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..JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2009 |
SDSU Students Provide Consulting to Small Businesses Christie Hefner to Speak at EMC Event Mortar Board Honors CBA Faculty Members Fowler Offers Tips for Success Ted Waitt Visits SDSU Business Class Dr. Chris Thornberg Visits SDSU SDSU’s Hosts International MBA Business Plan Competition Seventh Annual SDSU Month Celebrates the Meaning of “Aztec for Life” |
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For the students of Howard Toole’s Small Business Consulting and Don Sciglimpaglia’s Marketing Consulting for Small Business classes, their final projects have earned them more than just a grade. Their consulting has given them the opportunity to use the skills they have acquired throughout their academic careers and apply them to real world situations.
Throughout the fall semester of 2008, students assisted seven National City business owners with marketing, branding, web site creation/enhancement, human resources, accountancy, physical store improvements and strategic business planning. The free consulting services were offered through a three-year contract with National City’s Community and Economic Development Commission. The class wrapped up their projects by providing each of the businesses with a 30-minute presentation at the National City Chamber of Commerce on December 12.
One of the businesses receiving help included Party Time, a party supply and rental company owned by Jim and Reyna Verlarde. The student consulting team provided the Velardes with a formal business plan that included a survey of current and potential clients, analysis of competitors, and a set of recommendations for implementing a formal inventory tracking system. Upon completion of the consulting project, Jim Valarde asked “How quickly can I complete these recommendations if I start right now?’
Upon completion of the program, each business is eligible to apply for a forgivable National City “Community Benefit Loan” of up to $15,000 to apply the student recommendations.