Professional Development Seminars Details

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ACCELERATE YOUR READING EFFECTIVENESS: READ FASTER AND BETTER
This two-session seminar is designed to increase your reading speeds and comprehension by learning advanced reading strategies. You will discover simple-to-use techniques to read with greater fluency, speed, accuracy, and understanding.

Ideal learners:
Anyone who wants to more effectively learn, remember, and recall written material. Having an open mind is important.

You will learn to:

Prepare your mind for reading.
Focus your attention for increased comprehension.
Establish your purpose for reading.
Identify your ideal reading state and maintain it while reading.
Discover four techniques that will double and triple your reading speed.
Apply simple techniques to be a more effective reader and learner.
Achieve greater comprehension and be able to retain and recall information in less time.
Establish your goals for continued reading improvement.

The class is offered in two 3-hour sessions. Each class will include short lectures, demonstrations, hands-on exercises to learn the techniques, discussion, pair sharing, and questions and answers. Short breaks will be given to improve learning quality.

Presenter:
Cheryl Hiltibran has an M.Ed. degree from the University of Minnesota and is an International Adult Learning Specialist. She has trained thousands of people and instructors in the use of Accelerative Learning and Teaching Technology, which helps people learn 300 to 1,000 times faster. Cheryl has more than 20 years of experience in teaching merchandising, management, PhotoReading, Accelements, and her popular Learning to Learn series. Some of her clients include schools and colleges in Minnesota and Wisconsin, Northern Illinois University, Utah Valley State College, the US Air Force, the Secret Service, US Forest Service, Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance, GMACCC, and 3M.

Dates: Tuesday, February 26 & March 4, 2008
Times: 6 - 9 p.m.
Place: 1200 Red Fox Road, Arden Hills, MN 55112

Registration Code: PDP102
CEUs: .60
Cost: $95

Questions? Call 651.635.8000.
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ADDRESSING CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH: AWARENESS AND ACTION
"What's normal, and what behaviors or comments should I be concerned about?"
"If I do think there might be a mental health problem, what should I do?"

Our ability to answer these questions, to recognize problems and intervene early, is very important to the well-being of all of our children and adolescents. These questions and more will be addressed in an evening workshop on understanding how mental health problems affect our youth and what we can do to help them. As of January 1, 2005, all Minnesota teachers are required to have continuing education in child and adolescent mental health to renew teaching licenses.

Ideal Learners:

Teachers
Paraprofessionals
School administrators
Nurses
Parents
Anyone interested in child and adolescent mental health

You will learn:

How to understand the continuum, from mental health to mental illness
How to identify the early warning signs of mental health problems in children and adolescents
How to undersand the impact that mental health problems have on students' abilities to learn and socialize
How to determine resources and a process for seeking help
How to address issues of stigma and confidentiality

Presenter:
Jody Cowdin has been an educator for 24 years, holding various teaching positions from preschool, to regular elementary classrooms, to special education, and now Associate Professor of Education at Bethel University. She has also done private practice in a counseling clinic as a play therapist, offering diagnosis and treatment for children and adolescents. In addition to her professional roles, she brings a personal and realistic perspective as the mother of a teen with bipolar disorder.

Dates: Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Time: 6 - 9 p.m.
Place: 1200 Red Fox Road, Arden Hills, MN 55112

Registration Code: PDP355
CEUs: .30
Cost: $75

Questions? Call 651.635.8000.
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BRAIN GYM^®: ENHANCE LEARNING WITH MOVEMENT
Can simple exercise improve learning? Brain Gym^® is a patented system of simple, quick physical movements that enhance brain function and improve learning abilities. The system was first developed 30 years ago to enable children to overcome learning disabilities. Today, considerable research supports the value of Brain Gym^® and its counterparts to make learning more effective and accessible. Integrated movement is used widely by children and adults of all ages and in all walks of life to bring about improvements in concentration, reading, organization, and even athletic skills (e.g., Brain Gym^® for Golfers).

Ideal learners:

Teachers (school and church)
Educational specialists and child therapists
Children and adults
Persons of any age who are interested in enhancing learning, concentration, memory, self confidence, or organizational, performance, and test taking skills; or reducing excessive day dreaming, hyperactivity or stress

You will learn:

How the brain responds to sensory input.
How integrated (right and left brain) movement affects the brain and learning.
A brief history of Brain Gym^® and Educational Kinesiology.
Several basic Brain Gym^® movements.
Methodology to adapt the movements in individual situations.
Motivation to apply the movements in your daily life: from office to athletic complex, from home to classroom.

Presenter:
Judy Besch, M.Ed., has been a classroom teacher for 22 years. Her students practice Brain Gym^® exercises for morning wakeup and during the day to promote better learning. Judy is a certified consultant and instructor with the Educational Kinesiology Foundation.

