Page 50 - BizVoice September/October 2012

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Indiana Companies to Watch
50
BizVoice
/Indiana Chamber –
September/October 2012
speak up when there are things that are threatening…”
Offers Wolfe: “Health care is a huge concern for us, no question. Not just because you’re in
the device business, but from an employee standpoint. I mean, it’s a huge national problem.”
Mind the gap
A capable workforce can make or break an organization. Indiana’s higher education system
is turning out well-educated graduates, but even that doesn’t quell the
major issue holding some companies back: a labor force lacking skills
or professionalism.
“We’re finding a huge gap in soft skills; people that are showing
up for job interviews in sweat pants,” Nolan declares.
“We’ve actually partnered with several local universities – Harrison
College, Brown Mackie, Ivy Tech and some others are getting
involved – and it’s helping students realize that when they go into the
workforce, what may have been acceptable (at home or in school) is
not the norm in the professional business world.
“Get a shave and a haircut and be on time,” Nolan continues,
“and if you’re going to be late (to an interview), life happens, use
technology and not a text message. Make a phone call; send an e-mail: ‘This has
come up.’ We can work with that.”
Getting students and schools to focus on the practical applications of
degrees would help, Wolfe believes.
“They do have that degree, but are they trained and ready to go now and do
they have the skill level? Or are they somebody that we’re going to have to bring in and take the
sociology degree or whatever the degree is that is more theoretical and put that into a more
practical (setting),” he remarks.
“If you’re going to
own your own
business, you have to
be a Type A. You’ve
got to be absolutely
motivated and driven
and have a motivation
that runs probably twice as
hard as anyone else.”
Jon Nolan
Nolan Security & Investigations
FDC Graphic Films, Inc. is the national leader in
same-day shipment of specialty films and media for
sign, vehicle and point-of-purchase advertising.
3820 William Richardson Drive, South Bend, Indiana 46628
|
800-634-7523
|
E-mail: fdcfilms@fdcfilms.com
|
www.fdcfilms.com