The Academy of Professional Small Business Consultants of MI-SBTDC was developed  to provide professional development to its statewide network consultants, selected administrative staff and MI-SBTDC Strategic Partners. It’s a two week program where in the first week participants are provided basic tools, information and techniques for counseling small businesses. The program is presented in a variety of formats which includes:

• Workshops
• Guest Speakers
• Classroom Participative Instruction
• Case Study Analysis
• A Business Plan Project

Completion of the first week is a prerequisite for attending the second week for certification. Successful completion of the first week will be based on attendance of all sessions given the first week, and secondly, on the satisfactory completion of a Business Plan Project that will be assigned at the end of week one. This Business Plan Project will need to be completed by a pre-established deadline, be reviewed by a banker and then presented during week two of the Basic Certification program in order to achieve certification.

During week two, one of the main activities is participants review of each other’s business plans and receipt of feedback from the bankers and seasoned network business consultants. Overall the program consists of approximately 64 course hours and additional 36 hours of business plan development.

Following completion of all requirements, included in the two week Basic Certification program, the participant will receive, based on experience and qualifications

• Certificate of Completion or
• Certified Business Consultant

To be a certified business consultant, a participant must hold, at time of completing the two week program, a bachelor’s degree in business, management or related field and minimum of 3yrs experience in business management, consulting or business ownership. On obtaining the required qualifications and experience, a “Certificate of Completion” holder can earn the Certification Insignia.

• All participants earn CEU’s from Grand Valley State University’s Continuing Education Dept. One CEU equals ten hours of face to face instruction.

No certificate will be issued for completion of the first week only.

 

NEXT ACADEMY: Early 2014, specific date TBD
Interest in participation in 2014 should be expressed to: mavimasi@gvsu.edu