Human Resources Newsletters

NEWSLETTER MCCB HR

3rd Quarter News

2019

IN THIS ISSUE

BREAKING COMFORT—AIMING FOR THE EXTRAORDINARY

MESSAGE FROM HR

“Comfort is the Enemy of Progress” P.T. Barnum Existing in a place of comfort is easy. It is that stagnant, “this has always worked so I assume this will continue to work”, place where the comfort besotted mindset lives. If you are not changing, then you are unquestionably not moving forward.

EMPLOYEE OF THE QUARTER

BIRTHDAYS

NEW HIRES

JOB OPENINGS

TRIVIA

WELLNESS

What must be disrupted to break free of comfort?

TOPIC FOR CONSIDERATION

1. Realize that the chains of comfort mediocrity exist. 2. Sacrifice the security bubble of comfort. 3. Embrace challenges. 4. Risk your fears and discover the unknown.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

MCCB NEWS

What you do matters.

EMPLOYEE OF THE QUARTER

Action is required.

Identify the areas of delay, identify barriers, and challenge comfort seekers.

Build those necessary partnerships.

Focus on making daily progress.

Break free from the chains of comfort.

We have all heard that we should ‘think outside of the box’. Well, sit on the box if you must. Dare to think of what an ideal work day would look like and strive towards ideal.

Audra Kimble

Cynthia Jiles Assistant Executive Director for Human Resources

“Understand that what matters to people impacts society.”

BIRTHDAYS

July

September 3 Shalon Farris 14 Missy Saxton 14 Shamiko Allen 14 Dr. Tony Chiang 22 Ray Smith 24 Dr. Micca Knox 30 Dr. Kimberly Jones

August

4 Ed Roberson 4 Jim Miller 7 Dexter Holloway 9 Shuronda Common 12 Johna Peyton 17 Jenny Kern 18 Austin Smith 19 Angenette Dixon 25 Valeria Williams

10 Kenneth Wheatley 15 Dr. Rachel DeVaughan 17 Russell Shaw 23 Jacob Goodwin 26 Dr. Shawn Mackey

MCCB NEW HIRES

TRIVIA TIME!

Russell Shaw Jeb Stuart

Want two free movie tickets?? Just answer the four questions below. Be the first to provide the correct responses. Most answers can be found in this issue.

JOB OPENINGS

Submit your responses to HR@mccb.edu - no later than Friday, July 8 — 5 pm. Winner to be announced July 8. 1. What is the time frame for reporting Workers’ Comp injuries? 2. Which MCCB Committee do you serve on? 3. Who (outside of your usual group) have you invited to lunch? 4. What is the suggested distance that your computer screen should be from your face?

1. Instructional Design/Development Specialist—open until filled 2. Technical Specialist for Finance— open until filled 3. MACJC Contract—Compliance Auditor

TRIVIA ANSWERS

1. May 2019 2. Various 3. 2.13—Probationary Period and Termination At-Will 4. True

2nd Quarter

MESSAGE FROM HUMAN RESOURCES—Policy Update

Policy Update: MCCB Policy 7.3 - Workers’ Compensation All employees are covered by Workers' Compensation Insurance. An employee injured on the job is entitled to finan- cial and medical aid under the Workers' Compensation Insurance program in accordance with state law. All injuries must be promptly reported to the Director of Human Resources. If an employee sustains a job-related injury or illness, it is important to notify the supervisor and Human Resources immediately. The notice of injury must be done within three days of the incident. Failure to report an injury/accident will result in disciplinary procedures. Workers’ compensation benefits (paid or unpaid) will run concurrently with FMLA leave, if applicable, where per- mitted by state and federal law.

TOPIC FOR CONSIDERATION—Can You Pass the Civility Test?

Tips for Getting There

 Maintain confidentiality in all communications

 Pay attention. Show your co-workers respect by giving them your full attention during meetings and recognizing everyone's input

 Mind your language. Saying “please,” “thank you” and “I’m sorry” can have a big impact.

 Regularly express appreciation to co-workers for their help, and avoid interrupting others when they are speaking. Apologize if you have mistakenly offended anyone.

 Give credit to others when they do a good job.

 Say “hi.” Make the effort to say “hello.” Courtesy is infectious.

 Be considerate with your humor. Before making a joke, pause and ask yourself, “Is this re- mark at someone else’s expense? Will it embarrass someone?” If the answer to either of these is yes, don’t share the joke.  Be inclusive. Look for ways to include co-workers in events or projects by inviting them to lunch or asking for their input. Who have you invited to lunch lately?  Be a role model. Set the example on how to promote and reinforce respectful leadership behavior.  Don’t let disrespectful behavior stand. Make an effort to manage conflicts in a timely effective manner.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT—LEARNING LAUNCH—Employee Engagement

Gallup (2017) defines employee engagement as employees “who are in- volved in, enthusiastic about and committed to their work and workplace.” En- gagement is often defined in terms of employees’ behaviors and feelings. Exam- ples of engaged behaviors are optimism, team-orientation, solution-orientation, selflessness, passion for learning and growth, and willingness to pass credit and accolades to others but accepting of blame. Engaged employees perform more efficiently at their jobs, provide better service to those they serve, feel a sense of urgency and enthusiasm for their work, and demonstrate persistence and adapta- bility that may expand beyond job descriptions and roles. When employees are disengaged, examples of behaviors may include pessimism, self-centeredness, high absenteeism, negative attitude, narrowed focus on working for the monetary reward over all else, and willingness to accept credit but preference to deflect and pass on blame (SHRM, 2019) How would you describe your level of engagement? Do you live the mission of the agency? Have you shared your reasons for increased or decreased engage- ment with your supervisor? It is important to consider your answers to the posed questions. Whether you feel exceedingly engaged at work or less than so, consid- er the many ways you can increase your level of engagement. To become more engaged at work, start by asking what is expected of you, be kind to someone else, seek a mentor, when disconnects occur, dig deeper to understand why they happened, ascertain how you can create value, seek regular feedback, take time to reflect, participate in the many social activities planned throughout the year, join the numerous professional development sessions provided, participate in community service projects, volunteer to work on projects (with your supervisors permission), or simply ask how you can do more. There are so many ways to be engaged and there is no one size fits all approach.

