RIT Announces New Program to Promote Growth in Local Companies

—Richard DeMartino, Associate Professor of Management
RIT’s E. Philip Saunders College of Business

Rochester Institute of Technology and the E. Philip Saunders College of Business at RIT announce the establishment of an innovative new program “Creating and Leading Strategic Growth.” The purpose of the program is to support employment in regional small- and medium- sized companies.

The program is sponsored by Finger Lakes Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (Wired). The Wired program seeks to jumpstart growth in regional firms where technology and innovation are core components of company growth strategies.

Strategic Growth is a Short-Term Certificate Program offered at RIT from May 4 through June 30. The program is presented in an executive style format, and participants meet for a half day Friday and all day Saturday on alternate weeks for a total of five sessions.

The Strategic Growth program is grounded in practice and builds on RIT’s reputation as a business friendly and applied university. Participants will bring an existing business growth challenge to the program and will apply learned strategic growth concepts as they work with experienced practitioners, RIT faculty and business coaches. The end result culminates in a customized implementation plan.

According to Joseph Lobozzo, president and founder of JML Optics, “This custom course is a must for anyone who is looking for the tools, concepts and frameworks necessary to drive their organization to that next level of successful growth. It is a program with a clear focus and foundation for helping you achieve success.”

RIT Associate Professor of Management Richard DeMartino says, “One of the distinguishing features of this program is applied design. Participants will work with experts to develop growth strategies for their specific business. We believe this program can have a measurable positive impact on employment growth in the Rochester area.”

For more information, contact the E. Philip Saunders College of Business Executive Education office at (585) 475-7435 or visit www.ritemba.com.

Editor’s Note: Finger Lakes Wired is one of 13 designated WIRED regions in the country funded by the U. S. Department of Labor WIRED (Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development) Initiative to support economic development and transform regional economies. Finger Lakes Wired initiatives focus on a nine-county region surrounding Rochester N.Y., to increase entrepreneurship and innovation, expand employment, advance opportunities for workers, and enhance the talent of the workforce through the creation of high-skill and high-wage opportunities.