Employers Invited To Business Breakfast To Learn About New Organizational Leadership Program, Quarterly Business Forum‏

Blue Bell, PA —Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) invites employers to a free Business Breakfast on Thursday, April 21 from 8:30-10:30 a.m. in College Hall at the Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell.

During the breakfast, employers will learn about how their employees’ experience and training may qualify for Prior Learning Assessment (PLA), which can translate into college credits as part of MCCC’s new Professional and Organizational Leadership certificate programs.

“Our new Leadership certificates have been designed with the working adult in mind, with credits dedicated to support Prior Learning Assessment opportunities and to recognize relevant training and professional experiences,” shared Theresa Sullivan, assistant professor of Office Management.  “These stackable programs emphasize competencies such as leadership, analytics, conflict resolution and negotiation, which are needed to support a wide variety of industries.  We want to help employers and students connect their professional experiences to educational credentials.”

According to the 2014 Global Human Capital Trends Survey, more than 2,500 business and human resources leaders cited leadership as their top talent issue, with 86 percent rating it as an urgent or important need. However, only 13 percent responded that their organizations do an excellent job of developing leaders at all levels.

By offering a new Organizational Leadership Certificate program, MCCC looks to partner with regional businesses to help them develop talent and leadership qualities among employees.

“Montgomery County Community College offers pathways to credentials that can save employers and their staff time and money. These opportunities strengthen workforce retention and morale,” explained Denise Collins, manager of the U.S. Department of Labor Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) grant at MCCC.

Employers who participate in the breakfast will also be introduced to the College’s new business forum, “Business Quarterly at Montgomery County Community College.” University of Pennsylvania Men’s Basketball Coach Steve Donahue will offer a motivational address on the importance of team training and coaching to kick off this exciting new business networking opportunity.

The Business Breakfast is free and is open to all employers in the region. However, space is limited. Registrations will be accepted on a first come, first served basis through April 15. For more information and to register, contact Denise Collins at dcollins@mc3.edu or 215-619-7313.

MCCC Medical Billing And Coding Class Opens Door To Rewarding Career‏

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Montgomery County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Blue Bell, Pa.— Holly Gately, Audubon, found a new career—one that she’s “excited” about—in the growing field of medical billing and coding thanks to Montgomery County Community College.

“I was a 30-something year old mother whose children were all in school for the first time. I had no career or post-secondary education,” shared Gately, who, like many adult students, was nervous about going back to school.

“I talked about it with my family and decided to try this new career. I registered for class and got my books. My life was changed. This was a path I could get excited about,” she said.

MCCC’s Medical Billing and Coding course—funded in part by the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) grant from the U.S. Department of Labor and offered through the Commonwealth’s JobTrakPA program—is designed for those who want to begin medical billing and coding careers or prepare for certification examinations. The course teaches students the principles of medical coding using the health industry coding manuals of CPT, ICD-9 and ICD-10 and HCPCS.

“It wasn’t always easy to get all the homework and studying done with family [obligations], but I thrived. I excelled in the course and was given the opportunity to extern for a billing company,” said Gately, who completed the course among the top in her class.

Gately went on to pass the rigorous Certified Professional Coder (CPC) Exam on her first try, and she is currently employed in a billing and coding position with an ophthalmology practice.

“I am so glad that I decided to take a chance on a new path. I have a new career, self confidence, amazing people that I now call friends, and, most of all, I have pride in knowing that I accomplished something big and wonderful,” she said.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook cites that careers in medical records and health information technology are expected to grow by 22 percent through 2022—11 percent higher than the average occupation growth rate.

Registration is going on now for the next Medical Building and Coding cohort at MCCC. The class will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-10 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (with a one hour break for lunch) starting Dec. 2 and running through Feb. 17 at the College’s Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. Tuition is $1,350.

For more information about JobTrakPA programs at Montgomery County Community College, visit http://www.mc3.edu/workforcedevelopment/jobtrak, call the JobTrakPA hotline at 215-461-1468 or email jobtrakpa@mc3.edu.