She Was a Teen Mom at 13. Now She’s Training Indiana’s Future Workforce

Katie Reigelsperger’s story is nothing short of inspiring. From being unenrolled from school at 13 to launching one of Indiana’s fastest-growing career training programs — Katie is now equipping students and adults alike with the certifications and soft skills they need to thrive in the workforce.

In this episode of The Hoel Truth Podcast, Katie shares:
-How she went from GED to pharmacy tech to CEO
-What CTE (Career & Technical Education) is and why it’s changing lives
-The growth of her company, KLR Medical Certification Training School
-Why soft skills like showing up, working hard, and staying off your phone matter more than ever
-This is for educators, business owners, parents, and anyone who cares about the next generation.

📍 Indiana | National reach
🌐 Learn more: https://klronlinecertifications.com
🎙️ Brought to you by Hoel Roofing & Remodeling

Transcript

Katie, How do we help set students up for success in Indiana?

So previously, students were graduating with just a core 40 diploma. Students now have an opportunity to go into different, graduation requirements. And one of those is CTE or career.

And technical education. So students can earn that industry recognized certification and gain that real life experience through work based learning rotations prior to even graduating.

Welcome to this edition of the Hoel Truth Podcast! Today, our special guest is Katie with KLR Medical Certification Training School. And you may say, what the hell do we have Katie here today for, been talking a lot with a high school kind of really just.

I'm kind of on a kick here lately of, like, how are we preparing these young adults to get out in the real world? And, you know, there's been a massive shift in more private, more home schooling. And I really feel like the public school has finally started making the shift because they've got to be more appealing, you know, and I'll be the first one to say that I'm a massive supporter of the public school, but complete transparency.

My kids go to private school for a reason. You know, so, your name was brought up by a couple, the high school principal and vice principal, and you were gracious enough to say, yeah. So I'm going to let you introduce yourself. And then we're just going to kind of talk about what, all because you're doing more than medical, training.

What all you guys do. Yeah. So, my name is Katie Reigelsperger. I'm the CEO and founder of KLR Medical Certification Training School. And, we are running, in addition to adult education programs across the country. We have CTE, our career and technical education programs across the state of Indiana. And we are teaching classes like pharmacy, medical assisting, dental, vet that Sciences, principles of healthcare, Anatomy and physiology, accounting fundamentals, principles of business and marketing fundamentals.

So, your work, you work with Rushville with a few things and they're expanding to go in the next year. Is that is that correct? Yes. So Rushville, as a new partner this year, we're really excited to bring them on and, and work with them. They've been awesome. And so this year they are participating in our vet and dental programs.

And then next year they are going to expand to the remainder of our programs, including our business. So you were kind of telling me before we hit record, kind of how it's structured is there's some zoom meetings with your organization and then the majority of it is they're out in the real world actually working to get real world experience.

That's correct. So students will generally start with us in their 11th grade year or their junior year. They are going to meet with our instructors, via zoom in a blended learning environment, our instructor and the assistant in that classroom, and they're mastering all the knowledge that they need to know to take and pass a national exam and earn their credentials in their area of interest.

So whichever one that is, that first year, they're also going to participate in CPR and first aid training with our American Red cross certified instructors. Our annual Skills Day event, which is coming up in November. And a couple of other things based on what class you are when they come back as seniors, they're going to participate in work based learning rotations, allowing it to be that graduation pathway with the new Indiana graduation guidelines and requirements.

And so, we are partnered with employers all across the state, and students are going to go during their school day and earn those hours, again, allowing it to be that graduation pathway. And then that is also they're paid are then paid are not paid. Okay. So this is these are unpaid hours during the school day, but students are earning credits for them.

So they're earning six credits per year. Okay. Towards their graduation. Okay. So just to kind of bring people up to speed, then I believe it's the freshmen that are currently in school this year. They're in high school. There's there for the Indiana. There's kind of three different career paths taken, not career pass, but three different paths they can take through high school, which is university work or service.

Yeah. Service. Yep. So you're, you're kind of filling that, that void to kind of help. Correct. What that okay, just has grown, massively across the country, but here in Indiana as well. And so, for for those who might not be familiar, Indiana recently changed the way that it sees education. And instead of graduating with a core 40 diploma like you or I may have.

Yep. Students are required to check certain boxes and this allows them to do that. So how did you come up with this? 

Like I mean, it's awesome. Like we were kind of talking before and I'm asking all of these business nerdy questions like, I, I, I love, you know, what I enjoy is talking to creators like, you know, you know, and, we've been through some training as a company and, a good friend of mine, you know, he talks about, like, we create our life and, you know, we create our lives.