Sources: Gallup (2017). Gallup daily: U.S. employee engagement. Retrieved from https://news.gallup.com/poll/180404/gallup- daily-employee-engagement.aspx

SHRM (2019). Developing and sustaining employee engagement. Retrieved from https:// www.engagementmultiplier.com/blog/why-is-employee-engagement-so-important/amp/

Dr. Krystal Thurman Director of Professional Development

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS

Third Quarter Professional Development:

July 2, 2019

Appy Hour Lunch & Learn (voluntary) | 11:30 am -12:30pm | 5th Floor Conference Room

August 5, 2019

2019 MCCB Convocation (required) | 8:30 am - 4:30pm | MPB Auditorium

September (TBD) Law of 16 Leadership Training (all invited to participate) | September - ex act date, time, location to be determined

WHAT’S YOUR STORY?

Your story should be here!

ENGAGEMENT—YOU PUT THE (HUMAN) IN MCCB HUMAN RESOURCES

There are several ways to share yourself with the agency:

Newsletter  Suggest a reading “Suggested Reading List”  Tell us your story—”What’s Your Story?”  Ask a question—if you are thinking it—so are others  Send your recipes for “Good Eats”

Service—Committee Participation  Community Service Committee  Employee of the Quarter Committee (appointed)  Professional Development Committee  Safety Committee  Social Committee

5

Reasons to Join a Committee and Engage in

YOUR Workplace

1. Have your say 2. Committee actions add variety to your work 3. Expand your network 4. Opportunity to demonstrate leadership 5. Expand your knowledge base

GET INVOLVED TODAY —JOIN A COMMITTEE

COMMITTEE

COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON

CONTACT EMAIL

Social Committee

Dr. LaToya Sterling

lsterling@mccb.edu

Community Service Committee

Beth Little

blittle@mccb.edu

Professional Development

Dr. Krystal Thurman

kthurman@mccb.edu

Committee

Safety Committee

Cynthia Jiles

cjiles@mccb.edu

WELLNESS

WE WERE AWARDED THE 2ND ROUND GRANT FUNDS FROM THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD FOUNDATION OF MISSISSIPPI!!! LOOK FOR WELLNESS DEVELOPMENTS SOON!!!

C3 – HEALTH AND WELLNESS

April 2019 winners…

May 2019 winners…

50 Miles in 50 Days Nikitna Barnes Alex Brower Veronica Dunning Pamela Hughes Mark Jenkins Dr. Sheriece Robinson Arun Surakanti

Walking Challenge Mark Jenkins Audra Kimble Trim Your Waist Nikitna Barnes

Wellness Adventurer Challenge Nikitna Barnes

Habit Building Challenge Nikitna Barnes Angenette Dixon

June 2019 winners…

To be announced!

C3 Wellness Center

C3WELLNESSCENTER

EYESTRAIN 101

Whether it’s a work computer, a home laptop or our ever-present smartphones, chances are you stare at some type of screen for hours each day. This can lead to vision problems. “Focusing on tiny type for hours on end can cause eyestrain, fatigue and headaches,” the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) cautions. “Staring at screens for long periods can also leave eyes parched, red and gritty-feeling.” The Mayo Clinic states that eyestrain is a common condition that occurs when a per- son’s eyes get tired from intense use, and “people who look at screens two or more hours in a row every day have the greatest risk of this condition.”

Take a break AAO recommends taking the following steps to prevent eyestrain:

Keep your screen at arm’s length. When working with a desktop computer, keep the screen about 25 inches from your face, or about an arm’s length away. If doing so makes the words on the screen appear too small, adjust the font size.

Mind the glare. Screen glare from lighting can irritate your eyes; try a matte filter for your screen to help diminish glare.

Give your eyes rest time. AAO notes that eyestrain occurs after long and continu- ous screen use, and recommends workers follow the “20-20-20 rule”: Take a break every 20 minutes by looking at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This will al- low your eyes time to relax. Avoid dry eyes. Try using a personal humidifier at your desk to help keep your eyes moisturized. Additionally, keep eye drops handy to lubricate your eyes if they feel particularly dry. Pay attention to lighting. If your screen is too bright, your eyes have to work harder. Adjust your screen’s brightness, as well as the lighting in your office or home, to re- duce eyestrain.

If these steps don’t help, AAO recommends seeing an ophthalmologist.

