New Online Training Helps You Excel with Spreadsheets

Everyone’s familiar with Microsoft Excel®, right? However, it may surprise you to find out that only a small minority truly understand how to use this ubiquitous piece of software properly.

The powerful spreadsheet tool can transform how you handle data in your business. That’s where Stephanie Hutcheson, a Microsoft Certified Trainer and Microsoft Office Expert, comes in to explain how to unlock its full potential.

Hutcheson has been working with NACD since last summer, taking classes of up to 12 through the fundamentals of Excel. Each session offers a practical hands-on approach, with explanations, advice, and examples explicitly tailored to those working in the chemical distribution industry.

“Spreadsheets satisfy the need for efficiency, reliability, and problem solving,” says Hutcheson.

“There are many features that are really appealing to those who may be working in the chemical field, but two examples are appearance and function,” she says. “For example, Excel has a row/column layout that really promotes an organized approach to problem solving. This particular group has that mindset and is constantly looking at tables of data, so it’s especially relevant to them. We also look at live calculations, so you can change your data and immediately see the results.”

In advance of each class, Hutcheson supplies sample data files along with a participant guide, so everyone can work through the lessons together. Optional homework and worksheets are also provided after the training, so participants can practice what they’ve learned in their own time.

Each of the workshops covers the basics of Excel, as well as more advanced tips and techniques, such as:

• Basic and custom formatting. For example, why, when you select a cell and type in a number, does it come up in date format? What can you do to ensure phone numbers and area codes are displayed correctly, or so you don’t have to add the dashes and parenthesis each time? How can conditional formatting automatically make an entry bold if the number entered exceeds a certain level?
• Cell styles/themes. How can you automatically format multiple tables so they all look the same? How do you create a customized style or create templates so your work looks better and is easier to read?
• Functions. Discover how functions (essentially built-in formulas) can automatically average a column of numbers or how more advanced logical functions can apply an action if certain criteria are met – if a column totals more than X…
• Managing multiple worksheets. Learn how to manage data more effectively and better control your work area. Create a formula between worksheets, tabs, and tables… or find out how to always see your headings by freezing panes.
• Manipulating data. Make the most of pivot tables and manipulate figures without affecting the original data. Maybe you want to switch rows and columns, filter specific information, or link more than one data source to create a report?

Feedback for the series of workshops has been extremely positive and more sessions are being planned for the coming months.

“I see myself not as an educator but as a trainer. After I’ve shown you how it's done, you'll be able to understand the underbelly of it and take it from there,” she says. “I'm an instructor that likes to go a bit off road – it's very much a live event with questions and answers as we go.”

If your role requires the use of spreadsheets and data management, these three-hour sessions provide the perfect opportunity to develop your skills and make better use of this incredibly useful application.

Make the Most of NACD’s Online Educational Resources

NACD strives to provide a variety of accessible training options to assist members as they further their professional development and hone critical skills. Online Education options come in the form of free webinars, topic-specific online training, like these highlighted MS Excel courses, and NACD U.

Due to the popularity of the recent MS Excel courses, NACD is again partnering with Stephanie Hutchinson to offer additional Microsoft Office training over the coming months. NACD will also partner with the National Association of Safety Professionals (NASP) to offer additional online trainings on topics such as Confined Space, Lockout/Tag Out, Hazard Communication, and more.

Be sure to continuously check our website to find information on our growing range of webinars on topics such as sustainability, Responsible Distribution, regulatory and legislative issues, best practices for your business, enhancing brand awareness, and more.

Be sure to make the most of these fantastic member resources!

For more information about these events, visit the NACD website.