And when we're stupid and we do stupid stuff that we shouldn't do, you know, but we can also create our life, you know, as we, as we officially, are recording this podcast. Our company's eight years old today. So, like, it's kind of cool to look back of, like, what? Me and my wife have been honored to create, you know?

So how did you come up? How did you create this? Like, what? I mean, I guess you probably started in medical sense. The name says medical.

But take a minute to tell us about that. Yeah. So, if you are familiar with the Excel center, it's a nontraditional high school for adults here in Indiana and across the country.

I am actually a graduate of the Excel center, an Anderson from 2014, and was at the Excel Center. Part of their graduation requirements allow you to earn an industry recognized certification. And so I earned my pharmacy technician certification was at the Excel Center. A week after graduation, I went on to work at CVS pharmacy, where I worked my way up from lead to lead Technician and inventory specialist, and then a few months later accepted a position at Riverview Health, a small local hospital in Noblesville, Indiana, and their inpatient pharmacy, where I continue to grow my role.

In 2016, I became the pharmacy supervisor, pharmacy technician, supervisor, and in 2018 the Excel center said, hey, do you want to teach pharmacy technician class? And I said, I'm not a teacher. I have no clue. You're talking about, but they believed in me. And so, I started teaching for adult education, just in the pharmacy world in 2018.

That quickly grew into multiple different states and a couple of other courses that we teach for adult education. But three and a half years ago, we were approached by Hamilton County Schools. And they asked us if we would like and their new career center, which is the Pursuit Institute or TPR, and they asked us if we would like to pilot a pharmacy technician course for CTE, which is a totally different sector, you know, and adult education.

And so, we started that it went so well that a couple of months later they said, hey, you want to do medical testing? And a few months after that, they said, do you want to jump into dental? And then we added vet. And since then, like I said, we have added multiple different courses. 27 different schools across the state.

So, you know, we were talking a little bit earlier and I mentioned Dave Ramsey and, you know, me and my wife have really grasped his concepts. We live it and our personal life, our business and in life, you know, there's challenges. And that's really what mold us and make us, you know, who you are.

So without, like, I've only known you for, like, 15 minutes, so I'm, like, not going to, like, dig up all the dirt in the world. But you did you did share, you know, some of your childhood with me earlier. So I mean, it's you you ended up in that Excel program, for, for a reason, you know, and, I guess share as much as that as you're kind of comfortable with.

Because I'm completely putting you on the spot here. I have been all over the country telling the same story, so I am fully comfortable talking about it. So

I grew up with parents who were drug addicts and alcoholics, and with little to no support at home. I found myself pregnant with my first child when I was 13.

My dad unenrolled me from school at the end of eighth grade with promises to the school district that I would be homeschooled, not something he ever planned on actually doing. And for the next couple of years, while I learned to navigate motherhood and figure out who I was as a mother, I checked out books from the local library and I studied to take my GED test, which I did take when I turned 16.

I passed that, and I thought that was going to change my life and my child's life. Right. But I quickly learned that society had a different idea in mind as to what it meant to be educated. And I continued to work that in jobs, really struggling to make ends meet. No job security, no benefits. And I gave birth to my second child when I was 18, and at that point, I was just in a whole that I didn't know how to get out of.

And, it's a lot easier to dig yourself a hole than it is to get out of. And so, that continued for, for years on for years and years. And, I was taking my kids to a martial arts lesson several years later and heard somebody talking about this high school for adults. And I'm a nosy person by nature, but jumped right into their conversation and I thought it was too good to be true.

I honestly, I'd looked for, opportunities like that, years, years prior and and found nothing. And so I was enrolled into the Excel center in Anderson, Indiana, the very next day. I earned 42 credits and two certifications, graduated with a 3.8 GPA and the top of my class in honors. And, so, you know, that's that's kind of how my, my storyline kind of unfolded.

And, from there, kind of like I said previously, from there, my connection with the Excel center allowed me to, to start my own company. And, and we've consistently grown since then. So I'm incredibly thankful.

No, that's and that's awesome. And what you shared, you know, before we hit, you know, roll on the cameras like both your kids work with you.

And that that, that that's so cool because, like, what people don't understand as, like business owners as, like, you know, the really successful ones, like, they do it for a reason. Like, we've all got to make money. There's nobody that hides behind that, or most and nobody. But it's like it's when there's that passion of like, this really changed my family tree, you know?

