Two PTC staff members selected to participate in prestigious Luoma Leadership Academy Program

Photos above: Paula Hoffman, left; Shawn Reynolds, right

Two Pine Technical College staff members, Paula Hoffman and Shawn Reynolds, were selected to participate in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities prestigious Luoma Leadership Academy Program. Hoffman, Curriculum Development Coordinator, and Reynolds, Director of Financial Aid, were selected from a pool of applicants across the MnSCU system to be a part of the 2011-2012 cohort, which is limited to 54 enrollees.

"I feel so lucky to be a part of this program," Hoffman says. "I’m so proud to be a part of the MnSCU system already, and I plan to stay with PTC for many years. This training and development will enhance my ability to contribute even more," Hoffman adds.

“I'm very excited about this opportunity," Reynolds says. "The program will give me a better understanding of the MnSCU system and allow us to better meet the needs of our students," Reynolds adds.

Named for Trustee Emeritus Jim Luoma, who was a great proponent of providing leadership development opportunities for Minnesota State Colleges and Universities employees, the Luoma Leadership Academy is an 18-month leadership development program designed to nurture leadership talent within the MnSCU system. Eligible participants may include department and faculty deans, human resource directors, business managers, chief financial officers, as well as faculty and staff who aspire to future leadership positions.

The Luoma Leadership Academy is supported and sponsored by the MnSCU system in cooperation with The Academy for Leadership and Development in Mesa, Arizona.

Artwork by Joy Zasadny on display in Pine Art Gallery

Images above: Artworks by Dr. Joy Zasadny as seen through the exhibit glass.

You may know Joy Zasadny, D.C., from BIOL 1250 - General Biology I, BIOL 1260 - Human Anatomy & Physiology I, or BIOL 1270 - Human Anatomy & Physiology II. Dr. Zasadny is known for her teaching role at PTC in the sciences, but not many know about her artistic streak.

Zasadny was raised in the western suburbs of Minneapolis and has been creating art for many years. Zasadny says she considers it her passion as well as her form of healing relaxation.

"I have all kinds of hobbies and interests including hiking, fishing, drawing, painting and pottery, but I draw most of my inspiration, as well as my materials, from my love for the outdoors," Zasadny says.

In 2007, Zasadny graduated from Northwestern Health Science University as a Doctor of Chiropractic and now works at a private practice in St. Croix Falls, Wis. in addition to teaching at PTC. Zasadny completed her undergraduate work in Dubuque, Iowa; Melbourne, Fla.; and she finished her B.S. in exercise science at Milligan College in Johnson City, Tenn.

Following her graduation from Milligan College, she completed a six month thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, hiking from Georgia to Maine. Rock climbing, hiking, skiing, fishing and canoeing are among her interests, though surfing on Lake Superior is her newest sporting challenge.

"I'm motivated and awed by the wonders God has created, and this can be seen in my art form," Zasadny says. "It was my interest in fly fishing that led me to take a fly-tying class, and just one day while choosing materials for tying, I considered the variety of the feathers and thought they should be displayed for their very own beauty," Zasadny adds.

Since then, Zasadny has been creating what is affectionately called "Art on the Fly." You can see Zasadny's artwork on display now through Sept., 2011. The exhibit features works of original art created by established and/or emerging artists from the Pine Area, embracing the talent and creativity of Pine Technical College students, staff, faculty and the larger Pine community. The exhibit changes seasonally, and many kinds of artworks are showcased, including paintings, photographs, pottery, sculptures, sketches, wood carvings and more. If you are an artist from the Pine Area and wish to exhibit your works in the Pine Art Gallery, see the Pine Technical College Marketing Director in Student Affairs.

Branding: A strategy to use on yourself

For all the time we spend in class learning our programs, building our reputations for accomplishment, and being au courant on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter — the attention many of us direct toward how we present our physical selves in the classroom and workplace may be less than impressive. And simply put, those who make the effort climb the ladder faster and farther.

