MicroTek Celebrates 20 Years

November 11, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

MICROTEK CELEBRATES 20 YEARS

CHICAGO, IL (November 2011) - MicroTek is pleased to announce that October 29, 2011 marked its 20^th anniversary. Established in 1991, as a training facility broker, MicroTek is now the leading single-source provider of business training delivery solutions.

Don Slivensky, Chief Executive Officer of MicroTek, founded the company [MicroTek] in 1991 and invented a niche industry. His growth plan has taken MicroTek from its initial facility in San Francisco, to the largest network of facilities and services in North America. MicroTek’s phenomenal growth is reflected in achieving the prestigious recognition of earning a position on the Inc. 500|5000 [America's Fastest-Growing, Private Companies] a total of six times.

“I truly appreciate all the support I have gotten through the past twenty years. Things have worked out well for MicroTek. An immense amount of hard work and a lot of good luck combined together to make great things happen,” said Don Slivensky, CEO of MicroTek. “The past twenty years have been great and I am very confident of MicroTek’s future, I anticipate us having another twenty successful years.”

Since 1991, MicroTek has grown through expansion, acquisition and market share to become a leading training facility provider, worldwide.

“For a company to make it five years, ten years, let alone twenty, not even considering what we have seen in the last several years with the economy, this is in itself a huge accomplishment,” commented Mark Clausen, President of MicroTek. “I am very confident in the group that we have here [at MicroTek] and our position in the marketplace, there are a lot of exciting opportunities in MicroTek’s future.”

 

ABOUT MICROTEK
As the leading single-source provider of business training delivery services, MicroTek excels at providing training classrooms (both traditional and virtual), course materials, expert instructors, logistical support and technical assistance for complex projects and meetings. For more information on MicroTek’s business learning solutions, please look around our website or follow us on Twitter @delivertraining.

 

Seven Strategies to Increase the Value of Training

By: Doug Harward, Training Industry, Inc., April 15, 2011

Maybe it’s happening at your company. The pressure on training leaders to improve how their organizations are valued inside the company continues to increase. All too often, training organizations are not aligned with the organization’s business objectives. Executive mandates are requiring change. Training leaders must learn how to replace time-honored academic models with a new business oriented strategy aimed at creating sustainable value for companies.So what can training leaders do to change how their organizations are viewed? And how do they increase the value they provide to their constituents? Here are seven concrete actions you can take to better align training with your business goals.

Please note that these actions require you to break the paradigm of traditional, non-strategic, academic thinking. For that reason, you won’t find familiar bromides such as Reduce the Cost of Training. We’re past that. I promise that if you follow one or more of these tips, you will create sustainable value for your business and gain valuable respect for organization.

1. Leverage external resources. No single organization owns all of the knowledge that their business and customer base needs. Your primary role is to leverage externally available knowledge by bringing it in-house for the organization’s benefit. Resources should also be leveraged when possible. For example, external facilities like classroom space can make a good economic alternative to maintaining real estate in-house. Similarly, content development companies can help create excellent courseware on demand, relieving organizations of the fixed expense of instructional designers. This process is often referred to as “Re-engineering the Supply Chain for Learning”. Some call it outsourcing training services. The bottom line, do what you do best and let others do what they do best, and take advantage of the cost savings when available.
2. Think globally, act locally. It’s important to realize that your company is part of a vast economic marketplace, one that utilizes resources available from around the globe. If yours is a multinational company, you no doubt conduct training events in many countries and languages. Just as you regard your training obligations from an international perspective, you should also consider the value achieved by global sourcing of training related services. Be sure to translate and culturally localize material to the specific audience you are serving.

   Create a global learning strategy and deploy it using local talent. One of the biggest mistakes I’ve seen organizations make is to deliver leadership training to European or Asian employees using North American talent. Leadership styles are different and don’t always translate directly. Be conscious of using local talent for local training.

