Synergy Learning Institute

vocational online college started 10 years ago. Synergy started out servingspecifically transitioning womenveterans but now has expanded their programs to serve all veterans and as well to serve active military, mil-spouses and military children. We interviewed Dr. Julie DuCharme the creator and President of Synergy Learning Institute to learn more on how this veteran serving organization came about.

How did Synergy Learning Institute come about?

I was an Academic Chair over three programs at another college and my instructors one by one kept coming in and telling me their veterans in their courses were coming to them and telling them they were having issues transitioning. At first my response was “transiting to college life” and they said not just transitioning in life. That information launched me into my research or organizations that could help them and even though there were many I felt that the college was a hub for our veteran students and we needed to have more support on the campus. I approached the Deans and Presidents above me but they didn’t see the value in it or how it could bring in more revenue to the school so they didn’t want to expend money on it. When I saw their lack of education on the subject I realized I needed to create something for our vets that focused on the education side. Especially focused on not getting the vets money but getting them support. That is when I created our nonprofit technical vocational school Synergy Learning Institute.

We started very small, we received our first call from the VA stating they needed some automotive training for 6 veterans but the current automotive programs were too expensive. And low and behold my father had been an automotive instructor for 30 years. So we created an on ground base program in Bakersfield, CA and trained our first round of vets in automotive. It was a very successful. All graduated and were placed in jobs after completing the program. After this first group of training, we started to work on more programs and an old college buddy of mine Dr. Karen Walker, 20 plus year Marine was transitioning out of the military at this time. She came to me and said that even though she had her Ph.D., and was a high ranking officer with 20 plus years of experience, she couldn’t find a job for a year and explained to me it was the mentality that had to change. It took her a year to figure that out and she wanted to create a very specific transition program for women transitioning out of military life to civilian life as their needs were very different than their male counterparts.

Karen and I worked together to create the Combat Boots to Heels program. Our first couple women were Kelly, Leeann, and Ava and were truly amazing women; very talented and just needing some support finding the right direction after transitioning.

Kelly

Our program focuses first on your mentality but also we do an assessment created by Dr. Karen Walker called FSET. It specially focuses on women’s Feminity, self-efficacy, emotional intelligence and teamwork. We look at how the women rate in each of these areas and then evaluate and help them work through how they use their strengths in these areas and how we address their weaknesses and then how do we get them to their dream profession. Often most vets are encouraged to just go back and work for another government agency. Not the case here. Kelly is an artist that became so popular after this she had to turn off requests because she was so booked. Leeann is part owner in a winery, and Dr. Ava runs a ranch, teaches yoga, and an advocate for victims.

They are truly loving what they are doing. We are incredibly proud of our Combat Boots to Heels program. And Kelly, our artist, we helped her copyright her work and she in turn lets us use her very popular picture “The Transition” for our Combat Boots to Heels program.

What exciting things is Synergy doing now?

We are so excited we have partnered with several Universities, like Belhaven University, Envisage Global and many other institutes who are able to bring us under their wing so our students can take our courses and get college credit. With our partners we have added almost 1500 classes they have access to and can get college credit for. Also we are proud to say we have many courses created by our successful transitioning veterans as well. These programs range from executive leadership programs to VA approved Crisis Management programs with our New Zealand partners.

www.synergylearninginstitute.org

Our Partners

www.leadandempowerher.com www.envisageconnect.com