SBDC’s Ray Bowman teaches new MBA class
CAMARILLO — Twelve California Lutheran University MBA students are blending academics with real-world experience as they explore the field of small business consulting by providing services to three local businesses, the Economic Development Collaborative — Ventura County reported recently in a media release.
Consulting to Small Business is taught by adjunct professor Ray Bowman, director of EDC-VC’s Small Business Development Center of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, and is a joint project between CLU and the Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County’s SBDC.
Working in teams, this semester’s students are consulting with Trupart Mfg. in Ventura, InTouch Health in Santa Barbara and Crime Point in Camarillo. The businesses have previously worked with SBDC and were chosen for their desire to continue growing and expanding their business opportunities.
“This new class was created through our strong collaboration between CLU and the business community. It’s so exciting because it provides hands-on learning for the students and valuable services for the participating businesses,” Bowman stated in the media release.
The class includes classroom instruction with Bowman and field work with professional SBA business consultants who mentor the student teams. Students attend client appointments with the business consultants to define the client’s scope of work, economic milestones and outcomes. Each team will then provide research and analysis for projects related to international business; process improvement, management and lean manufacturing; and sales and marketing strategies.
Bowman has been involved in the operational aspects of international trade and logistics for more than 23 years. He has held key management positions with some of the world’s largest freight and logistics companies and has been involved in consulting and teaching for more than 14 years. Bowman also teaches courses in international logistics, trade finance, and import export for Santa Barbara City College and is the author of Quick Start Guide, International Trade.
The SBDC is funded by the SBA and provides professional business assistance at no cost to businesses. Participating businesses are required to follow a well-defined scope of work and report their economic successes. These SBA milestones are defined as job creation, increase in sales, capital investment, jobs retained and business started.
EDC-VC is a private, nonprofit organization that serves as a business-to-government liaison to assist businesses in Ventura County by offering programs that enhance the economic vitality of the region.
For more information about the Small Business Development Center, loan programs, the Manufacturing Outreach Program, Global Entrepreneur Training in Trade (G.E.T. Trade) program, or other services available to small businesses through EDC-VC, contact Bruce Stenslie at 805-384-1800, ext. 24, bruce.stenslie@edc-vc.com or visit www.edc-vc.com