Talent Development Classes

Where AI Actually Pays Off

AI is everywhere – but where does it truly make a difference? This lunch-hour session is for business owners, executives, managers, board members, and local decision-makers who are trying to separate practical AI value from hype. Discover practical ways AI can save time, improve communication, support planning, or reduce repetitive work. Through real-world examples, you’ll learn how to spot AI opportunities in your own role and identify ways to put it work.

Wednesday, September 16
11:00 a.m. – Noon • Online Live/Stevens Point Downtown Campus
Class ID#: 982 (Online) 983 (In-person)
Course Fee: $25 • Instructor: Brent Presley

The Change Leader’s Toolkit: Coaching, ADKAR & Navigating Team Emotions

This engaging, practice-focused course equips leaders to understand their own change style, recognize how others experience change, and coach teams through the emotional, behavioral, and practical challenges that come with organizational transitions. Drawing from the Change Style Indicator (Conserver, Pragmatist, Originator) and the ADKAR Model, participants build insight into how different personalities respond to change and learn targeted strategies to support awareness, desire, knowledge, ability, and reinforcement.

By the end of the session, participants leave with actionable coaching techniques, a deeper understanding of their own tendencies, and a toolkit for leading individuals and teams through change with clarity, empathy, and confidence. *Course cost includes the Change Style Indicator Assessment.

Tuesday, September 22
8:30 – 11:30 a.m. • Online Live/Stevens Point Downtown Campus
Class ID#: 1010 (Online) 1009 (In-person)
Course Fee: $45 • Instructor: Janene Beck-Hafner

Entrepreneurial Success Strategies

This course guides aspiring entrepreneurs through the process of transforming a business idea into a fully developed business plan. Throughout this course, learners will create each component of a comprehensive business plan tailored to their unique goals. This class will feature a variety of guest speakers that will share their experiences and expertise on that week's topic.

Successful Completion of this course is required in order for participants to apply for the Heart of Wisconsin Chamber - Heart Tank Grant.

Thursdays, September 24 - November 19
6:00 – 9:00 p.m. • Heart of Wisconsin Chamber-Wisconsin Rapids
Class ID#: 883 • Course Fee: $250
Instructor: Jeff Ebel

Naloxone Overdose Prevention Training

This training will provide the skills needed to administer nasal Naloxone. It will cover how to recognize the signs of an opioid overdose and administer the reversal drug Naloxone.

Thursday, October 1
Noon – 1:30 p.m. • SIM Center, Aspirus Riverview Hospital Wisconsin Rapids
Class ID#: 884 • Course Fee: $0
Instructor: Ashley Normington - Wood County Health Department

Monday, October 5
3:00 – 4:30 p.m. • Marshfield Campus
Class ID#: 913 • Course Fee: $0
Instructor: Ashley Normington - Wood County Health Department

Retention by Design: Everyday Leadership That Makes People Stay

This practical, people-centered course helps leaders strengthen employee engagement, experience, retention, and organizational culture by focusing on the everyday leadership behaviors that matter most. Participants explore the core elements of engagement—meaningful work, positive environment, and individual value—and learn how each contributes to long-term retention and a thriving workplace.

Through discussion, reflection, and real-world examples, participants learn how to motivate and inspire others, practice empathy, communicate with clarity, and lead with vulnerability and courage. They leave with actionable tools to strengthen team connection, elevate employee experience, and build a culture where people want to stay, grow, and contribute.

Tuesday, October 13
8:30 – 11:30 a.m. • Online Live/Stevens Point Downtown Campus
Class ID#: 1012 (Online) 1011 (In-person)
Course Fee: $40 • Instructor: Janene Beck-Hafner

Bring a Process, Leave with an AI Action Plan

Have a task or workflow that feels slow, repetitive, or time-consuming? Bring a real process from your workplace and discover whether AI can help improve it. In this interactive class, you’ll learn how to evaluate where AI adds value, identify potential risks, measure success, and create a practical 30- day pilot plan that you can begin using right away.

Wednesday, October 14
9:00 – 11:00 a.m. • Online Live/Stevens Point Downtown Campus
Class ID#: 965 (Online) 966 (In-person)
Course Fee: $45 • Instructor: Brent Presley

Conversational Spanish

Work on your Spanish! This slightly more advanced beginning course will add on to your current Spanish vocabulary. You will practice introductory conversations and descriptions, describe family members and their favorite pastimes, give details about your day-to-day routine, and describe future plans. Haven’t had Spanish in a while? It’s OK! We will practice what you have learned before and add to it.

