Excel Together New Mexico

"Since 2008 National Oilwell Varco or NOV has invested roughly $70 Million in internal training programs. We now recognize that we are pretty good at developing and delivering the technical side of things, however, we have found that upon completion of the training, some of our workforce continues to struggle with retaining their newly gained knowledge and how to best apply new concepts. The end result is technically competent employees that perform at an average level, or as [SeeMore Impact Labs] puts it, a C level.

Within our own internal courses or the training grants there has been very little focus on soft skills, in particular how to improve in areas of critical thinking and problem solving. These skills are essential elements to NOV as we aim to develop a workforce that is empowered, can solve problems effectively and efficiently, and possess the critical thinking skills that lead to innovation and higher performance levels.

To address these areas of need we turned to CSM. Feedback from our pilot tests has confirmed that CSM has the potential to help us achieve our workforce objectives by providing and excellent foundation for critical thinking and problem solving.

Our workforce ranges from middle school graduates with GED’s to advanced degree holders with various skill levels, so development of internal training programs has been challenging based on the individual ability to learn. CSM understands that individuals learn differently and provides the flexibility to use alternative training methods to achieve the goals.

Our pilot group has indicated that CSM teaches in a manner that is non-threatening and less frustrating with a strong focus on persistence, attention to detail and improved knowledge retention. In short, it teaches our workers how to learn.

Our hope is that the partnership with CSM will result in a more confident, self-reliant workforce that is more soft skill competent and has a changed mindset from “Getting the job done” to “Getting the job done more effectively and efficiently” and that NOV will ultimately benefit with improved quality and reduced cost in our products and services."

"The restaurant industry welcomes people from every corner of our society, with diverse educational foundations. And many of the employees who join the industry are ill-equipped with some of the basic math, reading, and critical thinking skills it takes to achieve the next rung on the ladder. A lack of proficiency in these areas can go undetected during an employee's early tenure. And if detected too late, they may miss the opportunity to realize their full potential.

CSM provides a valuable tool for assessing and strengthening the proficiency of employees at all levels of the organization. As an employer, one can have absolute confidence that a team member who has successfully completed the CSM course will have a solid foundation upon which to build thr job-specific knowledge and skills. If allowed to permeate an organization, it has the potential to affect the team culture, and strengthen the foundation of the enterprise.

The team at [SeeMore Impact Labs] has put together a great program that will benefit not only a company, but society as a whole."

"The CSM Course has a proven record of helping people develop the skills and confidence necessary for real-world problem solving. The program, for youth and adults of all backgrounds and education levels helps create high-performing individuals... CEWD is proud to partner with CSM to help prepare future employees for the energy sector.”

Missy Henriksen, Executive Director, Center for Energy Workforce Development

"What I like most about CSM is the rigor, focus and consistency of the instructional model.  Rigor, focus and consistency are three pillars of success in most workforce development programs, but certainly a requirement in advanced manufacturing where I am working today at Safran Aerospace.  Our employees need to read for information and comprehend math in order to be efficient and effective problem solvers.  I find that completing CSM is a great indicator of a future star in our company."

Sean Hoeing, Organizational Development Manager, Safran Aerospace