WMU News

Working with difficult people

Nov. 3, 2000

KALAMAZOO -- A social worker and community activist will discuss ways to cope with difficult customers, colleagues and employees at a Western Michigan University presentation Monday, Nov. 13, in Battle Creek.

Michelle Serlin, owner and founder of Choices for Change Counseling and Massage Agency, will present "React or Respond? Techniques to Deal with Difficult People" from 6 to 8 p.m. at WMU's Kendall Center, 50 West Jackson. The third program in a monthly series co-sponsored by the Southwestern Michigan Urban League, the talk is free and open to the public.

In her talk, Serlin will discuss options for people frustrated by an unhealthy work situation. The workshop is designed to provide attendees with ideas and new coping strategies for dealing with difficult customers, colleagues and employees.

A clinical social worker, Serlin founded Choices for Change nearly a decade ago. As a volunteer, she has served as the president or vice president of more than a dozen community, political and women's organizations over the past 15 years. Currently, she is president of the Women's Therapist Network. Serlin has received honors and awards for her work with the Michigan Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Detroit Common Council, the Detroit YWCA and the Kalamazoo Chapter of the National Organization of Women. She was nominated as one of the top 25 business leaders in the state by the Small Business Development Center at Kalamazoo College.

WMU's Haworth College of Business established the Women's Business Development Center in 1999 to offer support to female professionals and entrepreneurs through training, group and individual problem-solving consultation, current business information and networking opportunities.

For more information or to reserve a seat, contact Dizzy Warren at the Southwestern Michigan Urban League, (616) 962-5553 or <dwarren@smulleague.org>.

Media contact: Jessica English, 616 387-8400, jessica.english@wmich.edu


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