Safety + Health Online Magazine

MCCB NEWS—WHAT’S IN THE WORKS

1. New website development (Reveal August 2019) 2. Newsletter submissions requests—We want to know you better! “What’s Your Story?” 3. Wellness wish list — Send your wish list to Shana (shansen@mcb.edu)

NEWSLETTER MCCB HR

2nd Quarter News

2019

IN THIS ISSUE

MESSAGE FROM HR

MESSAGE FROM HR

“The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R. 7) in a 242–187 vote March 27. If the bill is ultimately signed into law, it would prohibit employers nationwide from asking job appli- cants about their salary history and require them to prove that pay dis- parities between men and women are job-related. “ There are critics of this measure. However, in 2018 similar bills were signed into law in several states around the country. HR will continue monitoring this and evaluating the implications. Additional legislation to keep on the radar: The Child Rearing and Development Leave Empowerment (CRADLE) Act , introduced a few weeks earlier by Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, would let parents receive up to three months of paid leave if they postpone Social Security benefits and take leave from work. The Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act , which pro- vides partial wage replacement for all Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) qualifying events funded by a payroll tax on employers and em- ployees. On March 28, for the first time in 50 years, the Department of Labor (DOL) proposed changing the definition of the "regular rate" of pay—the building block for calculating overtime. If the planned exclusions from the regular rate are adopted, employers may pay less in overtime. The proposed rule would exclude the following from the regular rate:  The cost of providing wellness programs and onsite specialist treatment.  Reimbursed expenses, including travel expenses that do not exceed the maximum travel reimbursement under the Federal Travel Regulation system.  Accident, unemployment and legal services, which the DOL considers to be benefits plans.

EMPLOYEE OF THE QUARTER

BIRTHDAYS

NEW HIRES

JOB OPENINGS

TRIVIA

WELLNESS

TOPIC FOR CONSIDERATION

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

MCCB NEWS

EMPLOYEES OF THE QUARTER

Dexter Holloway and Kell Smith

SHRM

“Inspire, don’t push. Innovative thinking is a creative process.”

BIRTHDAYS

April 2 Shana Hansen 8 Ashley Mitchell 15 Krystal Adcock 19 Tina Bradley 19 Jevelyn Smith 26 Davita Weary 29 Kathy Smith

June

May

5 Mark Jenkins 5 Kenecha Brooks—Smith 8 Katelynn Bowman 18 Kell Smith 20 Audra Love-Kimble

14 Dr. Teresa Barnes 16 Steven Martin 28 Dr. Sheriece Robinson 30 Sandy Crist

MCCB NEW HIRES

TRIVIA TIME!

Katelynn Bowman Steven Martin James “Jim” Miller

Want two free movie tickets?? Just answer these questions below. Be one of the two winners who will be selected at random from those who provided the correct re- sponses! Most answers can be found in this issue!! Submit your responses to HR@mccb.edu - no later than Monday, April 8 — 5 pm. Drawing to be held April 12. 1. What’s the tentative date for the internal property audit? 2. Name two professional development sessions you would like to attend, whether they are currently offered or something new. 3. What is MCCB policy 2.13? 4. Gossip can be a true statement. True or False

Austin Smith Kathy Smith

JOB OPENINGS

Instructional Design/Development Specialist—open until filled

C3 HEALTH AND WELLNESS

And we are off to a GREAT start again this year! March 2019 winners...

Walking Challenge Mark Jenkins Audra Kimble Trim Your Waist Nikitna Barnes

Challenges listed on Facebook or email for further information: C3wellness@mccb.edu

C3 Wellness Center

Mark Jenkins

C3WELLNESSCENTER

WELLNESS CONTINUED PAGE 4

TOPIC FOR CONSIDERATION—Gossip in the Workplace

R ealistically, there will never be a complete stop to workplace gossip. It is unfortunately inherent but in the workplace it must be addressed. Casual talk can easily turn into harmful gossip, even slander. Be mind- ful that when on agency time, what employees discuss has a direct impact on what they produce and how they produce it. Don’t waste valuable work time.

“ With integrity, you have noth- ing to fear, since you have nothing to hide. With integrity, you will do the right thing, so you will have no guilt.”

As stated, at its worst, gossip can be vicious, untrue, and defamatory. Remember that the spread of gossip involves you in unprofessional behavior that can cause irreparable damage to your image and that of others. You may be helping to spread a lie.

Should you receive information that you know is deliberately misleading or even damaging speculation, you have the responsibility of not spreading such gossip.

You may know something that may even be true; that does not mean that it is worth saying. The matter may be none of your business, or unkind to speak about.

Gossip in any form will not be tolerated at the Mississippi Community College Board.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

I t is an exciting time at the MCCB! We are working on creating a cohesive and comprehensive vision and approach for our agency’s professional development. This will be better achieved with your input. Before the end of April, each MCCB staff member will receive a survey link. We encourage everyone to take a few minutes to provide a response to the survey questions. Your response will help guide our training and pro- fessional development plans for July 2019-June 2020.

Major PD initiatives underway include:

1) Creating a comprehensive and strategic professional development plan for the agency 2) Exploring how to become a CEU authorized provider 3) Introducing a professional development catalog that highlights all of the exceptional training we provide as an agency and with our partners

Interviews have been scheduled with each office director and or division leader. The feedback gathered dur- ing the interviews will support the major PD initiatives underway. We thank everyone for the support and

eagerness to contribute to the development of the MCCB PD vision. Here’s a look at the professional development events coming this quarter: Mandatory Training: Drug Awareness – April 18, 2019 @ 2pm Director Training: Crucial Accountability – May 15, 2019 @ 9:30 am Technology Series: Cybersecurity – May 16, 2019 @ 2pm Technology Series: Tech Tools – June 20, 2019 @ 2pm

Dr. Krystal Thurman Director of Professional Development

WELLNESS

A big shout of encouragement for our two Paul Lacoste Sports participants! Nikitna Barnes and Matthew Riley Keep moving forward as you enter the home stretch!

As we await the BCBS Grant decision, the C3 Ambassadors would like to encourage you to continue your journey of wellness. Strive to live a healthy mental, physical, and fi- nancial life. Wellbeing from a holistic approach adds bal- ance and stability to all aspects of daily life. Keep calm, stretch, and EXERCISE!

