Tucked neatly away in Erlanger, KY sits one of the region's most advanced meeting and training facilities known simply as the METS Center for Corporate Learning. Designed and constructed as a technology-driven meeting facility, the Center plays host to an impressive roster of clients including Procter & Gamble, Fidelity Investments, Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Psion Teklogix, and Toyota.
Walking through the expansive yet comfortable complex you can't help but feel the designers had the needs of the contemporary business person in mind. Offering a one stop shop for everything from a small executive conference to comprehensive employee training programs to large banquets The METS Center's versatile design provides the technology, logistics and staffing needed to conduct any type of meeting you can imagine. And all only a few minutes away from the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) and downtown Cincinnati;
"METS has emerged as a key innovator and provider of critical training services in Kentucky," says Kris W. Kimel, President of the Kentucky Science and Technology Corp. "Their programs are centered around the (correct) premise that innovation and creativity are critical to the success of any company or organization in today's economy. To help organizations reach a competitive position, METS has researched and developed an ambitious innovation training model."
Not only a premiere meeting facility, the METS also serves as an employee advocacy organization. Founded in 1999, METS, or Metropolitan Education and Training Services is a public service extension of Northern Kentucky University that helps local businesses identify and eliminate barriers to success by providing consulting and training referral services. The program provides high-tech, objective performance/needs assessments to help organizations efficiently assess existing resources while helping to determine whether their investments in performance improvements are paying off.
One of the key programs offered by METS is its acclaimed MBA Essentials – a 12 week certificate program designed for individuals wanting to build awareness of emerging trends as well as shore up their business insight.
Today's businesses may find themselves promoting employees without business degrees who find themselves in supervisory positions with little experience in executing business functions such as creating budgets, reviewing financial statements, preparing marketing plans, running meetings or providing performance feedback. Working in conjunction with NKU's College of Business, METS founders developed MBA Essentials, a 12-week certificate program or Business Boot Camp designed to give a focused overview of a broad range of topics covered in most MBA programs. The courses use NKU professors as well as industry professionals to introduce participants to real world business situations and solutions rather than abstract theories. The past two years have seen increased attendance by business owners, professional practice managers, nurse-managers as well as others seeking to update and expand their business knowledge.
State-of-the art technology is at the heart of METS success. Knowing the region's expectations and needs would be extremely high, the METS Center designed its meeting and training venues with the capability of providing the most advanced space, techniques and technologies available. Tech savvy clients, Toyota feel right at home in the space while web-casting features allow participants to participate from around the world.
"The web-casting feature enabled me to participate in the MBA Essentials program from Nashville, Atlanta, Los Angeles and from home, just like I was in the classroom. This is the only way I could successfully participate in development programs like this ~ which benefits both me and my company," says Douglas B. Peet, Plant Manager at Cinergy Solutions.