3. Get closer to marketing. Companies today spend more money to train their customers than they do their employees. Why? Because marketers know the value of knowledgeable customers to the bottom line. The common denominator between the training organization and the marketing department – we are both in the business to influence behavior. We use the same technologies, the same techniques, and often the same tools to perform our jobs. Both of us use the Internet and media to deliver our message. We should work together to leverage cost. Meet with your marketing executives to see how your organization can leverage product knowledge services to drive new revenues for the business. Start thinking like a marketing executive and see how you can drive business for the company. A great example is how Clinique created a ‘training’ program teaching potential customers how to apply their products at the point of sale. They leveraged the necessary intelligence of how to use their products into a useful service which teaches customers to use the product, ultimately creating a more satisfied customer.
4. Simulate real working conditions. Effective training is not about sending someone into a classroom and thinking it will change their behavior. Education may be good for the classroom, but training is best done by doing. We learn best by actually performing a specific activity, by failing to do it correctly and learning from our mistakes. By simulating the actual working environment, training executives create valuable learning opportunities for employees, customers, and suppliers. Fortunately, new learning technologies have created more simulation opportunities than ever before, and at affordable prices. Effective training means using them to your advantage. If airplane pilots can learn to handle the most risky and dangerous situations in flight simulators, maybe it makes sense for your business.
5. Rationalize portfolios and consolidate vendors. Quit doing the stuff that doesn’t matter. If courses have no value to your business, get rid of them. By the same token, don’t engage multiple vendors for the same program. That’s wasteful. Begin by classifying training activities based on their strategic value to the business. I suggest doing it on a scale ranging from low strategic and low proprietary endeavors (like desktop training) to high strategic and proprietary ones (such as process and product training). If the program is of low strategic value and low proprietary value, STOP DOING IT! Rationalize and consolidate accordingly.
6. Provide all-time access to information. As any younger employee will tell you, the work day is no longer a 9-to-5 existence. E-mail, Blackberries and the Internet are integral tools that have created a new freedom in time and place. This includes training, which needs to serve a client base that’s not interested in attending a classroom event for a learning exercise that could be delivered portably, and on the learner’s own schedule. This generation is accustomed to finding information when they need it. Think about supplementing your structured learning programs by providing real time access to knowledge based information.
7. Leverage intellectual capital into knowledge products. The marketplace for intellectual capital is exploding before our eyes with amazing new technologies and products arriving daily to serve us better. IP is now a product in itself – not just information that manifests itself into products. As leaders of learning services, we have a responsibility to seek ways to create additional value for our company by introducing ways to leverage the organization’s knowledge into products or services the company can take to market. A great example is how Cisco provides training certification programs on technologies such as VOIP. Another example is how Pearson Learning Solutions leverages the books and materials they publish into training programs for their authors. Doing so creates new revenue streams and greater value for the business.

No, there is no magic in the number Seven. I’m sure there are other creative steps that training executives could take, and I welcome those suggestions. If you know of any other proven initiatives, please share them by sending me a note. You can email me at dharward@trainingindustry.com.

 

Doug Noll

Sr. Manager

MicroTek -Training Solutions Simplified

dougn@mclabs.com

703-369-2471

1101 Vermont Ave. NW

Washington, DC 20005

 

 

Let Us Help You Prepare to Learn.

 

As the industry’s leading single-source provider of business education facilities and delivery services, MicroTek offers flexible, scalable and customizable meeting and training solutions. From worldwide classroom rentals to expert technical assistance, MicroTek can help you deliver a superior training or meeting that your attendees will always remember.

MicroTek Fast Facts

• Founded in 1991 by CEO Don Slivensky
• Grown from a single training site in San Francisco to a global services company
• Boasts the largest network of locations and services in the world
• Offers facilities in all major U.S. and international cities
• Provides a complete range of integrated business education services
• Ensures the comprehensive delivery of our clients’ training events

Discover how our depth of capabilities and breadth of reach will create the right solution for you now – and into the future.

Outstanding Clients. Exceptional Results.

