To enhance its longstanding relationship with the Niagara community, the Goodman School of Business at Brock University is making community services more accessible through the establishment of Goodman Group.<\/p>\n
The move will bring together programming for Niagara businesses, students and the broader Brock community, providing them direct access to a full range of learning and development services offered by the School\u2019s faculty, staff and students. It will serve as a hub for the community, while also providing students with real-world, experiential learning opportunities.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a very exciting chapter for the Goodman School of Business,\u201d said Dean Andrew Gaudes. \u201cAll the projects will engage students, faculty and the community in a matter that provides a rich experience for all parties involved.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are putting our best researchers into practice in supporting and developing our community, while applying what we advocate when it comes to engaging our students in experiential learning.\u201d<\/p>\n
Goodman Group will offer:<\/p>\n
Although the formation of Goodman Group is new, the School has an established track record of providing these supports to local businesses, said Goodman Group Director Abdul Rahimi.<\/p>\n
\u201cCreating Goodman Group allows us to offer the community greater flexibility,\u201d he said. \u201cDepending on the client\u2019s need, we can easily direct them to the business support that aligns with their goals and resources.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since 2012, local entrepreneurs have been turning to Goodman\u2019s Venture Development (BioLinc) for programming and support to help build their skills and businesses. The School\u2019s rich history in providing consulting services goes back even further to the 1980s.<\/p>\n
Over the last three years alone, Goodman has provided professional development training to more than 875 community members through programs such as its NextGen Municipal Leadership program, and the Professional Leadership Development Certificate, which runs in collaboration with the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce (GNCC).<\/p>\n
Mishka Balsom, President and CEO of the GNCC, said the most pressing challenge facing Ontario\u2019s businesses today is the availability of skilled talent.<\/p>\n
\u201cBrock University and the Goodman School of Business are truly ahead of the curve when it comes to creating the talent we need to prosper,\u201d she said. \u201cCreating the Goodman Group is the logical next step in their quest to support and nurture Niagara\u2019s businesses, and shows Brock University\u2019s continued commitment to excellence and to supporting our community.\u201d<\/p>\n