What was the best part of the Boot Camp for you?
Exploring the manufacturing area was interesting but I think I enjoyed the laboratory a bit more. The Boot Camp refreshed a lot of my skills, and I appreciate the financial assistance I qualified for while applying for a job.

How are you enjoying your job at RI Analytical?
I love it! I am grateful to have been hired at a great company that is flexible and understanding of my education. On weekends I work in the micro lab, and during the week after classes at URI I work in the wet chem department. I have learned so much on the tests that are run to ensure environmental samples are safe.

What does your job entail?
I am considered an Environmental Lab Tech 1. I work on ‘short holds’ which are samples we receive with a 24-48 turnover time. They require shorter tests to run that allow us to gather data and provide it to the client(s). These tests help clients ensure their samples (whether from a restaurant, Warwick sewers, airplane runoffs, sinks, public rain drains, pools during the summer and even blood) fall within range to be safe for the environment and people. I truly love this job, especially since I am being cross-trained in different areas.

Do you feel as though the Boot Camp gave you a leg up in finding your new job?
Absolutely. If it wasn’t for the Boot Camp, I doubt I would have gotten an offer from RI Analytical, and I wouldn’t have had the courage to apply to URI for college.

What are your dreams for the future?
Right now I hope I can finish university. The reason I stopped during COVID was of course due to classes turning remote but also due to the cost. If tuition keep rising and FAFSA keeps denying a grant, I may need to switch to part-time school so I can work full time. Since I am a transfer student, the URI program I am in is a beautiful 3 to 1 where I spend two years finishing my classes, then during my senior year I will do an 11-month internship at a hospital. I hope to stay at RI Analytical the entire time, for the next five years at least. I may also work on getting another degree, at least until I have a chance at getting into a clinical research lab.

What was the best part of the Boot Camp for you?
The blend of hands-on experience and theoretical knowledge we gained. The practical exercises from the URI PDI team, combined with the skills reinforcement provided by Skills for Rhode Island’s Future, significantly enhanced my learning experience. I am so grateful to everyone who encouraged and supported me throughout this journey with a kind attitude and willingness to help.

How did it help you? 
As an immigrant, understanding the U.S job market was essential for me, and the Boot Camp provided insights on how to navigate job offers successfully. I received valuable guidance in improving my resume and tailoring it to my unique situation. The focus on developing my elevator pitch was particularly beneficial, as it became a powerful tool that helped me stand out from the other candidates.

How are you enjoying your new lab job?
I love being back in the lab! I am enjoying learning new laboratory techniques and regulations. Working with a diverse team and solving problems is incredibly fulfilling. Being back in the lab has revived my passion for ensuring the quality and safety of consumer goods. Since Garelick Farm is a DFA affiliate producing a wide range of products, I get to work on dairy products and juices, including pasteurized milk, chocolate milk, cream, and orange juice.
My job entails performing chemical and microbiological analyses of raw material, in-process material, and finished products to ensure compliance with quality and safety standards; as well as collecting and preparing samples for analysis. I also record and interpret test results; report deviations or anomalies to Quality Assurance and production teams; and inspect products at various stages of the batching and production process.

What are your dreams for the future?
My dream is to grow professionally in Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs, taking on new challenges and responsibilities. I want to become a leader in the field and make meaningful contributions to ensuring safety and compliance for all. I also want to help foreign professionals thrive professionally in the U.S.

What was the best part of the Biotech Boot Camp ?
The real-life hands-on instruction was amazing. Being able to go into an actual biotech lab and physically perform the new skills was crucial. There’s a world of difference between reading about something and actually doing it. Also, the instructors were extremely knowledgeable and patient. They took time to answer questions, and to further explain. They understood they were training some people for whom this was a whole new world.

How did the Biotech Boot Camp help you?
I learned a lot of new industry skills, instruments, terminology, and equipment, including SOPs, GMP, CGMP, biosafety cabinets, pipetting, micropipetting, units of measurement such as a mole, and measuring microliters, which I had never done before. Initially, I thought ‘oh my God this is going to be so complicated, I don’t know if I can do this!’ But the instructors and the hands-on practice gave me confidence that I could actually do this. Before, I would never have applied for biotechnology jobs, because a lot of the jobs I was interested in required experience and/or a degree. Now I feel a lot more comfortable and confident going into a medical laboratory to work. I had worked in gemstone labs before, but a lot of the equipment and terminology is completely different than in a medical laboratory.

