在大多数情况下, the pricy services of a professional business consultant are beyond the reach of small businesses. A unique partnership between the UMKC 布洛赫管理学院 and AltCap, 然而, is bringing valuable consulting services to local entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities.
MBA students in a new Bloch class formed teams that functioned like consulting firms and spent a semester working with small business clients of AltCap, a community development financial institution set up to increase the flow of capital to communities and businesses not adequately served by mainstream financial institutions.
客户端, participants of AltCap’s NeXt Stage KC business development program, 收到相关, 可操作的增长建议. The students, meanwhile, gained real world experience working as a consulting team. The Business Consulting class concept was developed by Bloch School Dean Brian Klaas. 这门课的老师是托尼·门德斯, Managing Director of the Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 艾伦·荣格, Helzberg钻石公司的首席营销官.
Student Dominika Luszcz was part of a team that worked with 帕里什 & 儿子建设，是一名挖掘和分级承包商. The students developed a strategic plan for 帕里什 & Sons with recommendations in areas such as market differentiation, 品牌, 网站, social media and development of mission and vision statements.
“I was always very interested in consulting and always wanted to learn how the consulting business should be conducted,Luszcz说. “通过与真正的企业直接合作, I was able to experience and learn authentic business issues, questions that need to be asked to make the best possible decisions, 然后进入一个全新的行业.”
“作为一名来自波兰的国际学生, I found it fascinating to learn how business is conducted in the USA from every aspect including human resources, 市场营销, 销售, 研究与开发, supply chain management and finally strategic planning to increase revenue and expand sustainable growth.”
帕里什 & Sons founder and CEO Fahteema 帕里什 said the student team delivered genuine value.
“They brought a fresh set of eyes and ideas on different ways we can improve on our media and 市场营销 displays. They worked diligently and were persistent with getting any information they needed from me,帕里什说. “I was very impressed with their final presentation.”
Zach Lieberman is one of the students who worked with 诚信资本管理, a firm that works with both rental property owners and tenants to expand affordable rental housing options in the urban core.
“There were several different companies that were introduced to us at the beginning of the class. I gravitated towards my selected company because I saw the passion the owners had in their industry,利伯曼说. “This organization is squarely focused on a small niche to rehab, 修复和出租堪萨斯城的房产. There is an extreme shortage of livable houses in this area and this organization is attempting to turn this blighted and often forgotten area into an oasis of livable space.”
泰瑞快活, founder of 诚信资本管理, had high praise for the student consultants.
“我们被最初的展示震撼了. 我们没想到会有这么多细节，”乔利说. “Not only did the team present us with missed opportunities but also with solutions that would meet our needs and budget. They also created a timeline of implementations and steps needed to incorporate. I liked the versatility each of the students brought to the table. They worked well as a team that really helped with implementation strategies.”
Luszcz said the team approach was the best part of the experience.
“I met a wonderful group of students who became my partners during the class, but also friends who provided a lot of significant expertise to help me become more aware of the professional business environment. The whole class really felt like I was a part of a well-known and respected consulting company.”
利伯曼表示同意.
“没有人知道一切。. A network of people can provide information and insight to help grow an organization. We took the owner’s passion and developed measurable next steps to help his organization grow.”