Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 30 : Fall 2016 | Page 19

Employer U: the MMG
Center for Professional
Development
by Kim Jones, UMPI Employer U Director
The University of Maine at Presque Isle is a bustling
place. Every day, throngs of people scurry around
campus attending classes, workshops, meetings,
sporting events, art exhibits, lectures, concerts, and
other academic and enrichment activities. Students,
residents, and visitors of all ages routinely gather in
every corner of this vibrant community within a
community.

that in mind, they paved the way for discussions to
take place between University and business leadership
that ultimately resulted in a fantastic solution to the
training space and programing need.

After several months of planning, a generous $50,000
donation from MMG, a $10,000 grant from the
Maine Community Foundation, and human and
financial contributions from the university, UMPI
With this surge in activity, however, comes a challenge opened its new, state-of-the-art space devoted to
–– finding space to put everyone and everything. It’s professional training in September 2016.
a great problem to have though. While our everexpanding campus calendar presents some very real Named the “MMG Center for Professional
logistical and scheduling hurdles, it’s also a sign that Development”, the new facility features some of the
UMPI is a vital hub for educational, social, cultural, most impressive video conferencing and interactive
and professional activities in our region. But soon technology available today. This opens up a vast array
after launching Employer U in 2015, it became of continuing education possibilities, some of which
apparent that adequate training space was needed if are already being realized. For example, through
our workforce development program was going to Employer U, the University of Southern Maine
flourish. Fortunately, a solution was already in the has begun transmitting its risk management course
to the Presque Isle campus. With MMG Center
works.
technology, students can fully interact with the USM
As it turns out, other area employers were facing a professor and Portland-based students in real time,
similar challenge in finding easily accessible, readily through high definition video and crystal-clear audio.
available, and fully “wired” (more on that in a minute) In addition to streaming in programs from other
space for employee training. One organization, sources, UMPI faculty and Employer U instructors
in particular, took a lead role in addressing this will also be sending out content to reach audiences in
need – MMG Insurance. With their headquarters other areas.
in Presque Isle, MMG leadership recognized the
importance of having local professional development In addition to having the latest technology, the MMG
opportunities and options not only for their staff, but Center has furniture and equipment that can be
for the economic wellness of the entire region. With easily reconfigured to promote multiple instructional
methods and room layouts. The 1000-squareFALL 2016

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