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Program Objectives

  • To empower students to become active learners by practicing skills in small business advancement in actual organizations in their community
  • To assist small businesses in the Washington, DC area by working with GWU students under the auspices of The Center for the Advancement of Small Business (CASB)
  • To provide affordable, long-term solutions to small business owners by using resources from GWU and other sponsors to provide low-cost, high quality assistance; promoting research that benefits small businesses, and establishing links between the academic community and small businesses regionally, nationally, and internationally.

Program Description

A Small Business/Entrepreneurship concentration is offered to MBA students. The Small Business and Entrepreneurship program at GW provides opportunities for MBA students, undergraduates, PhD. students, as well as local high school students to gain hands on practical experience by consulting local businesses and through field research. The Center for the Advancement of Small Business (CASB) works closely with the small business and entrepreneur program and provides numerous opportunities for students to learn about and become involved in helping small businesses.

SHAW ENTERPRISE ZONE

Graduate students, working under the auspices of CASB, have joined GW undergraduates and local high school students to support small businesses in the Shaw Neighborhood in Washington, DC. CASB is working with the Americorp Program at GWU to assist five businesses in Shaw. GWU student volunteers work in teams to assist the businesses with their most pressing problem. The high school students work with the GWU student teams and assist the small business owners. This marks the first time a project has involved high school, undergraduate and graduate students working together.

CASB MEMBERSHIP

Invitations were extended to small business owners who wish to become members of the Center for the Advancement of Small Business. The goal of the new membership initiative is to build long-term relationships with small businesses to effectively accomplish CASB's main goal of helping local small businesses. Benefits of membership include hands on consulting and follow-up by GW students, quarterly newsletters, networking opportunities, and advance notices to special events and workshops.

INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE OF THE GRAND CAYMAN ISLANDS

An exchange has been established between CASB and the International College of the Grand Cayman Islands (ICCI) which is responsible for the Caribbean, including West Indies. Current plans are being discussed to establish a sister center at ICCI. The potential exists to develop a student exchange program to promote small business and trade.

SMALL BUSINESS LENDING

A special study was undertaken by CASB to examine the demands and needs among small business owners who are seeking bank financing for their company. CASB will launch customized workshops based on the findings. CASB also proposes that student mobil teams made up of MBA students work with local small businesses to help them get prepared to obtain financing for the business.

INTERNATIONAL ENTERPRISE ZONE (IEZ)

The Center for the Advancement of Small Business joined the Las Americas Avenue Development Corporation and the Office of Latino Affairs to build an International Enterprise Zone, IEZ, in DC's Adams Morgan District. This program was started in January, 1994 to promote trade and tourism in this area of the city. Adams Morgan is comprised of an ethically and culturally diverse population. The uniqueness of this community is an economic asset which has much to offer to tourist and intanational visitors.

The Center for the Advancement of Small Business is working closely with the IEZ to foster and expand economic opportunities while promoting the cultural diversity which makes up this neighborhood. Graduate student teams provide assistance to minority, women, and disadvantaged small business owners to develop and to improve business skills. The areas of help provided has ranged from marketing, advertising, pricing strategy, financial analysis, to gaining 8A minority certification. Students who participate in this program are enrolled in the graduate Small Business Management course. The students in the class work with businesses in the Adams Morgan district as part of a semester long project.

UNDERGRADUATE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM

In addition to providing support for small businesses, CASB decided that it was important to provide opportunities for undergraduate students, particularly freshmen, to get hands-on management experience. The Undergraduate Apprenticeship prograrm, launched in Fall 1993, allows students to complement their course studies with practical training by helping Washington, DC area businesses.

Each semester graduate students teams, enrolled in Small Business/Entrepreneur courses, carry out field projects. As part of their course work, graduate student teams act as consultants to local small businesses. Consulting projects taken on by the teams range from providing marketing advice, writing a business plan, to cash flow management. Undergraduate students are given the opportunity to actively participate in the graduate level group project.

Benefits of the Program

  • Students learn valuable insights about how small companies operate, what problems they face, and how they approach problem solving.
  • The knowledge gained from this program may apply to courses taken in the future. Additionally, participation may assist students in choosing a major.
  • Students get to evaluate the project and program, and be present for the final team oral presentation. Participants may also opt to make a presentation on behalf of the team.
  • Students are awarded a certificate upon completing the program. The certificate can be included in the student's credential file at the Career Services Center, as part of a resume, and act as proof of consulting experience.
Criteria for Participants

Any undergraduate student in The School of Business and Public Management and in good academic standing can join the program, regardless of major. Participants in the program are expected to:

  • Attend team meetings
  • visit the client company with the team
  • Submit a 2 page evaluation report on the project and the program
  • Attend the final formal presentation of the team
Students who fulfill these requirements are awarded a certificate at the end of the program.

SMALL BUSINESS ALUMNI NIGHT

A new and innovative program was initiated in Fall 1994. This program brings together small business alumni and current students to discuss problems or opportunities, to determine ways in which the students can help, and to provide a forum for the alumni to address classes and share ideas.

