Nuvox Case Study

Now that we've talked about the public offering, we also spoke about the consulting side that we provide to companies, this is a perfect opportunity to introduce our next guest which is Sonya Cantrell from Nuvox Corporation here in Greenville. Sonya is a corporate training manager with Nuvox and we had an opportunity, Carol, of course to go out and meet with Sonya to assess her training needs, if you will. We were able to put together a customized program based on her needs. Why don't you tell us a little bit about that. Welcome, Sonya, first of all.

Thank you, Wendy.

Well, the core of what we were doing for Sonya and for Nuvox, really was built around Nuvox's university. That's their corporate identity and the entity where they encapsulate all of the training that the company wishes to offer all of the employees. They have a very capable structure in place. So I thought we'd talk a little bit about the structure, why they're doing what they're doing. That type of thing, and let you get a flavor for what Sonya's company is doing to address leadership issues.

Great. Sonya, what stimulated you to request leadership training from our company - or for your company basically?
We'd grown - in May of 2004, New South Communications and Nuvox Communications merged and became a much larger company. We had highly technical managers in the company, but many of them had not been through any formal leadership training.

Great. Now, why did you choose what you did? The courses, of course, is based and your personal needs within your organization, but why did you choose the offerings that you did?

Oh, I talked to managers throughout the company to help me determine what the need exactly was. We wanted training customized for our most pressing needs - not just "out of the box" options. I talked to several companies who offered training programs and I found that Greenville Tech could meet all of our requirements. They were very flexible and helpful with customizing the courses for us and meeting our timeframe.
Great. Wonderful. Tell us about some of the results of the classes that your organization went through at Greenville Tech.
Well, I definitely feel that we are a much stronger company as a result of the training. I really have seen managers become leaders instead of just going through the motions that maintain the status quo in administering day to day. They're doing more planning and developing of their people - which is very important. The feedback has been very positive. The instructors we've had at Greenville Tech have been just right.
Well, we appreciate the partnership that we developed with Nuvox, of course. It's just a wonderful program and we're just happy that we're able to bring these classes to you. And we're just happy that you could be here to share your success stories with us.

Thank you for having me. I appreciate it.

Carol, is they are anything else that you'd like to share with us about the leadership program ?

Well, yes, Wendy. I think one thing that is important to remember about our leadership programs at the Center is that they are flexible, they are highly customizable. That we can set up a timeframe and we can meet the company's needs with regard not only to the topics, but also with timing and structuring the classes - if you need afternoon and evening classes. We can even do those kinds of things.

That's a good point.
The flexibility is really the key to meeting the needs of the client.

That's a good point, Carol, because we're finding more with demand of the corporate world today that people are having the need to go and take courses on line as well as the classroom setting. That's a really good point.

We can do that also. The online offerings are growing by leaps and bounds and so - again - not only in terms of the individual but from a corporate perspective. We can address the needs of just about anyone.

There's one thing we need to point out, too. We are continuing - we are always continuing to develop more leadership courses and offerings.

Absolutely.

Depending on whatever it is - the company that's coming to town or an existing company - we're always looking to see what it is that we have out in a portfolio or that we don't have an offering and give to the company to meet the needs.

Right, to meet the needs of the client. So part of my job as a program manager at the Buck Mickel Center is to keep an eye out for those topics and look for those new things to offer and listen to the companies when they talk about their needs.

That's right.

So, that's how we get the information that we need in order to continually develop and cultivate the offerings that we can bring to the table.
Carol, of someone is interested in learning more about the leadership program that we talked about today, what is the best way for them to do so?
They can call 250 - 8800. That is the primary number for the Buck Mickel Center and they can ask for me - for Carol Beckman - and I'll be glad to talk with them about any course - an individual or a company.

Or they can also request a catalogue which we would be happy to send out to them. Or they can also go to our web site which is www.gtbmc.com.


Great. Thank you for being a guest today and sharing your success stories and we're happy we're able to meet the needs and Carol.


Thanks very much.

You're welcome. Carol, thank you for being our guest also.

Thank you.