With the 2011-2012 school year upon us, Washington State University Vancouver (WSUV) is once again setting out the welcome mat to area businesses as it prepares for year two of its Business Growth Mentor and Analysis Program (BGMAP).
The program provides WSUV College of Business students with the opportunity to integrate classroom knowledge, gain consulting skills and to develop project management experience while assisting local small businesses. In the process, BGMAP provides business owner and/or management teams high-level consulting services to help them grow their companies and create jobs for the community.
Ten different organizations have signed up to participate in the program this fall, according to Lucia Worthington, BGMAP manager. Seven are for-profit businesses and three are nonprofits.
“There really are a nice variety of clients this term,” said Worthington, who is in her first year as manager of the program. “It’s nice to have a number of different companies because it makes it more interesting for the students.”
From a business perspective, Worthington said BGMAP provides value because participating companies are exposing themselves to new ideas, thanks to the students working with them.
“There is a fresh perspective that the students bring,” she said. “You never know what they are going to come up with; it’s really exciting. I think everyone benefits from that. Even if you, the business, don’t want to use what they offer, you come out with a different perspective.”
In addition to providing useful ideas aimed at growing business, Worthington explained, students become more valuable due to their real-world experience in the program. And a more skilled, more experienced pool of talent is good for everyone.
“It’s not just the company that benefits, it’s the community that benefits,” said Worthington. “I call that the value chain – the chain of a student giving to the organization and the organization surviving, growing or even flourishing. It just makes for a healthy business climate.”
As an increasing number of organizations look to take advantage of local business growth resources, Worthington said she is already taking on clients for the spring term BGMAP.
“I’m getting all sorts of inquiries,” she said. “It’s really capturing an interest, having good business practices. And from the education side, it’s growing in that many of the other classes at WSU Vancouver are now doing smaller, similar projects because it’s so valuable.”
Businesses wishing to participate in Washington State University Vancouver’s Business Growth Management and Analysis Program can contact Lucia Worthington at bgmap@vancouver.wsu.edu.
