Appalachian State University has launched an executive education program in business.
The initiative, offered through the university’s Walker College of Business, will provide the regional business community the opportunity to participate in executive education offerings in customizable formats.
“Our goal is to help companies develop the leadership skills of their employees while addressing real-work challenges and opportunities,” said Walker College of Business Dean Heather Norris. “The executive education program will fill an industry need to further employee growth in functional areas of business.”
Executive education is closely aligned with the college’s mission to deliver transformational educational experiences that prepare and inspire students to be ethical, innovative, and engaged business leaders.
“We’re excited to offer the same transformational experiences the Walker College of Business is best known for to industry professionals,” added Norris.
According to Sandy Vannoy, the Walker College’s Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, the programs will be provided in customizable formats to engage participants in the way that’s unique or best fitted to them.
“By first building a relationship with an organization, we will craft programs tailored to a company’s specific objectives and goals,” said Vannoy. “This collaborative partnership will help our faculty create a curriculum that will enable employees to further the company’s goals and grow their careers.”
Led by experienced Appalachian faculty, who possess doctorate degrees in the content area they teach in, courses will offer research-based insights and provide the opportunity to gain critical knowledge, learn about industry trends and develop new expertise.
The Walker College of Business will deliver its first executive education course to Lakeside Project Solutions, LLC., a provider of facilities management solution based in Denver, NC. This course will focus on Lean Six Sigma, a methodology that relies on a collaborative team effort to improve performance by systematically removing waste; combining lean manufacturing/lean enterprise and Six Sigma to eliminate eight kinds of waste.
Information Systems and Supply Chain Professor Dinesh Davè will lead the Lakeside Lean Six Sigma course.
Dave has years of private industry leadership experience and serves as Director at Large for APICS-The Association for Operations Managers, Foothills Chapter and is a member of the board of the Charlotte Roundtable of Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP). Davè is a certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt.
“I am looking forward to the experience and the resulting education and improvements to our operations,” said Lakeside President Becky Loranger. “Our hope is that what we learn will result in immediate, practical solutions to key challenges.”
Other courses being planned for Lakeside include strategic management, sales and marketing, managerial finance, and supply chain management.
“In the future, we hope to hold programs with open enrollment, in addition to customized courses,” said Vannoy. “We foresee the opportunities to be open not only to groups in a company, but also to individual professionals.”
For more information, or to begin the process to create an executive education opportunity, please contact Donna Lindabury, (828) 262-2922 or lindaburydm@appstate.edu or visit business.appstate.edu/professional.
Appalachian launches executive education program in business
Appalachian launches executive education program in business