It's just it's it's it's easier to get behind that. And to me, it would be so easy to get behind your mission and be like, oh my gosh. Like, I mean, I, I'm thinking, okay, how can I support you guys right now? And, you know, so that's all right. Yeah. And, and that's awesome because, you know, I, when I was in school, you know, and this offense, some people, I'm going to say it like you were look down.

If you weren't going to a four year university. Absolutely. And college is not for everyone. Right. And, you know, and my dad, raised me as a single parent most of my life. He, I was two, my brother was three. My sister was eight, when our mother decided after a bankruptcy in a divorce, that told my dad, give them up for adoption.

I don't want to raise, you know, and, you know, and that's why I'm so compassionate about the Dave Ramsey, the debt free, like, you know, looking back like that all molded me, you know? Thankful for it. But still, you know, so to me, it's it's it's a lot easier. You know, roughing is just a kind of a an outlet, I guess, to to be able to give back with the generosity and, you know, everything that Dave talks about, you know, but it's it's it's cool to me when you cross paths with people, you know, and, and and what a lot of people that look at successful people really don't understand

is like the we've been through a lot of shit that nobody like. I mean, my heart broke when you say you found yourself pregnant at 13, like, you know, because like earlier, you're telling me your kid's his age and I'm like, Holy cow, she's age. Really? Well, I was like, so then when you tell the story, it's like, okay, the number that the math is adding, you know, and, you know, and, you, you went through dead end jobs like, you figured it out like that.

It's the American dream. The American dream isn't on a silver platter like a lot of people. Like a lot of people, maybe, you know, think it is or, you know, or it's a lot of hard work. Yeah. So how long have you guys been doing this? We just celebrated seven years. Awesome. This month.

September. Sorry. September 30th. Awesome. So just celebrated seven years. So I'm really excited about that. And, we just continue to grow. So, how much is it adult learning compared to, like, I guess, student learning? Yeah. So we hold our adult education courses, for all the 28 states that we teach in every, they all meet together, via zoom.

That component does not have the work based learning to it. It is just an accelerated class. They're earning their certification so that they can go out and immediately hit the workforce. Okay. And, that is generally anywhere from, I would say, 50 to 110 students every eight weeks, five times a year. Okay. Across the country and then our CTE students are obviously their high school students.

And so that's going to be, a year at a time, a school year, just like any other school. And we currently have 327 students this year across the state, which has grown rapidly from last year, where we were at 155 in the year prior, and we're like 70. So we've continued to grow those numbers. Well, what I've noticed, just, and we sponsor several schools in this general area with the Dave Ramsey financial class.

So getting to know more than teachers and like, even our construction class, at Rushville, like, I think the number doubled or tripled from last year, like the teacher tax maze. Like, I don't know what I'm going to do with all these kids, you know? But it it just shows kind of the shift in, you know, the like I said, it, people are finally realizing that not everybody is made for school.

And and also and like and and I'm not trying to harp on the public schools like it's it's also like we've got to pay attention to like how the kids are taught. Like the reason my kids go to a private school is like, it's crazy. They have three, three recesses a day, like, you know, they're six, eight and ten, like, you know, especially my boy.

My boy should be running around and be exhausted. Like, you know, we were talking before we hit roll also of, like, we need boys to be men, you know, girls to be women, you know. So, so, yeah, I mean, that's it's when I step back and I look and I see that kind of stuff like it's it brings, I guess brings a relief to me that, you know, as somebody that hires people that, you know, there's there are organizations out there that are our focus on that.

So like, if somebody is interested in their like their school district to do this, like where, where does that even start at, like when you're pursuing new, new customers, I mean, your customers are the school districts, like, how's that look? I'll call it a sales cycle because I'm in sales. I run a company. But, like, how does that how does that cycle look for you guys?

So when we're looking for new partnerships, which we are consistently doing, we are just reaching out over and over again until we can get a contact and get a meeting set up. And then from there, it's really easy. If, a school's interested, they we sign an MOU. We obviously go through all the basics, right. We're going to send them our insurance and, our mou with all the you know, all the nitty gritty details that are going to go into serving their students.

And then from there they can our open enrollment starts in November. They can enroll students into our classes, sometimes based on the location. We have to say, okay, we can only take five students in this area, or we can take, you know, 27 medical assistant students in this area. And that's based on how many partners we have.

In order for students to go in and participate in that work based learning. So, the process is really easy. And we had most of our schools, right. Like, you generally have a, a drop date or a date where your registration needs to be done. We did not do that. We tried to do that, and so that would've worked out great.

But we had a couple of schools who said, and, you know, classes started August 11th and we had a school that said, on August 8th, hey, we we just heard about you guys. Can we have a meeting? Can we set this up? And we've got ten students send you. And so we did and it worked out perfectly. They've been, a really great partner.

