School of Business Launching Business Assistance Centers in Three Counties
The School of Business Administration is launching a business consulting initiative in early September and is actively seeking both clients and partners interested in working with a talented and highly motivated group of MBA students.
The School of Business Assistance Center (SBAC) initiative addresses the needs of area businesses and organizations by providing expertise, insight and manpower to emerging and existing businesses facing growth and diversification challenges, non-profit organizations facing staffing and funding shortages, and other area enterprises.
Three assistance center locations will open in metropolitan Detroit— one on Wayne State’s main campus in Wayne County, one at the Wayne State Oakland Center in Oakland County, and one in Macomb County in the county administration building in Mt. Clemens.
The assistance centers will provide support through a consulting services group in areas such as marketing feasibility studies, business strategy, financial projections, information technology support, and human resource development programs. In addition, weekly “walk-in” consulting sessions, designed to address critical or short-term needs through brief coaching or question and answer sessions will be used to provide additional support to area businesses and organizations.
Each School of Business Assistance Center will be staffed and managed by MBA students who will apply best practices under the guidance and coaching of faculty, executives-in-residence, alumni and other partners of the Wayne State University School of Business Administration.
“Students will gain invaluable experience and the intrinsic reward of making a difference, and clients will be aided in meeting their objectives while helping our students gain experience,” said School of Business Dean, David Williams. “The region will see stronger businesses and organizations, and one additional program to reverse the effects of the brain drain,” he said.
The School is currently seeking clients who could benefit from such an arrangement, and partners looking to support the MBA students in their efforts to address the economic development challenges in our community. The School of Business is providing seed funding for this initiative while seeking additional funding sources to sustain and expand the program.
Additional details are available at www.business.wayne.edu/sbac or by calling 313-577-1932.