Shana Hansen

Disclaimer: This newsletter mention of Paul Lacoste in no way endorses the Paul Lacoste program.

Walk Your Way to Wellness—”Can you boost your memory by walking backward?”

According to a Harvard University study published in a recent issue of Cognition , “people who walked backward, imagined they were walking backward, or even watched a video simulating backward motion had better recall of past events than those who walked forward or sat still.” The study was designed to test the effects of motion on memory. The researchers found that study participants had better information recall when moving backward and the boost in memory lasted an average of 10 minutes after movement stopped. According the article, backward motion could be added to our existing techniques for memory re- call. For example, a method called cognitive interview is intended to metaphorically walk people through an event. Such activities assist in a more accurate recall of information. The researchers determined that walk- ing backward could have a similar effect on the brain. While it is still too early to understand whether this technique has practical applications, it is worth consideration. The next time you are trying to recall a memory, consider walking backward. If nothing else, it will make hallway interactions more fun! See the full article at https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/can-you-boost-your-memory-by-walking-backward

Dr. Krystal Thurman

MCCB NEWS—WHAT’S IN THE WORKS

1. Internal inventory audit—Tentative May 2019 (TBD) 2. New website development (Reveal mid-year 2019) 3. Newsletter submissions requests—We want to know you better! “What’s Your Story?”

NEWSLETTER MCCB HR

1ST Quarter News 2019

IN THIS ISSUE

WITH YOU IN MIND—REFLECTIONS

WITH YOU IN MIND - REFLECTIONS

EMPLOYEE OF THE QUARTER

PAGE 2

NEW HIRES

NEW MCCB POLICIES

MCCB OPEN POSITIONS

MCCLA CLASS 2019-2020

REFLECTIONS- CONTINUED

C3—WELLNESS

EMPLOYEE OF THE QUARTER

Kim Verneuille

YOU ARE INDEED THE BEST OF MCCB

BIRTHDAYS

January

Matthew Riley Melissa Readus 7 Shelika Hooker 14 Carla Causey 17 Jason Carter 16 Tunga Otis 25 February Marilyn Gardner 4 Krista LeBrun 5 Lajuna Ivory 5 Megan Akins 12 Dr. Andrea Mayfield 13 Robin Griffith 15 March Nikitna Barnes 7 Tonya Pickens 8 Dr. Tierra Flowers 13 Sherriel Moore 17 Patti Fleming 17 Veronica Dunning 21 Lisa Bonds 22 7

RETIREES AND NEW HIRES

Jim Southward

30 years of state service Johna Peyton (January 11)

NEW/REVISED POLICIES

MCCB Policy 2.13 - Probationary Period and Termination At-Will

MCCB OPEN POSITIONS

1. Senior Accountant 2. ECA—Family Engagement Specialist 3. Mississippi Apprenticeship

MCCLA CLASS 2019-2020

Dr. Kimberly Jones Dr. LaToya Sterling

C3 HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Welcome to another year in the pursuit of WELLNESS! WE ARE AWAITING THE NEXT ROUND OF GRANT FUNDS from The Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation! We have outlined a plethora of events, sessions and challenges for per- sonal growth, health and wellness development. Look for interesting and compelling information from your local well- ness coordinator! In health and wellness! C3 Wellness Ambassadors

C3 Wellness Center

C3WELLNESSCENTER

NEWSLETTER MCCB HR

4TH Quarter News 2018

IN THIS ISSUE

HR TIP—WORKPLACE CONFLICT RESOLUTION

HR TIP

TIP 5: FOCUS ON FEELINGS Facts are important, but how a person feels is the heart of the matter. Yet some people have trouble identifying how they feel about what’s happening to them. Watch and lis- ten carefully for the person’s real message. Try saying something like “That must be scary.” Supportive words like these will let the person know that you understand what’s happening—and you may get a positive response. TIP 6: IGNORE CHALLENGING QUESTIONS IGNORE CHALLENGING QUESTIONS. Answering challenging questions often results in a power struggle. When a person challenges your authority, redirect their attention to the issue at hand. Ignore the challenge, but not the person. Bring their focus back to how you can work together to solve the problem. TIP 7: SET LIMITS If a person’s behavior is belligerent, defen- sive, or disruptive, give them clear, simple, and enforceable limits. Offer concise and respectful choices and consequences. A person who’s upset may not be able to focus on everything you say. Be clear, speak simply, and offer the positive choice first. TIP 8: CHOOSE WISELY WHAT YOU INSIST UPON It’s important to be thoughtful in deciding which rules are negotiable and which are not. For example, if a person doesn’t want to shower in the morning, can you allow them to choose the time of day that feels best for them? If you can offer a person options and flexibility, you may be able to avoid unnecessary altercations.

TIP 1: BE EMPATHETIC AND NONJUDGMEN- TAL When someone says or does something you perceive as weird or irrational, try not to judge or discount their feelings. Whether or not you think those feelings are justified, they’re real to the other person. Pay attention to them. Keep in mind that whatever the person is going through, it may be the most important thing in their life at the moment. TIP 2: RESPECT PERSONAL SPACE If possible, stand 1.5 to three feet away from a person who’s escalating. Allowing personal space tends to decrease a person’s anxiety and can help you prevent acting-out behavior. If you must enter someone’s personal space to pro- vide care, explain your actions so the person feels less confused and frightened. TIP 3: USE NONTHREATING NONVERBALS The more a person loses control, the less they hear your words—and the more they react to your nonverbal communication. Be mindful of your gestures, facial expressions, movements, and tone of voice. Keeping your tone and body language neutral will go a long way toward de- fusing a situation. TIP 4: AVOID OVERREACTING Remain calm, rational, and professional. While you can’t control the person’s behavior, how you respond to their behavior will have a direct effect on whether the situation escalates or defuses. Positive thoughts like “I can handle this” and “I know what to do” will help you main- tain your own rationality and calm the person down.

