Oak Park Workforce Academy
The Village of Oak Park’s Office of Economic Vitality and Triton College’s School of Continuing Education and Center for Business & Professional Development (CBPD) have partnered on the Oak Park Workforce Academy, an initiative that provides workforce-development support directly to Oak Park businesses.
The Oak Park Workforce Academy began in July 2026 with a free four-part training series designed to equip frontline employees at Oak Park businesses with essential communication skills. This Customer Service Masterclass is designed to improve customer experience, strengthen employee retention and support economic vitality throughout Oak Park. The first four-session masterclass concluded on August 4.
Registration is now open for the next masterclass. Sessions will occur on four consecutive Wednesdays beginning on September 23. Sessions will cover the different topics:
- Building Customer Relationships (Sept. 23) - Making a great impression and turning visitors into repeat customers
- Service & Sales (Sept. 30) - How your body language and tone of voice can create better experiences and drive more sales
- Managing Conflicts (Oct. 7) - Staying professional with upset or aggressive individuals
- Thinking on Your Feet Like a Team Leader (Oct. 14) - Making sound decisions, staying calm during busy rushes and taking ownership and pride in your role.
All sessions will be held from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Village of Oak Park's Office of Economic Vitality (1010 Lake St., Suite 100, Oak Park, IL).
How this helps your business
- No cost to Oak Park businesses
- Businesses will be recognized by the Village of Oak Park's Office of Economic Vitality
- Stronger customer and employee satisfaction
Who should register
This program is intended for:
- Receptionists and front-desk staff
- Retail cashiers
- Servers and waitstaff
- Hosts and hostesses
- Baristas and counter staff
- Front-of-house team members
- Newly promoted supervisors and team leaders
If your employees interact with customers, then they are a good fit for this program. Employees who complete all four sessions will receive a certificate of completion from Triton College and the Village of Oak Park.
Testimonials
As leaders it is critical to source valuable enrichment opportunities for our team. Investing in developing employees is critical to skill building. It is also paramount that our employees feel seen and that they realize you are creating opportunities for them to learn and grow with intention. Our team members who we sponsored for The Master Classes had very positive feedback regarding the quality of the content and value of the material. They also expressed appreciation to be given the opportunity to be out of the office in a professional space wherein development and community building combined. As a small business owner and leader committed to development and retention, I highly recommend.
- Carey Carlock, Founder, Mosaic Counseling and Wellness
My colleagues and I had the opportunity to participate in the Workforce Academy training through Triton, enabling us to strengthen our capacity to provide exceptional client-facing service at Mosaic Counseling and Wellness. The facilitator brought with her years of experience in various customer service roles and plenty of enthusiasm, which was instrumental in creating an engaging, respectful, and productive learning environment. She and her cofacilitator made all attendees feel welcome and they encouraged everyone to take the lessons learned in the classroom into their respective places of business, ensuring that they were relevant to their current and future positions. This was great considering the variety of jobs represented in our group. Overall, we found it to be a positive experience and would recommend it to anyone looking to improve their customer service skills and create connections in the community. I was grateful our Leadership Team saw the value and invested in our professional growth.
- Alexandra Tourlas, Mosaic Counseling and Wellness
If you have any questions about the Oak Park Workforce Academy, please contact Shelly Ng, Manager of Corporate Partnerships for Triton College - School of Continuing Education Center for Business & Professional Development at 708.456.0300 x3429 or via email at ShellyNg@Triton.edu.
Registration is free, however space is limited. Click the link below to reserve your seat today.
Register Now with Triton College