Jersey City, N.J. – April 27, 2017 – Saint Peter’s University will host the finals of the Town & Gown Business Consulting Program on Thursday, April 27 at 2:00 p.m. in The Duncan Family Sky Room in the Mac Mahon Student Center. Town & Gown is a collaborative program developed by the School of Business at Saint Peter’s University and the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce with the goal of providing students with consulting experience while also offering valuable insights to small business owners.
The 75 senior business students enrolled in the program this year are consulting for 12 local businesses and organizations, which include Erin Kumpf Acupuncture & Herbs, Hudson Catholic High School, Hudson Kitchen, Leo Express, Marie Papp Photography, Inc., Milk Sugar Love, Morlees, Noellery Inc., Otterstedt Insurance Agency, Pilsener Haus & Biergarten, qplum and Suits for Success. During the finals event each team of students will present their research and recommendations for their assigned business and winners are then selected. The judges for the competition are Gail P. Godesky, first vice president of Provident Bank; Steven Gomez, executive director of the Greater Newark Enterprises Corporation (GNEC); Cecilia Michalik ’73, retired executive vice president of Ford Credit and president of Michalik Consulting LLC; Vanessa Quijano, small business development coordinator for Jersey City EDC; and Michelle Richardson, executive director of the Hudson County Economic Development Corporation.
“The Town & Gown Business Consulting Program has been extremely valuable for our business students as they gain real world consulting experience with guidance from professors who have industry expertise,” said Mary Kate Naatus, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of the Department of Business Administration. “For the past four years, we have grown our partnership with local businesses through the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce, making a strong impact on the community.”
This year, with funding from the Ignite Institute at Saint Peter’s University, the business partners involved in the program will be able to apply to have a dedicated Innovation Fellow business consultant to help them implement program recommendations. The program has also received funding from the Orechio Foundation.
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