And, we're excited to have their students. And so it's a it's an easy process, honestly. It's hey, let's let's talk. How can we serve our students? What are you looking for? And so a lot of times the schools will say, oh, well, I already had, you know, a pharmacy program or I already have a medical assisting program.

And there's a couple of things we can do there. You know, one is a lot of times those are in there brick and mortar. And so space is an issue. Right. And how many students you can accept is an issue. And so a lot of some of our schools will say, okay, we already have pharmacy, but we can only fill, you know, ten spots for that pharmacy.

And we've got 20 kids who want to do it and so they can send the other ones to us. The other really cool thing about our program that schools are loving is that we're going to because we bring all these schools together to do these programs. And so you no longer have to have a, yeah, a cohort.

Right. Like a number for a cohort. And so if you know, Grant regional has one pharmacy students in their entire district, they can still send them as opposed to trying to hire a a pharmacy teacher for 30 students. And so that's been a really good, a really good way to, to map things out and to support the schools as well.

So, funding is always an issue when it comes to schools. So I'm just going to kind of ask the, the white elephant question, you know, like, is, is the state government, are they good at finding, your kind of stuff or like what what's that look like? So a lot of the funding I'm, I don't do a lot of that.

The schools kind of do that. Okay. In, in the back side. But the state does have a new program called CSA, program, which is career scholarship account. And that is being is growing from the last two and a half years. When I learned about it. I don't know if that's when they just opened, but, Parker's aunt and the CSA team over there, his team are amazing.

I send schools to him pretty much weekly. And they are through the state. And so students can, from what I understand, they can get a certain amount, for the school year, for CTE courses. And so it also allows them to do things like, purchase their scrubs sometimes, or they do have a transportation, portion that would allow if they have to follow certain paperwork for it.

But the CSA program is what we are primarily going through. For our for our students, the schools sign up and they sign the students up. So I don't really have much to do with that. We will CSA because we're as I see it, we're a CSA approved provider. Okay. We have to you know, make sure we're meeting certain standards for.

And then we build them quarterly and they pay out. So they have been and that's been a great opportunity. CTE is growing. Our career. And technical education like you said, is growing, so much in this country and especially in Indiana. And so, you know, the state is really coming up with different ways and different funding for the schools to be able to participate in that, because, like you said, you know, college isn't for everybody.

And I have students who, you know, aren't interested in college. I want to go to you know, into the workforce immediately. But I also have a lot of students who are going to college and are using this as their stepping stone, and so it can be used and utilized. Either way, it's all about what the students put into it.

Well, and, you know, like your scenario, like you need to be able to go get a job, you know, unfortunately at that age, you know, I my dad pushed me like, hey, you're going to my dad went back to college after two back surgeries and trying to farm full time. Yeah. You know, you're going to go to, technical college, and then after that, I don't care what you do.

So I was kind of brainwashed that I was going to go get an associates degree. You know, I kind of laughed. My wife's my wife's degree from Ivy tech is in medical assisting, and mine's in environmental engineering. So I look at you guys now. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. Like, what's that has to do with something that you can utilize?

And, and I think one of the biggest things that we're focused on. Right. I can all day long, I say, you know, we can teach them pharmacy until they're black and blue in the face. Right? I can teach them pharmacy until they know it like the back of their hands. But at KLR, we're more focused on the soft skills that employers are looking for, that we are not talking enough about at home or at school.

And in those soft skills are, you know, all the way down to can you write a professional email? Can you stay off your phone? Was with the kids in these phone these days? You know, can you show up on time and ready to work? Do you look professional? Can you work well with others? Can you work well by yourself?

Do you have integrity? All of the little things that these students are going to need, right? We're not just preparing them for pharmacy or medical assisting or nursing down the road. We're preparing them to be professionals and to be citizens of our communities and, and good ones that, that. And so the soft skills are what we are most focused on.

And I think at the end of the day, if we can have them walk away with those soft skills and be professionals, then I honestly, I yes, I want them to learn pharmacy, but I am much more interested in those soft skills that we are teaching them. Yeah. Amen. Like, I mean, yeah, like can't can't stay. I'll phone like, I mean like some people can't like, okay, I know every week these three things need done.

Like, you shouldn't stand around and be told that, hey, go do that. Like, you know, and and I've even kind of watched it going, me and my wife always try to go into the different schools with the Dave Ramsey class, meet the teacher, talk to the kids, you know, and literally like every teacher is like, you know, what do you look for?

