Don Holtvoigt from JR Manufacturing Speaks to Tri Star CBI Students

Tri Star CBI classes would like to thank Human Resources Director Don Holtvoigt from JR Manufacturing in Fort Recovery. Mr. Holtvoigt talked about the many opportunities at JR Manufacturing. They believe that attracting and retaining the highest quality of people is the best insurance of their success. 

Many topics were covered including skill set requirements, work rates, attitudes, absenteeism, laws and responsibilities. JR Manufacturing and Mr. Holtvoigt have been great supporters of Tri Star! Thank you again for coming to speak to our classes!!

CBI Tri Star Mock Interview Day - Dress For Success!

CBI Tri Star students prepared for future job interviews through a Mock Interview Practice Day. Students took turns role playing as the interviewer and being the interviewee. Each student was given over thirty questions to ask each other.

To prepare, all students had to:
1. Research a company
2. Prepare answers to interviewer questions
3. Dress for success

All CBI Tri Star students were evaluated based on:
1. Initial meeting - handshake, introduction
2. Physical behaviors - good posture, eye contact, etc.
3. Answering questions - speaking in complete sentences, eliminating slang, etc.
4. Questions asked of the Interviewer - Asked questions, appropriateness
5. Closing the interview - handshake, thanking the interviewer by name

Students in all classes did AWESOME! Tri Star teachers and staff were very impressed with these fine young men and women.

Crown Equipment Corp. Human Resources Director Rebecca Ungruhn Visits CBI Tri Star

Rebecca Ungruhn from Crown Equipment Corp.

Tri Star Career Compact's CBI class would like to thank Crown Equipment Corp. Human Resources Director Rebecca Ungruhn for discussing career opportunities at Crown. 

Ms. Ungruhn presenting to CBI TriStar students

In the next 10 years, Crown will be losing 25% of their workforce due to retirements. There has never been such a need for good workers who get along with others, show up for work every day and are willing to learn. Tri Star students look forward to filling some of these in demand positions. 

Thanks Rebecca for an outstanding presentation!

Reynolds & Reynolds Employees Speak to CBI Tri Star Students

Reynolds & Reynolds Employees visit CBI TriStar

Tri Star Career Compact CBI class would like to thank Reynolds & Reynolds employees Dennis Hirt, Ron Rodriquez, and Marie Weitzel for speaking about career opportunities. The Celina plant has a wide variety of positions available such as manufacturing, customer service, graphic design and more. 

Dennis Hirt, Human Resources Director from Reynolds & Reynolds

This year over 100 Tri Star students have learned about career options at Reynolds & Reynolds. They currently employ over 450 employees work at the Celina plant and two CBI students started their careers last year! Tri Star is making a difference!!

CBI Tri Star Students Commit to the Armed Forces

Sergeant Matt C. Bordenkircher from the US Army Addressing CBI Tri Star Students

Sergeant Matt C. Bordenkircher from the United States Army talked to Tri Star CBI students today about the benefits fo the Army. He stressed that you can see the world, get help paying for college, make money, and become more disciplined on what you want to do in life.

Tri Star CBI class has several young men & women who will serve our country after graduation. We are very proud of them and wish them the best of luck. Pictured are students who have committed or considering the United States military.

Theresa Brackman from Marion Local HS

Anthony Martin from Celina HS

Isaac Daniel and Caleb Kraner from Celina HS

Theresa Brackman - Navy prospect - Marion Local HS

Anthony Martin - Army enlisted - Celina HS

Isaac Daniel - Army enlisted - Celina HS

Caleb Kraner - Army enlisted - Celina HS

Speaker from International Business College

International Business College representative LaDonna Sims talked to Career Based Intervention students about etiquette and why it is important in the working world and life. 

LaDonna Sims discusses business etiquette

Ms. Sims does an outstanding job interacting with the students, making sure they understand why proper etiquette is important. Tri Star and CBI students would like to thank Ms. Sims for a fun, informative and educational presentation!

John Austin from Ohio Technical College

John Austin from the Ohio Technical College gave a presentation about careers that are in great demand in Ohio. 

John Austin from Ohio Technical College

Mr. Austin uses magic and humor to help students understand the difference between a job and career. Tri Star & Career Based Intervention would like to thank Mr. Austin for his time!

CBI Tri Star Student Makes Reynolds & Reynolds History

Elizabeth Suhr and Cassie Vondenhueval

Tri Star CBI students Elizabeth Suhr and Cassie Vondenhuevel both worked for Reynolds and Reynolds while they were still in high school. According to Dennis Hirt, Personnel Director at Reynolds, both young ladies have done an outstanding job.

Reynolds and Reynolds employs over 300 people and has been part of the local community for over 100 years. In that time, they had never employed anyone who was 17 years old, but Cassie Vondenhuevel was the first. Because she was in a vocational class (CBI) through Tri Star, she could work for Reynolds and gain valuable work experience while making good money at the same time.