Alumni are asked to provide infonnation about their business and details about their opportunity or problem. This information is then given to graduate students enrolled in the Small Business Management course. The students in the course work in teams and develop a one page memo summarizing his or her analysis and suggestions to address the problem or opportunity of each business. Alumni are then asked to attend a course session and participate in a panel discussion. This gives alumni an opportunity to discuss their business further as well as the ideas and advice offered by the students. Students are also able to explain and discuss their memos with alumni. The objectives of the program are for students to benefit from exposure to alumni who are dealing with "real world" problems and opportunities, and for alumni to benefit from whatever fresh and innovative ideas come from student memos and the discussion.

This year CASB advertised for alumni participants in the DC area working for small businesses in a newsletter. Alumni are asked to call or fax the Center with their problem or opportunity. Some of the issues last year were: how to market an organization with a limited budget, how to market a new business idea, and how to market and target products in a changing environmant.

CASB WORKSHOPS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

A survey was conducted of 250 small businesses in Washington, DC by CASB in Spring 1994 to learn what their most important business needs are. Using this information, CASB worked with a task force in February 1994 to prepare four workshop modules to assist small business owners. CASB initiated four hands-on workshops in 1994. Eleven small business enterprises attend the workshops and were very pleased with the results. The first two were held in Spring 1994 and the second two were held in the Fall 1994. The workshop topics included:
  • How to Develop a Basic Business Plan
  • How to Prepare Financial Statements and Manage Cash Flow
  • How to Increase Sales of Existing Products
  • How to Select and Retain Good People.
Prices for participation were kept low ($35-$50) and some scholarships were awarded to encourage participation by very small, cash starved local businesses. The worksbops were well received by the participants. Because of the success of the workshops, plans are underway to offer the same workshops to interested small businesses in 1995.

One important component included in the workshops is a follow-up process. CASB keeps track of business participants, measures performance and offers further assistance, onsite if necessary. In fact, undergraduate student teams enrolled in tbe Spring 1995 Small Business Management course have been assigned to work witb five businesses who previously attended tbe workshops. The student teams act as consultants to the businesses and offer solutions and recommendations to assist them in tbeir areas of concern. Participating businesses requested furtber assistance in areas ranging from relocating, implementing a marketing plan, to targeting new customers. CASB plans to continue offering workshops to local small business owners each year.

WORKSHOPS FOR THE DISABLED

Disabled people are launching new ventures with the assistance of a first time GWU education program. Twenty-four students with a wide range of disabilities are developing business plans in areas such as jamtorial service, fashion design and charter fishing boats. The program was made possible through a partnership with the CASB and Developing Innovative Approaches to Assist People with Disabilities, DIAD. CASB Director, Dr. Charles Toftoy, along with other GWU professors are teaching students how to be succesful entrepreneurs. Future workshops will use interactive video and the information superhighway to reach people with disabilities throughout the nation.

GWU ALUMNI MENTOR PROGRAM

CASB is reaching out to retired GWU alumni who would like to serve as a mentor for students in the undergraduate small business management course, SMPP 192. Retirees with relevant business experience will assist student teams who act as consultants to local small businesses for the semester. When convenient, GWU Alumni mentors attend student team meetings, attend one student meeting with the small business owner and present a 15 minute informal summary of their work experience to the classroom. This is a great way to involve GWU retired alumni in the School of Business and Public Management. Students benefit from the extensive experience of alumni who share their ideas and offer suggestions to students on how to tackle problems faced by small businesses.

CASB ADVISORY COUNCIL

The Center for the Advancement of Small Business formed an Advisory Council made up of seven small business owners of the Washington area. The CASB Advisory Council, which meets quarterly, will provide suggestions and input on new ideas to make CASB more effective. Members will also evaluate future programs considered by CASB. The Advisory Council members include: Manuel Pena, La Fonda Restaurant; Alan Sami, CompuType Printing and Graphics; Dave Guyre, Rings Le ghton, Ltd.; Emily Barnes, Barnes and Company; Nancy Sherman Soleimani, The Work Place; Bill Quinn, PTS, Inc.; Richard Larson, Henny Penny.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

GWU business students are working with the Library of Congress to provide business information to individuals around the nation through the Business Research Project. Students enrolled in Small Business Management courses at GWU prepare briefs on various topics from managing cash flow, increasing sales, to health care reform. The business briefs are then made accessible to the public through the Internet. The purpose of this joint project is to help address the needs of small businesses and entrepreneurs by providing them with useful information available through the use of modern technology.

CASB has also assisted with the Library of Congress Research Project Lecture Series. Dr. Toftoy has served as moderator for this project. The lecture series has been titled "The American Entrepreneur: Models for the Future." Speakers have been from among the top entrepreneurs in the United States.

INNER CITY COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

The Center for the Advancement of Small Business is working with Harvard University on an innovative program to develop competitive advantages for inner-city businesses in Washington, DC. The program is led by Harvard's Michael Porter, who has been working with key representatives from chosen schools in the U.S. to launch the nationwide program. The mission of the program is to "foster profitable business growth and development in or near inner-cities." GWU was chosen to participate in the program because of the many activities of the CASB to support small businesses in the DC area. CASB currently has two programs that work with inner-city businesses, International Enterprise Zone and Shaw Enterprise Zone.

KIDS AT RISK

Each summer CASB has conducted an intensive one-week seminar for 20 to 25 Washington area underprivileged, economically deprived, "at risk" youths, ages 14-18, to introduce them to small business/entrepreneurship. This provides the opportunity for students to learn about the value of education, staying in school, and the self-esteem that can be gained through small business ownership.