What has changed since you finished the course?
I believe it helped me get my current position at Dominion. First, there’s everything I learned – the skills and terminology I should use on a resume and during an interview. I learned what employers would be looking for, and now I can also confidently say I am familiar with SOPs, biohazards, and good manufacturing processes, etc.
Second, I wouldn’t have written a new resume if the instructors hadn’t asked us to do one. I put everything I learned in Biotech Bootcamp right at the top of my resume under Experience, because I know that’s what employers are looking for. Recruiters sometimes skim through many resumes quickly and you never know if they will make it to the bottom of your resume.

How is your new job going?
I love my new job! Management and the office staff I work with are very respectful, and friendly. I enjoy working with them, and I enjoy interacting with the patients. It’s a new experience, but so far it’s really great. I create accounts for new patients, perform data entry, collect specimen samples from patients, prepare specimen samples for courier pickup, as well as do inventory and supply ordering. I can work very independently and I have my own work space, which I appreciate.

How have the project management courses helped you?
“I’m taking advanced Project Management now and last year I took the Project Management Essentials Course, which was my first exposure to formal project management. They have helped me mostly in recognizing the importance of getting a solid framework in place in advance of a project, making sure that adjustments and changes are made in writing, and that risk is accounted for during budgeting for time and money. I have also learned that Project Managers have a language of their own – most of the unfamiliar content in the course has been the vocabulary they use. Overall, the courses have helped me organize complex project work, stay focused and on track, and support my colleagues to do the same.”

What’s the best takeaway from the class?
“I’d say two things – the first is continuing to interact with the instructor, Robert Massoud, who is fantastic and so knowledgeable on this topic. The second is the focus on risk management – something that can be easily ignored until it’s too late!”

How did you first learn about RI Bio courses?
“I became familiar with RI Bio’s offerings almost two years ago through a LinkedIn post that caught my eye. I was able to introduce former colleagues to RI Bio and introduce this course into our professional development program.”

How did the Intro to Bio Course help you?
“It really opened my eyes and encouraged me like wow, I’m smart. I found skills that I forgot I had. It was nice to have Martha [from RI Bio] in my corner, people there to help guide you, if I needed anything, I could reach out and always got help. It was an overall great program. It touched on a lot of great notes and got the ball rolling in my head. The lab work just kind of clicked, just the weighing, measuring, a common kitchen skill but look what you can do with it. It introduced me to so many different job possibilities. I never knew how much I was really capable of doing until it opened my eyes. It was like, Hey Ann, you’re smarter than you think.”

What did you like most about the course?
“The online aspect–being able to be home and log on and access that new world of online school was great but at the same time difficult with three kids at home. There was always great support, and working with Duncan [from Skills for RI’s Future] was awesome. He said he could help me find a job, and helped me write an awesome resume with things I didn’t know about myself. I’ve never seen myself look so good–being a mom with no education is really hard on your self esteem. It was an awesome, positive experience. They didn’t turn me away, they didn’t say what I was aspiring to do was impossible. Duncan helped me find a GED program and I worked really hard, and within two and a half weeks I earned my GED.”

How did it make you feel?
“It motivated me and made me want to further my education and show my kids how important it is. I wanted to show them that with determination and hard work you can get anything done, no matter how many times you fail. My son has struggled with school. I want to show them, anyone can take anything from you, but they can’t take your education.”

What’s next for you?
“College! I want to be a full time student, focus on my studies and see how I can progress through it. I’ve been accepted into CCRI and I’m getting my financial aid set up. I’m hoping to get a degree in psychology and concentrate on substance abuse. I feel like my story can help people. I’ve been in recovery for five years, that’s the road I feel I’ve been chosen to take, that’s where my heart is pulling me. I want to be able to help others, make a difference. I’m happy with how things have worked out.”

What do you want to tell others about Intro to Bio?
“I hope some other mother or person will see my story and take advantage. It’s an awesome program, you can find different fields you never thought you could do. I wouldn’t have gotten this far if it wasn’t for Skills for Rhode Island and RI Bio inspiring me–I may have never gone down this road to pursue an education for myself. You made an impact in my life and I’m so grateful for your help.”

