NIU’s College of Continuing Education has recently been awarded a contract from the Regional Transit Authority Board of Directors.

NIU will provide nine week-long seminars to mid-level managers from RTA, Central Transit Authority, PACE and METRA at the KPMG Peat Marwick Executive Conference Center in Chicago over an 18 month period.

“We were impressed with the detailed proposal from Northern Illinois University,” said Laura Jibben, RTA executive director. “They have the best defined training program, qualified staff and a conference center.”

NIU was chosen from a group of five universities and vendors.

The contract was funded through a federal grant by the United Mass Transit Authorities (UMTA). A combined total of $178,000 was awarded to the RTA, CTA, PACE, and METRA for these seminars.

Six NIU professors will provide an opportunity for mid-level managers to improve in communication, negotiation and motivation skills.

Jack Parker, from the Department of Communication Studies, will conduct a seminar on communication crises. Curtis Norton, from the Department of Accounting, will deliver information on budgets and finance controls. Rick Ridnour, from the Department of Marketing, will speak about marketing.

Also, Marvin Fogel, from Continuing Professional Education, will speak on stress management and positive discipline. Gerald Gabris, of the Public Administration Program, will help develop team building skills. Also, Curtiss Behrens, from the Department of Management, will speak about labor-management relations.

Along with NIU’s own team, Kathleen E. Stein-Hudson, a specialist in planning for mass transit from Boston, of Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, will conduct a seminar on project management.

Continuing Education Program Coordinator Carol Stolte, who put together the proposal, said she thought of this as an opportunity to continue providing services to the 23 counties that NIU services.

The seminars are a “good opportunity to let the greater Chicago area know about us,” Stolte said. She also wants others to be aware that NIU has the capability of training on a large scale.