Meet the OWCI Training Team

John Melzer

John Melzer

OWCI - Training Manager

Pam Petree

Pam Petree

OWCI - Staff Development Training Specialist

Steven Gentry

Steven Gentry

OWCI - Staff Development Training Specialist

Barbara Hoehne

Barbara Hoehne

OWCI - Staff Development Training Specialist

Sondra Huey

Sondra Huey

OWCI - Staff Development Training Specialist


The Office of Workforce and Community Initiatives Training Team is committed to developing clear, high-quality training programs that foster both professional and personal growth. Drawing on our diverse skills, knowledge, and backgrounds, we support the learning needs of Missouri citizens, service providers, and Department of Social Services staff.

Our goal is to provide comprehensive training to program providers and DSS staff so they may better serve Missouri citizens.

SkillUP and MWA Training Information

Need to schedule your staff for training? Please follow the steps below:

All SkillUP & MWA classes will be virtual and self-driven unless other arrangements are made.

For SkillUP Class Information and materials, click here.

Any questions, special requests, refresher trainings, or special accommodations can be requested via email to FSD.WIT.CIU.Training@dss.mo.gov

Our current selection of New Staff Training dates can be found below:

SkillUP Training Dates

Classes are 9am to 4pm each day

  • Jun 17 & 18, 2025
  • Jul 15 & 16, 2025
  • Aug 19 & 20, 2025
  • Sep 16 & 17, 2025
  • Oct 21 & 22, 2025
  • Nov 18 & 19, 2025

SkillUP Training Dates

Classes are 9am to 4pm each day

  • Dec 16 & 17, 2025
  • Jan 21 & 22, 2026
  • Feb 10 & 11, 2026
  • Mar 17 & 18, 2026
  • Apr 14 & 15, 2026

Workplace Stability

The Workplace Stability program offers a practical, research-based training designed to help HR professionals, business leaders, and workforce development teams support under-resourced, entry-level, and low-wage employees. This interactive workshop explores how economic class and limited resources impact employee stability, performance, and organizational success.

Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the daily challenges many employees face and learn actionable strategies to improve retention, productivity, and workplace culture. The training focuses on reducing costly turnover, boosting morale, and building a resilient, adaptable workforce. Key outcomes include:

  • Identifying the root causes of employee instability
  • Reducing the hard and soft costs of turnover
  • Increasing employee retention and engagement
  • Improving company culture and leadership effectiveness
  • Gaining a competitive edge in a tight labor market
  • Supporting managers in creating strong onboarding and retention strategies

By applying these techniques, organizations can strengthen their workforce and create lasting improvements that benefit both the company and the broader community.

To get more information on hosting Workplace Stability training for your organization, complete the Registration Form. Please be sure to fill the form out completely and then send to FSD.WIT.SIU.Training@dss.mo.gov and one of our staff members will get back to you with further details.

Bridges Out of Poverty

This workshop is a comprehensive approach to understanding poverty. Participants will receive specific strategies for improving outcomes, but the focus of the workshop is to provide a broad overview of concepts.

Bridges Out of Poverty uses the lens of economic class and provides concrete tools and strategies for a community to understand, address, and alleviate poverty. This training assists community organizations, social service agencies, employers, and individuals in gaining insight and strategies to ultimately create stability for all.

Participants of this workshop will:

  • Examine the resources by which you create stability.
  • Discover the causes of poverty.
  • Create and analyze mental models of economic environments.
  • Discover the hidden rules of economic classes.
  • Understand how economic environments impact language and story structures.
  • Discuss stability within family and support system.
  • Learn the importance of building social capital
  • Learn new tools and strategies for improving relationships and outcomes.

To get more information on hosting Bridges Out of Poverty training for your organization, complete the Registration Form. Please be sure to fill the form out completely and then send to FSD.WIT.SIU.Training@dss.mo.gov and one of our staff members will get back to you with further details.


Program Training Materials