Campus News
June 20th, 2023
Garrett College training future leaders
CEWD class is preparing employees to take their next career step
Garrett College's Division of Continuing Education & Workforce Development recently held training – named "Stepping Up to Supervisor" – to assist employees moving into supervisory roles.
The training aims to help new and potential supervisors gain skills and insights to allow them to lead with confidence. Kaitlyn Glotfelty, GC's assistant director of professional and community education, said the course is tailored to the needs of each specific cohort.
"We work with businesses to determine what skills their supervisors need and how we can prepare their employees to take on a leadership role," said Glotfelty, noting the College ran one cohort this spring for 14 Garrett County Health Department employees and another for five employees of local companies.
Glotfelty said that employees are often put into supervisory roles not knowing the expectations and all that is involved with supervising employees. GC's six-session training focuses on topics critical to supervisory success, including change, communications, connectivity, and coaching for performance. Other session topics include understanding a supervisor's team and adapting a supervisor's style to foster success.
Stepping Up to Supervisor #1
Garrett College recently taught a section of "Stepping Up to Supervisor" for 14 Garrett County Health Department employees. Pictured from that cohort are, left to right, (front row) Caroline Evans, Sadie Liller, instructor Jeannette Fitzwater, Jessica Carey, and Kristin Walker; (back row) Linda Costello, Lori Reichard, Jennifer VanPelt, Katie Welch, Bryce Manges, Jenny Hesse, Chelsie Dever, James Michaels, and McKenzie Wotring. Not pictured is Cassie Collins.
Stepping Up to Supervisor #2
Garrett College recently taught a section of "Stepping Up to Supervisor" for employees from five local companies. Pictured from that cohort are, left to right, Rob Medlin, Shawnee Reynolds, April Sisler, instructor Jeannette Fitzwater, and Brandon DeWitt. Not pictured is Josh Lear.
CEWD utilizes two local experts in their respective fields to teach the course. Gary J. Durr, owner of Out of the Box Learning Solutions, and Jeannette Rudy Fitzwater, a registered corporate coach, have taught the course since 2018.
"I feel like I gained knowledge on how to coach instead of do, how to read and interact with others based on their personalities, and how to accept change," said McKenzie Wotring, the coordinator of the Dental Care Center at the Garrett County Health Department.
"These traits are so important to interact with people in general," added Wotring. "Gary and Jeanette are amazing instructors who guide you to be interactive in the course."
"Our greatest resource is our existing staff," observed Robert Stephens, Garrett County's health officer. "We're committed to providing them with the skills that are needed to make them successful as they move into supervisory and leadership positions.
"It is wonderful to have training of this caliber available in our community," added Stephens.
Julie Yoder, dean of continuing education and workforce development, said state- and local-funded scholarships made the class affordable for employers.
"Upskilling is becoming an important part of employee retention, and training budgets are often tight," said Yoder. " ‘Stepping Up to Supervisor', and the scholarship funding behind it, is a great example of how we can support our local employers in those efforts."
Linda Costello, who works with the Garrett County Health Department, said the course taught her "how to be a better coach" and to "develop and maximize the talents and abilities of employees."
Costello said supervisors aren't the only people who could benefit from the course.
"I'd recommend the course to anyone who is taking a lead in any project," she said.
For more information on future offerings of "Stepping Up to Supervisor", please contact Kaitlyn Glotfelty at 301.387.3770 or Kaitlyn.glotfelty@garrettcollege.edu.
