself proj-ects.The pair directed many hours to

prepare their competition presen-tation. They produced and wrotea marketing plan, posters, wroteand shot TV commercials, createda budget, set up a news confer-ence and then delivered a 20-minute marketing presentation.Mielke says the soft economy

helped drive their idea to sell the“Cadillac of tools” at Home Depotto the consumer.The two proposed coupon offer-

ings, setting up at trade showsand producing do-it-yourselfvideos to accompany the newline.Funk and Mielke say the compe-

tition not only helps studentsstrive for excellence in their work,but also through tips and feed-back provided by the businessprofessionals who judge their per-formance. Students gain hands-oncareer skills in the competitionthrough interviews, tests, role-play scenarios, online simulationsand written project reports.By competing in the student

group, the two were also able tobetter determine what they want-ed to do for a living.“It helps you to get in front of

real people, and showing themwhat you’ve got,” says Mielke.“Also, if you still are unsure ofwhat you want to do for a living,going out and competing helpsyou to find your direction. Ifound out that this is something Iwant to do.”

Historic transfer agreement provides new, less expensive option

Ahistoric transfer agreementbetween Gateway Technical Collegeand UW-Parkside gives students anew, less expensive pathway to a four-year degree, through Gateway.The agreement expands a student’s

education opportunities by allowing ablock of 30 approved general educa-tion credits to be transferred fromGateway to UW-Parkside. The 30-cred-it General Studies Transfer Certificateoffers students a less expensive way toearn a four-year degree. Once a stu-dent earns credits at Gateway andcompletes the certificate, they are guar-anteed to transfer to UW-Parkside.This is the first time a block of cours-

es can be transferred to UW-Parksidewithout the student having completeda Gateway degree.“Our philosophy on transferring

credits is one of quality, not quantity,”said says Zina Haywood, GatewayExecutive Vice President/ ProvostAcademic and Campus Affairs. “Wewant options for our students whichgive them the most credit possible fortheir success in our rigorous generalstudies curriculum.”The agreement appeals to many dif-

ferent types of students. Today’s econ-omy calls for many folks to tightentheir budget, and this is one way toreduce costs for those looking toobtain a four-year degree. It also gives

students still unsure of their careerfield the ability to begin their educa-tion as they consider those careeroptions – they can stay at Gateway toreceive the training they need, or havethe portability of the certificate if theychoose to go to UW-Parkside.Seven General Studies areas are

involved in the certificate, dependingon the specific program students areseeking to transfer into at UW-Park-side. Approved classes come from the

following areas:• Social Science, 9 credits• Composition, 6 credits• Foreign Language, 3 creditsto 6 credits

• Math, 4 credits to 5 credits• Natural Science, 4 credits• Humanities, 3 creditsApplication and Performance, 3

creditsStudents would enter as a UW-Park-

side sophomore if they complete the30-credit General Studies Certificate atGateway and meet the admissionrequirements at UW-Parkside.Students, at the time of registration,

must notify a Gateway counselor oftheir intent to follow this option. Theywill also be assigned a UW-Parksidecounselor who will guide themthrough the proper general studiescourses to take for their intended bach-elor’s degree.

Student educational opportunities expand with credit transfers

For more information

For a full list and informationon the agreement, go to

www.gtc.edu/genstudiescert

Student groupsat Gateway

Gateway provides42 student organiza-tions, ranging fromprofessional groupsto volunteer groupsto student govern-ment. There are

organizations on allGateway campuses.The clubs provide away to meet fellowstudents, gain profes-sional experience, bea leader and give

back to the Gatewaycommunities throughvolunteer efforts.

For moreinformation

Student clubs andorganizations:

www.gtc.edu/clubs

Gateway’sMarketing

associate degeeprogram:

www.gtc.edu/marketing

Gateway’s GraphicCommunicationsassociate degee

program:

www.gtc.edu/graphic

Laura Funk and Keli Mielke pose with their first-place awards shortly after being presented withthem at in the Advertising Campaign category at the 48th Annual Delta Epsilon Chi’s InternationalCareer Development Conference in Anaheim, Calif. Keli and Laura said the competition gave themreal-world skills they could apply in their career field and give them an advantage over other job-seekers.

Gateway students take first-place honors at international competition

“I realize it’s a studentorganization, but the

competitions are structuredto mimic real-world work.”

– Keli Mielke

Gateway News Briefs

Be among the first in the country togain skills and credentials in one of sev-eral emerging “Green” technologycareers. Gateway is offering courses inthree growing fields, and in some casesis the only provider of training in thestate and even the country.