EMPLOYEE OF THE QUARTER

NOTEWORTHY CORNER

PROFESSIONAL AWARDS EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT





 BIRTHDAYS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

WELLNESS

EMPLOYEE OF THE QUARTER

Holly Savorgnan

Continued -

“Identify your problems but give power and energy to solutions”

THE NOTEWORTHY CORNER

WORKPLACE CONFLICT RESOLUTION— CONTINUED TIP 9: ALLOW SILENCE FOR REFLECTION

Jason Carter received the Community College Business Officers (CCBO) Award as the: 2018 Outstanding Business Officer Congratulations Jason!

We’ve all experienced awkward silences. While it may seem counterintuitive to let moments of silence occur, sometimes it’s the best choice. It can give a person a chance to reflect on what’s happening, and how he or she needs to proceed. Believe it or not, silence can be a powerful communication tool. TIP 10: ALLOW TIME FOR DECISIONS When a person is upset, they may not be able to think clearly. Give them a few moments to think through what you’ve said. A person’s stress rises when they feel rushed. Allowing time brings calm.

NEW HIRES

BIRTHDAYS

Veronica Dunning Matthew Riley Bronwyn Robertson

October

Brooke Doggett Beverlin Givens

6 7

EDUCATIONAL

Shelika Hooker Tammy Rutland Jenny Kern (November 1)

Jennifer Bell Carla Causey

10

17 18 18 28

Mrs. Megan Akins and Officer Shawanda Taylor were inducted into the Gamma Lambda Chapter of Hinds Community College’s Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society

Dr. Krystal Berry

Bronwyn Robertson

MCCB OPEN POSITIONS

Dr. Scott Kolle

November

Senior Accountant ECA—Family Engagement Specialist

Raul Fletes

4 5 6

Tammy Rutland

Beth Little April May Lisa Smith

OPEN ENROLLMENT

12 21 30

October is open enrollment for HEALTH insurance. If you plan to make any changes—meet with Shana Hansen prior to October 31, 2018. Open enrollment for all other policies will be handled November 7 and 13, 2018.

LaToya Sterling

December

Holly Savorgnan Kim Verneuille

3

12 13 14

Erica Buxton

Falana McDaniel

Congratulations are also in order for: Dr. Krystal Berry, Dr. Sheriece Robinson , Dr. Kimberly Jones and Dr. LaToya Sterling!

C3 HEALTH AND WELLNESS It has been an exciting year! Thank you to all of the participants who made a commitment to themselves and have worked to find more ways to focus on health and wellness. Shana and I have enjoyed the opportunity to work with each of you in this aspect. It has been a re- warding challenge! We hope to plan many more events and challenges! And we look forward to finding even more creative ways to help you become and BE THE BEST YOU!

MCCLA CLASS 2018-2019 Nikitna Barnes Brooke Doggett

MCCB TEAM BUILDING ACTIVITIES

WHEN: Friday, October 26, 2018 Activities will begin at 9:30 AM Where: Eagle Ridge Conference Center— Raymond, MS

In health and wellness!

C3 Wellness Center

C3WELLNESSCENTER

Third Quarter*2018

MCCB Human Resources Quarterly Newsletter

Cynthia Jiles

What’s Your Story? - Spotlight

Featured In This Issue

Dr. Andrea Mayfield

There is nothing one cannot do! I believe life is what you make of it. There are many things I can tell you about my life. Some are laden with tragedy, loss and adversity. Most are laden with my spirit for adventure. In all, my essence is one of determination and bold adventure. Education has always had a special place in my heart as a result of my own experiences growing up. I grew up in a traditional 1960’s family atmosphere with a mother and father married for 50+ years, and 3 brothers. Growing up in a small southern college town, I spent my time reading and finding ways to create my own adventures. My 8 th birthday party where the fun activity was to cut down the neighbors swing and slide down the red dirt banks to the creek. Thinking about it today, I am sure the mothers didn’t anticipate muddy children after my party. The neighbor game me the tire swing (I cut down) when they moved and it hangs today in my parent’s yard. As a young child, I frequently argued with my brothers in back seat of my parent’s station wagon. At one point during our arguments, my father threatened to put me out of the car as we traveled down I-20. I said “fine”. He pulled over. I got out and started walking. I was told my mother screamed at my father to go back and get me. At 5, my trusty bicycle took me on some really fun adventures until a neighbor saw me crossing a bridge as I rode out of town. I didn’t have my bicycle for a while. Walking home from the bus stop, I made a habit of admiring the wildlife. I put snakes in my lunch box and quite regularly would throw rocks at a mass swarm of bees hanging from the tree limb and then run. I suppose I thought I could run faster than the bees could fly. Growing up playing football with neighborhood boys after school in the grass lot close to my home, I decided it was time for my career in football to begin. In the 8 th grade I went out for spring training for the football team. I stayed after school to practice and lift weights…until my mother found out. Every time I thought about running away from home…my idyllic life that I didn’t know I had…my big plan was to pack some things and go live in the woods behind the house. I spent a lot of time in the woods and loved the quiet solitude I found there. Today I feel most “at home” in the deep woods…day or night. I attended Marion Military Institute for my high school years. As a Ranger, I had opportunities to engage in the fun I relished. Operation exercises in the swamp and hiding in a beaver den to evade the opposition to win the game was a thrill. I took opportunities to pick up “trophies” to leave in the shower of the barracks. Let’s just say, my roommate was not thrilled. As I write this article, I see vivid images of events in my life.

