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SOREDI honors local organizations By GREG STILES SHADY COVE - Three Rogue Valley firms and one nonprofit organization were recognized Wednesday night for employee development and team-oriented management. Bear Creek Corp., Batzer Construction, Club Northwest/The Great Indoors, and Grants Pass Gospel Rescue Mission received innovative work force development awards from Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development Inc. at the organization's annual meeting and awards banquet at The River House. "These are successful businesses that recognize the value of their employees, and are investing significantly in their employees' ability to grow professionally while helping their firms remain competitive," said Rob Pochert, SOREDI business development manager. Companies were nominated by their peers for in-house training programs, wage levels, advancement opportunities, tuition aids, professional development and other work force enhancement programs. Bear Creek Corp., the Rogue Valley's largest employer, has developed a program for its Hispanic division managers that includes basic skills, horticulture, computers, Spanish and work toward a GED. Employees were paid for classes up to eight hours a week for 10 weeks. The curriculum included reading safety information and company policies, writing reports and using e-mail. For firms with 20 to 100 employees, Batzer Construction was chosen for its program to ensure skilled workers are systematically developed and properly compensated for their knowledge and skill levels. In the category fof firms with fewer than 20 employees, Club Northwest/The Great Indoors of Grants Pass was honored for its ongoing training and upward mobility for all employees along with its "We Are" guidelines. Grants Pass Gospel Rescue Mission began a program that helped its residents begin working toward a GED. After one month of a job development program, two mission residents began full-time jobs and five found part-time work. Each of the four honorees received a $1,000 work force training grant. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.