Geoexchange Technology

Geothermal heating (using the heat ofthe earth to heat and cool homes andbusinesses) is gaining popularity in theMidwest thanks to technologicaladvancements. This “green” energysource requires skills you can only learnat Gateway – the first college in thenation to provide this training. Coursesprovide hands-on training on geoex-change systems’ drilling, installation,and maintenance. The drilling tech-niques taught at Gateway allow geoex-change units to be placed nearly any-where – including smaller, urban lots.Students will be able to sign up for

entry level classes in Geoexchange tech-nology beginning in Fall 2009. Thecourses are being offered through ourAir Conditioning, Heating & Refrigera-tion Technology associate degree pro-gram.Wind Energy

More wind turbines are being con-structed throughout the country everyday. Numerous skills are required tosupport this growing “green” industry.Gateway’s Wind Energy courses intro-duce students to the wind energy indus-try and developing skills for maintain-ing and refurbishing wind turbineequipment used in the production ofelectricity.Fresh Water Engineering Technology

The need for fresh water resources willcontinue to grow. Gateway’s FreshWater Engineering Technology program,the first of its kind in the state, will pro-vide training to become a dynamic andeffective water quality technician. Atechnician’s work may take the individ-ual out into the field, inside a lab, aswell as the office. Program graduateswill have the skills to be effective in awide range of potential job areas.The program is a part of the Construc-

tion Sciences degree group in Gateway’sEngineering programs. Courses will beheld at the Engineering Tech Wing locat-ed at Gateway’s Center for AdvancedTechnology and Innovation.

Fresh Water Resourceswww.gtc.edu/freshwater

Flexible scheduling options and a mix of younger and older students brought Anna Bauer to Gateway Technical College andhelped her to earn her degree in Graphic Communications.

Flexible scheduling, student agediversity draws student to GatewayAnna Bauer says Gateway Techni-

cal College’s flexible schedulingoptions, industry-savvy instructors,solid focus on job training and mix-ture of younger and older studentsgave her the opportunity and skillsto a career in Graphic Communica-tions.“I feel Gateway is tailored to giv-

ing students the training and skills,to get a job once they graduate –which was my ultimate goal,” saysAnna. “It’s all very well followingyour passion and bliss, but at theend of it all, you need to have acareer. Gateway was very good atkeeping you focused on achievingthat.”Anna’s Gateway journey came

after choosing to leave the work-force for eight years to be a stay-at-home mom for her two children.After those eight years, some part-time jobs in-between, and her chil-dren now in school, Anna decidedto return to the workforce. Shegraduated in Graphic Communica-tion Summer 2009 and is operatinga freelance business from her homeafter working in the industry formore than a year while a student.“When my children went off to

school, I thought I wasn’t qualifiedfor anything,” says Anna. Shequickly turned that doubt into adegree. “I started looking at myeducation options, and Gatewayclearly was the most feasible andflexible for someone in my situation.“I began looking at the course cur-

riculum sheets which outline eachof Gateway’s more than 65 careeroptions. When I read about atGraphic Communications, I realizedit was my future.“My courses began to click with

me immediately. Fortunately, I hadthe opportunity to find something Ilove doing, rather than just having ajob.

“I also appreciated the mixture ofstudents. Gateway, as a whole,embraced alternative or older stu-dents. I wasn’t a 40-year-old tryingto fit in with a bunch of 19-year-oldshaving their first college experience.I think it’s a real help to all the stu-dents to have a mixture of charac-ters from age 18 to 60. It made iteasier to voice your opinion andparticipate.“The courses and the instructors

were fantastic. They helped me in avery holistic way. Their advice wentbeyond that of graphics, they wereavailable to help with whatevercareer and education decision I hadto make.“I was in my second semester and

I knew our family would need asecond income. I was looking at

some graphics job opportunitiesand brought a few to my instruc-tors. ‘You can do better than that –try this company.’ They were righton – I was hired and worked forthat company for a year and a half.“During that time, I could apply

at my job what was taught in theclassroom. Instructors were tellingyou exactly how it was in the work-ing world. I used it at my job then,and when I freelance now. I took thesummer off to be with my childrenand freelance from home.“I think my Gateway experience

has helped me to better realize theopportunities available. I thinksometimes you get blind to whatelse might be out there. Gateway isgood about taking those blinders off– you get a good view of what youshould be doing, what you shouldhave been doing and how to do it.I’m very happy with my situationand would tell others who may belooking for work that a Gatewayeducation is a great step. It will leadyou to a career and, in general,broaden your outlook on life.”

Worked in industry a year while still a student

Anna Bauer’s design was selected as the promotional piece for the 2009 Gatewaystudent art show.

