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Chris Menard
Manager, Technical Training Center, Clayton College & State University
Master Instructor
As the first Microsoft Office Specialist Master Instructor of Office XP, 2000 and 97, Chris Menard knows the benefits of certification. Microsoft Office certification has improved his credibility as an information technology (IT) trainer, bringing increased advancement and business opportunities as corporations seek qualified trainers to instruct employees.
Menard first became interested in training when the company he worked for as an accounting manager closed. Prior to this position, he had worked for two Fortune 100 companies-Georgia-Pacific and IBM-and hoped to leverage this experience along with his accounting degree into becoming a corporate IT trainer. Because of his Microsoft Excel proficiency and some training experience, Clayton College & State University (CCSU) hired him to teach Excel courses on a contract basis. CCSU soon recognized his teaching talent and expertise in Microsoft Office, and hired Menard full-time to handle all corporate training.
Although CCSU recognized his skills, Menard found it difficult to convince potential corporate trainees of his expertise. To solve this problem, he earned Master level certification, which proved his ability to use the complete functionality of the entire Microsoft Office suite of programs, and Master Instructor certification, which validated his instructional skills and experience.
Since earning certification, Menard has instructed an impressive list of clients, including Northwest Airlines, Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Delta Air Lines, Goodyear Tire, Maxell Corporation, and Henry Medical Center.
His Microsoft certifications, combined with real-world business experience, give Menard an advantage over other trainers. "Microsoft Office certification is our assurance that an instructor is prepared to teach us what we need to know," says Sherra Knowles, community educator at Henry Medical Center, who hired Menard to train 250 employees. "Everyone loved the training Chris provided because he customized lessons to help us find more efficient ways to complete the real tasks we handle everyday in the healthcare field."
Certification has translated to career advancement for Menard, too. He has become the manager of the Technology Training Center at CCSU, where he supervises 20 instructors and oversees four computer labs and one mobile lab (a 32-foot RV with 12 desktop computers). The Microsoft Office certification program at CCSU is one of the most successful in Georgia and the country, and Menard believes this success will continue. "With the highly competitive job market, employees are eager to get certified and gain valuable skills, and employers are eager to increase employee productivity and profitability," he explains. "As an IT trainer, it's rewarding to see the benefits I can bring to companies and employees with Microsoft Office certification."
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