May 24, 2000
KALAMAZOO -- A corporate insider will offer entrepreneurs tips on cracking the corporate wall and winning business with large companies during a Western Michigan University workshop on Thursday, June 1.
Catherine L. Gant of Pharmacia Corp. will present "Doing Business With a Large Company: Strategies and Tactics to Gain Access" at 6:30 p.m. at the Kalamazoo County Chamber of Commerce building, 346 W. Michigan Ave. The program, part of a monthly series of workshops offered by WMU's Women's Business Development Center, is free and open to the public.
In her talk, Gant will discuss the current trends in procurement and help women understand the new role of the corporate buyer. She will outline the key steps in the supplier selection process and identify 20 proven strategies that small businesses can use to gain access to large companies.
Gant is Pharmacia Corp.'s small business liaison officer in the U.S. Procurement - Small Business Supplier Diversity Office. In that role, she functions as a procurement consultant to women-owned and small disadvantaged firms seeking to do business with the company. With a background in training and leadership development, Gant has more than 24 years experience in helping organizations improve performance. A graduate of Nazareth College, she has conducted seminars and workshops on organizational development throughout the United States.
A member of the Women's Business Develop Center Advisory Board, Gant has volunteered with a number of organizations, including: the Michigan Minority Business Development Council, Women in Manufacturing, the National Society for Female Executives, the Greater Kalamazoo United Way, the American Management Association and the Southwest Michigan Quality Council.
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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