News Room
Mutual of Omaha Partners with North Omaha Development Project to Create Program to Employ North Omaha Talent
OMAHA, Neb. — (July 16, 2008) The North Omaha Development Project (NODP) has announced the implementation of the Mutual of Omaha/Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska Customer Service Program. The program will alleviate workforce shortages by identifying, training and preparing 50 workers for entry into the job marketplace. These positions will provide sustainable income to unemployed and under-employed people in North Omaha.
Ed Cochran, NODP executive director said, "This is exactly the type of public private partnerships we envisioned for the North Omaha Development Project. This innovative program proactively supports two of our objectives: to increase jobs and careers for North Omaha residents and to help Omaha businesses fulfill their workforce needs."
This program is one of the first projects of the North Omaha Development Project workforce taskforce chaired by Brenda Council. The taskforce, which is comprised of a variety of community-based organizations and agencies within North Omaha, works to find employment for residents of the North Omaha community.
This project's corporate partners, Mutual of Omaha and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, identified a need for customer service employees. Goodwill Industries, selected to recruit and support participants, will also manage this unique program. Metropolitan Community College will coordinate the five-month training.
Dan Neary, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mutual of Omaha, and chairman of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce board of directors, said, "This program is a great example of various organizations working together to meet a need in our community. Mutual of Omaha is excited to participate in this effort and we look forward to welcoming the first graduates of this program to our workforce."
Steve Martin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, said, "This partnership has the potential to benefit everyone involved, delivering qualified employees for our company and career-track jobs with good wages and benefits for residents of North Omaha. It's a win-win proposition for both the business community and the North Omaha community."
This program will recruit applicants primarily from within the North Omaha Development Project boundaries, which includes ZIP codes 68104, 68110, 68111, 68112 and 68152. Applications will be accepted from July 15 to August 15. Class participants will be selected by the end of August. The training program runs from September 8, 2008, through January 30, 2009, at the Metropolitan Community College Fort Omaha Campus. Upon successful completion of the course work, the hiring process for both companies will begin.
"The classes will teach life skills essential to success in the business environment. Participants will learn how to increase their employability and financial stability through meaningful, gainful employment as well as learning how to overcome barriers to successful long-term employment. All this is aimed at building and strengthening the individual, family and community life in North Omaha," said Frank McGree, President, Goodwill Industries.
"Students will be introduced to an insurance-specific customer service operation where they can gain experience in analyzing customer interactions to determine appropriate responses to all types of customer needs and requests. In addition, the participants will be exposed to call center job shadowing, classroom simulated practice, and advanced projects to ensure readiness for on-site training in a call center environment," said Randy Schmailzl, Metropolitan Community College interim president.
Applications are available at various North Omaha community sites and online at www.projectnorthomaha.org. A list of locations is attached. For more information, call Linda Kizzier at (402) 231-1929.