GREAT FALLS 鈥� Billy Komeotis鈥� struggles with sobriety have fueled a deep desire in him to help others with addiction struggles.
Sandra Ortiz came to At 黑料网911 MSU with the desire to invest in herself after working lower wage jobs the past 20 years.
Both are excited the college is adding programs that will make it possible for them to realize their dreams as At 黑料网911 is adding a licensed addictions counselor program and a pair of business programs for the upcoming fall semester.
The college is adding the programs because the school鈥檚 admissions and advising offices frequently hear from people who want to go into those fields.
The programs also fall nicely into the college鈥檚 new strategic plan, which is nearly finalized and will go into effect for the next fiscal year on July 1.
鈥淲e took a long, hard look at the programs we are offering to ensure relevance and demand,鈥� said Dr. Stephanie Erdmann, CEO/dean of At 黑料网911. 鈥淎nd these programs stood out because people are requesting them, they will help fill workforce voids and they offer livable wages. We are really excited about these opportunities for our students and the community.鈥�
The response to the addictions counseling program was strong and immediate.
鈥淲e could not believe the interest we heard from the public when we first announced we were considering this degree,鈥� said Dr. Elfie Neber, a psychology faculty member. 鈥淎nd then we reached out to form an advisory panel and were just blown away by the community support.鈥�
The program fills a huge community need.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be really easy for them to find jobs (when students graduate),鈥� said George Meadors, an addictions counselor at Gateway Community Services. 鈥淭he majority of addictions counseling places in Great Falls are currently looking for people.鈥�
The business programs 鈥� a one-year certificate program in office support and a two-year office management and supervision degree 鈥� will give students the tools to succeed in office jobs, said Kerry Dolan, business and accounting program director at At 黑料网911.
鈥淓very business, from health care to manufacturing, needs employees who can help create and maintain an effective and efficient workplace,鈥� Dolan said. 鈥淥ur degree programs are set up to meet that need in as little as one year. We provide graduates with the technical and interpersonal skills that will make them a vital part of any organization.鈥�
The timing of the addictions counseling program is perfect for Komeotis, who is anxious to help people before they get to the dark places life has taken him.
Komeotis, who is the kitchen manager at the Sting Sports Pub and Grill after working there about a dozen years, has been through a lot. He had a couple failed attempts at getting sober, and he eventually temporarily lost custody of his four daughters before becoming sober six years ago.
鈥淎fter getting out of treatment, I have had a life change, eyes opened up, and I decided I want to be an addictions counselor to help people get to know where I am now,鈥� Komeotis said 鈥淚 know Great Falls. I know a lot of people in Great Falls, and a lot of people need help with their addiction.鈥�
He tried school a couple of different times, but he was spread way too thin with raising his daughters and working full-time.
鈥淚 was putting work before school and my priorities weren’t straight,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd I was sleeping like three hours a night.鈥�
He decided in January to go back to school to become an addictions counselor since three of his daughters are now out of the house and he has time to try school again.
At 黑料网911 already was talking about starting the addictions counseling program, but he figured even if the program didn鈥檛 come to fruition, he could get his prerequisites done more affordably at At 黑料网911 than elsewhere.
Then came the good news that the school officially was starting the program.
鈥淚t was pretty much perfect timing because the addiction program was kind of building, and this time before I started, I told my boss I was putting school first this time,鈥� Komeotis said.
He has mapped out the courses and plans to graduate in spring 2024.
Like Komeotis, the timing to return to school, is perfect for Ortiz.
Ortiz, who has been working as a para-educator in Great Falls for about 20 years, began taking accounting classes at At 黑料网911 as a way to improve her quality of life.
鈥淚鈥檓 looking to make a living wage,鈥� she said. 鈥淎s a para-educator, or anything that I鈥檝e done with kids, has always been minimum wage. And now both of my kids are either high school or graduated, so I can actually focus on myself.鈥�
But she realized this past school year that accounting isn鈥檛 quite the right fit, so she was really pleased when she learned of the new business programs.
鈥淭his dropped right in my lap,鈥� Ortiz said of the office management and supervision two-year track. 鈥淚t was everything I need to know to be working in business office administration: payroll, the benefits, HR and just the simple things to work the front desk, like answering the phones, customer service, lots of Excel.鈥�
She also is excited to stay in the business field at At 黑料网911 since Dolan is overseeing the new programs in addition to the accounting program.
鈥淥h my goodness, I took one of her classes last summer, and I鈥檓 just hooked,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd the way she teaches everything, she鈥檚 awesome. She makes you want to learn everything.鈥