 Tue. January 6, 2009
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J.M. Coull announced today that it has received a workforce training grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to provide professional development training for its employees.
In pursuit of one of its core values: ‘unrelenting improvement,’ JM Coull applied for and received a general grant from the Workforce Training Fund, which requires an employer-match and the completion of the training to occur within two years of receipt. The grant, which specifies funds must be used for the betterment of employees, was sought by J. M. Coull as another tool for the professional development of its employees, an important tenet in the company’s mission. Change Dynamics, a specialized training consulting firm from Ayer, Massachusetts, was selected by J. M. Coull to develop and lead the training program. Training takes place during business hours on a bi-weekly basis and involves employees from every department within the company.
“We worked with J.M. Coull to customize a program specifically geared towards the company culture based on firm growth, transferrable skills and professional development,” said Linda Trowbridge, principal and co-facilitator of Change Dynamics, Inc. Adds Bob Vear, also principal and co-facilitator: “The workforce training grant is an outstanding program with a triple benefit. An investment in the employee is an investment in the company which in turn is an investment in the economy of Massachusetts.”
J.M. Coull has a culture of investing in its employees, and promoting from within. The firm prefers to offer opportunities for advancement to current employees before accepting resumes from, or looking for outside candidates. Key examples of this model are exhibited within the firm’s leadership. Christopher Oldham, who initiated the grant process, began working at J.M. Coull as a carpenter nearly fifteen years ago. His commitment to the company and his job coupled with a desire to contribute on a strategic level has enabled him to rise through the ranks, performing nearly every job in the company at one time or another. He became executive vice president in 2006 and is now in the position to shepherd junior staff through a similar process. Andrew Coull, the firm’s president began in a similar manner as a sales person who gradually moved into project management and then became a partner of the company in 2002. CEO Bob Hennessey also moved up through the company, previously holding the position of project manager before becoming a partner in 2002 and the chief executive officer in 2006
“Part of our mission as a company is to recognize that people are our greatest strength and that each individual’s growth furthers the growth of the company,” said Andrew Coull, president of J.M. Coull “Because we are a service-oriented company, the difference we offer is the caliber of our employees. We firmly believe that if we invest in our staff and aim to continually improve ourselves, we will improve our service to our customers, which in turn makes us a more effective business partner. This grant is just another stepping stone in our commitment to this principle.” |
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