Tri Star is very proud of these two CBI students!

Shout Out to Mr. Hirschfeld

Mr. Hirschfeld, Celina High School Assistant Principal

Tri Star and CBI would like to thank Celina High School Assistant Principal Mr. Clinton Hirschfeld for visiting the CBI classes and explaining the 2-hour delay policies and procedures, transportation forms, and parking privileges.

Without the patience and understanding of Mr. Hirschfeld and Mr. Metz, Celina High School Principal, the CBI program would not be as successful as it is currently.  The Celina High School teachers should also receive a lot of credit for working with the CBI students to ensure students can attend work on those 2-hour delay days.

Our local companies throughout Mercer and Auglaize Counties appreciate all of the support that the local school principals and administrators provide.

Two CBI Students Achieve Level One Firefighting Certification

Garret Winget (left), Ethan Laffin (right)

Ethan Laffin during training

Garret Winget and Ethan Laffin, two Celina CBI Tri Star students, are not only certified welders, but also took the initiative to become Level One Firefighters. Both students showed their commitment and dedication by working full time jobs and attended training classes at night. Tri Star is very proud of these two fine young men! Congratulations!

Darke/Auglaize/Mercer Twenty Under Twenty Banquet

Don Berry, CBI Instructor, Garret Winget, and Mr. Dues, of Duesway Manufacturing

Tri Star Career Compact Student Garret Winget was recently recognized at the Darke, Auglaize, Mercer “Twenty Under Twenty” Banquet held at Romers in St. Henry, Ohio.

This outstanding student was honored for his accomplishments and for having worked collaboratively through career training and other career development activities. 

Garret is a certified welder through the 90 hour welding course sponsored by the West Central Ohio Workforce Development Initiative (WCOWDI), and he is a Certified Level 1 Firefighter after completing the training program this spring.

Garret was also CBI Student of the Year for 2015-2016, along with classmate Colin Homan of Marion Local.

The purpose of this new initiative is to connect education and business to help secure a skilled workforce. Our region has witnessed a shortage of skilled workers and this group is working to encourage and support mentoring, part-time work, job shadowing, internships, co-op programs and other business partnerships.

2015-2016 Seniors CBI Students Graduation Plans

Tri Star Career Compact would like to honor seniors from the 1st period CBI class in Celina. These students meet at the Education Complex and are required to have a job & work an average of 15 hours per week. Students and future plans include:

Maddy Cline -Celina- Rhodes State - Occupational Therapy Asst
Sarah Ross - Celina-WSU-Lake - Early Childhood Education
Colin Homan -Marion Local- Mike's Sanitation
Mitchell Brubaker-Celina-Ohio Tech College-Welding & Fabrication
Rose Flore-Celina0WSU-Lake-Criminal Justice, Forensics
Garret Winget -Celina - Duesway Inc.
Mitchell Franzer - St. Henry - Workforce - Crown
Ethan Laffin-Celina- Klosterman Concrete/EMT paramedic school
Zach Rieger - Celina- WSU-Lake - Kerns Chevrolet

Tri Star Career Compact would like to honor seniors from the 2nd period CBI class in Celina. These students meet at the Education Complex and required to have a job & work an average of 15 hours per week. Students and future plans include:

Hunter Wycuff -Celina- Duesway Inc. - Welder
Mackenzie Cromwell-Celina-Paul Mitchell School of Make Up
Mark Clausen-Celina-Hocking Technical College- Science
Brianna Schulte-Celina-Paul Mitchell School of Make Up
Cassie Vondenhuevel- Celina - Reynolds & Reynolds (fulltime)
Libby Suhr-Celina - Reynolds & Reynolds (fulltime)
Haley McGillvary - Celina - WSU-Lake - Nursing
Callie Vogel - Celina - UNOH
Alissa Post - Celina - Walterbush Farms (fulltime)
Lindsey Yaney - Celina - Workforce

Lidea Bowersock - Celina - Celina Manor - Rhodes State-Nursing
Dylan Colllins - Celina - Florence Livestock - Meat inspector

CBI Students Graduate from Local Welding School

Local Welding Program Reaches Milestone

CBI students Junior Mejia and Mitchell Brubaker with Josh Hough, instructor

Career Based Intervention student, Mitchell Brubaker, interviewing with Crown

Recently the partners of the West Central Ohio Workforce Development Initiative (WCOWDI) celebrated reaching a milestone.  After 12 sessions, the welding program has now exceeded 100 candidates who have benefitted from improving their skillset.

The celebration was held at the Tri Star Dennings Building in St. Marys.  When asked about their experience in the welding course, all of the candidates stated the program exceeded their expectations.

“By partnering with Tri Star, we are able to provide another avenue for high school students, adults and incumbent workers to obtain an in-demand skill”, said  Angela Hamberg, the WCOWDI coordinator. “For this session, we offered several of the seats to high school seniors”, added Hamberg. 