For more information

For more information onGraphic Communications, go to

www.gtc.edu/graphic

Gateway leadingpack in green

career trainingSome training

programs can only befound at Gateway

Gateway opens state-of-the-art mechanical technician lab

Gateway will begin offering a two-year Industrial Mechanical Techniciandegree in Spring 2010 on the RacineCampus, a program that will help pro-vide workers with the skills to landjobs in a soft economy – and for com-panies to obtain workers to keep theirmanufacturing lean and productive.The program will be offered in a

new, state-of-the-art lab which openedin Spring 2009. In the meantime, Gate-way, in partnership with the RacineCounty Workforce Development Cen-ter, began holding Machine RepairBoot Camps in the lab to give unem-ployed and underemployed workersthe skills to re-enter the workforcewith a marketable skill in an in-demand career field.The two-year associate degree pro-

gram will train technicians on manu-facturing equipment repair. Thesegraduates will possess the skills to gointo an industrial setting and repair

equipment, from the large to the smalland the basic to computer-operatedpieces.The two-year associate degree pro-

gram will train technicians on manu-facturing equipment repair. Thesegraduates will possess the skills to gointo an industrial setting and repair

equipment, from the large to the smalland the basic to computer-operatedpieces.“There is definitely a demand for the

graduates who will be trained in thisprogram,” says Dennis Sherwood,Gateway dean of Manufacturing andEngineering. “Manufacturers are ask-ing for graduates who possess theseadvanced skills.”Students will learn how to repair

several types of manufacturing equip-ment including tools and assemblyequipment.“Individual pieces of equipment

and entire automation systems arebecoming more automated,” saysSherwood.A great deal of the maintenance

techniques and procedures taught willbe done on actual industrial equip-ment which provides real life experi-ences and will directly relate to theworkplace. A thermal imaging cameraand vibration analysis data collectorwill be used to provide conditionmonitoring training. Multiple axismachine tools and robots will be dis-sected and reassembled as part of thecourse.

Short-term training heldnow; degree programopens Spring 2010

Gateway will begin offering its two-year Industrial Mechanical Technician degree in a new,state-of-the-art lab which opened in Spring 2009. Gateway has already been holdingMachine Repair Boot Camps in the lab to give unemployed and underemployed workersthe skills to re-enter the workforce with a marketable skill in an in-demand career field.

• The Workforce DevelopmentCenter should be a first stop.• They will help you explore your

options, including retraining.• They would determine whether

you’re eligible to have your retrain-ing paid for through the TradeAdjustment Act or American Recov-ery and Reinvestment Act, orthrough state dollars.Gateway Technical Collegeservices for dislocated workers

Smart Career Restart –Resources for Dislocated Workers• Identifying your skill set• Skill assessments• Career counseling• Training• Smart Career Restart Training

(see related story below)• Bootcamp training – intense, 14-

week skills training sessions, whichserves the unemployed and underem-ployed. Seats have been filled throughthe Workforce Development Centers.• Gateway certificates – 11-to-13-

credit programs focused on a specificdegree program section – increaseyour skills within your current careerto increase your worth to your currentemployer. They help you if you haveto look for a new position, too.www.gtc.edu/certificates• Skills Workshops

www.gtc.edu/skillsworkshops• Academic programs: More than 65

degree and diploma programs• Academic development resources:

Adult Basic Education, English Lan-guage Learner (ELL) services, GeneralEducational Development Certificate(GED®) or High School EquivalencyDiploma (HSED). (See contact informa-tion below)Important Gatewaycontact information

Gateway Technical College: (800)247-7122, www.gtc.eduPay for college: www.gtc.edu/pay-

forcollegeGateway’s more than 65 career

options: www.gtc.edu/careersExplore training options:

www.gtc.edu/weddAdult Learning centers:• Elkhorn Campus, (262) 741-8184• Kenosha Campus, (262) 564-2796• Kenosha County Job Center, (262)

967-4582• Racine Campus, (262) 619-6218• Racine Workforce Development

Center, (262) 638-6458

• Burlington Center (262) 767-5090Gateway counselors can help map

out your training and guide you to acareer field.Counselors:• Elkhorn Campus: 400 County

Road H, (262) 741-8300• Kenosha Campus: 3520-30th Ave.,

(262) 564-2300• Racine Campus: 1001 South Main

St., (262) 619-6300• Burlington Center: 496 McCanna

Parkway, (262) 767-5300County WorkforceDevelopment centers

Kenosha County: In Kenosha, 8600

Sheridan Road, Suite 122 (262) 697-4500; in Bristol, 19600 - 75th St., (262)857-1967; www.co.kenosha.wi.us/dhs/Divisions/DWD/Racine County: In Racine, 1717