"People aren’t hired in the first 30 seconds of an interview, but many of them eliminate themselves based on something they say or the way they appear," says Tim McLafferty, president of Minneapolis-based Focus Executive Search.

According to a 2008 CareerBuilder.com study, 41 percent of employers say employees who dress more professionally are more likely to be promoted. Other polls report as many as 93 percent of managers factor in how a person dresses when considering their advancement potential.

Julie Haltom remembers finding what seemed on paper to be the perfect vice president candidate for a previous employer. That is, until she brought him in for an interview. Now a team member at Wayzata-based recruitment firm Andcor Companies, Haltom has 15 years' experience in human resources leadership.

"He was meeting with the senior leadership team of an extremely successful company and he wore corduroys, a button-down shirt, and a sport coat," Haltom recalls. "Nothing matched, the clothing looked a little bit worn. He was shabby."

The leadership team took the candidate’s casual appearance as a sign of disrespect, and he didn’t go any further in the interview process. It's a concern for anyone in the business world to make sure to present yourself as strongly as you're selling your ideas; style is an essential part of the preparation process. Looking good helps you exude confidence, which in turn gives your audience confidence in you, whether your audience is your boss, your clients, or your colleagues.

Adapted from:
Wiley, M. & Eliason, K. (March, 2011). How's your brand? Style matters more than you may know. Twin Cities Business, 32-33.

PTC debuts new "Campus Visit Experience"

Pine Technical College's Student Affairs office is implementing a new way to introduce prospective students and applicants to the college. The new program, affectionately called the "Campus Visit Experience," includes an informative presentation delivered by a PTC Admissions staff member and a walking tour of the campus. The presentation provides an overview of PTC, the application process, the financial aid process, plus an explanation of college programs and degrees. The walking tour highlights the college’s Learning Resource and Technology Center, the student lounge, PTC’s hi-tech labs, and more.

“Attending the Campus Visit Experience is the best way for anyone considering PTC to learn about our programs, how to go about applying, and to gain an overview of how financial aid works,” says Dani Chandonnet, PTC’s Director of Marketing and Admissions. “We started offering the Campus Visit Experience as an organized event since nearly everyone inquiring about PTC has the same set of questions. This is an approach where all the information an applicant would like is given in a no-pressure, fun format with a tour,” Chandonnet adds.

The Campus Visit Experience is offered twice a week – a morning option and an afternoon option – Tuesdays at 10 a.m. and Fridays at 2 p.m. The presentation portion lasts one hour, and the tour lasts about 20 minutes. There is no need to R.S.V.P. – attendees are encouraged to simply show up.

“While some applicants simply apply online and never set foot on the campus until they come to Orientation, we’re responding more and more to applicants who want to try us on before applying,” Chandonnet says. “The Campus Visit Experience makes that easy, and we proactively answer pretty much all their questions during the experience. Even if they end up not choosing to apply to PTC, everyone leaves the Campus Visit with valuable information about college, in general.”

To attend a Campus Visit at PTC, guests are encouraged to plan ahead and allow enough time for parking and to locate the Campus Visit classroom before the session begins. For more information about the Campus Visit Experience, click here or call 320-629-5100.

PTC's Diversity Committee wins $3800 grant

PTC's Diversity Committee received confirmation today from the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Office of the Chancellor that the committee is the winner of a $3800 grant they applied for in Jan.

"This is excellent news for our committee!" says Penny Hudlow, Diversity Committee Co-Chair. "While we're proud of all that we have accomplished so far on such a small and tight budget, we are all so excited with all the possibilities this new money will bring," Hudlow says.

Diversity Committee members Joan Bloemendaal-Gruett, Nancy Mach and Marlene Mixa co-wrote the grant, and the committee plans to use it, in part, to sponsor and host a "career night" tailored toward people in the community who have never attended college before and are either unemployed or underemployed, as well as ethnic groups underrepresented in postsecondary education. The event will be held in early fall, and activities will include a motivational speaker, break-out sessions for career planning, financial aid information, how to prepare for the college assessment test, employment outlooks for PTC programs, plus the opportunity to meet PTC instructors and staff who are able to provide support services.