1, 2

What’s Your Story? Dr. Andrea Mayfield

3

Welcome Aboard!

3

Sound Bite

3

Upcoming Events

4

Birthdays

4

Wellness Message

We Are a TEAM Because We Work

Together With Respect, Trust, and Care for Each Other.

Employee of the Quarter

Valeria Williams

PAGE 2

HUMAN RESOURSES NEWSLETTER

What’s Your Story? – Spotlight - continued

That summer, I had an opportunity to canoe the boundary waters. Spending two weeks in the remote wilderness living on lake water and MREs was a blast. The highlight came when we failed to hang the fish oil in the tree before going to bed. I woke to someone outside the tent grabbing my leg. After repeatedly telling whoever was doing it to “STOP”, I left the tent and discovered a bear. I grabbed a heavy branch and whopped the bear on the butt. It ran into the woods behind the tent. I followed to see what the bear was “doing”. That bear was sprawled out on his belly licking pudding that SOMEONE on this team dumped out. I thought the bear looked so cute I wanted to pet him. Let’s just say that didn’t happen. In college, the university always had a spring concert. This particular year, Bad Company came to perform. I volunteered to be a part of the “roadie” crew. During the concert, I was charged with posting on top of a scaffold 40 feet up with lights and a headset. My job was to take direction and spotlight the performers on stage by cue. It was one of the hardest jobs. I thought it was cool to eat dinner with the band and introduce my baby brother to his rock star idol. While teaching the sciences at the community college where I was employed, I had some adventures outside the classroom. As a 4 th grader, I sustained a broken bones from riding a unbroken horse bareback. After my college class, I decided to ask the locals if I might ride their horses…knowing I hadn’t been on a horse since 4 th grade. The local horse owner said he had a great barrel racing horse and wanted to know if I could ride. My response tongue in cheek was, “of course I can”. Well I mounted the horse and gave commands to have him pick up speed and gallop as fast as he could. I hung on for dear life…until the horse made a 90 degree turn. I hobbled for 2 months trying to heal. I was lucky! I brushed myself off, hobbled to the horse, managed to mount and took him HOME. My husband George and I enjoyed the outdoors each and every day through the commercial hunting operation we owned and operated called The Roost. I met many people from all over the world and felt quite proud when we went to an outdoor expedition in the city and people recognized me….not him. This was before “Lee and Tiffany”. I had a show that aired on the Outdoor Channel before it was cool. Whitetail 101-Bushnell Outdoors hosted by Dave Watson. The focus was the Biology of Deer and the field application by understanding the animal. Camera crews would regularly come to The Roost to film. When one of the camera crew got poison oak in his eyes, I became the ad hoc cameraman. A rainy hunt 40 plus feet in the air hanging off of a “platform stand” the size of a dinner plate, was no easy feat. Add concentration and camera work to boot and what a RUSH! Other than my hunting, the biggest rush…most exhilarating burst…was experienced during my days as a pilot. Yep, I said it. I flew Cessna and Piper aircrafts for fun after teaching at the college. It was common for me to finish teaching Friday, drive to the local air strip (airport) and fly to MO to hunt for the weekend with George. Bag a turkey and fly back Sunday in time for work. For me, connections to adventure, to nature, to people, to common goals and interests…have value. Perspectives differ among people and those who have felt the rush of exhilaration mixed with fear, heard a turkey gobble in the spring, seen a flush of a wild covey of birds or witnessed a 10-point buck chase a doe understand my essence, my determination to live life as an extended ADVENTURE. Because this article is not supposed to be lengthy, I am skipping 98% of my adventures.

AM

HUMAN RESOURCES NEWSLETTER

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Welcome Aboard –

Sound Bite 11 Ways to Be More Effective at Work 1. Trim Your Task List 2. Swap Your To-Do List for a Schedule 3. Stay Organized 4. Change Your Self-Talk 5. Make Bad Habits More Difficult to Indulge 6. Prioritize 7. Plan Tomorrow Tonight 8. Use Idle Time to Knock Out Admin Tasks 9. Schedule Meetings with Yourself 10.Communicate and Clarify 11. Find More Ways to Do More of the Work You Enjoy

Dear New MCCBers:

It is our pleasure to welcome you to MCCB!! We have enjoyed meeting you and look forward to opportunities to become better acquainted.

Shamiko Allen Jasmine Baker Jennifer Bell Lisa Bonds Kenecha Brooks-Smith Erica Buxton

Carla Causey Tony Chiang Shuronda Claiborne Victoria Davis Veronica Dunning – July 16

Patti Fleming Marilyn Griffin Robin Griffith Carl Henderson Lajuna Ivory Dr. Scott Kolle Jowanda Magee April May Falana McDaniel Ashley Mitchell Tunga Otis Tonya Pickens Steven Randle Alexas Rayford Melissa Readus Sheriece Robinson

Upcoming Events –

Trustees Conference Biloxi, MS

July 12-13

Professional Development(s) FISH Philosophy Workforce Summer Conference

July 19

August 2-3 August 16

Jevelyn Smith Theresa Tate Lisa Smith

Leadership Skills

Dealing w/Difficult People TEAM BUILDING EVENT

September 20

TBD

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HUMAN RESOURSES NEWSLETTER

BIRTHDAYS Ed Roberson Dexter Holloway

July 4 July 7 July 9

Shuronda Claiborne

Dee Polk

July 16 July 19 July 20 July 25

Angenette Dixon Jim Southward Valeria Williams Kenneth Wheatley Jacob Goodwin Jowanda Magee Dr. Shawn Mackey Dr. Rachel DeVaughan

