In her shoes…success lives on through a loving gesture

By: Lori Stone, APR, Director of Business Operations & Communications

Center for Business Excellence

As I’ve mentioned in previous blog posts, community involvement is extremely important to me. My philosophy is simple. How can we expect to sustain and improve our world if we aren’t personally willing to help make it a better place?

In honoring my commitment, I shared a recent experience with a couple of my Junior League friends. We were at the Junior League’s new Thrift Store location (1757 N. Nova Road, Holly Hill) assisting a CBE customer in choosing a base wardrobe of career clothing for a new job.

In the midst of this exciting and emotional time, a gentleman came to the Junior League Thrift Store with a carload of clothing to donate. My friends quickly assisted him, carrying in shoebox after shoebox and bag after bag of professional women’s attire.

As it turned out, these items were his wife’s, who recently passed away. His wife wanted someone else to benefit from her beautiful career clothing and get a leg up in life literally in her shoes.

The gentleman was obviously choked up. We thanked him and he drove away. As we began to sort through the shoes and clothing, we each started to notice how meticulous every item was handled.

Each pair of shoes was rewrapped in tissue and cardboard as if they had never been worn. Each shirt was expertly folded better than any Gap tee shirt. It was as if this gentleman wanted to show one last loving gesture towards his beloved wife – treating her belongings like the treasure she must have been.

So, where did we go from this? Well, we all know the circle of life must continue. After pausing a bit to reflect and ponder on how great this woman must have been and what her day-to-day life was like, we continued sorting. The clothing will proudly join the new and gently used donated items earmarked at the Junior League Thrift Store for its special “Back on Track” program.

The CBE teamed up with the Junior League Thrift Store to provide the “Back on Track” program, which helps get women back into the workplace through outfitting them with appropriate workplace clothing.

In an effort to support this program, the Junior League is always in need of gently used and new professional women’s attire, shoes, accessories, etc. Professional clothing can be pants, shirts, skirts, suits, etc.

If you or your organization can assist us with this project and make a clothing donation, please contact me at loristone@cbe-fvc.org for more information.

If you are a CBE job-seeking customer, inquire about how you may qualify for this program at your local One-Stop Employment Center.

Would you be a Super Star employee?

We’ve all listed such terms as effective oral and written communication on our resumes. And problem solving . . . adaptability . . . analyzing information.
But did you ever think that words like curiosity and imagination on your resume could catch an employer’s eye.
In his best seller, “The Global Achievement Gap: Why Even Our Best Schools Don't Teach The New Survival Skills Our Children Need — And What We Can Do About It,” Tony Wagner says there are seven crucial skills employers should look for when hiring. Curiosity and imagination are No. 7.
Both jobseekers and employers have different ideas about the crucial skills needed in today’s job market. Some experts say managing and dealing with change is perhaps the most important talent anyone can have today. And that means you have to be able to think.
What’s No. 1 on the crucial skills list? Critical thinking and problem solving are the first skills employers should look for in a job candidate.
Do you have those skills?

A Great Opportunity

How would you like an opportunity to tell businesses why they should open up shop in the Daytona Beach area? Well, here’s your chance.

Then post your personal video of Why Daytona? at The Great American Destination
Here’s your opportunity to tell the world that we have more than great beaches and easy access to the theme parks in Orlando. We also have

 Top notch schools (Stetson, UCF, BCU, DSC, etc.)
 34 state parks close by
 7 museums in Volusia county, more close by
 Theatre, both community and professional
 Quality restaurants
 Nightlife

Even if you didn’t participate in the Flash Mob event, you can still post a video about why you chose the Daytona area and all the great things the area has to offer.

If you’re not sure what to say, go to the site and watch some of the videos that others have posted.

Learn Online With No Cost Vouchers

As a jobseeker, do you have updated computer skills? Many employers are looking for proficiency in Microsoft® Office Excel, Word and PowerPoint or other programs. And those in the IT field need to be current in their areas of expertise.
The Center for Business Excellence/One Stop Employment System can help. No cost Microsoft® Digital Access vouchers for online computer training are available for eligible customers. The E-Learning Courses are designed to be taken at your own pace wherever you use a computer and have Internet access. Computers are not available at the One-Stop offices for these courses.
Vouchers also are available for certification exams to be taken at area testing sites. There will be an exam proctoring fee, determined by each testing center, which may be covered by CBE/One-Stop. Gas cards may be available for traveling to testing sites.

Vouchers are available for:
Microsoft® Office 2007 online courses: Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint and Access
Microsoft® Office 2007 Certification Exams for Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint and Access
Microsoft® IT Technical online courses for server products, operating systems etc.
Microsoft ® IT Professional Certification exams for technical courses

Are you eligible?
To participate, you must be able to answer yes to one of the following criteria:
• Be unemployed and/or laid off through no fault of your own
• Be underemployed
• Be receiving public assistance
You also must be proficient at using a computer.

If you feel you meet eligibility requirements, please send an email to digitalaccess@cbe-fvc.org indicating the type of voucher you would like and your telephone number. You will be contacted with further details. For more information, call (386) 323-0004.

Why we love Daytona – the great American destination

By: Lori Stone, APR, Director of Business Operations & Communications

Center for Business Excellence

There are many reasons people end up living long-term in an area. Maybe, they were born and raised there. Perhaps, a job or schooling brought them there. Could be their car broke down during a journey and they decided to stay in the unfamiliar city.

As part of the recent Flash Mob efforts, we decided to ask area residents to share with the world why they love Daytona – and when we say Daytona, we mean the greater metro area to include Volusia and Flagler Counties.

I shared my thoughts on the subject through a video which can be viewed by following this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrPRD4dSxmo

If you’d like to see and hear what others have to say or upload a video of your own, visit: http://thegreatamericandestination.com/

Once you are there, click on the click here link in the text to the right of the Flash Mob crowd photo and just below the official Flash Mob video. If you want to share your story, click on the share your story link and follow the directions.

You Know What Needs to Be Done.

Are you having trouble reaching some of your goals? Don't worry, most of us have that same problem.
Why can we succeed easily at times and yet have difficulty at other times accomplishing what we want to do?
Is it because we all have different talents?
In fact, researchers suggest that successful people reach their goals because of what they do, not simply because of who they are.
And you can use the same principal, such as replacing bad habits with good ones.
According to a Harvard Business Review blog, if you're a realistic optimist and work on strengthing your "willpower muscle," you too can accomplish your goals. That can apply to finding a job, improving your life or losing weight, among other things.


Here are some ways successful people meet their goals.

Trouble Acing Interviews?

By: Darlene Duncan. CWDP. JSS, CCC
Training Coordinator for
Training Initiatives, Inc.

Having trouble acing those interviews? If so, you need to read this article on the 15 toughest interview questions. It includes ideas on how to answer and how not to answer them.

Click here for article.