CNY BEST AWARDS

SYRACUSE — The following are the winners of the fourth Annual CNY BEST Learning and Performance Awards, presented by the Central New York Chapter of the American Society for Training & Development (CNY ASTD) at an awards ceremony on Thursday, June 7.

The awards recognize excellence in learning and performance practices in the region.  The program honors organizations, internships, consultants, and individuals who have linked learning to strategic growth or success through a demonstrated commitment to helping employees enhance their skills and continue learning. 

  LEARNING AND PERFORMANCE INDIVIDUAL 

- Christy Rohmer

Christy Rohmer is senior business professional instructor at New Horizons Computer Learning Center of Syracuse & Rochester. This award recognizes contributions to internal or external customers’ learning progress or success. Rohmer saw a need for, developed, delivered, and fine-tuned a new Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Designer Workflow Workshop, which is now offered as part of New Horizons’ training schedule. The judges complimented Rohmer “on taking the initiative to develop and successfully execute a program that benefits external and internal clients with significant measurable results.”

  CONSULTANT

- Dale Sherman, EnergyWright,  Inc.

The consultant recognized for helping link learning to clients’ strategic growth or success was Dale Sherman, EnergyWright, Inc., for its Zonal Pressure Diagnostics House. EnergyWright is a Manlius–based energy education and design consulting company that designs and manufactures innovative instructional props to support energy efficiency and green-technology curriculum. The judges acknowledged EnergyWright’s “creative idea that positively impacts learning efficiency.”

  INTERNSHIP

- LaFayette Big Picture School

LaFayette Big Picture School was recognized for its “Real Learning Internships,” which  provide internship opportunities for college or high-school students. At LaFayette Big Picture School, internships enable students to improve their education and personal growth while addressing their interests, passion, and curiosity with personalized learning plans under the guidance of school advisers and work-force mentors. The judges noted that these internships were “an integral part of their students’ education, preparing them well for their post-high school lives.” 

  ORGANIZATIONS 

  (not-for-profit)

- Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University

The Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University was recognized for linking learning for its internal and external stakeholders to the organization’s strategic growth and success for its Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities and Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans’ Families. The aim of the program is to open the door to economic opportunity for veterans and their families by developing their competencies in the many steps and activities associated with creating and sustaining an entrepreneurial venture. The judges commented on how this program “highly enhanced the performance of its graduates.”

  ORGANIZATIONS 

  (for-profit)

- Oneida Nation Enterprises, LLC

- Saab Sensis Corporation

- SavOn, LLC

Three for-profit organizations were recognized for linking employee learning to their organization’s strategic growth or success.

Oneida Nation Enterprises, LLC received the Organization Sapphire Award for its “Leading Through Learning: The Leader Learning Circle program,” which was designed to teach core leadership skills and create personal accountability for applying these skills on the job. Using the book “Monday Morning Leadership: 8 Mentoring Sessions You Can’t Afford to Miss,” by David Cottrell, as its basis, leaders are accountable for setting goals each week to change one of their own behaviors as it relates to the book. The judges called it a “very simple, yet well thought-out program with impressive results.” 

Saab Sensis Corporation received the Organization Emerald Award for its “Listening to Learners” program. The Saab Sensis training group undertook a challenge to improve student satisfaction, and training effectiveness while maintaining the organization’s cost-reduction strategies. It conducted a front-end analysis and acquired insights by reviewing student surveys, observing classroom behaviors, assessing students’ cultural backgrounds, and asking for ways to improve existing training. Outcomes included increased student engagement, enhanced development of skills and knowledge, and a re-engineering of training design that has improved the effectiveness of training. The judges mentioned the “high degree of commitment to providing and sustaining high-quality learning outcomes.”

The CNY BEST Learning and Performance Organization Diamond Award recognized SavOn, LLC for its “Exceptional Customer Service: Shopping for the BEST!” program. When through observation and customer focus groups, SavOn learned that its main competitive advantage was low cost versus its competition, which rated highly on customer service, it knew it needed to make changes to remain competitive.  In response, SavOn launched a customer-service training and mystery-shopper program. The judges’ observations included: “a well-designed program covering performance, culture, and rewards with successful results,” and a “strong link between training practices and positive individual and overall company results.”

In addition to recognizing excellence in learning and performance practices, CNY ASTD awarded the first annual CNY ASTD John Burns Memorial Scholarship Awards to Krista Bartlett and Steven DeHart. ASTD established the scholarship program to encourage and support continuing education and professional development in the field of work-force learning and performance. The awards are named in honor of CNY ASTD’s 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award winner John Burns.

The keynote speaker for this year’s CNY BEST Learning and Performance Awards ceremony was Jeffrey M. Stonecash, Syracuse University Maxwell professor of political science, who discussed managing the future work force. Stonecash highlighted the importance of having a work-force development system that includes training, incentive management, and a policy infrastructure.       