How did you get involved?
“My organization asked if I would like to participate in this class, and since it’s a leadership certificate class I thought it would be a great avenue to further my career path. The classes were great, made up of professionals with different backgrounds who were open to sharing their experiences. A major highlight was being able to network with and learn from all these talented individuals.”

What new skills did you learn?
“One of the most challenging parts of my job is holding people accountable without authority. So hearing about other people’s work experiences and the ways they’ve handled similar situations was incredibly helpful. I learned new skills for how to manage without authority in a persuasive way that didn’t come across as overbearing or aggressive. Another topic I really liked was managing upward. I appreciated that we spent time discussing the value of managing not only your own team, but different ways to manage your own superiors to achieve favorable outcomes. Those were the two most powerful takeaways for me that I have used in my daily activities. The homework assignments to use the new skills and report back were an important reminder that to be successful in management you need to observe, listen and empathize before you jump to conclusions.

“One group activity I enjoyed was talking through difficult scenarios. We were given personas, such as CEO or Business Analyst, with a little information about the person. Then we’d discuss – based on what we knew of that person – how we would respond in a given scenario as leaders. That was really insightful to me as there were perspectives brought up that I never would have thought of. Just because you may think your way of approaching a situation is the right or only way, there are actually several other ways you could approach it.”

How did you incorporate what you learned at work?
“Another skill I learned is how powerful words can be in any communication you use, and how a simple tweak of a sentence can change the tone of your message. For example, ‘I think you should’ has a negative undertone, versus saying ‘do you think it would be a good idea if.’ It’s amazing what wording like that can do to change the undertone of an email, especially now that we’re 100% remote. Being a type A-personality, I am typically very direct in my communication and try to do things as quick as possible, so I’d usually just say ok, or respond with a one-word answer. I found that shortness was not well received by my peers. Having a longer email that is not as direct and that has more conversational language around it – ‘hi hope your day’s going well, just following up on…’ – made tremendous positive steps in my relationships with senior leaders and my peers. Who knew something so small could make such a big impact!”

How did the leadership development help you?
“It has helped me think about my career future, what I want for myself, and helped me build the confidence to go for it. Additionally, I have felt validated in many ways. I have experienced some challenging situations in the past and I second-guessed my response. When I took this class, I was very honest and brought up some of those situations, the students who had similar experiences were very supportive of how I handled myself and confirmed I was managing myself in the best possible way that I could. As a manager, I gained a better understanding and patience for my staff. The class opened my eyes to the importance of loosening up the reins and letting people go off on their own and fail or succeed. Some of my staff’s and I greatest failures have helped us learn the most valuable lessons and made us better professionals because of it.

“I also recommended that one of my employees take the leadership class. I think it’s a great opportunity for anyone who wants to grow in their career. The class is now spending a lot of time on how to be successful while working remotely. My employee has learned a lot through that training, and has taught me a thing or two, which has been great!”

Do you think you will attend/sign up your team for other RI Bio webinars?
“Absolutely!”

How does RIBio help enhance your benefit offering?
“RIQI has benefited tremendously from RI Bio’s training and development opportunities – they have been extremely meaningful to our team since we are a smaller nonprofit. Since 2018, over a dozen staff members have participated in various programs. We work directly with our staff to best understand what new skills they want to learn, and RI Bio has proactively engaged with us; asking ‘what does your organization need and how can we create a curriculum that meets your talent development needs for your workforce?’ So they’re very interested in helping organizations like RIQI. It’s been a fantastic relationship – they take the time to listen and really assess the needs in the life sciences community.”

Who in your organization has been helped?
“The Leadership Development programs have been beneficial for many levels of our employees: our emerging leaders who are shifting from an individual contributor role to managing teams; project managers who are leading and managing projects; and our advanced leaders who are seeking to enhance their leadership and managerial skills.”

What did you think of the Leadership Development classes you sat in on?
“Mari Anne Snow as facilitator is very engaging, she gets to know each attendee personally and builds on their conversations. Over the years, I have participated in many training programs and I can tell when people gloss over, but here I could tell the participants were actively listening, engaged, and eager to learn. RI Bio has now included a 30-minute one-on-one consult with Mari Anne. Participants can privately and confidentially talk about situations they’re dealing with, which they might not have mentioned in a group setting, and she gives them tools to assist them through that process. I’ve received feedback that this has been really helpful.”