Date: Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Time: 9 a.m. - noon
Place: 1200 Red Fox Road, Arden Hills, MN 55112

Registration Code: PDP103
CEUs: .30
Cost: $75

Questions? Call 651.635.8000.
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COACHING FOR MANAGERS
Research shows that highly engaged employees are naturally motivated to produce more than their disengaged co-workers. As a manager, if you asked your employees if they are working to their potential, of course they would say YES! But how do you know for sure? What if you could 'come along side' them as a coach to help THEM identify and develop their potential? It starts with you. You must know yourself well before you can help others using true coaching concepts and techniques. This interactive workshop will provide a solid foundation for understanding yourself and a customized report for your reference. You will begin using this new understanding to observe and understand people as well as adapt your style for greatest communication.

Ideal learners:

Managers who hope to gain great insight into themselves and others - increasing productivity
Anyone in supervision who wants to begin to understand their employees at a deeper level in order to help them and find their true potential on the job

You will learn to:

Understand what coaching is and is not - the Heart of a Coach
Understand your natural and adapted behavior - how you're wired
Recognize, understand, and appreciate others
Adapt your style for effective coaching and managing

Presenter:
Heidi Bodette's current focus at VisionOne Coaching and Consulting is coaching executives, leaders, and students; developing coaching for incoming freshmen at colleges/universities; developing and delivering coaching coach certification training to marketplace and education organizations; and implementing talent management solutions. Heidi has over 20 years of experience in corporate America in management, retail solutions, sales, marketing, technology, and training/development.

Date: Thursday, April 17 and 24, 2008
Time: 9 a.m. – noon
Place: 1200 Red Fox Road, Arden Hills, MN 55112

Registration Code: PDP300
CEUs: .60
Cost: $95(lunch included)

Questions? Call 651.635.8000.
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DEVELOPING EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE I
Are your teams not operating as efficiently as you would like? Do you have some technically competent people whom others find abrasive? Do you find yourself throwing up your arms in despair and asking, “Why can’t they just get along?” Emotional intelligence is the glue that binds work groups and teams.

Ideal learners:

People who want to

Understand themselves and others more deeply
Work more effectively in groups and teams
Perform better under adversity and strain
Lead others more effectively

You will learn:

Self-Awareness: Know yourself, your moods, triggers, and need for downtime and reflection.
Self-Reflection: Practice the ability to be self-correcting.
Self-Regulation: Contain outbursts, tempers, and tendencies toward abuse of others or yourself.
Motivation: Remain optimistic in the face of adversity, have a will to make it happen, and delay gratification for a stronger goal.
Empathy: Be in tune with the feelings and moods of others.
Social Skills: Learn how to motivate others and help them manage their emotions.

Presenter:
Richard Brynteson is an associate professor in Concordia’s Master of Organizational Management program. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses at Concordia, as well as seminars and workshops in the community on creativity, systems thinking, crucial conversations, coaching, and emotional intelligence. As a consultant, Dr. Brynteson works as an organizational change agent and executive coach to mid-sized companies in Minnesota.

Date: Thursday, March 13, 2008
Time: 9 a.m. – noon
Place: 1200 Red Fox Road, Arden Hills, MN 55112

Registration Code: PDP301
CEUs: .30
Cost: $75

Questions? Call 651.635.8000.
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IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS
Is your organization facing the same chronic problems year after year? Is your organization stuck because of conversations not being held? In any type of organization, people either talk it out or act it out. Which will it be? In this workshop, participants will learn how to take the risk out of risky conversations and make them productive. Participants will practice difficult conversations to help them get "unstuck" and develop new communication tools.

Ideal Learners:

Businesspeople
Students
Anyone wanting to grow in the art of communication

You will:

Learn the art of dialogue
Practice how to use heart and mind conversation
Understand how to steer clear of both silence and violence in your speaking styles.
How to analyze the stories we tell ourselves and others tell themselves during intense conversations
Learn how to move from blame into contribution systems for communication failures
How to ascertain when a conversation has become unsafe and learn ways to re-engage safety
Practice at least 5 ways of making intense conversations more productive

Presenter:
Richard Brynteson is an Associate Professor in the Concordia Master's of Organizational Management program. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses at Concordia as well as seminars and workshops in the community on creativity, systems thinking, crucial conversations, coaching, and emotional intelligence. As a consultant, Dr. Brynteson works as an organizational change agent and executive coach to mid-sized companies in Minnesota.

