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Brad Mersereau
Master Instructor
When asked how Microsoft® Office Specialist certification impacted his career, Brad Mersereau replies: "Microsoft Office certification gave me the opportunity to develop versatile technical skills that have helped me successfully change careers-something I only dreamed about years ago."
That's because a few years ago Mersereau was a mortgage banker with, in his own words, "no computer savvy." He first began exploring the Office programs to find tools to create promotional materials that would allow him to better communicate with clients. Within a short time, he not only accomplished his goal of improving client communications through enhanced materials, but also realized that he wanted to use his new-found skills to forge a career.
Mersereau's previous training experience landed him a job as an instructor for ProCon Companies, a manufacturing software consulting and services firm. His responsibilities at ProCon included expanding client services by adding Microsoft Office instruction to the company's existing training roster. ProCon Companies President R.J. Burgess recognized that having a Microsoft Office-certified instructor would benefit the company's training program by validating the high quality training provided by ProCon.
With Master Instructor certification as his goal, Mersereau began intensive training for the entire Microsoft Office suite. His efforts paid off when he passed the highest-level certification exams for Microsoft Office 2000 and earned Master 2000 certification. He compares the progression of his Microsoft Office knowledge during the certification process to going from a crawl to a run.
"Earning Master certification increased my Microsoft Office knowledge exponentially," Mersereau says. "Following up with Master Instructor certification conferred respect and credibility for what I do as an instructor, and has given me and my company increased flexibility to meet clients' needs."
Microsoft Office certification has also given Mersereau increased flexibility to meet ProCon's internal needs. For example, at the request of President Burgess Mersereau was able to organize internal Microsoft Office training courses to assist ProCon employees in becoming more productive users of the software. What's more, he consistently uses his skills to solve ProCon's complex formatting, formula, and database problems. As Brian Nichols, ProCon's controller and financial consultant, states, "We are fortunate to have a Microsoft Office Specialist in our office. Often internal- and client-related issues arise that require advanced Microsoft Office skills. Brad has proven to be an invaluable resource in addressing these sophisticated issues."
"It's amazing that no matter what your position in a company, Microsoft Office skills relate," says Mersereau. "Understanding the Office programs and using them on a day-to-day basis has made me realize how integral these programs are to running a successful business."
Mersereau is so pleased with the benefits he's experienced with his Master Instructor certification that he intends to complete additional Microsoft certifications in the near future, including Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) and Microsoft Systems Certified Engineer (MSCE) certifications.
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