GRAND RAPIDS – Joanne Fowler, a business intake consultant for the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center, has successfully completed the Academy of Professional Small Business Consultants program, a a cutting edge certification program designed specifically for MI-SBTDC consultants.

The purpose of the two week Academy is to provide basic tools, information and techniques for MI-SBTDC business consultants. The Academy provides the participants with a basic understanding of the problems facing small business entrepreneurs and gives them the ability to facilitate the entrepreneurs�?? resolution of their problems by either direct guidance or referral to a proper resource.

The Academy is delivered in various formats including classroom participative instruction, short seminars, dinner speakers, case study analysis, and demonstrations. Completion of the first week, of the two week Academy, is a prerequisite to the attendance of the second week. Successful completion of the first week of the program is based first on the attendance of all sessions and second on the satisfactory completion of a business plan that is assigned at the end of week one and presented in week two.

Fowler has worked at the MI-SBTDC regional office at Grand Valley State University for nearly one year, assisting small business clients with the services they provide. Previously, she worked as a graduate assistant in GVSU�??s market research department assisting the MI-SBTDC. She earned her bachelors degree at Aquinas College, and is currently working toward her Master of Science in Accounting at GVSU.

The MI-SBTDC provides counseling, training and research for Michigan�??s new business ventures, existing small businesses, expanding new businesses, new technology companies, and innovators. The MI-SBTDC is housed at Grand Valley State University�??s Seidman College of Business in Grand Rapids, which oversees the statewide, twelve region network. Entrepreneurs and small business owners may access the services of their nearest MI-SBTDC by calling (717)-331-7370 or clicking on MISBTDC.Org

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