Wednesdays, October 14 - November 18
6:00 – 7:30 p.m. • Online
Class ID#: 974 • Course Fee: $56
Instructor: Jasmine Parry

Leadership & Followership: Responsible Use of Power to Influence

This course explores the dynamic relationship between leadership, followership, and the responsible use of power to influence others. In this session we will examine leadership as a process of influence rather than position, title, or authority, and discover why effective leadership requires engaged and empowered followers. Through interactive discussions, self-assessments, and real-world examples, learners will explore the different sources of power, and how they can be used ethically to build trust, inspire action, develop others, and achieve shared goals. Whether you are leading teams, a team member, emerging leader, or community volunteer, this continuing education course will provide practical tools for strengthening your ability to influence positively, cultivate meaningful relationships, and lead with integrity.

Wednesday, October 21
1:30 – 3:30 p.m. • Adams Campus
Class ID#: 914 • Course Fee: $40
Instructor: Ted Melby

Mental Health First Aid Certificate

Just as CPR helps you assist an individual having a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis. In the Mental Health First Aid course, you learn risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns, strategies for how to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations, and where to turn for help. The opportunity to practice — through role plays, scenarios, and activities — makes it easier to apply these skills in a real-life situation. Mental Health First Aid teaches about recovery and resiliency – the belief that individuals experiencing these challenges can and do get better and use their strengths to stay well.

Thursday, November 5
8:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m. • Stevens Point Downtown Campus
Class ID#: 975 • Course Fee: $99
Instructor: Michelle Stromme

Website for Small Business

Having a web presence is essential for any small business in the modern economy. This course is designed to help you develop, understand, and optimize your website. Whether you are starting from scratch or just looking to update or add features to an existing website, this course is for you. Students will start by learning some of the strategies of successful web design and will end with an opportunity for some time for hands-on work with web programming. Students will also explore website monetization and transaction management so you can start selling online. No prior programming experience necessary! This course will benefit students of all experience levels.

Thursdays, November 5 and 12
5:30 – 7:30 p.m. • Online Live/Stevens Point Downtown Campus
Class ID#: 976 (Online) 977 (In-person)
Course Fee: $120 • Instructor: Brent Presley

Building Stronger Teams with Identity, Motivation & Emotional Awareness

This course teaches practical, human-centered strategies to strengthen how teams connect, communicate, and support one another—especially during stress, change, or high-pressure moments. Participants learn how team identity, shared purpose, and simple daily rituals can create a sense of belonging and stability. They explore motivation-boosting habits such as celebrating progress, using “we language,” recognizing strengths, and building small wins that energize the whole group.

By the end, community members walk away with practical tools to improve teamwork, communication, empathy, and resilience—creating environments where people feel connected, supported, and empowered to transform challenges from the inside out.

Tuesday, November 10
8:30 – 11:30 a.m. • Online Live/Stevens Point Downtown Campus
Class ID#: 1014 (Online) 1013 (In-person)
Course Fee: $40 • Instructor: Janene Beck-Hafner

Using AI Responsibly in Public Service

Using AI Responsibly in Public Service has the potential to improve services, save time, and increase efficiency—but it also comes with important responsibilities. Designed for local government, libraries, schools, workforce agencies, nonprofits, and other public-facing organizations, this class focuses on practical guidelines for using AI safely and ethically. Learn where AI can help, where it should not be used, where human oversight is essential, how to protect sensitive information, maintain accessibility, and how to create an escalation path when something goes wrong.

Wednesday, November 18
9:00 – 11:00 a.m. • Online Live/Stevens Point Downtown Campus
Class ID#: 980 (Online) 981 (In-person)
Course Fee: $45 • Instructor: Brent Presley

Everyday AI for Beginners

This introductory course offers an exploration of artificial intelligence and its growing influence on everyday life and work. Participants will gain a foundational understanding of AI concepts, discover real-world applications, and engage with AI technologies through interactive activities and demonstrations. The course emphasizes practical skills for leveraging AI to enhance workplace productivity and personal efficiency, using popular tools such as CoPilot, ChatGPT, and Gemini. No prior technical knowledge is required—just curiosity and a desire to learn!

Wednesday, November 18
5:30 – 7:30 p.m. • Marshfield Campus
Class ID#: 973 • Course Fee: $45
Instructor: Brent Presley