Small Business Leadership Academy Launched

SRP, ASU’s W.P. Carey School Join for First Program on West Coast

Salt River Project and Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business Center for Executive and Professional Development will join this fall to launch the Small Business Leadership Academy, the first of its kind on the West Coast.

The corporate-education partnership is an effort to provide education and resources to the local small and diverse business community, establishing a program for business owners to garner the acumen necessary for growing and improving their businesses.

The Small Business Leadership Academy will provide CEOs of small and diverse businesses with the W. P. Carey School of Business high caliber of curriculum, which will help take their businesses to the next level.  The 10-week, multi-course program focuses on five key business strategies:

• Strategy development
• Corporate procurement and supply chain practices
• Negotiations
• Employee engagement and retention
• Competition through service

“Through these courses, participants will learn the principles of business strategy, resulting in sustainable competitive advantages,” said Andy Atzert, assistant dean of the W. P. Carey School of Business and director of the school’s Business Center for Executive and Professional Development.  “They will become familiar with the latest concepts and processes used by corporate procurement professionals, better positioning them for responding to contract opportunities.”

Participants will learn and practice negotiating skills, setting the foundation for mutually beneficial and long-term business partnerships.  They will also learn to build cohesion and a sense of pride among employees, ultimately resulting in greater employee engagement, tenure and improved/increased productivity.

Linda Paugh, SRP Senior Supplier Diversity administrator, said the ultimate goal of the program is to position these businesses to reach the next level, in all capacities.

“As these companies grow, they will hire more personnel, expand facilities and position their firms to handle larger, more substantial projects,” she said.  “The long-term goal of the program will benefit our local economy as a whole, providing jobs throughout our community, and making these companies even better suppliers to the corporations with which they are working.”

Each course will take place over a two-week period, with classes held one evening each week.  Participants will graduate Nov. 20, earning a Certificate of Participation from SRP and the W.P. Carey School of Business, and four Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from ASU.  CEUs are a widely recognized measure of participation in non-credit, professional development courses.

SRP will award 16 scholarships for the inaugural graduating class, funding attendance for 10 suppliers and six small business customers.  Participants are currently being identified through a detailed nomination and selection process.  The final award selections will be announced next week. 
To qualify for a scholarship, participants must meet the following minimum criteria:

• Be a current SRP supplier or a selected SRP small business customer
• Be the owner or principal of the business
• Have a minimum business tenure of three years
• Have annual revenues between $1 million and $5 million (small businesses only)
• Have fewer than 100 employees (small businesses only)
• Be able and willing to attend all scheduled classes and related activities

For further information regarding the SRP scholarships and admission requirements, contact Art Oros, SRP Procurement Services manager, at (602) 236-8773 or Art.Oros@srpnet.com.  SRP is the nation’s third-largest public power utility and the largest provider of water and power to the greater Phoenix metropolitan area.

For more information about program content and plans for future programs, contact Andy Atzert at ASU’s W. P. Carey School of Business Center for Executive and Professional Development at (480) 965-8617 or Andrew.Atzert@asu.edu.  The center works with major corporations to design and deliver customized executive education programs for managers and senior leaders, including MBA programs for single-company groups.  The W. P. Carey MBA program is ranked No. 22 in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.

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