News release Public Information Office   SLU 10880   Hammond, LA 70402   phone: 985-549-2341   fax: 985-549-2061 publicinfo@selu.edu Spring 2004 news releases Public Information home News archive Contact: Angey Murray Date: 3/11/05   Click on image for publication quality photo  A CUTTING EDGE PARTNERSHIP -- Celebrating Southeastern Louisiana University and Neill Corporation’s reception of a $1.4 million grant from the Louisiana Department of Labor’s Incumbent Worker Training Program are, from left, Kevin Joyce of the Louisiana Department of Labor, Southeastern Dean of Continuing Education Gerald Guidroz, Debra Neill of Neill Corporation, Southeastern executive assistant to the dean of Continuing Education Veda Abene, and Pam Olano and Lisa Bonnano of Neill Corporation. SOUTHEASTERN RECEIVES $1.4 MILLION FOR NEILL CORP. TRAINING      HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University’s Division of Continuing Education and Special Activities has received another new grant totaling $1,401,813 from the Louisiana Department of Labor through the Louisiana Incumbent Worker Program.      The largest of all the incumbent worker training grants received by Southeastern, nearly doubling the total funds received, the grant will be used to help Neill Corporation of Hammond train employees in Microsoft Windows, Word, Excel, Project and Internet/e-mail. Courses on accounting for executives, introduction to accounting, technical writing, business writing, safety for the supervisor and hourly employees, construction and maintenance safety, office safety, salon safety and AutoCad will be offered.  Southeastern was chosen by the Department of Labor and Neill Corporation to provide and coordinate the training for the grant, which begins in early April.      “Southeastern is extremely excited about this great opportunity to work with Neill Corporation and to strengthen our relationship and partnership with such an outstanding company in the Hammond community,” said Veda Abene, executive assistant to the dean of Continuing Education.      Neill Corporation is composed of 11 components, its “family of businesses,” ranging from beauty salons, schools and equipment retailers to a business book club, restaurant, inn and catering. Neill is most recognized as the largest independent distributor of AVEDA beauty products in the world, serving a 10-state region in the southeastern United States: Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Oklahoma and Arkansas.       Abene said training will be also provided by the private sector, including courses in Oracle training, team building, leadership, public relations, problem solving, and cutting and coloring seminars.      On Feb. 28, the Neill Corporation held a company celebration to announce the grant to company employees. Southeastern President Randy Moffett, Southeastern Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs John Crain, Dean of Continuing Education Gerald Guidroz and Abene attended the event, presenting a special gift basket of items depicting several of the training components that would be involved in the grant, as well as a mock check in the amount of the grant.       Also present was Kevin Joyce from the Louisiana Department of Labor, an integral participant involved with the grant approval process. Abene cited Sandra Taylor of the Louisiana Department of Labor for her assistance in the grant.       The grant is the sixth Incumbent Worker Training grant to be received by Southeastern for local company training. Other companies receiving training from Southeastern under the program are Amite Foundry & Machinery, Inc. of Amite, Gilsbar, Inc. of Covington, Gulf South Machine of Ponchatoula, Crossover Inc. of Independence and currently, Central Progressive Bank. Total grant money received for all six companies totals more than $2.8 million.       To be eligible for participation in the Louisiana Incumbent Worker Program, a business must have operated in Louisiana and contributed to the state's Unemployment Insurance System for at least three years. In addition, an employer, or consortium of employers with similar needs, must exhibit long-range commitment to employee training and have at least 15 employees to be trained.  Preferential consideration is given to those companies that select public training providers, donate equipment and supplies to the program, and participate in the Welfare-to-Work Initiative.      For more information on the program, contact the Louisiana Department of Labor’s Incumbent Worker Training Unit at 225-342-7643 or online at www.LAWORKS.net.