SYRACUSE — The following are the winners of the fourth Annual CNY BEST Learning and Performance Awards, presented by the Central New York Chapter of the American Society for Training & Development (CNY ASTD) at an awards ceremony on Thursday, June 7.

The awards recognize excellence in learning and performance practices in the region.  The program honors organizations, internships, consultants, and individuals who have linked learning to strategic growth or success through a demonstrated commitment to helping employees enhance their skills and continue learning. 

  LEARNING AND PERFORMANCE INDIVIDUAL 

- Christy Rohmer

Christy Rohmer is senior business professional instructor at New Horizons Computer Learning Center of Syracuse & Rochester. This award recognizes contributions to internal or external customers’ learning progress or success. Rohmer saw a need for, developed, delivered, and fine-tuned a new Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Designer Workflow Workshop, which is now offered as part of New Horizons’ training schedule. The judges complimented Rohmer “on taking the initiative to develop and successfully execute a program that benefits external and internal clients with significant measurable results.”

  CONSULTANT

- Dale Sherman, EnergyWright,  Inc.

The consultant recognized for helping link learning to clients’ strategic growth or success was Dale Sherman, EnergyWright, Inc., for its Zonal Pressure Diagnostics House. EnergyWright is a Manlius–based energy education and design consulting company that designs and manufactures innovative instructional props to support energy efficiency and green-technology curriculum. The judges acknowledged EnergyWright’s “creative idea that positively impacts learning efficiency.”

  INTERNSHIP

- LaFayette Big Picture School

LaFayette Big Picture School was recognized for its “Real Learning Internships,” which  provide internship opportunities for college or high-school students. At LaFayette Big Picture School, internships enable students to improve their education and personal growth while addressing their interests, passion, and curiosity with personalized learning plans under the guidance of school advisers and work-force mentors. The judges noted that these internships were “an integral part of their students’ education, preparing them well for their post-high school lives.” 

  ORGANIZATIONS 

  (not-for-profit)

- Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University

The Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University was recognized for linking learning for its internal and external stakeholders to the organization’s strategic growth and success for its Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities and Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans’ Families. The aim of the program is to open the door to economic opportunity for veterans and their families by developing their competencies in the many steps and activities associated with creating and sustaining an entrepreneurial venture. The judges commented on how this program “highly enhanced the performance of its graduates.”

  ORGANIZATIONS 

  (for-profit)

- Oneida Nation Enterprises, LLC

- Saab Sensis Corporation

- SavOn, LLC

Three for-profit organizations were recognized for linking employee learning to their organization’s strategic growth or success.

Oneida Nation Enterprises, LLC received the Organization Sapphire Award for its “Leading Through Learning: The Leader Learning Circle program,” which was designed to teach core leadership skills and create personal accountability for applying these skills on the job. Using the book “Monday Morning Leadership: 8 Mentoring Sessions You Can’t Afford to Miss,” by David Cottrell, as its basis, leaders are accountable for setting goals each week to change one of their own behaviors as it relates to the book. The judges called it a “very simple, yet well thought-out program with impressive results.” 

Saab Sensis Corporation received the Organization Emerald Award for its “Listening to Learners” program. The Saab Sensis training group undertook a challenge to improve student satisfaction, and training effectiveness while maintaining the organization’s cost-reduction strategies. It conducted a front-end analysis and acquired insights by reviewing student surveys, observing classroom behaviors, assessing students’ cultural backgrounds, and asking for ways to improve existing training. Outcomes included increased student engagement, enhanced development of skills and knowledge, and a re-engineering of training design that has improved the effectiveness of training. The judges mentioned the “high degree of commitment to providing and sustaining high-quality learning outcomes.”

The CNY BEST Learning and Performance Organization Diamond Award recognized SavOn, LLC for its “Exceptional Customer Service: Shopping for the BEST!” program. When through observation and customer focus groups, SavOn learned that its main competitive advantage was low cost versus its competition, which rated highly on customer service, it knew it needed to make changes to remain competitive.  In response, SavOn launched a customer-service training and mystery-shopper program. The judges’ observations included: “a well-designed program covering performance, culture, and rewards with successful results,” and a “strong link between training practices and positive individual and overall company results.”

In addition to recognizing excellence in learning and performance practices, CNY ASTD awarded the first annual CNY ASTD John Burns Memorial Scholarship Awards to Krista Bartlett and Steven DeHart. ASTD established the scholarship program to encourage and support continuing education and professional development in the field of work-force learning and performance. The awards are named in honor of CNY ASTD’s 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award winner John Burns.

The keynote speaker for this year’s CNY BEST Learning and Performance Awards ceremony was Jeffrey M. Stonecash, Syracuse University Maxwell professor of political science, who discussed managing the future work force. Stonecash highlighted the importance of having a work-force development system that includes training, incentive management, and a policy infrastructure.