WMU News

Women's Business Development Center seeks feedback

March 29, 2000

KALAMAZOO -- After wrapping up their first year of programming, the staff and advisory board of the Women's Business Development Center at Western Michigan University want to know what you think of what they've done and where they're headed.

Area women who have participated in WBDC workshops or who simply are interested in the center's mission are invited to attend a community evaluation session at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 6, at the Kalamazoo County Chamber of Commerce building, 346 W. Michigan Ave. The program, to be held in the Federal Room of the chamber building, is free and open to the public.

"Helping You Be All You Can Be: The Role of WMU's Women's Business Development Center in Kalamazoo's Economic Growth," is the title of the program that will feature Dr. James W. Schmotter, dean of the Haworth College of Business. He will discuss the goals and vision behind the founding of the center. Members of the center's advisory board will be on hand to field questions and comments from participants.

Schmotter has held his current post as dean and professor of management in WMU's Haworth College of Business since 1997. Formerly, he held senior academic leadership positions and taught at Lehigh and Cornell Universities.

A nationally recognized expert on business and international education, Schmotter serves on several national boards and has written frequently in the scholarly and popular press on international business and education issues. Locally, he is a member of the downtown Kalamazoo Rotary Club and serves on the board of directors of Junior Achievement of Kalamazoo and Van Buren Counties and the Japan-America Society of West Michigan.

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 WBDC Director Pat Guenther by phone at (616) 387-2714 or via email at <patricia.guenther@wmich.edu>.

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


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