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Program offers shot at good jobs
(Omaha World-Herald (NE) (KRT) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Jul. 15--Fifty north Omahans will get a shot at full-time insurance company jobs in a new training program the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce is announcing today.
This project has a twofold aim: to fill a worker shortage and address chronic poverty and double-digit unemployment in northeast Omaha.
Participants who complete five months of classroom and life-skills training will be eligible for call center, customer service jobs paying between $23,000 and $40,000 a year at Mutual of Omaha and Blue Cross/Blue Shield.
"Jobs are extremely important -- particularly to a community looking to rebuild itself and get back to where it once was," said Ed Cochran, who is leading the chamber's North Omaha Redevelopment Project.
This job training program is one of the first products of the chamber-led project, which aims to provide an economic lift to an area bounded by 52nd and 16th Streets and Cuming Street and Sorensen Parkway.
The chamber last year launched a study, held community meetings and identified specific locations within the north Omaha study area for business development. While the chamber is courting companies to set up shop in north Omaha, it is also looking for ways to cultivate career opportunities for north Omaha residents.
Cochran said the chamber hopes this training program can become a model for other employers that can provide for career growth and ultimately a path out of poverty.
Metropolitan Community College is hosting the full-time training program at its Fort Omaha campus and will be the backdrop for today's 8 a.m. press conference.
Goodwill Industries will recruit applicants and provide support through two job coaches assigned to the group.
The job coaches will be on hand for 18 months to help participants stay on the job and overcome barriers that have kept them out of work in the past.
"This is something that, if we do it right, we're going to be reaping the benefits for a long time," said Sam Dickson, corporate account manager at Metro. "These are people who love to work and hate being on welfare but the problem is they haven't had the tools."
The 16-week Metro training program will offer classes on keyboarding, customer service and such basic job skills as being punctual and accepting criticism from a boss. Those who complete the program will receive a customer service specialist diploma with 26 transferable college credits.
Then they will get first crack at 20 jobs at Blue Cross/Blue Shield's call center, which is moving to 120th and Blondo Streets, and 30 jobs at Mutual's midtown campus.
What's in it for the insurance companies, which in addition to providing the jobs are contributing financially to the enterprise?
"No. 1, we've got the jobs and we're growing and we need the skilled labor," said Liz Mazzotta, vice president of human resources at Mutual, which has 100 open customer service positions, including many in management.
"It's really an innovative program and one we are thrilled to be a part of," said Celann LaGreca, vice president of community investment and special counsel to the chief executive officer at Blue Cross/Blue Shield.
Both companies say their jobs require more than telemarketing skills. Workers must be able to respond to customer inquiries regarding complex insurance policies.
Those who succeed in a call center can move up within a company through career-track programs. Both Mutual and Blue Cross/Blue Shield offer tuition reimbursement to employees seeking higher education.
Applicants must live in one of the following ZIP codes: 68104, 68110, 68111, 68112 and 68152.
They must have completed high school and meet certain job-specific and income criteria.
Despite the chamber's push to get jobs for ex-offenders, these insurance jobs are not open to people with felony convictions. Applicants with misdemeanor convictions will be considered on a case-by-case basis and all must pass drug screens.
Applications will be available at Mutual of Omaha, Blue Cross/Blue Shielf, Goodwill and a number of community agencies.
Applicants will be selected by Aug. 25. Training runs from Sept. 8 through Jan. 30. Hiring is expected to start Feb. 1.
Wendy Boyer, vice president of education and workforce development, said the chamber envisions expanding the program to the fields of transportation, distribution, warehousing and logistics, health, information technology and advanced manufacturing and trades.
--Contact the writer: 444-1136, erin.grace@owh.com
To see more of the Omaha World-Herald, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.omaha.com.
Copyright (c) 2008, Omaha World-Herald, Neb.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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