CBPD Announces March Courses

The Center for Business and Professional Development at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith is offering several non-credit classes and workshops in March with the first one starting on March 7.

The classes are intended to help increase employers’ and employees’ productivity and competitive stance in a global marketplace, according to Pat Eller of Fort Smith, the director of the Center.

Topics are in the fields of computer software, workplace leadership, personal development, business finance and quality control.

On the March schedule are:

March 7 and 14: Advanced Microsoft Excel, 8 a.m.-noon, Wednesdays, Business and Industrial Institute Building, room 115, $129.

March 9: Creating a Culture of Customer Service, Friday, 8 a.m.-noon, Flanders Business Center, room 110, $59.

March 13: Step Up to Leadership, Tuesday, 8 a.m.-noon, Flanders, room 110, $59.

March 13-April 3: Finance and Accounting for Non-Financial Managers, Tuesdays, 5-8 p.m., Flanders, room 219, $219.

Mar 14: Mission You: Writing Your Personal Mission Statement, Wednesday, 8 a.m.-noon, Flanders, room 114, $59.

March 15-June: 7: Six Sigma Green Belt, Thursdays, 4-7 p.m. - noon, Flanders, room 110, $995.

March 28: Setting Priorities, Wednesday, 8 a.m. - noon, Flanders, Room 114, $59

March 29 and April 5: Beginning Access, 8 a.m.-noon, Thursdays, Business and Industrial Institute Building, room 115, $129.

Jack Danciu of Fort Smith teaches the “Advanced Microsoft Excel” class. Danciu, who has taught for UAFS since 2001and has more than 20 years of experience in the computer industry, is the owner of Danciu and Associates Computer Consulting. He has two bachelor's degrees, one in management and one in economics, and a master's degree in business administration.

Dr. Micki Voelkel of Van Buren teaches the “Beginning Access,” "Mission You: Writing Your Personal Mission Statement” and “Setting Priorities” classes. Voelkel, an associate master technical instructor in the CBPD, has extensive experience in the areas of communication, personal effectiveness and computer applications. She is certified as a Microsoft Certified Application Specialist instructor and has a bachelor's degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., and a master's degree and a doctorate from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

Kim Gordon of Fort Smith will teach the course on customer service. Gordon has been a senior business consultant and management instructor with the CBPD since December 2006. As a consultant she meets with community leaders to help them craft and execute training and development programs. Her background includes more than 20 years in corporate America, holding leadership roles in human resources as well as sales. She has a bachelor’s degree in organizational management and a master’s degree in leadership and ethics from John Brown University.

Hal Boyette of Fort Smith will teach the classes in “Step Up to Leadership” and “Six Sigma Green Belt.” Boyette develops and teaches classes in lean manufacturing, human resources, interpersonal skills and management. He has consulted and taught in many nationally recognized companies in Arkansas and Oklahoma, and has taught students from over 100 companies in the region and the state. He has taught for UAFS since 2000.

Melanie Radcliff of Fort Smith teaches “Finance and Accounting for Nonfinancial Managers.” Radcliff is a small business owner who has firsthand knowledge of the challenges of running a business and believes that a supervisor or manager who can quickly translate work situations into financial statement components is a successful supervisor or manager. Radcliff has an accounting degree from Arkansas State University and passed the CPA exam in 1998. She has been a licensed investment broker since 2000 and has taught for UAFS since 2007.

Registration, which is required prior to the start date of the classes, may be completed by contacting Karen Harmon at 479-788-7742 or karen.harmon@uafs.edu.