August 10 August 15 August 23 August 23 August 26

Shalon Farris Theresa Tate Shamiko Allen Missy Saxton Tony Chiang

September 3 September 9 September 14 September 14 September 14 September 22 September 24 September 30

Ray Smith

Dr. Micca Knox Kimberly Jones

Wellness Message - Shana Hansen

So, what has been happening this quarter? Exciting things! C3 is ramping up its efforts to promote a sustainable health and wellness model to the complex employees and thereby our community. C3 continues to offer weekly yoga sessions, monthly chair yoga sessions, Lunch and Learns, and a host of participant challenges. All of these have garnered profound support from the complex employees and we constantly receive rave reviews. Several of the challenges C3 has offered: The Walking Challenge, C3 Recipe Swap, the C3 180 Day Makeover Challenge and the Couch to 5K Challenge. Additionally, Kelly McBride, certified personal trainer & weight loss specialist, graciously hosted a Lunch and Learn in our monthly series and led our first ever 5k Run and Walk, the Couch to 5K challenge. On April 7, 2018, C3 participated in the 8 th Annual Hot Diggity Dog 5k & Walk hosted by the Mississippi School for the Blind. It was such a fun event that C3 plans to make this an integral annual wellness event! Challenge participants have shown and provided first-hand testimonies that the organization of these activities are well worth the time and money invested. Participants have been motivated to challenge themselves and their co-workers. This has added a friendly competitive atmosphere to the education complex.

C3 Challenges kick off August 1! Watch your emails and the C3 Facebook page – Announcements to come! What’s Your Story? Would you like to tell your story? We would love to hear it! Submit a bio to be included in an upcoming newsletter.

We have experts. We want to hear from you. Email HR@mccb.edu to submit your question.

Second Quarter*2018

MCCB Human Resources Quarterly Newsletter

Cynthia Jiles

We Care About Your Needs

Message from Human Resources

10 Good Leadership Questions To Ask Yourself

By Brad Lomenick

Featured In This Issue

1. What’s it like to be on the other side of me? Are others around me flourishing? 2. How can I improve? Am I looking for opportunities to lead? 3. Who currently has permission to call me out and say the hard things to me that I need to hear? 4. How do I respond in moments of crisis? Do I chew people out when something is not done right? 5. Am I truly self aware? Where/what are my blind spots in my leadership? Am I a secure confident leader? 6. Do I talk more than I listen? 7. What do I need to learn from my most recent failures? 8. How do I lead people who have different approaches than me? 9. Am I comfortable surrounding myself with people who are better at their jobs than I am? 10. Who else should I be learning from? Who is currently coaching or mentoring me?

1

HR Message

1

Employee of the Quarter

1

Best Wishes

2

Birthdays

2

Upcoming Events

2

Wellness Message

2

Sound Bite

11. BONUS: Who am I grooming/coaching to replace me in my current role?

Best Wishes!

Leadership= Service to Others

Fixture: By definition , this is something or in our case someone that is known to be in a place…steady, a landmark.

Deborah Gilbert – our fixture, our landmark of MCCB leadership.

Employee of the Quarter

Thank you, Deborah.

Thank you for providing us with a true example of servant leadership. You have worked in earnest as one of the state’s top examples of good stewardship. You are the gold standard for integrating MCCB’s core values while continuously working to achieve the mission of this agency.

Best to you in your future endeavors – you certainly deserve late morning and early evenings!

Deborah Gilbert

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HUMAN RESOURSES NEWSLETTER

Birthdays

Sound Bite

Shana Hansen Lynne Oliver Krystal Adcock Tina Bradley Davita Weary Teresa Barnes Sandy Crist Mark Jenkins

April 2 April 5 April 15 April 19 April 26 May 14 May 30 June 5 June 18 June 20

There are meetings and then there are MEETINGS.

1. Always have an

agenda or outline of topics to be discussed.

Kell Smith

Audra Kimble

2. Have a set time limit

Upcoming Events

5K (C3 Wellness Center Event) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVE LISTENING CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL DAY

April 7

3. Ask insightful questions

April 19 April 30

4. Summarize meeting points and assign tasks as needed. 5. Provide a follow-up meeting date (if needed) 6. ***Try a ‘ Walking Meeting ’ on pleasant weather days.

HOLIDAY MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY

May 28 June 4-6

ADULT EDUCATION CONFERENCE

Wellness Message from Shana Hansen Healthy Employees = Healthy Agency Energy, activity, and commitment have been the core descriptive verbs for the C3 Wellness Ambassadors and Participants these past (3) months. C3 participants have shown a tremendous commitment to themselves and an appreciation for the services and opportunities provided through the Wellness Center. C3 has hosted (2) Lunch and Learns: Fitness (January 2018) and Heart Health (February 2018); with additional sessions planned for the remainder of the year. Yoga (off campus) is on- going and continues to be very successful. Due to a tremendous response to the trial session and an outpouring of requests, C3 has added Chair Yoga (on campus) sessions to the monthly rotation. There are (4) more classes scheduled for the upcoming quarter and the classes are already nearly full. The Challenge participants have shown that the organization of these activities are well worth the time and money invested. Participants have been motivated to challenge themselves and this has added a friendly competitive atmosphere to the education complex. And we eagerly encourage more of you to attend. But, there is more! The “New Year New You” sign-up brought in a whole host of new wellness center members and challenge participants. In addition, the Annual Health Fair provided C3 additional outreach opportunities. Furthermore, there is now a list-serve in addition to the C3 FACEBOOK, Twitter, and Instagram social media accounts. Project Lead, Shana Hansen was a guest of Marshall Ramsey , and discussed the wellness facility, activities, sessions, and challenges. C3 has seen success in the challenges and we had a blast cheering on our 5k challenge participants. This challenge group has trained with Kelly McBride and rocked the 8th Annual Hot Diggity Dog 5k & Walk on Saturday, April 7, 2018. We look forward to having an even greater turnout next year!