And like I always stand up there and I say, make sure you can look people in the eyes and not just get off your phone, like, literally put your phone away, show up early, don't show up ten minutes early or late. Yeah, like the little things. And it's like and be willing to stay late, like whatever that looks like.

You know, and, you know, work when you're at work like it's and and we're I would say we're incredibly we've got high standards for the students and I plan to keep it that way. We are we're holding them to the highest standards that we can. We are making sure that those expectations are being met. Because at the end of the day, you can again, you can be the best medical assistant or the best dental assistant, the best vet technician that you can be, you can know everything about it.

But if you can't do these things, you are useless to any team and that's all there is to it. And so for our students, if one no call, no show is grounds for immediate termination from the program. Even seeing if your preceptor even sees your cell phone, it's grounds for immediate termination, no questions asked. And we take care of our employers.

Right. So students are going to come in every single year. If an employer drops my, my program because students can stay off their phone and they can show up on time, they're probably not going to come back. And so that means that several students later on don't get the same opportunity. And so we're really holding them to high expectations.

And I'm trying to tell these kids I had the opportunity.

So Connersville has the Whitewater career. Yes. Technical career center. You know. And that's where some people could go, you know, when I was in high school and I got the chance to go talk to their class, one of our sales reps wife works over there, and she's she's kind of in charge of the kids that do school to work.

And they've got to come in, I think once a month for a couple hours and, you know, and she told me she's like, these are like the requirements. And she's like about half of them, you know, turn that in. And some of them is just our time sheets. And I mean, it's it's it's real simple stuff. But she's like you know, give them, you know, talk to them.

Well the she was nice enough to set it up the first class. I went in at the end of the class. In the second class I was there at the beginning. So I was there for my time as minimal as possible. And the the second class, I heard her say, okay, guys, like we need to make sure this, this and this is in.

And so I just kind of started my talk with the second class of like, hey guys, if you can't do that, don't be going out trying to get a job. Like the little stuff she's asking you the day you turn in your timesheet, you know, whatever basic things, if you can't do them, you're not going to have a job anywhere.

Well, and I try to tell the kids, unfortunately, the bar is getting lower, be it, but it's so much easier to stand out. Like if you do show up, like, I mean, my ten year old, I could go throw him on a skid loader right now and tell him to go move dirt from here to wherever. And like, he just he goes and doesn't.

And sometimes I make him I try to figure stuff out and he gets aggravated with me. I was like, but I promise you, one day, one day you're going to understand, like, you know, and I keep telling him, you've got to try. You're going to mess up, you know, he's starting a show cattle. And I was just talking to a friend earlier.

And you know, when you're showing them, you want them to look as perfect as you can and you know, you want them square with the other calf, and you know, whatever. And it's funny because the first show he went to, he didn't know what he was doing and he should have walked this calf was like this. He should have walked this calf like that.

He takes his in like this. And now, now we joke about it because now he's wet and won some showmanship and a couple at a couple shows, because now he understands what he's doing. But I, I keep telling them like, you've gotta sell like, I'm a crazy psycho dad that I bought. I'm thinking go rich kids edition.

And I'm like, read it and tell me what you're learning. And it's so it's so funny. He's like, dad, I got to practice and I gotta fail, and I gotta be willing to do it wrong. And I was like, bro. Like, I'm just. I call it a good buddy of mine that's an entrepreneur. And I'm like, man, I know he's I know these things are sinking in.

But like, I'm like, he's going to be so far ahead when he gets to be 18, 20 years old because he's like, he gets you've got to try maybe a class, it doesn't work or yeah. And these are exploratory classes right. So we're not expecting, you know, an 11th grader to know what they want to do for the rest of their lives.

But we are expecting you to come in and work hard and meet requirements and expectations. And you're going to be professional and respectful and and you're going to, you know, turn in your work and you're going to put your face on screen and you're going to shake someone's hand and look them in the eye and show up on time, etc..

And so again, if they can do these things in 11th grade, let's see where they're at. You know, now we don't have kids running around at 19 and 20 years old with no plan in mind, you know, because again, if you're not going to college, what are you going to do? Right? And even if you are going to college, you probably need to work your way through college.

So this is a great stepping stone for you. Well, and that's something else that I've, me and my wife have always tried to say when we go in and I mean, we've been going in these high school classes for 4 or 5, six years, you know, and I always love to hear her talk because she went to Ivy tech.

She had some friends that went to IU and Ball State and Purdue. And she'll tell the story that she feels like she was left out like, or she was kind of looked down upon by a part of her friend group because she wasn't going to a big university, you know, and, I mean, the poor girl, she's here running the business almost every day now.

