Goshen College 'Lunch and Learn' series to support and encourage administrative staff

GOSHEN, Ind. – This year Goshen College's Management Development Program will continue its seven-week "Lunch and Learn" series targeted to administrative support staff looking to improve work habits and the work environment through lunchtime seminars in Goshen taught by experienced community leaders.

Classes will be held each Tuesday from Sept. 14 to Oct. 26, from 12 to 1 p.m., in the Goshen College Church-Chapel Fellowship Hall, 1700 South Main Street. Registration deadline is Aug. 30.

Classes include:

• Sept. 14 – "Elkhart County's Hidden Treasure" led by Jerry Good, B.S., the marketing coordinator for the Elkhart County Parks.
  Nature's treasures are often found far from the paved pedestrian pathways. Take a journey off the beaten path and explore the rare plants, scenic vistas and beautiful gardens in the Elkhart County Parks.

• Sept. 21 – "Shifting Demographics of Northern Indiana:  What Have We Learned About Ourselves and Others in the Midst of Change?" led by Robert Reyes, Ph.D., research director for Goshen College's Center for Intercultural Teaching and Learning (CITL).
  The CITL was established in 2006 as a place to study the experiences of the growing Latino immigrant population of Northern Indiana and to help recruit and retain Latino students at Goshen College. Hear about some of the lessons learned through these efforts that can be used in other organizations to develop positive intercultural experiences for our community.

• Sept. 28 – "Keeping up with Trends in Human Resources – A Panel Discussion" with panelists Nancy Pietrangeli, M.S., coordinator of EAP Corporate Services for New Avenues, Inc., an employee assistance program headquartered in South Bend; Alan Weldy, J.D., M.B.A., general legal counsel and vice president of human resources and corporate compliance for Goshen Health System; and Steve Yoder, SPHR, vice president of human resources at Wieland Designs, Inc.
  Is your organization looking for low-cost ways to recognize, motivate or reward its employees? How do employers obtain input and implement cost-saving suggestions? Why should all of us develop portable/transferable skills? What can boost employee morale? What are the new laws and updates that affect the office of which we should be aware? Join the panel of human resources experts as they discuss and answer questions.

• Oct. 5 – "Stressed Out by your Memory" led by Rosemary Cox, L.C.S.W., educator and program designer with Memorial BrainWorks in South Bend. She has been working in the field of healthy aging and brain health for more than 11 years.
  Memory is one of the most unique and fascinating functions of the human brain. You can train your mind at any age to enhance your memory. Many people know that memory changes over time, yet there are so many variables from stress, to age, to even base health management that influence memory each day, and make a difference for how memory works over time. Learn how memory works, the relationship between stress and forgetfulness, and strategies to improve the formation and retrieval of memories.

• Oct. 12 – "Discovering Resources at the Public Library" led by Andy Waters, director of the Goshen Public Library for eight years.
  This presentation will include pointers to practical resources that are readily available at the Goshen Public Library and free online on a range of topics for working smarter and more efficiently, whatever one's job duties may be.

• Oct. 19 – "Globalization and its Implications for You" with Jonathan Geiser, M.S., associate professor of business at Goshen College, teaching in the areas of finance, strategic management and entrepreneurship.
  This presentation will give an overview of how globalization is transforming our world (economically, politically and culturally) and how institutions, companies, communities and individuals are preparing (or not preparing) to meet the challenges and opportunities that this transformation creates.

• Oct. 26 – "Managing Stress at Work 8-5 and in Life 24/7" with Anne Birky, M.Ed., NCTMB, a certified massage therapist for over 10 years. She gives prenatal, full-body and therapeutic massages at The Retreat two days a week and at the Student Wellness & Health Center two days a week.
  Birky will tell about things she learned from her work and from her life. She will demonstrate a 15-minute chair massage as one great and inexpensive way to manage stress, and explore other ways through a question and answer session.

The seven-week series costs $139 per person. Cost is $129 per person if three or more people register from the same company. Lunches are included. Attendance of four or more sessions is required to earn .6 continuing education credits.

For more information or to register for the classes call the Management Development Program at (574) 535-7150.

Editors: For more information about this release or to arrange an interview, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college's Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron's Best Buys in Education, "Colleges of Distinction," "Making a Difference College Guide" and U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges" edition, which named Goshen a "least debt college." Visit www.goshen.edu.