Date: Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Time: 9 a.m. - noon
Place: 1200 Red Fox Road, Arden Hills, MN 55112

Cost: $75
CEUs: .30
Registration Code: PDP109

Questions? Call 651.635.8000.
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INCREASING PERFORMANCE & MAXIMIZING POTENTIAL
Need to increase performance and maximize potential of the people you work with? Want to do the same for yourself? This practical seminar provides you with a wide variety of tools and techniques to enhance talent and manage performance through goal setting, orienting, training, coaching, and motivating. You will develop both the mindset and skill set to leverage your own strengths and the strengths of others through a comprehensive performance management process. The process will help you create a talent profile, diagnose performance, set effective performance goals, develop detailed plans to meet goals, and build the performance climate that maximizes both your potential and the potential of others needed to achieve stellar results.

Ideal learners:

Business professionals interested in improving their own performance and potential
Supervisors and managers hoping to better manage those who report to them
HR staff, program directors, and others who are responsible for managing the talent within an organization.

You will learn and be able to:

Follow a proven process for managing performance
Understand how to more effectively assess the other's potential and performance
Develop the skills necessary to plan, develop, and reward others
Utilize the techniques and tools customizable to your specific situation
Implement the plans designed to increase results and personal effectiveness

Presenter:
Janae Bower, M.A., is an inspirational teacher and business consultant. She is a certified facilitator in Situational Leadership, Appreciative Inquiry, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Mobilizing Energy for Positive Change, InsideOut Advantage, and several other programs. She is the award-winning author of The Little Girl Who Found IT: A Story of Heart and Hope - first in a series of books.

Janae has a Master's Degree in Human Resource Development from the University of St. Thomas and is adjunct faculty at Anoka-Ramsey Community College, Hamline University, Metro State University, the University of Minnesota, and the University of St. Thomas. Her work has been presented nationally and featured locally on TV. Her client list includes 3M, ING, General Mills, Thomson, and Best Buy.

Passionate about helping others maximize their talent, potential, and performance, you'll be inspired by Janae's contagious energy and enthusiasm. Her professional and personal expertise provides specific examples of how you can apply what you're learning to your own situation.

Dates: Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Time: 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Place: 1200 Red Fox Road, Arden Hills, MN 55112

Registration Code: PDP302
CEUs: .35
Cost: $75

Questions? Call 651.635.8000.
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INFLUENCING WITHOUT AUTHORITY
Need to influence the people you work with? This seminar explores how you influence people who are outside the boundaries of your direct authority. Discover how to identify, analyze, expand , and strengthen your informal span of influence so you can better persuade and negotiate upward, downward, and laterally to the the job done!

Need to influence people in your personal life? Whether you need others to help with your volunteer work, home improvement project, or meeting your goals, you'll find creative approaches for increasing your influence and personal effectiveness to do so. Through an examination of the skills and characteristics of influential people, you'll come away with an understanding of the source of informal power and the dynamics of influence.

Ideal learners:

Anyone who personally or professionally needs to influence others outside the boundaries of their direct authority

You will learn and be able to:

Understand the differences between influence, authority, and power
Develop, use, and sustain influence tactics
Utilize the five cornerstones of influence
Work across different levels and multiple people to get the job done
Increase your personal effectiveness by establishing greater trust and rapport

Dates: Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Time: 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Place: 1200 Red Fox Road, Arden Hills, MN 55112

Registration Code: PDP303
CEUs: .35
Cost: $75

Questions? Call 651.635.8000.
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SELF-PUBLISHING: PUTTING YOURSELF IN PRINT
Publishing your book through a New York publishing house may not be your only option for seeing your book in print. In fact, unless your name is John Grisham, you may want to look at the many options available today for publishing your manuscript. This seminar explains the pros and cons of self-publishing so you can decide which route is best for you.

You will receive practical advice and information about:

Becoming published – your options
Marketing and distributing your book – self-published, traditional, or in-between
Useful resources for each publishing option

Ideal participants:

Writers at any level, serious or not, who would like to see their work in print
Those curious about the time and commitment required for different publishing options
Those who must balance a publishing dream with the demands of real life

You will learn:

The realities of becoming published and ways to help increase your odds.
Will other writing, such as short stories or articles, get you to your goal?
The pros, cons, frustrations, and advantages of agents.
All about Vanity Press, Print on Demand, Self-Publishing, and Book Printers.
How to get editing help.
What are book designers and book packagers?
Producing it yourself. What costs should you be prepared for?
Decisions you’ll face for each publishing option.
Marketing and distributing – your role, self-published or not.
Pros and cons of each option. Which is best for you?

Presenter:
J. Michael Blumer is the author of The Secret Books of Gabendoor, a five book fantasy-adventure series for young adults, published by Windstorm Creative. Book 1, released in 2006, is The Book of Second Chances. Mike is editor of a self-published anthology, Tales of the Serendip, written by members of an online writing workshop. Mike also teaches writing at the White Bear Center for the Arts.