"The Diversity Committee has so many ideas for valuable programming, but without funding, it's difficult to implement such programming," explains Marlene Mixa, Diversity Committee member. "With this grant, we're looking forward to hosting this valuable community event this fall, plus offer more programming throughout the next academic year," Mixa adds.


Photo above: Thomasina Petrus, with the Mixed Blood Theatre Company, performs a scene from the play, Daughters of Africa, programming PTC's Diversity Committee was able to sponsor and bring to the PTC campus in Feb. 2011.

Get your copy of StrengthsFinder 2.0 -- free!

Tom Rath, author of StrengthsFinder and StrengthsFinder 2.0 asks, "Do you do what you do best every day?" Rath answers -- chances are, you don't. According to Rath, from the cradle to the cubicle, people devote more time to fixing shortcomings than to developing strengths.

To help people uncover their talents, Gallup introduced StrengthsFinder in 2001, and today, StrengthsFinder 2.0: Now, Discover Your Strengths, is available. The book is intended to help people discover their top five talents, and with hundreds of strategies for applying your strengths, StrengthsFinder 2.0 is meant to change the way people look at themselves and the world.

Normally, the book sells for $24.95; however, it's available free to current and prospective students considering a career in healthcare, courtesy of PTC's Healthcare Alliance office/HOPES grant.

"There are many students who end up in programs and careers that are not ideal for them. Eventually, since the coursework and career may not be fulfilling, they are at risk for dropping out, or they just suffer in undesirable careers," says Stefanie Schroeder, Director of Strategic Initiatives at PTC. "We want students to use this valuable tool to identify their strengths at the start of their college careers and pursue programs and careers that are the best fit for them. That's why we've made this resource available, free of charge, to all current and prospective PTC students considering a career in healthcare," Schroeder explains.

What's more, is that StrengthsFinder 2.0, provides a free, one-to-one, online coaching session available for students to gain further insight into their results. Students will get a personalized Strengths Discovery and Action-Planning Guide. For more information about getting your copy of the book, contact the Healthcare Alliance office by calling 320-629-4570 or e-mail fridstromk@pinetech.edu.

Practical nursing students, staff and faculty to host Sixth Annual Health Fair, April 18

Photo above: A PTC practical nursing student helps interpret an X-ray image at the Fifth Annual Health Fair in 2010.

Practical nursing students, staff and faculty members are in the midst of planning the Sixth Annual Health Fair for April 18, as part of the nursing department’s ongoing effort to inform, educate and empower the community to adapt healthier lifestyle behaviors. The fair, which will include information exhibits on a variety of health-related topics such as “Acupuncture,” “Blood Pressure and Heart Disease Risk,” “Breastfeeding,” “Diabetes,” “Emergency Preparedness,” “Family Planning and STDs,” “Homeopathy,” “Low Back Pain,” “Migraine Management,” and much more, is free and open to the public. The fair will run 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Pine Technical College.

“We hope this event will bring families together for health and safety information and resources in a fun atmosphere,” says Jody Perkel, nursing faculty member at PTC. “Our students work very hard on this project each year to bring the most relevant and timely health issues to the community. We are creating an environment that supports health,” Perkel adds.

26 health fair exhibits will be created and staffed by 80 second-year practical nursing students and a mix of nursing program faculty and staff members. Exhibits will be located throughout the halls of PTC and in classrooms 250 and 260. Last year’s fair drew more than 300 attendees, and this year’s event is predicted to draw upward of 350.

“In addition to the exhibits and information-rich event, free car seat safety checks will be offered in the parking lot,” Perkel says. “Altogether, it’s just a great event, whether or not you’re concerned about anything health-related. Even for those folks out there who are very health-conscious and may know all the health rules to live by – I bet that even they will learn something valuable from this fair. It’s just not to be missed!”


Photo above: A PTC practical nursing student takes Carleen Kendall's blood pressure at the Fifth Annual Health Fair in 2010. Kendall is a PTC faculty member in the nursing department.