3/4//04

Contact: K.E. Schwab  -- 724-738-2199;  e-mail: karl.schwab@sru.edu

March 22-26 --

SRU SCHOOL OF BUSINESS WEEK PLANS FREE SEMINARS FOR REGIONAL BUSINESS OWNERS

          SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Slippery Rock University’s annual “School of Business Week,” designed to showcase the  university’s business programs, has been expanded to offer a series of free seminars open to regional business owners and entrepreneurs. The sessions will offer tips on fraud protection, using e-commerce, writing business plans and provide ideas for financing small business operations.

          The “Community Business Outreach Day” portion of the March 22-26 week is set for March 24 at SRU’s Center for Lifelong and Community Learning in downtown Slippery Rock. The outreach program is organized by Susan Lubinski, associate professor in the School of Business.

           Those planning to attend any or all of the 45-minute sessions are asked to call 724-738-2551 to register.

          “The seminars will give local business leaders the latest information in a number of key areas,” says Lubinski, adding, “The topics are diverse; we believe they will be important to small business owners and those considering opening a small business. With our downtown redevelopment nearing completion, the seminars will fit perfectly with those who may be thinking about how they could own their own business in downtown Slippery Rock.”

           “Identifying and Protecting Your Business from Fraud”opens at 10 a.m. presented by James M. Eberle, fraud and abuse specialist at Three Rivers Administrative Services, LLC, and a 1987 SRU graduate. Eberle, head of the Special Investigations Unit at TRAS, has more than 15 years experience dealing with fraud and abuse cases in the health care industry. He is a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

           The 11 a.m. session deals with “E-business” presented by Jay Powell, director of e-commerce at Marmon/Keystone and a 1987 SRU graduate in computer science and mathematics. His work involves managing his firm’s transactions over the Internet along with digitization of the internal business process. He formerly served as director of information services, manager of marketing services, inventory control and purchasing, and has taught computer classes at Butler County Community College.

          The afternoon sessions open at 1 p.m. with Vivian M. Jacobs Gabriel, vice president, commercial lending and manager small business lending division at Sky Bank, presenting “Guidelines on Small Business Finance.”A 1992 SRU management graduate, Gabriel has served as a commercial loan processors, commercial credit analyst, small business credit officer and assistant vice president, and small business underwriter.

           Eberly, Powell and Gabriel are members of SRU’s School of Business Advisory Council, an ad hoc committee providing recommendations and support for the school and its programs.

            “Writing a Business Plan” opens at 2 p.m. presented by Dr. John Misner, associate professor in SRU’s School of Business. Misner joined the faculty in 1999 and started the university’s certificate in personal finance planning. He serves as assistant chair of the school of Business, and last April, was presented the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.

          The SRU School of Business Week will also include a special business leaders breakfast along with lectures geared for business, accounting, marketing and economics majors and other activities.

  PN, PgN, WPN, PR, B, S