Our experience, ability, and full range of solutions have made us the partner of choice for companies all over the world including IBM, Network Associates, PeopleSoft, Dell, Deloitte & Touche, E*Trade, and over 2,000 other names you know.

Isn’t it time to add yours to the list?

Ready to Train? Let’s Get Started.

 

Customize Our Services. Maximize Your Event.

No need for MicroTek’s full lineup of solutions? No problem. Simply choose just the features you want. It’s a cost-effective, flexible way to make sure you’re fully-optimized for your next big event.

Browse our list of services:

• Student Accommodations
• Courseware Printing & Delivery
• Instructors & Moderators
• Advanced Training Technology
• Testing & Learning Analytics
• Event Registration
• Virtual Training

MicroTek makes training enjoyable, efficient and effective.

Know exactly what you need? Still have no idea? No problem!

See more at: http://www.mclabs.com/training-services/all-services.aspx

 

MICROTEK ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF CLASSROOMS UNLIMITED

MicroTek acquires Classrooms Unlimited – expanding their facility network and gaining market share.

CHICAGO, IL (July 2011) - MicroTek, a leading single-source provider of business training delivery solutions, announces the acquisition of Classrooms Unlimited. Classrooms Unlimited is a global event broker for high quality event and training room rental facilities, based in Mesa, Arizona.

MicroTek expands their reach once again through a new network of facilities – providing customers more classrooms across the globe. The acquisition of Classrooms Unlimited allows MicroTek to be the premier training room provider in the industry by bringing a world-class network of training facilities to even more customers.

“We are very enthusiastic about this acquisition and the opportunity to continue to build on MicroTek’s record of outstanding success,” commented Mark Clausen, President of MicroTek. “The acquisition of Classrooms Unlimited significantly strengthens our presence and recognition with key customers.”

The investment in Classrooms Unlimited is another example of MicroTek’s growth strategy and overall commitment to evolve, through strategic acquisitions and strong internal growth as the industry consolidates. Classrooms Unlimited’s clients and network of facilities enhance MicroTek’s opportunities to advance in the industry.

“My customers will benefit from the additional training delivery services and expansive high quality facility network MicroTek has to offer,” commented Tim Colberg, Owner of Classrooms Unlimited.

Beginning immediately, Classrooms Unlimited will begin to transition their customer’s events into the MicroTek facility network.

 

ABOUT CLASSROOMS UNLIMITED
Ensuring your attendees the ultimate training experience, Classrooms Unlimited provides high quality training and meeting rooms for companies of all sizes. Classrooms Unlimited responds directly to your training needs by delivering exceptional customer service, competitive pricing, and a single point of contact for all your reservation, billing, training and event requests. Visit http://www.classrooms4u.comfor more information.

ABOUT MICROTEK
As the leading single-source provider of business training delivery services, MicroTek excels at providing training classrooms (both traditional and virtual), course materials, expert instructors, logistical support and technical assistance for complex projects and meetings. For more information on MicroTek’s business learning solutions, please look around our websiteor follow us on Twitter @delivertraining.

 

Rent a Training Facility

 

Choose from Over 3,000 Facilities World-Wide.

Whether you need to rent one meeting room in a single location or hundreds all over the world, MicroTek can help. We own and operate state-of-the-art, multi-room facilities in North America in every major metro area.

And our network doesn’t stop there. With strategic partnerships throughout Canada, Australia, Europe, and other international locations, you can train your students or hold meetings virtually anywhere.

Locate a Facility Near You: http://www.mclabs.com/locations.aspx

 

 

Develop a Smarter Workforce with Customized Training Solutions.

 

 

Whether you’re planning a one-time meeting or a worldwide training rollout, MicroTek can create a solution especially for you. Our flexible, scalable services will anticipate and cover your every need, so you can deliver the perfect event. Because at MicroTek, we know your training or meeting deserves more than a one size fits all solution.

Visit our website for more information: http://www.mclabs.com/training-services.aspx