Taylor Ave., (262) 638-6312; in Burling-ton, 380 McCanna Parkway, (262) 767-5399; www.wdc.racineco.com/Walworth County: In Elkhorn, 1000

East Centralia St., (262) 741-5180;www.walworthcountyjobcenter.com/

DestinationFrom Page 1

We offer training that leads to Man-ufacturing Skill Standards Councilcertification, showing employers youhave obtained excellence in the coreskill sets of your workplace.Looking for a first career? Gateway

offers that, too. From nursing andfirefighting to manufacturing andhospitality, Gateway provides morethan 65 career opportunities. We giveyou many training and careeroptions through associate degrees,diplomas and pathways to a new

career. If time’s of the essence, weoffer Gateway certificates that getyou on track to a job – but lay thefoundation for a degree, too.Gateway also provides you with

the opportunity to continue youreducation upon graduation by trans-ferring credits, or your entire associ-ate degree, to a four-year college.Whether you’re a dislocated work-

er, underemployed, looking toupgrade or validate your skills orsimply looking for a new career,Gateway has the ability andresources to provide you with a num-ber of opportunities to start your newfuture.

KatherineWemmertFrom Page 1

Gateway counselors helped Kather-ine and “study buddy” Lee Mares atevery step, giving them advice ontheir courses, college life and how tosuccessfully re-enter the workforce.“They help you mentally, too, becausewhen you lose a job – especially after30 years – it’s like a death. You gothrough all those same feelings —

mourning, anger, questions. Because Iwent to college right away, I bypasseda lot of that, and I am in a differentchapter of my life.”Her advice to others recently laid off

is don’t hesitate – find a career youlike and get the retraining at Gatewayto a new career.“My advice is to go back and get an

education. If you have the chance todo something different, somethingyou really want to do, then don’t leaveit on the backburner. Just do it.”

Peggy NelsonFrom Page 1

“I knew I had to go back to school todo well. That is the world today – youneed that education and qualificationsto get those higher paying careers.”She selected Gateway’s Health Unit

Coordinator program because it was acareer she believed she would enjoy,the tuition was affordable and the shortprogram allow her to get back into theworkplace quickly.Gateway gave Peggy – who hadn’t

been in the classroom for quite a while-- the opportunity to take a few coursessuch as math and composition to ready

for the program.“When I started, I thought it would

be way too much. But it was only thenerves of starting – it was better than Iever thought it would be. My instruc-tors were great, they understood whereI was at – nobody ever made me feellike I couldn’t do the job or I wasn’t agood enough student.”Peggy’s advice to others looking for

work focuses on the advanced skillsneeded in today’s workplace.“The world is changing and you

need that training and credential. Tak-ing the first step to coming back toschool is hardest. Even at my age, I feltlike I was just another student – Ididn’t feel old. Getting that educationwill help you in the long run.”

Training helps get dislocated workers on track quickly

Dislocated workers can get back ontheir feet quickly through short-termtraining courses – Smart Career Restart– provided through an effort betweenGateway Technical College and Work-force Development centers in Kenosha,Racine and Walworth counties.Programs will provide completers

with marketable skills the training toland a job in today’s tough economy inin-demand career areas. Completerscan also apply the credits they’veearned in the programs toward a Gate-way technical diploma or associatedegree.The length of the intense courses

range from twoweeks – such asLogistics – to 20weeks – MachineRepair.Several courses

will be held inRacine County,one in Kenosha

County and Wal-worth County residents are encour-aged to attend county courses, too.Those looking to enroll in one of the

short-term training offerings mustapply to the Workforce DevelopmentCenter, as they are handling readinessassessment and recruitment of partici-pants.Courses and locations of the courses

include:

Racine Campus, 1001Main St., Racine• Machine Repair• Office Assistant

• Medical Receptionist

Center for Advanced Technologyand Innovation,

2320 Renaissance Blvd., Sturtevant• Telecommunications

Horizon Center for TransportationTechnology,

4940 88th Ave., Kenosha• Logistics

For moreinformation

For more informationon short coursesoffered by Gateway,

go towww.gtc.edu/wedd

Courses provide marketableskills for students

Are you adislocated workerlooking to restart

your career?

Smart Career Restart –Resources for Dislocated WorkersIn collaboration with Southeastern

Wisconsin’s WorkforceDevelopment Centers.

Contact: Debbie Davidson,(262) 564-3422, davidsond@gtc.edu

Gateway partners withWorkforce Development

Centers to assistdislocated workers

What is a dislocatedworker?

You may be a dislocated worker if youhave been laid off, received a notice oftermination or layoff, or were self-employed and are now unemployed

due to economic conditions or naturaldisaster.You were laid off for reasons

other than job performance, most likelyas part of a number of layoffs from

your workplace.