But the goal with the reason we did the Dave Ramsey stuff was she wanted to be a stay at home mom. And I always tell these girls, Islamic, I know your parents don't want you thinking as a 17 or 18 year old about being a mom, but I'm telling you, like, don't go get $100,000 in debt for a degree because you get married at 2526.

And to start having decided to have kids, like there seems to be a shift in more stay at home mom. So it's once again, I think it's I think it's fantastic. You know, and you know, the workplace has shifted a little bit where you can do some work from home. And, you know, you know, maybe grandma can help watch a couple of days a week and that kind of stuff.

But no, that's Yeah. The soft skills, like, I like I preach at Tom bloom every year, just, you know, even if you want to be a stay at home mom. And that is a hard, yes, hard job and one of the most important out there, you're going to use all these skills that you're learning right now to manage your home and your family life.

And those are huge. So the soft skills are they're utilized in every single area of our lives. And if we can teach the students that and we can hold them accountable and help them gain that confidence in those in those areas, they're going to soar in any, any area that they want to go into. Well, and, you know, that's another thing we stress, like just

go to work because like even if you come in, you know, let's say one day we get an accounting student from you guys and they're just here six months or a year.

But like, they show up, put their work in and then like, they're ready to move on to that next step. Yes. Like what a lot of these kids need to understand and remember is like business owners talk with business owners. So it's like, you know, if somebody came in and did accounting for me for a year and showed up every day, was early, had a smile, you know, like was professional.

And then they decided to go work for an accounting firm that maybe I'm working with in the business, like, oh yeah, kudos, man. They they work their ass off. I wish I had a better position for them to stay here. Like, you know, that's that's kind of the importance. And certainly like small towns, it's completely like hilarious that you're literally a neighbor.

You live a mile from me, you know, and I was like, how did you end up there? And you're like, I want to go in the middle of nowhere. So, have some peace in, you know, but it's it's such a small business is huge, but it's so small also, and that's why I've tried to be intentional of, like, working with the high school because we made this connection.

And, like, I just I believe that you just never know. I mean, we're they're building the dog food plant right here north of Rushville. We're actually we're actually, doing a couple other roofs already less than a year old. And because the guy that the original roofer didn't do it right. And we'll come back and fix it, and I walk in there, and the guy that's the head safety guy, coach my little brother in football, and I've roofed his his son's house and I'm friends with the son, you know.

So it's like, you know, and because my crew that's working there is like, hey, how's it going to be with the safety and stuff here? I was like, oh, that guy's great. Like, you know, so the relationship that I built 15, 20 years ago with him,

20, 25 years ago, Holy cow. It's crazy to say out loud, you know, it just it pays it pays off.

And I guess that's another thing that we need to make sure we're teaching these kids. Like, how they act and what they do. Like, it's kind of you're not going to judge them for what they did in high school. However, like you got to you've got to realize this. There's consequences in life. Absolutely. And I think with the, you know, social media, cell phones, I think kids are in a very, very hard area where they forget that no matter, you know, what you do and what you post and all the things that are being recorded are they're always going to be there somewhere.

So I'm just so glad we didn't grow up in that era. So, well, that's like we're we're hiring for an office admin and that's the first place that I go to. Yeah. And then I see mutual friends. And then I literally just had a guy send me, a potential sales rep to work for me. And then, we, we interview somebody in the office admin position that's mutual friends with them on Facebook.

Yeah. So we just had a conversation yesterday. I hired somebody who you look at their social media and they're badmouthing their employer or they're just not, you know, promoting themselves. Well, and it says a lot about you. It's a first impression. Yep. So we talk about those things with our students all the time. Yep. Yeah. I mean and it's just it's funny because in this world that I'm in like, you know, what I've learned in life is like, people will tell you who they are if you'll just listen long enough.

And one thing that I've struggled with is, I always want to show grace and, you know, be thoughtful, maybe. And maybe give extra, maybe a little extra grace. But it's like, okay, I need to start remembering. The first time you told me who you were. I struggle with that. That's who you are. If that's just a human thing, because I'm the same way.

But I think you're right. I think. I think we just want the best for people and know, you know, maybe see their pursuit of us and see their potential, you know, and, Yeah. So what, is there any new curriculum coming down the pipe? Like, what's what's the vision? What's your what's what's it look like in 1 to 5 years?

Oh. So, we are piloting our accounting program this year. And so that will go live for all of our schools next year. We're really excited to really grow this business program. I'm not sure if I'll have to change the name of the company yet, but, we are getting kind of out of just that medical field.

