Productivity Training & Solutions (PST, Inc.) expands services and goes National – CRBJ Article April 2007
It’s been over two years since Productivity Solutions & Training (PST, Inc.) was last featured in the Book of Lists. What a difference two years makes! Since 2005 PST has exploded with new offerings, employees, affiliations and awards. When Ingrid Tugwell, CEO and sole-owner of PST, was last interviewed her intent was to expand into new markets through new offerings and she did just that and in a BIG way!
PST now boasts hundreds of certified trainers that can fill any training need throughout the world, yes the world, with seven days notice. They have three fully-equipped state of the art classrooms in Charleston, SC and travel the world with a 16 station fully-equipped traveling classroom. PST has training contracts in Arizona, Alabama, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina and Japan. PST utilizes a sole source for certified trainers through a long-time business associate of Tugwell’s and it appears to be working.
PST has added IT Professional Services to their General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule which has allowed them to service military installations throughout the world through awards of multi-year contracts.
Tugwell has become one of the top sought after motivational speakers and travels the US speaking to corporations and military installations on Customer Service, Time Management, Emotional Intelligence, Business Etiquette, Change Management, Conflict Resolution, Strategic Planning and other topics upon request. PST also facilitates team building events at various outside venues that promote group activities (40-50 participants per event) to reinforce processes, staff interactions, structure and dependencies within organizations.
PST became involved in the Workforce Investment Act in 2005 as a training partner and also received authorization to work with the Veterans Administration training those that qualify for VA benefits. These new offerings have brought PST a great deal of pride as they can work with those trying to better themselves and those trying to gain employment. PST has always been very active in the community and volunteers their services at various low country churches, schools and non-profits, thus these programs allow PST to further give back to the community. Tugwell personally devotes nine months out of the year to coaching four youth teams for the City of Charleston Recreation Department and firmly believes that if you give anyone a chance you give them hope and can change their life forever….this has carried into everything she does.
Some of PST’s accomplishments in the past two-years include their selection to become a SC Launch! Information Technology Partner, affiliation with Charleston Defense Contractors Association, Nadine Evans elected as President of Association of Information Technology Professionals, Tugwell named to Business Advisory Council representing SC businesses in Washington DC, multi-year award of State of South Carolina Training Term Contract, Tugwell elected to serve on the Trident Workforce Investment Board, recipient of Employer of the Year Award from Dorchester County One Stop and recipient of Business of the Month Award by the Charleston Chamber for North Charleston. PST’s latest venture is certification by the International Association for Continuing Education Units to provide CEU’s to all course participants.
Tugwell believes that PST’s successes are directly tied to her staff’s initiative and the enablement of them to develop and promote their own ideas and programs. This was evident when Evans, VP of Operations, signed PST up for the Workforce Investment Act Program and the Veteran’s Administration Program. Poplin, VP of Training, followed suit with various Project Management courses and programs to include project management consulting for organizations.
PST’s latest venture comes with the release of Microsoft’s newest operating system and office suite. PST has been instrumental in providing custom-tailored new features demonstrations and training that specifically targets business users. PST is currently working with local companies to assist with their migrations through multi-hour demonstrations. Tugwell feels that this will be the biggest boom in the training industry since the Windows 95 operating system and Windows 2000 Server releases.
Tugwell speaks highly of her staff and admits that without Evans, VP of Operations and Poplin, VP of Training, she would not be able to do what she loves. “They and their staff handle the vigorous process of making things happen with training and it is a very in-depth process when you are delivering eight or more classes a day anywhere in the world. They’ve done an exceptional job and I’m very fortunate and thankful for each of our staff members and each of our successes and will continue to be so as we continue to grow and face new opportunities.”
No. of Employees: 26 local/100+ World-Wide
Top Executives:
Ingrid Tugwell, CEO
Nadine Evans, VP of Operations
Cecelia Poplin, VP of Training
The Trident Research Center
5300 International Boulevard
Suite B209
North Charleston, SC 29418
843.529.0098/800.468.2612
Fax: 843.529.0147
www.trainwithpst.com
Primary Services: Certified Application and Technical Training, Professional Development Programs,
Database Design and Consulting, Web Development, Project Management Certification and Consulting,
IT Professional Services Support and Staffing, Migration Planning, Implementation and Training and
Classroom Rentals.
Year Founded: 1994