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Robins School of Business and Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council to provide leadership training for minority business executives

February 10, 2009

The Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council and University of Richmond’s Robins School of Business will offer leadership development training to CEOs selected from certified minority businesses across the commonwealth.

Intensive three-day sessions in June and September at the university will focus primarily on leadership skills, business expansion and customer service. Twenty participants will be selected for the first cohort through a rigorous application process. Details, including costs and admission requirements, will be posted to the Web sites of VMSDC and the Robins School soon.

Altria Group, Dominion Resources and MeadWestvaco—corporations based in central Virginia—are founding sponsors of the training program.

VMSDC and the Robins School designed the training to help the CEOs increase business and deal with the downturn that has affected the American economy. Professors specializing in strategic management, finance, marketing and entrepreneurship and the school’s Executive Education division will tailor the curriculum to VMSDC’s membership.

“As always, we’re committed to education and training,” said Connie Smith, VMSDC chair and who also heads supplier diversity development for the Altria family of companies. “This program will provide the right information at the right time to suppliers that are ready to evolve to the next level.”

“The Robins School is honored to have been chosen for this important work,” said Dean Jorge Haddock.           

Richard Coughlan, Robins School senior associate dean, said he expects the program to make a difference in Virginia’s future economy.

“By helping chief executives expand their firms’ capabilities, we aim to increase their chances for building new partnerships with major corporations across the country,” Coughlan said.

About VMSDC:

VMSDC is a membership organization of major corporations, financial institutions, government agencies, universities and Virginia-based companies. It promotes and facilitates development of business relationships between its members and certified minority-owned enterprises. The council works to expand business opportunities for minority-owned companies and to help build a stronger, more equitable society by supporting and promoting minority business development. VMSDC has 255 corporate members and approximately 375 certified minority businesses.

About The Robins School of Business:

Ranked in the top 20 nationally by Business Week, the Robins School of Business is the only fully accredited, top-ranked undergraduate business school that also is part of a top-ranked liberal arts university. Business Week also recognized the school for having one of the top 15 part-time MBA programs in the country. Its executive education division offers open enrollment courses and customized leadership development programs for individuals and businesses.