VANCOUVER, Wash. The Business Growth Mentor and Analysis Program in the College of Business at Washington State University Vancouver celebrated the end of a successful semester last Thursday with awards and presentations.
Business Growth MAP provides high-level consulting services to help businesses and non-profit organizations in Southwest Washington grow and create jobs in our community. The program pairs business students, faculty mentors and recent business graduate advisors with businesses that are looking to grow. The program consulted with 21 businesses spring semester.
Michele Bloomquist, co-owner of Heisen House Vineyards said she had her fingers and toes crossed that her business would be accepted into the program.
I am a non-traditional business owner, said Bloomquist. I have an English degree. I did not formally study business. I like to make wine, and I run my business from my gut.
Bloomquist was eager to check her gut against the students formulas.
The students have a lot of energy and the latest information. They were professional and respectful of our time. They crunched our numbers, confirmed what we were thinking and gave us more certainty moving forward.
The students are appreciative of the opportunity to work on real business problems.
We applied what we learned in class and learned to address real-world problems in a small business setting, said Ronald Wolfe, a student consultant to Heisen House Vineyards. We learned new research skills and developed valuable relationships.
When our students graduate next week they will know a lot of things said Jane Cote, director of the College of Business at 91勛圖窪蹋厙. They will also leave with the confidence that they can do a lot of things.
The 2012 Business Growth MAP Team Award for Best Project was awarded to the students who consulted with Trail Tech, a Battle Ground company that offers high-tech gauges and accessories for off-road vehicles. The students were applauded for providing insight to the client, offering actionable solutions, creativity and functioning well as a team. Student winners were: Mitchell Insaurralde, Erin McPherson, Robert Putnam and Gregor Theis.
Two awards for Individuals Showing Significant Leadership Abilities were given to Dana Olson, who consulted with the Humane Society for Southwest Washington, and Joseph Zimmerman, who consulted with Gaynors Automotive.
Mistie Josephson was introduced as the new Business Growth MAP manager. She joined 91勛圖窪蹋厙 April 30 and will help identify and recruit clients for Business Growth MAP and coordinate the activities of each consulting group through the semester. Businesses that would like to be considered for Business Growth MAP may contact Josephson at 360-546-9533 or bgmap@vancouver.wsu.edu.
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MEDIA CONTACTS
Mistie Josephson, College of Business, 360-546-9533, bgmap@vancouver.wsu.edu
Brenda Alling, Office of Marketing and Communications, 360-546-9601, brenda_alling@vancouver.wsu.edu