ANN ARBOR – Ann Arbor SPARK will kick off its fourth

Shifting Gears program this fall. Applications to the 2010 Shifting Gears

program are due on September 3. Leading up to the fall Shifting Gears

program, SPARK also announced five information sessions beginning August 3.

Shifting Gears, an intensive four-month program, provides professional

career coaching for executive talent seeking opportunities in

entrepreneurial and emerging businesses.

“Shifting Gears has a proven track record of helping corporate talent

find meaningful jobs at local start-ups,” said Michael A. Finney, Ann Arbor

SPARK CEO. “In its three previous offerings, 42 people participated in

Shifting Gears, and, to date, 28 of them have landed jobs in southeast

Michigan. Fast growth area firms including Adaptive Materials Inc., SRI and

Compendia Bioscience have all hired Shifting Gears graduates.”

Shifting Gears includes three distinct phases of class-based and

real-world experience to help executive talent transform their career:

First gear is career transitions into small businesses with in-class

sessions and workshops on small business foundations.

Second gear is a 3-day intensive practice simulation, followed by an

80-hour pro bono practicum project with a small business.

Third gear is launch point readiness with special networking

opportunities, practice interviews and career advice from a mentor that

has extensive contacts with innovative, growing companies.

Shifting Gears is designed to increase the success of individuals who

want to leverage their career experiences and education to help small

businesses grow. Shifting Gears helps highly skilled and talented

professionals who want to increase their effectiveness and capabilities in

the competitive environments of small businesses.

Recently, Oakland Community College added the Shifting Gears program to

its offerings and graduated 16 participants.

Shifting Gears information sessions will be offered on August 3, 11, 16

and 25 and September 1. These free information sessions, held from 5:30-7

p.m. at SPARK East, will explain how the Shifting Gears program works and

help attendees understand how it might help to advance their careers.

For more information on Shifting Gears, click on AnnArborUSA.Org

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