What kind of feedback did you hear from your team?
“It’s not your typical training program, the courses are very interactive, hands on, and relatable. RIQI staff have shared that they can take what they learned in the classroom, connect the dots and transfer it to their work environment immediately. Additionally, our staff are collaborating and connecting with others in the life sciences community. They are building lasting relationships with other professionals whom they otherwise may not have met. Through RI Bio they have an opportunity to see things from diverse perspectives and gain different insights from others in similar roles. They can learn from those experiences and apply it to their own situation.”

How have the classes helped your workforce, what new skills have they learned?
“The Leadership Development series enhanced our staff’s skills in many areas, such as conflict resolution, managing difficult conversations, effective communication, and understanding the importance of leadership presence whether or not you’re in a leadership role, as well as emotional intelligence and how important it is to take a step back and look at things through different lenses. For some of our newer managers, the program enhanced and improved their delegation skills. The remote worker training program included how to manage or lead in crisis; how to stay connected and engaged when you’re behind a computer screen all day; and how to stay productive and resilient which are critical skills for remote work.”

How have RI Bio classes helped the Institute?
“They have supported RIQI’s career development goals by providing opportunities to develop and enhance our staff’s skills, knowledge, and abilities to advance and be more successful in their roles. The tools they have learned help them swiftly navigate the day-to-day challenges that can take up so much of one’s time, providing more opportunity to focus on organizational and departmental goals.”

What have you enjoyed most?
“I absolutely love RI Bio’s HR Leaders Circle of Excellence roundtables and collaborating with other professionals. I enjoy connecting with others and hearing what my peers are experiencing and addressing. There is always a takeaway that I can then tailor and apply within my organization. The topics discussed thus far have focused on how we’re keeping our staff engaged and connected since the pandemic. As HR professionals and employers, we are experiencing tremendous change and we are faced with a whole new set of challenges. The roundtable brings us together to discuss these challenges and how best to navigate through them so we can be resilient and continue to foster a positive and engaged work environment for our teams. They’re only an hour long, and after the hour is up I want to keep going!”

What would you say to a friend in HR about RI Bio?
“I would say – if they are looking for an organization that can connect you with others within your space, that can provide networking opportunities, training and development opportunities, and that really takes the time to listen to you as an organization and understand what your challenges are – RI Bio is it. They are growing and becoming that go-to organization in the RI life sciences community. I truly value the relationship I have with RI Bio, and I know they have exciting new things on the horizon. I’m excited to see what they do next.”

What motivated you to take RI Bio’s Introduction to Biotechnology course?
I love acquiring knowledge and skills from new fields and improving myself. I felt the knowledge I would gain from this course would help me transition into a different field for now and give me more job opportunities while I study and earn my license to practice medicine in the U.S.

What did you learn?
As I was going through the course, I realized I didn’t know a lot about biotechnology especially as regards to agriculture and marine biotechnology. I was excited to learn new skills in Marine Biotechnology, especially as it relates to future drug development and vaccine development. I also learned skills for good laboratory practice in general, as well as packaging and quality control/assurance skills in a laboratory.

How did taking the course help you?
It gave me the opportunity to learn new skills and obtain entry level job opportunities in a completely different industry than I was used to. I also took the follow-up class, Developing Lab Skills, where I learned even more valuable skills such as batch documentation. I especially liked the video simulation classes, and I liked that you couldn’t move to the next level of the class if you don’t get the simulations right. I know I will be using these skills in my new job.

What was the outcome?
RI Bio held a job fair at the end of the course where I met people from several local companies, including Edesia, based in North Kingstown. They are a unique non-profit organization working to end malnutrition through manufacturing and distributing 1.5 million packets of specialized ready-to-use foods that saves lives. An Edesia Representative invited me to apply for jobs on their site, which I did, and they ended up offering me a position as a Quality Assurance Technician. I am absolutely excited to play my part in the Edesia Team. Martha Langer, Project Manager at RI Bio, also gave me good counsel in my application for the job which was very helpful.

Do you think you would have found the job without taking the RI Bio classes?
I don’t think so, I wouldn’t have known about the opening without the course and the job fair. And the classes helped me transition and apply for jobs in manufacturing production, something I hadn’t done before. I look forward to future RI Bio classes.