To be honest, we've been asked if we can do construction and welding. I'm like, do I look like I know anything about welding? So the opportunities are endless. Honestly, with with CTE right now, we are really focused on growing in different regions. And, so the Fort Wayne, northern Indiana area and then the Missouri area is kind of where we're starting out.

And so we're really excited to see what we can do there and grow in those areas. And really, just building those partnerships. So we are consistently trying to build new partnerships for opportunities for our students. And so always looking for, you know, their offices, dental offices, doctors offices and hospitals, pharmacies. And now with the business program, we'll have that business capstone that seniors will go into.

And so, you know, local businesses that are interested and and having an intern and, and working with students and really taking them under the wing to teach them not just, you know, hey, I want to own, you know, maybe I want to own a coffee company, right? Or at my own coffee shop one day. Well, I want them to see every single part of that.

I want them to see the it and the finances. I want them to talk with the cleaning company. I want them to talk with the vendors that we order supplies from. You know, I want them to interact with the customers, and then I want them to go out and and help network that company. Right. I want them to see the whole portion of it, because there's so much that goes into running a company.

And so that business programs can be really exciting, but always, always looking for additional partners and really hoping that, you know, more and more people as they hear about us are coming on board and they're seeing how, you know, how are holding the students accountable. And it's a it's a great way to have a steady pipeline of, of talented and and trained at no cost to you individuals that you can pull from.

And, so I think as more and more people join, you know, as, as employer partners, that's, that's going to be really a big game changer for us because the more employer partners we have, the more students we can offer the programs to.

So what? So the business nerd here, you know, you said earlier something about marketing.

Like what? What does that look like? Because I feel like that's probably a piece that small business struggles with the most. Like some people would be like, how have you guys grown as big as you guys have as fast as you have? But I've got Adam behind, you know, the mic or the behind the mic behind the camera and Adam's more my tech guy videographer.

He's kind of got that, niche, loves that kind of stuff. And, you know, the cool part is, like, he's homegrown here in Rush County, you know, so it's it's fun to be able to employ him and him. Use it. He's using his talents 3 or 4 blocks away from his home, you know. So I but I think that that's marketing, I feel like is probably what most small businesses struggle with because, like, you know, you got to keep the leads coming in, you know?

So what what what is that? And, and a I'm asking one in a complete selfish way because, like, what's the potential of somebody working with you guys down the road, but, like, how does that look? Kind of what's your vision there and how much how how long have you done the marketing part? So we have an awesome director of marketing, and event planning.

So Candace handles all that side for us.

And prior to that, that was kind of just me. We've worked a lot of, word of mouth. And so like I said, we started with the Excel center. The Excel center has, I want to say like 27 Excel centers just in Indiana. Okay. And so then as as those grew, they just introduced me to different states.

And, from that, we, you know, other schools for adult education came in, we were open to the public and so workforce ready grant next level jobs and work ones, things like that. But then for, you know, our CTE program again, has been word of mouth. And so we started with Hamilton County Schools. There's six schools in Hamilton County.

And then, you know, all of a sudden somebody said something to Tipton and then, you know, Perry County, which is 3.5 hours away from us. And, you know, then Rushville, we were talking to I remember what his name is, but we talked to somebody. I was looking at you know, maybe purchasing a place in town. And I was just going to rent out the, you know, the apartments in it.

And I mentioned what we do, and he was like, oh, let me get you in contact with principal, you know, and that's been a huge opportunity for us and and a great partnership. Warren and Liz are awesome. And so a lot of it's been, word of mouth. We do we're always looking for, you know, videographers and photographers, for our events.

And so, we've we've been really lucky to have some people who are willing to come in and do those things for us. I know it's time consuming for our events. And then, you know, things like, you know, we've got the mayor speaking at our event in November, the mayor of Hamilton County, Noblesville, of Hamilton County for Hamilton County students.

And so, we're hoping to have, you know, the Hamilton County reporter there and stuff like that, just to kind of so that's kind of what we're working on as far as far as marketing, but a lot of it, honestly. And I think that you could probably agree as a business owner, word of mouth is huge, right? And I always tell my team, I'm like, guys, if we do 100 things perfect, one person might say something, but if we do one thing wrong, 100 people are going to say something.

And so, that's just really how how word of mouth works. And, you know, Google reviews and, you know, parents talking to other parents and students talking to other students. And so we've been really lucky to to have to have that be able to just kind of be a domino effect.

Well, and I mean, and we live and die by Google reviews and in the construction space, you know, and and you know, I also stressed to my sales guys like what is your ideal client?