Date: Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Time: 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Place: 1200 Red Fox Road, Arden Hills, MN 55112

Registration Code: PDP305
CEUs: .30
Cost: $50

Questions? Call 651.635.8000.
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SPEAK? NATURALLY.
Your career success is often dependent on how well you communicate. This seminar focuses on visual and voice impact — the 93 percent that sets your presentation apart. The seminar will focus on delivering concise messages and giving impromptu presentations. Through video taping and a personal coaching session, you will recognize your own strengths to confidently stand and deliver naturally.

Ideal learners:

Anyone who hopes to express ideas, thoughts, and information effectively
All ages

You will learn to:

Understand what makes you a good speaker.
Identify five effective delivery skills.
Get comfortable with your style.
Practice techniques to help reduce and manage nervousness.
Create and deliver impromptus with the look of practice.
Manage questions with confidence.

Presenter:
Kaye Cusick has more than 18 years of experience in the communication arena as a trainer and educator. Nationally, she has coached business people to develop their natural speaking style and use this style most effectively. Currently she continues to coach speakers, and organizes professional training and development seminars for Bethel University.

Dates: NEW DATE! Thursday, May 1, 2008, and/or one-on-one coaching by appointment
Times: 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Place: 1200 Red Fox Road, Arden Hills, MN 55112

Registration Code: PDP107
CEUs: .60
Cost: $150 (lunch included)

Questions? Call 651.635.8000.
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STRENGTHENING YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"What is my board supposed to be doing and how can I get them to do it?" It's a common question in nonprofit organiztions, and Joy Skjegstad, a 20-year veteran of the nonprofit world, will help you find some answers.

Ideal Learners:

Nonprofit Board members, staff, and volunteers who want to improve the effectiveness of their Board of Directors.

You will:

Learn about the role of the Board of Directors in a nonprofit organization

Review strategies for engaging the Board in fundraising

Discuss effective Board/staff relationships

Gain an understanding of how boards can function more effectively

Date: Thursday, March 6, 2008
Time: 9 a.m. - noon
Place: 1200 Red Fox Road, Arden Hills, MN 55112

Cost: $75
CEUs: .30
Registration Code: PDP309

Questions? Call 651.635.8000.
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TAME YOUR TERROR
Work transitions can be downright scary. Fear can paralyze us, leading to anxiety, deep discouragement, and feeling "stuck." This seminar will address effective strategies for working through career obstacles what to do with fear and anxiety, and gaining clarity about what you offer the marketplace.

Ideal Learners:

Anyone facing career transition or anticipating doing so.

You will learn:

How to identify your strengths and skills and understand how they are transferable to different careers
How to build confidence in your interviewing
How to talk about gaps in your resume and pull skills from your parenting and hobbies
How to improve your networking and relationship building
How to determine which companies and organizations will be the right fit for you
How to manage fear and anxiety in the job hunting process
How to keep motivated in your career search
How to manage career transitions successfully

Presenter:
Dennis Bird, M.A., is a graduate of Bethel University and has a master's in management consulting and executive leadership. He also has a master's-level certification in life and executive coaching. He coaches and consults through his own company, Life Vision Minnesota. He focuses on career transitions, work performance, and creating compelling life plans. As a consultant, Dennis works as an organizational strategist and change agent to small and mid-sized organizations in Minnesota.

Date: Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Time: 6 - 9 p.m.
Place: 1200 Red Fox Road, Arden Hills, MN 55112

Cost: $75
CEUs: .30
Registration Code: PDP110

Questions? Call 651.635.8000.
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WINNING GRANTS TO STRENGTHEN YOUR MINISTRY
Is there grant funding available for your ministry? If so, how can I get it? Get tips from Joy Skegstad, a 20-year veteran grantwriter and author of Winning Grants to Strengthen Your Ministry (Alban Institute, 2007).

Ideal Learners:

Pastors, ministry staff, or volunteers interested in securing grant funding for a church congregation or other ministry organization.

You will:

Learn how to find potential funders
Gain an understanding of how funders think
Build a case statement for your ministry
Discuss how to approach "secular" funders as a ministry organization
Learn how to put together a winning grant proposal

Presenter:
Joy Skjegstad is a national speaker and consultant on nonprofit management and ministry issues. She had 20 years of experience starting and growing nonprofit organizations, serving in both staff and board positions. She has served as the Executive Director of the Park Avenue Foundation at Park Avenue United Methodist Church and as the President of Sanctuary Community Development Corporation at Sanctuary Covenant Church. She is the author of Winning Grants to Strengthen Your Ministry (Alban Institute, 2007), and Starting a Nonprofit at Your Church (Alban Institute, 2002).

Date: Thursday, April 24, 2008
Time: 9 a.m. - noon
Place: 1200 Red Fox Road, Arden Hills, MN 55112

Cost: $75
CEUs: .30
Registration Code: PDP308
Questions? Call 651.635.8000.
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