PIE Success Stories
Enjoying PIE at Ames High The Ames Chamber of Commerce, as part of the Partners in Education program, sponsored the transportation for the Ames High business students to attend the GET MOTIVATED! Seminar in Des Moines on September 17. Tim Siefert, Ames High School Marketing Instructor/DECA Advisor, submitted the article below with gratitude to the Chamber for helping to make the trip possible. “On September 17th a group of 34 Ames High business students had the opportunity to attend the GET MOTIVATED! Seminar held at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. This seminar featured many powerful individuals such as Zig Ziglar, Gen. Colin Powell, Laura Bush, Rudy Giuliani, Terry Bradshaw, Dr. Robert Schuller plus more. The seminar made a positive impression on [Ames High students] Ali Imran who said, “It was a great experience and a great opportunity to listen to public figures talk about their life lessons.” Jessica King stated, “The businessman that I was sitting next to was really impressed that students from Ames High School were at the conference.” Among the topics presented to the audience were developing management skills, successful team building techniques, increasing productivity, successful time management, the importance of customer service to mention just a few. All speakers were very inspirational. David Lewis commented that “It was a great opportunity to experience some of the greatest speakers in America. On behalf of all the students who attended the workshop, I would like to thank the Ames Chamber of Commerce for their support that made it possible for us to attend this conference.” Mr. Tim Seifert, AHS Marketing Instructor/DECA Advisor echoed the same sentiments and extended his appreciation to the Chamber for their continued support in assisting high school students further their personal and professional development in the business and marketing arena.” Ames Chamber Members Volunteer Time to Interview Ames High Students In April 2009, nearly 20 Chamber volunteers offered their time to interview students in Tim Siefert's business class at Ames High. The students were to contact the business person, set up the interview, arrive to the business as if it were a professional interview, and the business person was to conduct a professional interview. Following the interview, the business person gave the students tips on how to improve their interviewing skills and resumes. |
Chamber’s Education Connections committee “Connects” with Gilbert Middle School Youth Marketplace As part of the Chamber’s Education Connections committee initiative, Partners In Education (PIE), several Chamber member businesses assisted with the Gilbert Middle School Youth Marketplace by role playing as bankers and investors. Gilbert Middle School youth were placed in teams and charged with developing a small business complete with product prototype, a business plan, financial ledgers, and marketing tools. Each team then presents their business plan before a banker to ask for a business loan. This unique business experience continues as the teams work to convince panels of investors to invest money in their businesses. The Chamber would like to thank these individuals, and their Chamber member businesses, for volunteering with this initiative: Paula Brown (First American Bank), Chad Copley (Northwestern Mutual Financial Network), Nicole Gebhart (Ames National Corporation), Barry Green (Ames Community Bank), Kori Heuss (Heuss Printing), Heath Hill (Individual Member), Debby Klein (Colorbiotics), Ryan Lynch (First National Bank), Dan Nutini (Roseland Mackey Harris Architects PC), Jenny Pollard (ISU Alumni Association), Dave Prochaska (Story Construction Company), Jon Swart (Colorbiotics). |
Business leaders speak to Life Skills class The Education Connections committee helped to secure speakers to participate in a panel discussion on Friday, January 9 at Gilbert High School. Each speaker shared their knowledge and expertise about employability and job-seeking to the students of Betsy Ratashak’s Life Skills class. |
