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14 Howard Community College CON-ED CONNECTIONS Continuing Education Creates Continued Opportunities p Evelyn Millhouse-Fort Five years after she launched her marketing and corporate communications business, Evelyn Millhouse-Fort decided to pursue her PMP® ( Project Management Professional) credential, the gold standard of project management certification. She wanted to increase business by building her skills for managing special projects, making her more marketable to prospective clients. So, she enrolled in HCC's project management certification preparation course. "There is a lot of value in having a credential that positions you as a project management expert," said Millhouse- Fort, who co-owns her business, Forte Communications Group, with her husband. "It gives me credibility and shows the client 'this is a true professional' as they are considering working with me for projects they plan to outsource." Like many students who enroll in noncredit programs through Howard Community College's division of continuing education and workforce development, Millhouse-Fort wanted to enhance her skill set and saw the credential as way to boost her marketability as a true expert. The PMP® Certification Exam Prep course at HCC covers a number of topics including 10 key knowledge areas and 47 management processes outlined in the Project Management Institute's Project Management Book of Knowledge (PMBOK®). Students also benefit from the practice tests and study groups that are organized after classes. "I am better now at helping my clients understand what it takes to get a project done and influencing their decision processes," said Millhouse-Fort, who passed the test and officially earned her certification in December 2015. "It's given me a new way to work with my clients." Other students choose to take continuing education and workforce development classes because they want to launch a fresh start, both personally and professionally. When Ruth Nandhego and her husband Robert Kodi relocated to the U.S. from Africa in July 2014, one of their first priorities was to find work. With a mutual interest in the health care field, Nandhego and Kodi enrolled in u Ruth Nandhego and Robert Kodi