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The Dallas Post
Dallas, PA
Wednesday, July 22, 1998 >
Offset, Penn State enter in
unique training partnership
By RONALD BARTIZEK
Post Staff
DALLAS - Forming a unique
relationship, Penn State Wilkes-
Barre and Offset Paperback Manu-
facturers have launched a
workforce training partnership in
which all employee education at
the plant will be managed by Penn
State Wilkes-Barre.
“We've made a big-time com-
mitment to training,” said Ken
Getz, Offset’s personnel manager.
“But it was time to step back and
say, ‘Maybe someone from an edu-
cation background should do
this’.”
As part of an effort to achieve
coveted International Standards
Organization (ISO) certification,
Offset built a training and educa-
‘tion center in a separate building
behind the main plant. But it
became apparent that training
sometimes distracted employees
from the work of printing 300
million paperback books a year.
~~ “Itbecomes extremely demand-
ing,” Getz said. He gave computer
training as an example, in which
it wasn’t unusual for Offset train-
ers to find it difficult to keep up
“We've made a
big-time commitment
to training.”
Ken Getz
Personnel Manager,
Offset Paperback
with changing hardware and soft-
ware, even as they were charged
with showing others how to work
it. As a result, the company hired
an outside trainer a couple of
years ago who can teach a mixed
group of employees two or three
programs at once.
Training is a key aspect of
achieving ISO certification, a de-
manding process that forces a
company to institute systems to
assure a consistently high quality
product or service. “You must say
what you'll do, and do what you
say,” Getz said. “It's extensive.”
Now, Penn State will take over
management of all training in the
plant. “A big part of that job is
assessment” of what training is
required, Getz said.
“Penn State will be responsible
for determining what the training
needs are for all 700 Offset em-
ployees,” said Janet Rosenbaum,
Penn State continuing education
representative who will adminis-
ter the program.
Offset has contracted with Penn
State since 1983 to provide man-
agement training and other ser-
vices. Arecent program was more
extensive; Penn State assessed
the need for training of mid-level
managers in-1994, and produced
a training schedule that went
through 1996, Rosenbaum said.
The difference now will be that
Penn State will plan and manage
all training, functions that in the
past were handled by Offset’s
Human Resources Department.
Until now, most of Penn State’s
contribution has been in man-
agement training — such as ses-
sions dealing with supervision,
planning and communication —
but the university will now coor-
dinate other education resources.
For example, Luzerne County
Community College developed a
computer graphics program for
Offset, and its use will be man-
aged by Penn State.
Getz said the company solic-
ited proposals from other colleges,
Churches are
"Hooked on Jesus"
“Hooked on Jesus” was the
‘ theme for this year's Ecumenical
Vacation Bible School held re-
_ cently at Shavertown United Meth-
*odist Church and sponsored in
vpart by St. Paul's Lutheran
i Church, Shavertown.
~~ More than 80 children and
‘youth participated in the week-
-day morning program centered
on the Beatitudes and kicked off
‘with a picnic on Sunday after-
‘noon. The site-based lessons were
“presented in such places as “Com-
fort Cove”, “Belief Reef” and “Pa-
(tience Peer” where they enjoyed
snacks, games, and crafts using
‘the fishing theme. The children
‘were assisted by more than 25
‘adults.
The mission emphasis benefit-
‘ted the “Rikki Sue Shotwell Fund.”
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POST PHOTO/RON BARTIZEK
‘Patrolman Martin Maransky of the Kingston Twp. police department stretched a yellow police line
"across the entrance to Luzerne National Bank Friday. The branch was closed the rest of the day for a
‘robbery investigation.
Shopping Trip fo
King of Prussia Mall
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eT e———
Traiting fousther: shown at the Offset Paperback plant in Dallas to announce a training partnership,
from left, Ken Getz, Offset Personnel Manager; Adam C. Crahall, Offset Director of Human Resources;
Dr. Mary Hines, CEO, Penn State Wilkes-Barre; Joseph Makarewicz, Offset Executive Vice President;
Ina K. Lubin, Penn State Director of Continuing Education; Janet Rosenbaum, Penn State Continuing
Education Representative; Michael J. Gallagher, Offset CEO and President.
- but felt Penn State offered the
best overall program, and ex-
pressed a willingness to provide
the best training, no matter what
the source.
Penn State is already working
to develop training resources, and
Rosenbaum has been in contact
with Dr. William Roswell, a main
campus professor and author of
several training and development
Robbery
(continued from page 1)
the thief is being circulated. He is
described at a white male, ap-
proximately 6’ tall, with a thin
build.
Leandri said the:bank holds
regular meetings on security, and
employees are retrained every few
months. “The staff acted accord-
ing to our guidelines,” he said.
Leandri said the main office in
Luzerne was held up about four
years ago, and the thief was cap-
tured within a couple of days.
George Maculloch, branch
manager, said most bank robber-
ies are solved, but arrests usually
get much less exposure than rob-
beries. He cited a robbery at an-
other bank earlier this year, in
which the thief turned himself in
a few days later in Pottsville. The
robbery was reported in the news,
but the arrest was not.
4
SHACKUS
MAXIMUS
(great food!)
ET
texts. Rosenbaum said training
will be tied to specific pusmess
objectives.
“It is a very unique project for
Penn State to be involved in,” said
Ina Lubin, director of continuing
education. A full-time Penn State
employee will work at Offset to
implement the program.
Rosenbaum will administer the
partnership from her office at the
Lehman campus.
“It's a brand new position,”
Rosenbaum said. The job was’
posted at Penn State last week,
and is being advertised. The aim
is to fill the position by late Au-
gust.
The Penn State/Offset agree-
ment began July 1, and is renew-
able annually.
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2
696-1128
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