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Ketchum forms new business venture

by MAUREEN DOLAN
Staff Writer | March 16, 2010 9:00 PM

COEUR d'ALENE - Robert Ketchum is moving on, but he's not going far.

The former director of North Idaho College's Workforce Training Center announced Tuesday the formation of a new business venture, The Ketchum Group. The private company will provide workforce development services similar to those offered to employers through programs Ketchum helped set up at NIC.

"The Ketchum Group is uniquely positioned to address the nation's growing skill shortage in an era of reduced public resources for workforce training," Ketchum said.

With NIC since 1990, Ketchum was dismissed by the college in January, and his position was eliminated. Mike Mires, the college's new dean of Professional, Technical, and Workforce Education was hired in January. Mires assumed Ketchum's duties and authority at the college's Workforce Training Center in the Riverbend Commerce Park in Post Falls.

Ketchum's company will offer employers customized training, programs specifically designed for and tailored to meet an employer's individual needs. Structured on-the-job training is available to help companies set up their own in-house training programs.

Ketchum, who holds a Ph.D in vocational-technical education and has worked for more than 35 years in education and training, will run the company with K. Michael Million. The pair plans to offer their services initially throughout the Pacific Northwest, and then nationally.

Million and Ketchum previously worked together on projects in China.

"Michael is an incurable entrepreneur, just the kind of experience we needed to balance the capabilities of the new venture," Ketchum said.

Mires, who came to NIC from Spokane Community College where he was the dean of instruction for technical education, said he wishes Ketchum well.

"I think he's going to do a great job," Mires said.

The college has seen a recent downturn in its customized training contracts, but Mires said it's just a reflection of the current economic climate.

"I don't mind the competition. I think there is probably room for two to be doing this. The community will have a choice," Mires said.

Some of North Idaho College's former customers have already shown interest in having The Ketchum Group help them meet their training needs.

Ron Nilson, CEO of Ground Force Manufacturing in Post Falls and head of the North Idaho Manufacturing Consortium, has pulled all his business from NIC to send it Ketchum's way.

"Robert understands the meaning of customer service," Nilson said.

Businesses that contract with NIC's Workforce Training Center for employee skills training are paying customers as well as taxpayers.

Nilson estimates his company paid the community college an average of $35,000 per year for the past five years.

"Robert understands the customer, the meaning of training a workforce," Nilson said.

Bay Shore Systems in Rathdrum has contracted with The Ketchum Group to deliver a customized training course on blue print reading for its manufacturing team, and Contractors Northwest intends to hire the company to develop a carpentry apprenticeship program.

"When it comes to meeting the various training needs of the manufacturing community, Dr. Ketchum has long been the foremost authority. So when the need arises he is a natural choice, said Jim Tippet, Bay Shore general manager.