How to Win and Manage a Customized Job Training Grant – A Case Study
Unique case study webinar will show you how to plan, fund and manage your own Customized Job Training program: Thursday, January 21, 2010, 2:00 pm 

Interview Q and A with Don Nakamoto:

Q: What appealed to you about HDC?
A: "We knew there was a severe shortage of qualified digital artists and digital animators. We kept hearing from so many local companies that they could not find enough qualified people and it was effecting their production.

Q: What did you try other than HDC?
A: "We did individual training, but the training vendors had to be certified by the state. It was rare to find vendors that wanted to go through that bureaucratic process. That was a hit-or-miss situation and it was a very basic type of training whereas HDC was targeted at a much higher level of training with a higher level of existing skills"

Q: How difficult is it to put something like HDC together from your end?
A: It's a pretty substantial amount of work on our end, but it's not enough to discourage us from doing it if we're totally behind it.

Q: What advice would you give someone at another WIB about customized training proposals?
A: You have to have documentation that there will be a job at the end of the line. This is probably the most critical thing.

The other thing is that the curriculum has to be relevant to the job.

Q: What about challenges along the way?

A: As far as pitfalls; This can be difficult because you're dealing with bureaucracy, laws, regulations; and so forth. You're dealing with a process that has so many uncertainties that you have to be able to adjust.

Q: Assuming you have all your ducks in a row, is it really worth the trouble? Would you do customized training again?
A: Yes we would definitely take the risk again and we're doing something similar with our stimulus money. 90% or more of the time we decide to go forward because the end result turns out to be so worthwhile."

Sande Scoredos with the lead employer, Sony Pictures  Imageworks, had this to say:

Q: What did you like about HDC?
A: “It gave us a chance to hire people from a source we otherwise didn't have."

Q: Did the assessment part of the program take up much of your time?
A: "The assessments didn't take up that much time and were well worth it."

Q: What was it like working with the other employers?:
A: "That worked out great. Everyone seemed pleased"

Q: Was further training necessary:
A: "Only the proprietary training we have to give any new hires."

Q: Overall, how did it workout? Would you do it again?
A: "The students were well trained and have worked well. We hired two people that have been with us for 12 years, now. We would definitely consider doing something like that again."

For more information about customized job training programs, contact Richard Katz at HRMS: rkatz@hrms.net