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION?

Stay Connected and Informed!

We have experts. We want to hear from you. Email HR@mccb.edu to submit your question/ and or comment.

First Quarter*2018

MCCB Human Resources Quarterly Newsletter

Cynthia Jiles

Message from Human Resources

STOP BULLYING BEHAVIOR

Featured In This Issue

Bullies enjoy being bullies, so unless you do something, it’s unlikely the bully will stop of his or her own accord. Here’s how to deal with an office bully.

1

Stop Bullying Behavior

Set Limits Describe the behavior you see the bully exhibiting — don’t editorialize or offer opinions, just describe what you observe. (“You enter my cubicle uninvited and read my emails over my shoulder.”)  Tell the bully exactly how his or her behavior is impacting your work. (“My emails are my business. I’m not going to spend time hiding them from you — that’s an inappropriate use of time.”)  Tell the bully what behavior you expect in the future. (“In the future, don’t enter my cubicle unless I invite you in. It’s my work space and your actions are unwelcome.”)  Stick with your statement and if the bully violates your space, move on to opposition. Oppose the Bully  If unacceptable behavior is repeated, stop whatever else is going on and tell the bully he or she is out of line.  Again, describe the behavior you see the bully exhibiting – don’t editorialize or offer opinions, just describe what you observe along with a statement that the conduct is unacceptable. (“You’re swearing. That’s unacceptable behavior.”)  If it continues, leave the room/end the call. If the bully is in your space, close down your computer and leave. Document the Bully’s Actions  Document the date, time, and details of the bullying incident. Note if another employee witnessed the incident.  If the bullying occurs in email or correspondence, print out a hard copy of the emails and file them in your computer.  If you eventually seek help from HR, documentation of the bully’s impact on business results gives HR actionable information. The bully isn’t just hurting your feelings; the bully is sabotaging the business. If the bullying doesn’t stop despite having followed these steps, get help. Go to HR or a manager with your evidence, especially the evidence that demonstrates the impact of the bully on the business, and file a formal complaint. Most employee handbooks describe the organization’s complaint procedure and the investigation process that your complaint sets in motion.  You may never know what HR and management did about the bully; you can assess the impact of your complaint by how he or she treats you in the future. Tell Management and HR About the Bully. 

1

Employee of the Quarter

2

Birthdays

2

Upcoming Events

2

Wellness Message

2

Sound Bite

Standards Without Accountability Are Just Suggestions

Employee of the Quarter Jim Southward

National Seminars Training HR E-Tip

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HUMAN RESOURSES NEWSLETTER

Birthdays

Sound Bite

Casandra Ware Rodney Hodges

January 2 January 2 January 16 January 19 February 4 February 5 February 12 February 13

Reading List:

Jason Carter

1.

21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership – by John Maxwell

Deborah Gilbert Marilyn Garner

Krista LeBrun Megan Akins

2.

The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement – by Eliyahu M. Goldratt and Jeff Cox. The Power of Ethical Management – by Norman Vincent Peale and Ken Blanchard Goal Analysis: How to Clarify Your Goals So You Can Actually Achieve Them – by Bob Mager A Rulebook for Arguments – by Anthony Weston

Andrea Mayfield Nikitna Barnes Sherriel Moore

March 7 March 17

3.

Upcoming Events

New Year’s Holiday

January 1

Martin Luther King’s and Robert E Lee’s Holiday PD – Employee Engagement

4.

January 15 January 18 February 15 February 19

PD – Stress

George Washington’s Holiday

PD – Active Listening

March 15

5.

Wellness Message from Shana Hansen Healthy Employees = Healthy Agency The C3 Wellness committee remains committed to the overall wellness of our members. We welcomed the services of Kelly McBride in late November. Kelly is a certified personal trainer, weight loss specialist with Cross Fit training. Kelly will be available an hour a day twice a week to anyone who enters the center during her stated hours. We continue to offer weekly yoga sessions. Yoga remains as our highest rated activity by the attendees and we look forward to continuing these services in the New Year! The overall goal of this project is to help Mississippians become healthier. With this initiative we strive to increase wellness education, improve health, reduce illness, improve productivity, reduce medical costs, reduce absence from work as well as strengthen the partnerships within our complex. We strive to motivate employees to work together as well as challenge each other to become healthier employees. In summary, we are very pleased with our progress to date. We are very excited about the New Year’s activities and challenges. We will continue offering educational Lunch and Learns, a personal trainer, yoga, healthy cooking and dance/step classes. We are proud of what we have accomplished this quarter and we want to continue to motivate our employees to participate in all aspects of the C3 Wellness Center as we well as strive to be healthier people. The C3 Wellness Center will hold a “New Year New You” sign- up day in January for new members and new employees. We will also promote all activities and have a sign up for New Year challenges. Kelly McBride, our new personal trainer, will also be What’s Your Story? Would you like to tell your story? We would love to hear it! Submit a bio to be included in next quarter’s newsletter.

Professional Development: Team Building Exercise

Thank you, Dr. Mayfield!

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION?

We have experts. We want to hear from you. Email HR@mccb.edu to submit your question.