2 area chambers of commerce collaborate on training

Pottstown >> The TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance are coming together to offer professional development training opportunities for tri-county area employees.

The modules will be conducted by trainers provided by the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance, and held in the Pottstown office of the TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce.

It is an opportunity Eileen Dautrich, president of the TriCounty Area Chamber, finds exciting.

“They (Greater Reading Chamber Alliance) reached out to us looking for an opportunity to expand the reach of their educational options and come into the tri-county region,” Dautrich said in an interview. “They brought us a turnkey program — it’s ready to go.”

Dautrich added that the TriCounty Area chamber does not have the staff to create a curriculum for training programs like this – programs she sees as being an added benefit for chamber members.

“This is something we can’t do, but if our members can benefit, then we welcome the opportunity,” Dautrich added. “We are connectors — this is another way to connect to something that isn’t something we can do internally. Here we have access and want to do it.” She added that it’s an option that allows companies to send employees for training — without going too far away.

The first session that will be offered is a Supervisor Certificate Program, which consists of three modules. It is designed to provide new and prospective supervisors with the foundation needed to excel in today’s work environment.

The Supervisor Certificate Program offers curriculum not just for training employees, but for developing them to meet company goals.

Dates and topics for the first module include:

• Feb. 8 - The Supervisor’s Role in Management

• Feb. 15 - Understanding Yourself and Others (DISC)

• Feb. 22 - Communication and Listening

• Mar. 1 - Understanding Groups and Developing Teams

• Mar. 8 - Emotional Intelligence Part 1

• Mar. 15 - Emotional Intelligence Part 2

The second and third modules will be held later in the spring. Each session will be held from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce office, 152 E. High St., Suite 360, Pottstown.

The cost of the program is $545 per chamber member for the six-week Module 1, and $695 per non-member. All three modules need to be completed to earn the certificate.

Dautrich said this first offering will be a “trial.”

“It’s a test for us. We might find it’s too expensive, or too much of a commitment — we don’t know,” she said. “We’re excited because this gives us the chance to have discussions and offer more in the future. We’re excited to see where it goes.”

For more information about the TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce visit www.tricountyareachamber.com/ . For more information about the professional development training option contact Tarra James, events and marketing director for the TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce at 610-326-2900 or via email at Tarra@tricountyareachamber.com

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