Because if if you show up at a customer's house and they badmouth the last four contractors, guess who the fifth contractor is going to be? You know, and you know, we make mistakes. We're humans. Just great guy I dealt with a couple weeks ago in a job. He's like, hey, you know what? He's like? You came here and you did what I ask.

He's like, I'm not going to say a bad word to anybody. I appreciate you coming back and taking care of what people need. Yeah. What I was concerned with, you know, and, like, I think most people realize, like, everybody's human. You know, and, and what I've also learned just in life is when somebody is in a bad mood, if it's me or somebody else else's, it usually has nothing to do with who they're lashing out at.

It's something, you know, completely different going through something you don't know anything. Yeah. Yeah. So, what, so is the focus more on the adult learning for you guys moving forward or, you know, the student learning? It's really evenly split.

So, our adult education programs aren't going anywhere. Like I said, we are partnered with, goodwill and the Excel center and multiple other schools across across the country.

And so that, you know, how we started and, and we'll keep that. And it's one that we love. It's a completely different sector. Right. And so, it's really cool to be able to help somebody have a second chance and a high school diploma and, a career that they're interested in. And, and it's changing lives. Right.

You know, just just to make sure that they can have a career, that they are able to support their families with and be proud of is it is a big deal. And so we do really enjoy that. The CTE side is growing rapidly. And so, like I said, well, we're working on, you know, starting in a different region and where we will start our completely over all new, all new instructors, all new staff, because we can't take on, you know, a whole nother region and sorry, or northern Indiana with the instructors that we have here in central, in southern Indiana.

And so, again, the opportunities are endless. But I think with both really, it's it's going to be evenly split.

Right? So, how do you have a website like if somebody is watching this and you it was interesting. Like what's, what's their best avenue to get Ahold of you guys. Yep. So KLR online certifications.com. So it's KLR online certifications with an S at the end.

There is an a contact us button and so you can reach out to us there. You can also follow us on social media, Instagram, LinkedIn, all the places and, we were interested in, like I said, additional partners for for students, additional schools. We'd love to serve the students. And then like I said, we're open to the public as well.

Even homeschool students, we're open to, we've got several homeschool students this year. And so students again, can utilize that CSA funding that we talked about for those CTE programs, and they're able to take these courses and, and, you know, take advantage of of that opportunity. Awesome. Yeah. So, thank you for your time. I get excited just because, like, I like, you know, the one thing a lot of business owners complain about is lack of talent.

You know, and I've about the last year, year and a half, I'm like, okay, how can I what can I do to help to hopefully bring out, you know, hundreds of good talent from the local schools and hopefully I fortunately snag up 3 or 4 of them for myself, you know. Yeah. So like it's to me it's I love to see that shift.

I love to see, Exactly. I mean, what you're saying is, you know, I think every small business owner that hears this is like, oh, my gosh, yes, I need some of the people that she's put through her training, you know. Yeah. You know, to come in to come and work for, for, for for me, you know.

So how what else can we do, to kind of support you to help get your name out. What else can we do to help? I think this, this podcast is really great. And I think what what you're doing is awesome. Kind of, you know, bringing awareness to different things around Rushville and Rush County. I think that's awesome.

So we are so thankful to be a part of this. And, really, just like you said, you know, we talked about Jackman's animal clinic and, you know, putting in a good word there for, you know, when we go out to discuss a partnership for the vet students at, you know, at Rushville and, you know, just any of those opportunities if, if you're out of school and you recognize that a school could use a program like this or could supplement even like we talked about with a program like this, that's always helpful.

And, the easiest way to do that is always an email introduction. Right? So it's easy to say, oh, I talked out so and so I'll go ahead and call him. Right. But it's so much easier when it is. Hey, here is this person's contact in this email. We wanted to introduce you. And it just makes it so much easier to kind of start the conversation and get that ball rolling.

So, we're, getting ready to start open enrollment for the 20 2627 school year. And, interested in adding more schools and more partners at all times? Awesome. So, as we wrap up, I mean, thank you for your heart. Thank you for sharing this. And, and I really hope that this is one of the highest viewed podcasts we do just because genuinely like it can help.

And, you know, we reach anywhere from hour to hour and a half from here. You know, it's kind of is our is our reach for, business that we do. So there's a lot of schools in there, you know, and I think all small businesses are struggling. I mean, this is such a needed thing. Everybody is short staffed.

Yeah. And I mean, and just, you know, thank you for your heart. Thank you for what you put in there. And I mean, and I mean it, like, any way we can help, you know, we're we're most definitely here to help, so thank you. Thank you so much.