The 2-year Tri Star Career Compact career tech welding program (for high school students) typically fills up leaving some on a waiting list.  Mitchell Brubaker, a Tri Star Career Based student and WDI candidate commented “I was on the waiting list for the Tri Star welding program”.  He was thrilled to be able to given a second opportunity to learn to weld during his high school career. “I did not know one thing about welding, but this (WCOWDI) program has encouraged me to further my education.”  Brubaker said that he has been accepted to Ohio Technical College in Cleveland and is looking forward to how his newly obtained skill can help him in the future.

As part of the celebration, local companies were invited to participate in an interview process with the candidates.  Companies like Crown Equipment Corporation, Kinninger Production Welding and Nidec-Minster saw benefit in connecting with these newly trained individuals.  “I was impressed.”, said Renea Woeste of Crown Equipment Corporation.  “The students are motivated and have a good work ethic.” 

A few of the students are currently enrolled in the Tri Star Ag Mechanics program.  Many local companies seek students who have hands-on mechanical ability.  Adding the welding training certification increases their marketability for their future.  Jacob Hamblin, a Tri Star Ag Mechanics student and WDI candidate, commented, “I like to tinker with things.  Welding and mechanics go hand-in-hand”.  Hamblin is considering continuing his education at Hobart Institute.  He likes the hands-on approach and learning from experts in the field.  The hands-on approach is what he liked the most about the WDI welding program.

“Students (like this) are a perfect fit for our assembly or remanufacturing area” stated Nidec-Minster HR Manager, Brian Styer.  “I made some good connections”, added Styer.

“Our first training program began in January of 2012 with the intention of helping local companies fill positions that were going unfilled, due to lack of skills. The silver lining has been when we hear about the difference the short-term training has made in a candidate's life and career opportunities. It is very rewarding and worthy of celebrating.”, stated Hamberg.

Submitted by Angela Hamberg on March 31, 2016 at www.newbremen.com/blog

Saving, Goals, and Saving for the Future

2nd period CBI class

2nd period CBI class

Haley McGillvary and Libby Suhr

Blake Norton, Macenzie Cromwell, Gerardo Delgado

Students are learning how compound interest works by using their cell phone's calculator. They were also being taught many valuable skills dealing with discretionary income, interest, securities, money market accounts work, and annual percentage yield (APY).

Cassie Vondenhuevel, Chelsie Mobley, Mark Clausen, Braden Williams and Lidea Bowersock

Callie Vogel

Tanner Freeman and Dylan Collins

Mackenzie Lyle, Alissa Post, Lindsey Yaney

Students were asked to describe different purposes of saving. They had to explain how money grows through compound interest and list and describe the financial institutions where the can save money. The students asked many questions because saving for the future is something we all must do.

Wright State University-Lake Campus Exploration Academy

Tri Career Compact’s Career Based Intervention teachers, Don Berry and Scott Albers were presenters at the annual Exploration Academy held at Wright State University-Lake Campus.   Freshman students from Minster, New Bremen, and New Knoxville schools attend the event to hear about careers from local professionals and to learn what sort of training, skills or education would be required to enter a specific career field.  Mr. Berry and Mr. Albers presented information on the soft skills needed for employment. 

Mr. Berry discussing Soft Skills

Mr. Phil Schumann visits Celina CBI Class

Tri Star Career Compact would like to thank Mr. Phil Schumann for taking time out of his busy schedule to speak to our Celina CBI students! Topics included credit scores, compound interest, mortgages, cyber safety, types of accounts and much more. Thanks Phil and Superior Federal Credit Union for helping us educate our young adults! This information is something they need to learn now, before they graduate!   Mr. Schumann is also a member of the CBI Advisory Board.  

                           Thank you so much, Mr. Schumann!

CBI TriStar Classes

CBI TriStar 1st Period

CBI TriStar 2nd Period

The Dab - 2nd Period

Checking Accounts and Other Banking Services

Students learned how to write checks, balance checkbooks, and take care of other banking services. These are important life skills that many students are never taught. Students are always happy to learn these important skills that will make their lives easier in the future!

Theresa Brackman

Marshall Carter

Colin Homan

Rose Flore, Taylor May, Sarah Ross, and Madison Cline

Olivia Chilcoat

Zach Reiger and Austin Boeckman

Career Planning for Life After High School

At the end of the school year, all CBI students will leave class with a career plan. The career plan is a blueprint of the steps that they need to follow to achieve their goals after high school. Many students want to pursue a license or a college education, but they aren't sure how to make it happen. CBI addresses the steps to take, offering the students a concrete plan to follow.

Some students are planning to attend four year colleges, two year colleges, entering the military, or earning a license or certificate in a trade area. Some students plan to begin working directly out of high school. Regardless, all students will leave CBI knowing the steps they need to take, and how to take them.

Elizabeth Barnes 

Madison Cline and Rose Flore working with Mr. Berry

Austin Boeckman and Zach Reiger